The Style Council

• Genre: Blue-Eyed Soul
• Hometown: London, England
• The Style Council Website

About

Soon after Paul Weller disbanded the Jam, he formed the Style Council with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The duo initially wanted to explore organic pop music outside of guitar rock including soul, jazz, and folk. The band hit the ground running with a string of hit singles such as "The Long Hot Summer," "Speak Like a Child," and "A Solid Bond in Your Heart." The Style Council even found the stateside success that had always eluded the Jam when "My Ever Changing Moods" and "You're the Best Thing" rode up the U.S. charts. Weller was so re-invigorated during the Style Council's early period that many of his best songs appeared on their first two albums and on a flood of E.P.s and non-album singles. But even as the band's sound was beefed up by the addition of drummer Steve White and singer D.C. Lee, the Style Council's output become spottier and more tied to contemporary R&B and dance music. Weller was still penning some fine pop tracks during this period but he disbanded the Style Council in 1989 and he returned to soulful guitar rock for his highly successful solo career.

- Nick Dedina