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.
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)
Bruce Foxton to leave From The Jam after the 2025 Setting Sons tour
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
Tracklisting: -
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
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...
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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...