(The Style Council - sly political sendup)

Since we at Newstalgia take requests, I've had several over the past few weeks for some 80's bands. Needless to say, I ran across this concert from the BBC featuring 80's icons The Style Council and I didn't think twice.

A great band that didn't have the same appeal over here as they did in the UK, probably having more to do with the Thatcher Years and political statements germane to the UK than the U.S. - the whole concept behind The Style Council was taking the Punk/Mod ethos that was The Jam (Paul Weller's previous group) and weaving it into a highly conservative appearing setting, adapting that wonderful concept known as "taking the piss".

The result was wildly successful, but mostly misunderstood over here. Like I said, we didn't have Thatcher and our idea of class consciousness isn't the same. So it fell largely on perplexed ears.

But in 1984, Style Council were riding the crest of a wave and this concert captures them right there.

Enjoy.

Heading into the 80's tonight with a track by The Style Council. When The Jam called it quits, front man Paul Weller promptly switched gears from Punk icon to Blue-eyed Soul and Funk aficionado and baffled quit a few fans in the process. But for all the scorn he reaped from his old fans, his new ones came running and The Style Council created a lasting impression and a newly-found admiration base for Paul Weller.

Tonight it's a track off Introducing The Style Council, released in 1983. Long Hot Summer starts the album off and quickly eases into the groove that would be their trademark over the next several years.

And since we are heading on a crash course for Summer anyway . . . .