Paul Weller - Studio 150 (2004) [SACD]
![Paul Weller - Studio 150 (2004) [SACD]](https://www.dibpic.com/uploads/posts/2021-08/1630246784_09914-4133_jpeg.jpg)
BAND/ARTIST: Paul Weller
- Title: Studio 150
- Year Of Release: 2004
- Label: V2 [VVR1026900]
- Genre: Pop, Rock
- Quality: DSD64 image (*.iso) / 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz
- Total Time: 00:45:49
- Total Size: 3,1 GB (+3%rec.)
- WebSite: Album Preview
Studio 150 is the seventh album by British artist Paul Weller. It comprises covers of songs by a variety of artists, and showcases Weller's myriad musical influences. It was named after the small Amsterdam studio in which it was recorded. It entered the charts at #2.
For Studio 150, his seventh solo studio album, Paul Weller delivers his first official covers album. Not that he's been reluctant to cover other songwriters, of course. Throughout his career, he's made covers a staple of his records and concerts. In fact, he cut so many as B-sides in the '90s that his 2003 B-sides and rarities compilation Fly on the Wall had a whole disc devoted to material from other songwriters. Studio 150 feels like a sister album to that disc, and not just because it shares a similar sensibility and has songs by both Tim Hardin and Neil Young. Musically, Studio 150 sounds as if it could have been recorded in 1995 as the missing link between Stanley Road and Heavy Soul, containing the swinging mod vibe of the former with the tough, muscular punch of the latter. While it could be argued that Weller is treading water, or even retreating after the subtle shifts forward on Illumination, it's almost a moot point since the band sounds terrific and he's in fine voice. Plus, this is a covers album and innovation isn't exactly expected on covers albums. What is expected is that the artist puts his own signature on songs from another writer, and Weller does that. True, as a whole Studio 150 doesn't sound all that different from other records in his catalog, but he's managed to find new spins on perennials like "Close to You" and "All Along the Watchtower," interpretations that fit within his signature blend of '70s soul, mod pop, and singer/songwriter introspection. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the album consists of songs from the late '60s and '70s, with selections from singer/songwriters like Tim Hardin, Gil Scott-Heron, Gordon Lightfoot, and Neil Young sitting comfortably next to relatively obscure soul and disco singles (with a previously unrecorded song from Weller disciple Noel Gallagher blending into the surroundings nicely). Some of these songs are familiar, but these arrangements are distinctly Weller's own, and it makes for an effective listen – maybe not a major effort from the Modfather, but an enjoyable one all the same.
Tracks:
01. If I Could Only Be Sure (Northern Soul song from 1972 by Nolan Porter)
02. Wishing On A Star (originally a 1978 hit single by funk band Rose Royce)
03. Don't Make Promises (from Tim Hardin's 1966 debut album)
04. The Bottle (from Scott-Heron's 1974 album Winter in America)
05. Black Is The Colour (Appalachian folk song with Scottish origins, popularised by Pete Seeger, Nina Simone & Joan Baez)
06. Close To You (originally sung by Richard Chamberlain in 1963, popularised by The Carpenters in 1970)
07. Early Morning Rain (originally by Gordon Lightfoot from his 1966 debut album Lightfoot!)
08. One Way Road (originally appeared as a b-side on Oasis' 2000 single "Who Feels Love?")
09. Hercules (recorded in 1973 by Aaron Neville for a single release)
10. Thinking Of You (originally by Sister Sledge from 1979, became a UK hit in 1984)
11. All Along The Watchtower (originally Dylan's 1967 album John Wesley Harding - Weller's version is based on Jimi Hendrix's arrangement of the song from Electric Ladyland)
12. Birds (originally from Neil Young's 1970 album After the Gold Rush)
![Paul Weller - Studio 150 (2004) [SACD]](https://www.dibpic.com/uploads/posts/2021-08/1630246823_back-out.jpg)
For Studio 150, his seventh solo studio album, Paul Weller delivers his first official covers album. Not that he's been reluctant to cover other songwriters, of course. Throughout his career, he's made covers a staple of his records and concerts. In fact, he cut so many as B-sides in the '90s that his 2003 B-sides and rarities compilation Fly on the Wall had a whole disc devoted to material from other songwriters. Studio 150 feels like a sister album to that disc, and not just because it shares a similar sensibility and has songs by both Tim Hardin and Neil Young. Musically, Studio 150 sounds as if it could have been recorded in 1995 as the missing link between Stanley Road and Heavy Soul, containing the swinging mod vibe of the former with the tough, muscular punch of the latter. While it could be argued that Weller is treading water, or even retreating after the subtle shifts forward on Illumination, it's almost a moot point since the band sounds terrific and he's in fine voice. Plus, this is a covers album and innovation isn't exactly expected on covers albums. What is expected is that the artist puts his own signature on songs from another writer, and Weller does that. True, as a whole Studio 150 doesn't sound all that different from other records in his catalog, but he's managed to find new spins on perennials like "Close to You" and "All Along the Watchtower," interpretations that fit within his signature blend of '70s soul, mod pop, and singer/songwriter introspection. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the album consists of songs from the late '60s and '70s, with selections from singer/songwriters like Tim Hardin, Gil Scott-Heron, Gordon Lightfoot, and Neil Young sitting comfortably next to relatively obscure soul and disco singles (with a previously unrecorded song from Weller disciple Noel Gallagher blending into the surroundings nicely). Some of these songs are familiar, but these arrangements are distinctly Weller's own, and it makes for an effective listen – maybe not a major effort from the Modfather, but an enjoyable one all the same.
Tracks:
01. If I Could Only Be Sure (Northern Soul song from 1972 by Nolan Porter)
02. Wishing On A Star (originally a 1978 hit single by funk band Rose Royce)
03. Don't Make Promises (from Tim Hardin's 1966 debut album)
04. The Bottle (from Scott-Heron's 1974 album Winter in America)
05. Black Is The Colour (Appalachian folk song with Scottish origins, popularised by Pete Seeger, Nina Simone & Joan Baez)
06. Close To You (originally sung by Richard Chamberlain in 1963, popularised by The Carpenters in 1970)
07. Early Morning Rain (originally by Gordon Lightfoot from his 1966 debut album Lightfoot!)
08. One Way Road (originally appeared as a b-side on Oasis' 2000 single "Who Feels Love?")
09. Hercules (recorded in 1973 by Aaron Neville for a single release)
10. Thinking Of You (originally by Sister Sledge from 1979, became a UK hit in 1984)
11. All Along The Watchtower (originally Dylan's 1967 album John Wesley Harding - Weller's version is based on Jimi Hendrix's arrangement of the song from Electric Ladyland)
12. Birds (originally from Neil Young's 1970 album After the Gold Rush)
Pop | Rock | HD & Vinyl
As a ISRA.CLOUD's PREMIUM member you will have the following benefits:
- Unlimited high speed downloads
- Download directly without waiting time
- Unlimited parallel downloads
- Support for download accelerators
- No advertising
- Resume broken downloads