The Style Council is set to release a large 'Café Bleu' box set next year.
The group, consisting of Paul Weller and his collaborator Mick Talbot, rose from the remnants of The Jam, a band Weller disbanded at their peak. Shifting towards a blend of European elegance, jazz influences, and political themes, their debut album 'Café Bleu' debuted to significant acclaim in 1984.
This six-disc box set is scheduled for release on January 30th, featuring a 6CD / 3LP compilation of rarities, outtakes, BBC sessions, and additional content.
The box set provides a comprehensive look at the album's origins, beginning with an expanded rendition of the Dutch import 'Introducing… The Style Council'.
The second disc features the complete 'Café Bleu', while the third disc includes all non-album singles, B-sides, and tracks from that period.
The fourth disc presents a variety of demos and alternate takes, while the fifth and sixth discs compile an extensive collection of live performances and BBC sessions.
Pre-order the box set HERE.
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CD1 – Introducing Expanded
1 Speak Like A Child
2 Party Chambers
3 Money-Go-Round (Parts 1&2) (original 12-inch version)
4 Headstart For Happiness (early version)
5 Mick’s Up
6 Long Hot Summer (extended version)
7 The Paris Match (early version)
8 Party Chambers (instrumental)
9 Le Depart
10 A Solid Bond In Your Heart
11 It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands
12 My Ever Changing Moods (long version)
13 Spring, Summer, Autumn
14 Mick’s Company
15 Money-Go-Round (Parts 1&2) (Bert Bevans remix / club mix)
16 Long Hot Summer (club mix aka 12″ mix)
CD2 – Original album
1 Mick’s Blessings
2 The Whole Point Of No Return
3 Me Ship Came In!
4 Blue Café
5 The Paris Match
6 My Ever Changing Moods
7 Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse
8 A Gospel
9 Strength Of Your Nature
10 You’re The Best Thing
11 Here’s One That Got Away
12 Headstart For Happiness
13 Council Meetin’
CD3 – Post-album singles, B-sides, single edits, and remixes
1 You’re The Best Thing (7″ version)
2 You’re The Dub Thing
3 The Big Boss Groove (12″ version)
4 Money Go Round (Dance mix)
5 Long Hot Summer (Don’t Matter What I Do) (7″ single)
6 A Solid Bond In Your Heart (instrumental)
7 My Ever Changing Moods (7″ version)
CD4 – Demos, outtakes, and alternate versions
1 Long Hot Summer (pre-TSC demo)
2 Party Chambers (alternate version)
3 Up For Grabs (demo)
4 Take It To The Top (demo)
5 Mick’s Demo
6 Funk Interlude
7 The Big Boss Groove
8 Summertime Song
9 The Paris Match (with Tracey Thorn) (long version)
10 Come Away With Me (demo)
11 Me Ship Came In! (alternate version)
12 Dropping Bombs on The White House (alternate version)
13 That One In D’ Minor (demo)
14 Boy Hairdresser
15 A Gospel (alternate instrumental version)
16 A Gospel (outtake)
17 Mick’s Company
18 I’m In The Mood For Gazza
CD5 – BBC Sessions & Live
Radio 1 Session 5/5/83
1 Headstart For Happiness
2 Mick’s Up
3 Here’s One That Got Away
4 The Paris Match
SBH: In Concert 11/6/83. Recorded as part of the Respond Package night at the Paris Theatre London
5 Headstart For Happiness
6 Here’s One That Got Away
7 The Paris Match
8 Times Are Tight
Saturday Live 31/12/83 In Session
9 My Ever Changing Moods
10 Mick’s Blessings
11 The Paris Match
12 Headstart For Happiness
13 Long Hot Summer
BBC Live at the Dominion Theatre Pt.1 14/3/84
14 Meeting Over Yonder
15 My Ever Changing Moods
16 It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands
17 Mick’s Up
18 Here’s One That Got Away
19 Up For Grabs
20 Dropping Bombs On The White House
21 Long Hot Summer
CD6 – Live versions
BBC Live at the Dominion Theatre Pt.2 14/3/84
1 Money Go Round
2 Speak Like A Child
3 Headstart For Happiness
4 Hanging On To A Memory
BBC Sight & Sound In Concert – Live At Goldiggers Chippenham 10/3/84
5 Meeting Over Yonder
6 My Ever Changing Moods
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Next year, The Style Council will launch an extensive 'Café Bleu' box set. The group, consisting of Paul Weller and collaborator Mick Talbot, arose from the remnants of The