(CD RELEASE 15/5, 2026) THE STYLE COUNCIL - CAFE BLEU

When The Style Council’s debut album Café Bleu was released in 1984, Weller and wing-man Mick Talbot unveiled a cosmopolitan blend of jazz, soul, and pop that felt effortlessly sophisticated and daringly fresh. Café Bleu was more than a debut—it was a statement of intent, redefining what British pop could sound like in a new decade.

Since then, fans have been waiting for a deep dive into the Style Council vaults eager to hear any unreleased material. And now the wait is over.

The Café Bleu Special Edition is a treasure trove for Style Council devotees and music lovers alike - an immersive journey into one of the most inventive eras of Paul Weller’s career. This lavish release unveils a wealth of previously unheard material, including early demos, alternate takes, and unreleased songs that showcase the band’s restless drive for experimentation and evolution. Adding even more depth, the set features an extraordinary collection of BBC session and live recordings, capturing the band in full creative flight. Completing the package are superb new sleeve notes from broadcaster and longtime Café Bleu champion Gary Crowley, offering fresh insight into this timeless classic’s enduring legacy.

Highlights from the collection include:

CD1 – Extended edition of Introducing… The Style Council.

CD2 – Café Bleu full album. As well as the two hit singles “My Ever Changing Moods” and “You’re The Best Thing”, stand-out tracks on the original Café Bleu include "Headstart for Happiness" and "The Paris Match" which features Tracey Thorn on vocals.

CD3 - All related singles, B-sides, remixes, and demos from that era.

CD4 – Unreleased demos, Outtakes & Alternate Versions, including:

• An early demo of “Long Hot Summer” (Aug 1982) showing its evolution from “Le Départ" offering a fascinating insight into its evolving musical journey.

• “Boy Hairdresser” (written for Respond artist Tracie Young).

• Extended 6:31 version of “The Paris Match” and early variant “Summertime Song.”

• Unreleased instrumental gems from Mick Talbot including a jazzier “Party Chambers” and “Mick’s Demo.”

CD5 & CD6 – BBC Sessions & Live Performances made available for release for the first time, including:

• Live recordings from Cheltenham’s Gold Diggers and London’s Dominion Theatre.

• BBC Radio One sessions (1983) for David Jensen and Saturday Live, featuring standout versions of “Headstart for Happiness,” “The Paris Match,” “Long Hot Summer,” and “My Ever Changing Moods.”

TRACKLIST:

DISC 1

1. Speak Like A Child
2. Party Chambers
3. Money-Go-Round (Parts 1&2) (original 12 inch version)
4. Headstart For Happiness (early version)
5. Mick's Up
6. Long Hot Summer (extended version)
7. The Paris Match (early version)
8. Party Chambers (instrumental)
9. Le Depart
10. A Solid Bond In Your Heart
11. It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands
12. My Ever Changing Moods (long version)
13. Spring, Summer, Autumn
14. Mick's Company
15. Money-Go-Round (Parts 1&2) (Bert Bevans remix /club mix)
16. Long Hot Summer (club mix aka 12" mix)

DISC 2

1. Mick's Blessings
2. The Whole Point Of No Return
3. Me Ship Came In!
4. Blue Café
5. The Paris Match
6. My Ever Changing Moods
7. Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse
8. A Gospel
9. Strength Of Your Nature
10. You're The Best Thing
11. Here's One That Got Away
12. Headstart For Happiness
13. Council Meetin'

DISC 3

1. You're The Best Thing (7" version)
2. You're The Dub Thing
3. The Big Boss Groove (12" version)
4. Money-Go-Round (dance mix)
5. Long Hot Summer (Don't Matter What I Do) (7" single)
6. A Solid Bond In Your Heart (instrumental)
7. My Ever Changing Moods (7" version)

DISC 4

1. Long Hot Summer (pre TSC demo)
2. Party Chambers (alternate version)
3. Up For Grabs (demo)
4. Take It To The Top (demo)
5. Mick’s Demo
6. Funk Interlude
7. The Big Boss Groove
8. Summertime Song
9. The Paris Match (with Tracey Thorn) (long version)
10. Come Away With Me (demo)
11. Me Ship Came In! (alternate version)
12. Dropping Bombs on The White House (alternate version)
13. That One In D’ Minor (demo)
14. Boy Hairdresser
15. A Gospel (alternate instrumental version)
16. A Gospel (outtake)
17. Mick’s Company
18. I’m In The Mood For Gazza

DISC 5

1. Headstart For Happiness
2. Mick's Up
3. Here's One That Got Away
4. The Paris Match
5. Head Start For Happiness
6. Here's One That Got Away
7. The Paris Match
8. Times Are Tight
9. My Ever Changing Moods
10. Mick's Blessings
11. Paris Match
12. Head Start For Happiness
13. Long Hot Summer
14. Meeting Over Yonder
15. My Ever Changing Moods
16. It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands
17. Mick's Up
18. Here's One That Got Away
19. Up For Grabs
20. Dropping Bombs On The White House
21. Long Hot Summer

DISC 6

1. Money-Go-Round
2. Speak Like A Child
3. Headstart For Happiness
4. Hanging On To A Memory
5. Meeting Over Yonder
6. My Ever Changing Moods
7. Speak Like A Child
8. The Whole Point Of No Return
9. Le Depart
10. The Paris Match
11. Party Chambers
12. Money-Go-Round
13. Head Start For Happiness
14. Hanging On To A Memory
15. Dropping Bombs On The White House
16. Long Hot Summer