August 13, 2009 Earworm

A quick check confirms that it's been almost three months since any song involving Paul Weller has been mentioned so, after a minutiae filled conversation regarding the various release formats of Style Council tracks with someone I didn't know at the time that the minutiae was being created, I offer up "You're The Best Thing". Keeping within the spirit of that conversation, I note that I'm not referring to the version that was on "Cafe Bleu" and/or "My Ever Changing Moods" and not the version issued as a single on Geffen in the US and not the UK seven inch "Groovin'" version. I'm referring to the long version of the single mix found on the UK twelve inch version of "Groovin'".

If you're looking for this version, go directly to Universal/Polydor/Chronicles 2003 20th Century Masters compilation, "The Millenium Collection: The Best of The Style Council". The liner notes will inform you that it contains the version found on TSC6, implying that it's the UK 7" edit. It's not.

Okay. Now, who wants to slow dance to one of the best things to ever happen?

May 25, 2009 Earworm

I couldn't let the day go by without acknowledging Paul Weller's birthday. That's Entertainment.

July 01, 2008 Earworm

As we anxiously await the domestic release of Paul Weller's new one, "22 Dreams", Kmatt's lost in "Wild Wood" while I'm blinded by "Illumination" and my favorite track from it, "It's Written In The Stars". It brings back memories of those long ago days (2003) when we had a new house to paint and prep and the idea that the five weeks we had before moving in would be a luxurious amount of time to get everything done. Five years later we're still discussing what it is that we want to do with this and/or that, bemoaning what the terriers have done to the beautiful back yard we thought we were giving them, and wondering why I've yet to build the desperately needed shelving for earworm central while we watch the gorgeous sunsets to which our perch on top of the hill provides a perfect perspective. The vivid pinks and blues turn livid and the stars become full of themselves as the day quiets down and then one of the terriers spots the neighbor's cat.

May 27, 2008 Earworm

Dean Parrish's 1966 flop,"I'm On Way", became the revered show closer at Wigan Casino All Nighter (ask your Northern Soul expert) and is now a classic track of the wide and varied genre. Dean Parrish, however, had no idea of this turn of events having reclaimed his birth name of Philip Anastasia and moved on to acting as well as session work with Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and Bob Marley. Finally hearing of his legendary UK status in 2001, he got in touch with Wigan's dj, Russ Winstanley, and put together his first concert in more than 25 years. He was welcomed with opened arms and dancing feet.
In 2006, he hooked up with Paul Weller's guitarist, Steve Craddock, who had been exploring the unreleased music from his Weller's past. Parrish, with Lord Large, put released "Left, Right and Center", a song Weller had written when he was fifteen and, from the sound of the finished product, seemingly in wait for the rediscovery of Dean Parrish and/or giving the explanation of why The Style Council had to happen.
The current US edition of Mojo has an excellent free compilation dedicated to the Modfather for his 50th birthday and includes "Left, Right & Center" for those of us who missed it the first time.

Happy Birthday: Paul Weller

My teenage hero is 50