by Paul Weller has been in the public eye ever since he emerged as an angst-ridden teenager with The Jam. What is perhaps most impressive, though, is that he has never seemed to come close to wearing out his welcome, especially with the British public.
The reason for that, aside from his acerbic wit and regular self-depreceating nature, is that he has seemingly managed to channel the very lifeblood of the nation through his songs. Throughout his spectacular career, Weller has veered into different sonic lanes and has an innate ability to never stay in the same place so long.
These contrasting eras of Weller mean more to different people, and he’s always had his finger on the pulse when it comes to timing, with The Modfather moving on to ventures new before things get stale. His youthful anger with The Jam made him the voice of a generation, and rather than milking the gravy train, Weller took a left turn by moving into the world of neo-soul with The Style Council.
Never resorting to the safe option, Weller’s bravery is often reflected in his music taste. His list of favourite tracks celebrates innovators rather than those who instead followed the pack. Weller’s music preference is vintage, paying homage to the true creators who helped inspire different stages of his varied career.
In 2007, Weller made an appearance on the much-celebrated institution, Desert Island Discs. The BBC Radio 4 programme has been a cornerstone of culture since Ray Plomlye created it in 1942. Everybody from Prime Ministers to Hollywood A-Listers has sat in the hot seat at Broadcasting House to reveal the eight songs they would choose for their company if stranded on a desert island. It has become as part of the British cultural fabric as Weller himself.
Asked to pick eight songs they simply couldn’t live without, the opportunity to peer inside the brain of the great cultural leaders of our time and see their personalities through the music they have chosen to soundtrack the rest of their inescapable fantasy life is always fascinating. For Weller, it was another chance to see the mercurial musical mind at work.
Weller’s first choice is ‘Tin Soldier’ from The Small Faces. Explaining his decision, he tells host Kirsty Young: “If I had to pick one band from that era, I guess it’s them. I just love everything about them. They look like a proper band. They are all the same size; I liked the way they looked, the way they sound. They look like a proper group. There’s so few group’s like that these days, and sound like it as well.”
Kirsty Young, the show’s host, picked up on this comment and noted that Weller has always been fascinated by fashion. Seen by many as one of British music’s unstoppably stylish forces, the Modfather has long been a signatory to style. “It wasn’t just the music, it was the attitude, it was the haircuts, it was everything, it was all encompassing. It all went hand in hand to me,” confirming just how keenly Weller has aligned his looks with his work.
His next selection was Dinah Washington, and he reflected on how the track ‘September Rain’, “makes me think of my mum and dad really, and that period of time.” Reflecting on the 1960s and how it provided a different sense of music for Weller as a child. “[Reminds him] of being a really small kid and hearing that sort of music. I was still in that age of romance and innocence. Just beautiful arrangements.”
Another artist Weller picked out to accompany him on a desert island is James Brown and his track ‘Don’t Be a Drop Out’, who has been a stark influence on the soulful periods of his career. “I could have chosen the more obvious, funky James Brown tracks, but this has got its own sort of funk,” Weller commented.
The late jazz pianist, Charles Mingus, is another artist whom Weller greatly admires, and his track ‘Better Get Hit in Yo’ Soul’ will be joining The Modfather on the island. “It’s soulful and funky, and he’s a great composer; it’s not just all about soloists,” the former Jam singer commented.
When Kirsty Young sprung it upon Weller at the end, if he could only save one record out of his eight selections from the tide, the singer arduously answered: “Out of loyalty The Small Faces, musically Nick Drake.” After being pressed by the host, Weller showed his loyalty by sticking with the band who opened his horizons and made him want to form The Jam.
Check out the full playlist, below.
Paul Weller’s eight favourite songs
- The Small Faces – ‘Tin Soldier’
- Dinah Washington – ‘September in the Rain’
- Charles Mingus – ‘Better Get Hit in Yo’ Soul’
- James Brown – ‘Don’t Be a Drop Out’
- Branford Marsalis with the English Chamber Orchestra – ‘Arabesque No 1’
- Declan O’Rourke – ‘Galileo (Someone Like You)’
- Nick Drake – ‘River Man’
- Roscoe – ‘That’s Enough’
