I agree with all of you. Been watching this one over and over since the original broadcast. The whole set is on fire. So much soul and intensity... The breakdown at 4:10!
He never lost anythin mate!... he knew it was time to move on...Style Council was a progression with good songs ... then came Weller full bore! . Can't fault the guy... pure genius!.
I remember watching this on TV as a 12 yr old guitar player - I was so blown away by Steve White I decided the drum kit was the way to go. I now make a living playing drums. Awesome performance.
Weller is an amazing talent. Excellent guitarist, wonderful songwriter and a great voice. I love it when scrawny little English people produce these power voices. Him, Steve Marriott, Rod Stewart (before Rod went MOR), Jack Bruce, and women like Cilla Black (who got subverted by bland pop, as did poor Lulu), Julie Driscoll and others. Weller is one of the greats. No-one quite like him. One of the great things about him is the *dynamics* of his longer songs. They are hard rock but also really melodic and atmospheric. Stuff like this and 'Shadow of the Sun', for instance. Plus, on a human level, he seems to be a down-to-earth no-bullshit kind of bloke. I was impressed he turned down a CBE too. Good on him. He doesn't need no endorsement from the Establishment. He's got it from the People.
I managed to get a bootleg CD of this back in 1997 but never tire of watching this. The pure joy and energy of this performance is electric. Rosie Danvers and Wired Strings are superb and completely taken away with the music as they always are when backing Weller. An upload of the whole gig is on here somewhere. Shiver down the spine music.
The amount of joyous energy expended playing that choon is immense.... absolutely everyone involved is giving 100% and loving it...especially the cellist out of "The Wired Strings" who has a smile on her face as wide as her legs wrapped round her cello!
Still get goose bumps watching this, after years and years of watching it hundreds of time - Weller at his VERY best. The leader of the strings always caught my eye. Man I fancied her for years iust watching this gig.
I just found this song today...When it comes to Mr.Weller, I always want more! He's so prolific, and so potent, whether he's rocking us or serenading us with his beautiful, sensual (but always classy) ballads. I love the lush instrumentation on this one, including the old synth sound near 4:00.! Rock on, Paul!
Weller at his absolute best. Stellar musicians with him and the lady playing the cello is loving it, she was probably on a night off from the LSO and having a great time!
Nobody comes close to the mighty Paul Weller , ordinary mortals can't replicate there studio work like Paul , his is better and they are all loving it .. Steve whites face says it all ..
A friend lent me a video tape (how long ago was that - 1997) of this concert on Later. Profoundly affected me then and now this and Man of great Promise taken to another level brilliant
I've got an old videotape I made of this show/concert back when it was broadcast on MuchMusic back about 15 years ago. I'm frantically trying to get a dvd of it as I'm afraid of the tape quality going downhill. Still no luck but I'll keep looking! :) This song was the highlight of the show I think. Love the way Weller and Cradock 'keep the song" going at around the 4:51 area. Whitey is looking around at them, then figures it out and gets it all going again...awesome!
From Steve Marriott and Tin Soldier to Paul Weller and Whirlpool's end...it's called evolution. The question is...who can surpass Weller? I hope I live long enough! Simply excellent.
