Friday, 31 January 2025
'Paul Weller Presents That Sweet, Sweet Music' will be released on Blue Yolk Vinyl (400 numbered copies), Gatefold Vinyl and CD on 28.03.2025
Paul Weller Presents That Sweet, Sweet Music will be released on Blue Yolk Vinyl (400 numbered copies), Gatefold Vinyl and CD on 28.03.2025
Soul music has always been in Paul Weller’s blood from early Jam covers of Martha & the Vandellas 1963 classic ‘Heatwave’. Along with other forms of music, soul found its way into Paul’s record collection, nourishing his ears and informing his own songwriting.
We don’t need to recap a questing musical career from the Jam to the Style Council which then blossomed into one of the most productive and revered careers of any UK solo artist. Paul has written anthems, standards and a songbook that have always developed from his own feelings.
Whilst Paul has talked about his love of soul music he has, before now, simply been too busy to sit down and curate a collection of his favourite tracks and get it into the record racks.
Ace Records are honoured and delighted to finally release that Paul Weller curated collection which he has aptly titled, “That Sweet Sweet Music”.
This 2-LP set and CD open the curtains on 26 tracks that are some of Paul’s favourite soul records most of which nestle on vinyl in his own collection. He can still recall paying £70 for his copy of Jon Lucien’s 1971 ‘Search For The Inner Self’ 7” at a record shop in Leicester in the 90s. Some of these tracks are soul classics like James Carr’s 1966 ‘Pouring Water On A Drowning Man’ and Brother to Brother's brilliant take on Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson’s ‘In The Bottle’ from 1975. Others are deliciously obscure wonderous gems like the A-side of Blackrock’s sole 1971 single ‘Blackrock “Yeah, Yeah”’, ‘Life Walked Out’ from the same year by The Mist or Syl Johnson’s ‘Black Balloons’ taken from his 1970 album “Is It Because I’m Black?”.
There are plenty of big vocal hitters such as Darrell Banks, Spinners, Joe Simon, O.C. Smith, the Dells and Betty Davis. Whilst the core is vocal soul the music does branch out with Paul selecting a wicked instrumental from the flipside of the Isley Brothers’ ‘Twist & Shout’ from 1962 and the funky jazz of the Headhunters ‘God Made Me Funky’, the A-side of their first 1975 seven-inch.
Paul has not only written an introduction but the way he has curated the music allows each side of the vinyl and the CD to flow like a river taking the listener on a journey through some of his favourite music.
It’s a Sweet Sweet collection indeed.
1. GOD MADE ME FUNKY - The Headhunters
2. SPANISH TWIST - The I. B. Special
3. BREAKAWAY - The Valentines
4. TOP OF THE STAIRS - Collins & Collins
5. DONT LET THE GREEN GRASS FOOL YOU – The Spinners
6. BLACK BALLOONS - Syl Johnson "
7. SOULSHAKE - Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson
8. I CAN'T MAKE IT ANYMORE - Richie Havens
9. YOU GOT TO HAVE MONEY - The Exits
10. PULL MY STRING (TURN ME ON) - The Joneses
11. RUN FOR COVER - The Dells
12. ON EASY STREET - O.C. Smith
13. IT AIN'T NO BIG THING - The Radiants
14. SUMMERTIME - Billy Stewart
15. IN THE BOTTLE - Brother To Brother
16. HARD TIMES - Baby Huey
17. MAGGIE - Johnny Williams
18. WHEN - Joe Simon
19. POURING WATER ON A DROWNING MAN - James Carr
20. THAT'S ENOUGH - Roscoe Robinson
21. BLACKROCK “YEAH, YEAH” - Blackrock
22. GOLDEN RING - American Gypsy
23. SEARCH FOR THE INNER SELF - Jon Lucien
24. LIFE WALKED OUT - The Mist
25. IN THE MEANTIME - Betty Davis
26. BEAUTIFUL FEELING - Darrell Banks
Mods Mayday 2025 - Line-Up Confirmed with a 'Special Guest' Artist still to be announced
Mods Mayday, the essential day out in any Mods calendar, will be taking over 229 in central London (opposite Great Portland Street Tube Station) for an all day extravaganza over 4 indoor rooms and 1 outside space.
Room 1 features live performances from Secret Affair, Purple Hearts, The Style Councillors, New Street Adventure, Rhoda Dakar, Sharp Class + a special guest artist to be announced.
Room 2 features live performances from Squire, Big Boss Man, Small World, The Threads, Laurie Wright, Mark McGounden & The Deep Six and direct from Italy - Gli Statuto.
Room 3 - Eddie Piller's Modcast room features Q&A's with Trevor Laird ('Ferdy' from 'Quadrophenia') and Mark Wingett ('Dave' from 'Quadrophenia')
Room 4 will be 'Our Favourite Shop' featuring exclusive merchandise from all of the artists along with record and clothing stalls.
On
top of this we have an outdoor area with Mod DJ's and a bar to enjoy the 2024
summer weather in between artists.
Tuesday, 28 January 2025
Get Ready For The Countdown - Mod, Brit Soul, R&B and Freakbeat Nuggets Box Set released on 18th April (Rough Trade)
86-track box containing a bespoke mod-friendly mix of 1960s musical styles commencing with tough British R&B from The Pretty Things and The Graham Bond Organization, taking in key tracks by mod heroes Small Faces, The Creation and The Action, freakbeat from The Syn, soul from Mike Wade and Jon And Jeannie and ending with a jazzy Hammond workout by The Spencer Davis Group.
A long awaited follow up to previous mod inspired Strawberry label compilations ‘Halcyon Days’ (2020) and ‘I Love To See You Strut’ (2022) plus the RPM collections ‘Looking Back’ (2011), ‘Keep Looking’ (2014) and 'Night Comes Down’ (2017).
Familiar names such as Laurel Aitken and The Moody Blues are joined by cult favourites including The Artwoods (featuring future Deep Purple organist Jon Lord) and John’s Children.
Eight tracks are taken from producer Joe Meek’s legendary Tea Chest Tapes including a rarity from The Sorrows led by Don Fardon and previously unreleased recordings by mod groups The Riot Squad and The Birds Of Prey, R&B band The Classics plus two groups whose identity is unknown.
Other tracks issued for the first time here include cuts by The Fingers, Dana Gillespie and the Jimmy Henderson Set alongside first time on (official) CD rarities from The Kirkbys, The Athenians, My Generation, Kevin ‘King’ Lear Mike Wade, Magic Lanterns and Karl Stuart and The Profiles.
TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE
1 THE PRETTY THINGS – Roadrunner
2 THE GRAHAM BOND ORGANIZATION – Long Tall Shorty
3 DAVID JOHN & THE MOOD - Pretty Thing
4 THE BETTERDAYS - Don't Want That (Single Version)
5 THE CLASSICS – You Don’t Love Me (You Don’t Care) Take 4 (previously unreleased)
6 THE MOODY BLUES - Bye Bye Bird
7 THE STYLOS - I Wish You Would (previously unreleased)
8 THE MIKE COTTON SOUND - I've Got My Eye On You
9 UNKNOWN GROUP (Joe Meek Tape #734) – Night Train (previously unreleased)
10 RONNIE JONES WITH BLUES INCORPORATED - Night Time Is The Right Time
11 LAUREL AITKEN - I'm In Love With You Baby
12 THE ATHENIANS - Louie, Louie
13 THE WEB – I’ll Try
14 THE LITTLE DARLINGS - Easy To Cry
15 THE SORROWS – Hoochie Koochie Man (Vocal Take 4)
16 GLENDA COLLINS & THE RIOT SQUAD - Can I Get A Witness (Take 1)
17 JAMES ROYAL - I Can't Stand It
18 JACK BRUCE - Rootin' Tootin'
19 THE WEB – Crawling Black Spider
20 THE LITTLE DARLINGS - Little Bit O' Soul
21 WYNDER K. FROG – Incense
22 THE SCORPIONS - The Nana Song
23 THE FINGERS - Can't Live It Down (previously unreleased)
24 KARL STUART & THE PROFILES – Not A Girl In A Million
25 TONY RIVERS & THE CASTAWAYS – Baby What You Want Me To Do
26 RAY HOFF & THE OFFBEATS – The Uncle Willie
27 THE HERD - She Was Really Saying Something
28 RICK AND SANDY - Lost My Girl
29 HERBIE'S PEOPLE - Sweet And Tender Romance
30 THE IN CROWD – I Don’t Mind
DISC TWO
1 SMALL FACES – Get Yourself Together (Mono)
2 THE CREATION – Cool Jerk (Mono)
3 THE BOYS BLUE - Take A Heart
4 THE SESSIONS - Let Me In
5 NEIL CHRISTIAN – Countdown
6 THE ARTWOODS - Be My Lady
7 MIKE PATTO – Love
8 JOHNNY GUSTAFSON – Take Me For A Little While
9 THE CRYIN’ SHAMES - I’ll Keep Holding On
10 THE BIRDS OF PREY – City Lights (Early Alternate Version) (previously unreleased)
11 THE FAVOURITE SONS - Fortune Teller
12 MY GENERATION – Keep Left
13 THE OUTER LIMITS – When The Work Is Through
14 THE RIOT SQUAD – Outrage Take 7 (previously unreleased)
15 UNKNOWN GROUP (Joe Meek Tape 1446) – Let’s Go Baby (Where The Action Is) (previously unreleased)
16 THE TOMCATS – For Your Love
17 THE MERSEYS – So Sad About Us
18 THE KIRKBYS – Keep Me Warm (’Til The Sun Shines)
19 THE MIRAGE – I Want Love
20 THE UNIT – Would You Believe What I Say
21 LIVING DAYLIGHTS - What'cha Gonna Do About It
22 THE MINISTRY OF SOUND – Get Outta My Way
23 MY GENERATION – Getting Out
24 NEIL LANDON - I've Got Nothing To Lose
25 THE HI-FI’S – Grade ‘A’ Girl
26 MIKI DALLON – Captain Man
27 DANA GILLESPIE - Like I'm A Clown (previously unreleased acetate version)
28 MARILYN POWELL – Showdown
29 PHILLIP GOODHAND-TAIT & THE STORMSVILLE SHAKERS – Turn On Your Love Light (Live)
DISC THREE
1 THE ACTION – Never Ever (Longer Stereo Mix)
2 DOUBLE FEATURE - Just Another Lonely Night
3 DON FARDON - Treat Her Right
4 DORIAN GRAY - Move On
5 JOHN’S CHILDREN - Jagged Time Lapse
6 THE SYN – Grounded
7 PLASTIC PENNY - Give Me Money
8 APPLE - Psycho Daisies
9 ELMER GANTRY'S VELVET OPERA - Lookin' For A Happy Life
10 THE ALAN BOWN - My Girl The Month Of May (Mono)
11 GENE LATTER - The Old Iron Bell
12 ALEX HARVEY – Curtains For My Baby
13 THE SPECTRUM - Headin' For A Heatwave
14 MIKE WADE - Two Three Four
15 THE CHANTELLES - Out Of My Mind
16 CARL DOUGLAS & THE BIG STAMPEDE - Let The Birds Sing
17 JON AND JEANNIE - Lovers Holiday
18 MACK KISSOON - Get Down With It (Incorporating Satisfaction)
19 ROOT & JENNY JACKSON - Save Me
20 KEVIN ‘KING’ LEAR - The Man In The Funnies
21 MAGIC LANTERNS - Baby I Gotta Go Now
22 JEANNIE DEE - Come See About Me
23 JIMMY HENDERSON SET - Bet You Didn't Know (previously unreleased)
24 SETH MARTIN - Look At Me
25 VAL MCKENNA – It’s All In My Imagination
26 JIMMY POWELL & THE FIVE DIMENSIONS - Gonna Find A Cave
27 THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP - Alec In Transitland
Bruce Foxton to leave From The Jam after the 2025 Setting Sons tour
After 18 years as co-founder of From The Jam, Bruce Foxton announces today that due to ongoing health issues the final dates of the forthcoming ’Setting Sons’ tour will be his last performances with the group.
Russell Hastings, co-founder of From The Jam says “We are thrilled that Bruce will be performing the last dates of the 'Setting Sons' tour after 18 years of co-fronting From The Jam"
Bruce Foxton says “I'm so excited to be playing for one last time with From The Jam so I can personally say thank you to all the fans who have supported me over the years! It will be emotional!"
Friday, 24 January 2025
Thursday, 23 January 2025
The Killermeters to support Purple Hearts at The Cavern Club next Thursday 30th January
Next Thursday 30th of January 2025 at The Cavern in Liverpool the amazing Killermeters playing great tunes like SX225 etc will be supporting the Purple Hearts
Don't be late....
The Circles 'Anthology' double LP & single CD expected to be released by Detour Records in March
Things are moving along nicely with the new record. It's going to be a double LP or single CD called "Anthology" with 24 tracks spanning our 45 year career. The listing includes a selection of popular tunes plus two brand new songs for 2025. All being well it should be ready in March so we will keep you posted on preordering!
THE SPECIALS LTD tour to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of 'Too Much Too Young'
Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the The Specials' classic #1 single 'Too Much Too Young' with a live set from The Specials Ltd., the world's finest tribute to The Specials.
The Specials Ltd are the world’s most authentic and original tribute to 2-Tone Records legends, The Specials.
When the original line up of The Specials split in 1981 they left behind a legacy which has been unrivaled by a single band since. The Specials formed their own 2-Tone record label which launched the recording careers of Madness, The Beat, The Bodysnatchers and The Selecter.
The Specials Ltd perform classics and fan favourites such as Gangsters, Do The Dog, Message To You Rudy, Stereotype, Rat Race, Do Nothing, Monkey Man, and Ghost Town.
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
The Mark Three record new 5-song EP for F.A.B. Records
The Mark Three returned to The Mushrooms studio in Birmingham last weekend to record a new 5-song EP for F.A.B. Records.
The songs recorded were: -
1) Shit Girlfriend / Shit Boyfriend (Mark Le Gallez)
2) The Groovy Bus (Paul Hooper-Keeley)
3) Upside Down (Emma Page)
4) Monday Girl (Mark Le Gallez)
5) Break Down The Barriers (Paul Hooper-Keeley)
The recordings will be going to the manufacturers shortly to be pressed into a 12" EP.
Friday, 17 January 2025
New issue of Mojo - The 50 Best Songs of The Jam, The Style Council and Paul Weller
THIS MONTH’S COVERMOUNT CD is Beat Surrender! 15 Mod And Northern Soul Floorfillers, featuring James Carr, P.P. Arnold, Wynder K. Frogg, The ‘5’ Royales and an array of irresistible fruggers.
COVER STORY: PAUL WELLER’S 50 GREATEST SONGS From In The City to 66, from The Jam to The Style Council to solo stardom, his timeless compositions unpicked and eulogised. Plus a brand new interview, insights from colleagues and admirers, and more!
RINGO STARR A new album reignites the world’s embrace of The Most Lovable Beatle. Exclusive interview plus a little help from his friends – including Sir Paul McCartney.
EDWYN COLLINS How Orange Juice’s flamboyant refusenik became a pop star – twice – and rebuilt his life after near-fatal stroke. A bold new album underscores his recovery.
1965 IN 45s Sixty years on, Jon Savage revisits the year pop met art in 20 singles spanning rock, soul, folk, drugs and more: “Clearly, 1965 is not 1963, not even 1964…”
Tuesday, 7 January 2025
Friday, 3 January 2025
Toots and the Maytals (featuring Leba Hibbert) 2025 tour dates supported by Rhoda Dakar + The Hempolics
The Maytals formed in the 1960’s and updated their name to Toots and the Maytals for their debut album ’Sweet And Dandy’ in 1969.
One of the best known ska and rocksteady groups, they also are known for the first use of the word ‘reggae’ in a song on their 1968 single ‘Do The Reggay’.
Frederick ‘Toots' Hibbert was considered a reggae pioneer who was named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 100 greatest singers of all time.
Known for classic reggae songs such as ’54-46 Was My Number’, ‘Monkey Man’, ‘Pressure Drop’, ‘Funky Kingston’, ‘Broadway Jungle’, ‘Bam Bam’, ’Time Tough’ and 'Reggae Got Soul’, Toots and the Maytals are now fronted by Toots’ daughter Leba Hibbert, who has released her own recordings and worked with Sly & Robbie, Jimmy Cliff and more.
Special guest supports on the tour will be Rhoda Dakar of the Bodysnatchers performing with her band + The Hempolics.
Block 33 to release 'The Promised Land' album on 7th February
1. Breakthrough
2. A Glimmer Of Hope (For The Small Guy)
3. The Promised Land
4. Lost In The Crowd
5. London Town
6. The Monday Club
7. Stand By Me
8. Lose Your Way
9. Drift Away
10. Cold Heart Of Stone
11. Alive & Dangerous
12. Keep On Smiling
https://www.block33band.co.uk/
Thursday, 2 January 2025
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Detail Magazine - Issue 16 - out in March featuring Rick Buckler, Eddie Phillips, PP Arnold, Shel Talmy, Bruce Foxton and Paul Hooper-Keeley
Claire Mahoney says: Busy working on issue 16 this morning to get this baby off to print. A special issue this one and that's reflected...
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In 1983, the venerable British pop magazine Smash Hits (sadly no longer with us) published a feature called “The Things People Said,” in w... -
After 18 years as co-founder of From The Jam , Bruce Foxton announces today that due to ongoing health issues the final dates of the fort...