Paul Weller

About this product

If the unsigned years preceding this album's release saw Paul all dressed up with nowhere to go, the critical and public acclaim of his first solo effort, Paul Weller put him right back where he belonged: in the limelight, strumming out telling tunes of the time. "It's all been a gamble" he admitted, "but it's certainly paid off."

Having been in two massively successful and respected bands, Paul Weller would have been forgiven for finding a solo career somewhat daunting. But in 1992 he bit the proverbial bullet and put out an album of jazz-tinged guitar-led tunes that, under the heady influence of producer Brendan Lynch, came with added funk and fraught lyricism.

From the soul-stomping delights of opener 'Uh Huh Oh Yeah', the album works through themes and melodies, with nods to influences like Marvin Gaye in 'Above the Clouds', while 'Bull Rush' hails The Who's 'Magic Bus'. As with any frontman-goes-solo project, there was fear of failure and ridicule: "People may say I'm being brave or stupid. But I'm just doing it the way it comes out."