style council mp3

musicology #430

noExcuses #7

(Spring, Summer, Autumn – Style Council)

Final cut of the noExcuses and i’m feeling it. Thanks for the ride and the memories they have predominantly been sweet and most importantly have delivered two living dreams.

Todays slice is courtesy of the Style Council whose musicology has always cut through my existence like a hot knife through butter.

I will learn, I will grow,
And for my pain, my strength shall show,
For as surely as Spring will come,
Bringing freshness to order’s dance,
Until the ices melt away,
Then we will live again,
I will try, I will succeed,
To train my sights upon the deep,
And wait for Summer’s bloom to come,
Bringing warmth to the frozen hearts,
Until the skies are filled with love,
Then we will live again,

I will search, I will find,
And grow again the parts that died,
Like the changes that Autumn brings,
We need the courage to go ahead,
And not cling on to the past,
Then we can live again

musicology #122

socialcommentaryweek #2

(Style Council – A Stones Throw Away)

not easy to find tunes that criticise the establishment. no surprise really, (especially these days), at a time when most artists concern seems to be with achieving the two F’s, (fame&fortune)

not that I blame them as, in this age, success is measured by material wealth…big motors, large amounts of ‘tom’, houses in every town..you know what I mean. art as entertainment is todays message as the culture of pop dominates every corner of our society.

this 1985 piece taken from the Style Council’s most critical set ‘Our Favourite Shop’ shows that there was a time when some saw it as their duty to openly criticise without fear…read ’em and weep.

“For liberty there is a cost, it’s broken skulls and leather cosh,
From the boys in uniform, now you know whose side their on,
With backing, with blessing, from earthly gods not heaven,
A stones throw away from it all.

Whatever pleasures those who get, from stripping skin with rhino whip,
Are the kind that must be stopped, before their kind take all we’ve got,
With loving, with caring, they take great pride in working,
The stones throw away from it all.

Whenever honesty persists, you’ll hear the snap of broken ribs,
Of anyone who’ll take no more, of the lying bastards roar,
In Chile, in Poland, Johannesburg, South Yorkshire,
A stones throw away…..now we’re there”

musicology #106

sixartist, sixtune, sixweekspecial #29

(The Style Council – With Everything To Lose)

penultimate slice from the Paul Weller tribute selection and the second of two from his time spent in the Style Council, (the Humble Pie years), along with Mick Talbot formaly of, (relatively unknown), UKPressure band the Merton Parkas and ‘keeping time’ the young Steve White, (didnt the Pie have an unknown young drummer?),

not suggesting that this was the way he planned it..just another example of synchronicity I suppose.

this cut taken from the album..Our Favourite Shop, (not only a great album but, for me, one of the best LP covers of all time !!), reminds me of having just left school and going on holiday in what was then called Yugoslavia. this album was the soundtrack for that holiday and the few months that surrounded it, (memories are made of this), there are at least six pieces on the album that could have been the final choice and there’s nothing between them so I just picked this one mainly for the lyrical content..

Paul Weller at his poetic best..telling it like it was, (and is still)

“From the playground to the wasteground, Hope ends at 17
Sweeping floors and filling shelves, Forced into government schemes
11 years spent to dig out ditches, Forget your schoolday dreams
Guarantees and lie-filled speeches, But nothings what it seems
Qualified and patronised and with everything to lose

No choice or chance for the future, The rich enjoy less tax
Dress the girls in pretty pink, The shit goes to the blacks
A generation’s heart torn out, And covered up the facts
The only thing they’ll understand Is a wall against their backs
The only hope now left for those, with everything to lose
with everything to lose, with everything to lose

In desperation empty eyes, Signed up and thrown away
There’s drugs replacing dignity, The short sharp shock repaid
There’ll be no money if you dare to question Working the Tory way
The truth is up there carved in stone, Where 21 dead now lay
A family’s loss for a few pounds saved, With everything to lose

With everything to lose, with everything to lose
With everything to lose, everything to lose…

lyrics Don Weller….lyrics.

message received, (in ’85), and understood.