365 Days of Song Recommendations: May 26

Shout To The Top — The Style Council

Hey. It’s me — Dr. J., back on the turntables because Smitty has urgent business. Because his business is always urgent and mine is just business.

I wasn’t writing on May 25th, but I might have continued Preacher’s birthday salutations with a 20 noise-maker salute for Paul Weller, frontman for the English punk/new wave/mod scatterbrains The Jam… and The Style Council. The Daily Telegraph once said about Weller: “Apart from David Bowie, it’s hard to think of any British solo artist who’s had as varied, long-lasting and determinedly forward-looking a career.”

He’s Bowie — but not! That’s huge.

I’m a big fan of The Jam. “Town Called Malice” all the way back to their punkier 1977 debut In the City. I’m down with anyone picking a song by the Jam for the #365Songs project. There’s no Oasis, for example, without the far superior The Jam, which rose to fame in the shadow of The Clash and The Sex Pistols.

[But you — you — you’re picking a song from The Style Council.]

Indeed. Weller killed The Jam at the height of their popularity when he became dissatisfied with the band’s commercial leanings. From a certain perspective “A Town Called Malice” killed The Jam. He struck off on his own, picking up Mick Talbot (keyboardist from Dexys Midnight Runners) because — and this perfectly summarizes Weller’s perspective on music — “he shares my hatred of the rock myth and the rock culture.”

The result of their collaboration, The Style Council, turned synthesizers and organs and Herbie Hancock influences and drum machines into a socio-political anti-pop R&B movement aimed at burning down the music charts. Right on, Paul.

Was it more punk to be The Jam in 1977 or say fuck it all and play anti-establishment smooth jazz in 1983? I’ve got an opinion on the matter and I bet you can figure it out based on the title of this post.

The Style Council released the disco-flavored “Shout To The Top” with its ear-wormy synth, sax, and keys as a single in 1984, well after any reasonable human had stopped releasing disco songs. It wasn’t even included on a Style Council record until their 1989 greatest hits compilation and later the Deluxe Edition of their 1985 LP Our Favourite Shop.

I was half in mind, I was half in need
And as the rain came down
I dropped to my knees and I prayed
I said, “Oh heavenly thing, please cleanse my soul
I’ve seen all on offer and I’m not impressed at all

I just can’t resist it. I first heard it on the Vision Quest (1985) soundtrack, well before I even knew The Jam or Paul Weller. Sometime in my teens, I connected the dots and my fragile little mind was blown. Maybe I’m blowing minds right now.

I’d like to think so.

Or maybe you hate me a little bit for putting this song in your head, and I’m okay with that, too, because sometimes you need a shot of pure disco-brand happy right into your bloodstream — even against your wishes. In that case, Paul and I approve of your disapproval.

~

“Shout to the Top” is the 147th song on the exclusive #365Songs playlist! Listen and follow today: