Paul Weller: Five Essential Albums
Paul Weller (photo by Nicole Nodland, PR)
The release of Paul Weller's 17th solo album, 2024's 66, came a day before the musician's birthday in late May. It's a lushly conceived testament to all of those years that this inventive and influential songwriter, guitarist and singer has made and loved music in multiple guises (it was his 28th album overall, including The Jam and The Style Council).
Weller's keen understanding and unabashed romanticism about the craft of songwriting and arrangement is persuasively laid out on 66, which took him three years to make. There's additional input from guest lyricists (Noel Gallagher, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie, and Madness's Suggs) and adventurous composer/arrangers (Hannah Peel, Erland Cooper), but most of all there's the ballast of Weller's wistful, soulful voice, eloquently shaping songs like "Nothing," "Rise Up Singing," and the dreamy lullaby "In Full Flight," the latter featuring backing vocals from Say She She and co-produced by Weller and White Label.
Weller and his bandmates kick off a tour of the States this very week — beginning on Friday, September 6, at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey and continuing onto Brooklyn's Kings Theatre on Saturday, September 7. Ahead of his New York area appearances, FUV asked Paul for his "Five Essential Albums," giving him free rein to choose any theme he'd like — and he chose to highlight five albums and artists that he considers early, essential influences in his life.
Paul Weller: Five Essential Albums
The Zombies, Odyssey & Oracle (1968)
My all-time favourite record. The melodies are so beautiful, great lyrics too. It’s very English sounding, in an almost classical way.
Sly & the Family Stone, Fresh (1973)
This is sci-fi, future funk, what a record!!
The Who, My Generation (1965)
This is THE sound of 1960s London! Clean, hard and cool. Total Mod.
The Wailers, Catch a Fire (1971)
Love this record, but only the original Jamaican version. You can really hear the power of The Wailers and band.
John and Alice Coltrane, Cosmic Music (1968)
Two beautiful souls and their wonderful astral music.
- Paul Weller
September 2024
