Paul Weller's answer to the end of The Jam

When The Jam broke up, Paul Weller did not form another rock band. In late 1982 in Woking, Surrey, he teamed up with keyboardist Mick Talbot, whom he chose because Talbot “shares my hatred of the rock myth and the rock culture”. The Style Council was meant to be loose and floating, a core duo with guest musicians and singers. Drummer Steve White and vocalist Dee C. Lee, then Weller’s girlfriend, became part of the permanent lineup.

The first year showed how widely they wanted to roam. Four non-album singles came out in 1983: “Speak Like a Child” was soul-influenced pop, “Money-Go-Round” an extended funk track with political lyrics, “Long Hot Summer” a synth ballad and “A Solid Bond in Your Heart” was influenced by Northern Soul. The last had been recorded by The Jam the year before as a possible final single. All four made the UK Top 20, at numbers 4, 11, 3 and 11.

In February 1984 “My Ever Changing Moods” reached number 5 in the UK, and the debut album Café Bleu entered the album chart at number 2. It mixed jazz, soul, pop and funk, used guest vocalists and instrumentals, and divided critics and confused fans, but spent 36 weeks on the chart. A stripped-down vocal and piano version of the single appeared on the album. “You’re the Best Thing”, re-recorded from an album track, and “Shout to the Top!” followed as Top 10 singles.

The band toured the UK on shows called Council Meetings, played four dates in Japan, where they became hugely popular, and filled in Italy, where demand for tickets in Bologna forced a switch to a bigger venue. A short American tour took “My Ever Changing Moods” to number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, still the highest US placing for Weller, including his time with The Jam. By the end of 1984 they were voted best new band in Billboard magazine. In total the band scored seven UK top 10 hits.