The Style Council Our Favourite Shop Album Review

[@bju7079]

Great review for one of my all time favorite albums. The flow of the record is brilliant. I purchased it on cassette when it was released here in San Francisco ('85), but it was called Internationalists and with a different cover (black & white - Weller / Talbot photo). Also had the Shout To The Top US Mix instead of the regular version. I still listen to it at least once a month.

[@ChrisW444]

Probably my favourite album of all time. Total classic and lovely to see the singles and their sleeves. Reminds of very special times and a great period for music, especially Weller. Brilliant. Thank you.

[@jasonwheeler3669]

This is my least favourite period of his career but my favourite shop is probably one of the best albums he has made.I agree some of the best artwork he has had on his albums as well.

[@mod69]

Shout to the top was covered fire island and loleatta holloway and actually made it to no.1 is the US dance charts in 98

[@RossGoodallMusic]

Thanks, I didnt know that, certainty the song had potential to become a bigger hit. Take Care

[@jaysoncarmichael7104]

Album reflected lots going on at time. Miners had just been defeated, last chance to defeat Thatcher gone. Summer was awful wet, unlike previous 2 summers. Album tries to be so optimistic. Also Council wasonly place for the still large numbers of Parka wearing Mod revivalists of early eighties.

[@VinylCollectorJames]

good job Ross, I learned a lot about an album I know little about. I'll have to give it another listen, of course I've had the American version for years but the UK one is almost an entirely different album. The US company rejected this album, and in some ways I can see why. It's not very commercial. I'll have to play them side by side and see which I prefer. Take Care

[@RossGoodallMusic]

VinylCollector James hi mate, glad you enjoyed the review, I don't think the US version is too different, they just removed 2 tracks and replaced them with Shout To The Top. Also I don't think it was this album they rejected but the follow up as they had to switch labels for the US release of that but I could be wrong.

[@telsutton]

Imo Shout To The Top, Spin Drifting, The Piccadilly Trail and - wait for it - See The Day, should have made the album at the expense of the title track, TSUCI, WETL and Internationalists. That would have been some album... but it wouldn't have been 'Our Favourite Shop', in much the same way that Sgt Peppers wouldn't be Sgt Peppers if they'd thrown Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane on there instead of Good Morning, Lovely Rita, She's Leaving Home etc. ;-) Nice review, and good to see a younger generation appreciating an album that was important in the face of the defeat we suffered in South Yorkshire, March 85.

[@RossGoodallMusic]

Thanks, yes the album would be very different and possibly even better with those first 3 songs on it.

[@braddersthemod]

great review! very enjoyable.

[@antxyz]

i love this group

[@MrElirecords]

Great band, great album, great review - Thanks.

[@neilharris7547]

Nice review. I would only add that The Style Council was Weller and Talbot's 'MOD' project and 'the Shop' is about the kind of shops MODS bought their clothes from and where they got their style. You are quite right about the politics but everything also has to be seen through MOD spectacles. It's probably why it didn't make it in the States where they have no idea of MOD culture. Keep on listening.

[@bju7079]

Some of us do. We're not all ignorant!