Paul Weller - Hit Parade

Hit Parade, as its title implies, takes a shot at compiling an adequate amount of material from all three of Paul Weller's artistic eras--his early days as a mod revivalist in The Jam, the soul/groove of The Style Council, and his diverse solo career. Slimming down thirty years' worth of material to a mere 23 tracks is a nearly impossible task, but Yep Roc is to be commended for its valiant effort. Missing are the earlier efforts of The Jam; classics "In the City" and "The Modern World" aren't present, Hit Parade seemingly catering to the more elaborate work of the band that would play a huge role in Weller's formation of The Style Council. "Beat Surrender" and "Town Called Malice" are the most telling of what was to come, the former supplemented by lots of brass with the latter calling on keyboards for an added element. The Style Council carried Weller through most of the '80s, and the band's most solid work (a lot of it is good, but their catalog is also home to lots of cheesy garbage best forgotten) is what's presented here. The porno groove of "Long Hot Summer" isn't so fresh two decades later, but "My Ever Changing Moods" is a supreme summertime track. Plus, the video (you know, the one with Weller and keyboardist Mick Talbot lovingly riding bicycles together) is hilarious and worth tracking down on YouTube. "Shout to the Top" is tense and soulful, with Weller's croon at its best. Few artists have rebounded from two successful acts to launch into an equally laudable solo career, but Paul Weller managed his time in the '90s well enough to write solid record after solid record. The majority of the 11 solo project tracks are culled from Wild Wood ('93) and Stanley Road ('95), but one of the disc's most effective numbers is a newer one--"From the Floorboards Up," taken from 2005's As Is Now. For those looking to familiarize themselves with this phenomenal songwriter, there's no better solution than the individual albums. For the thrifty consumer, however, Hit Parade is an affordable and more than adequate starting point. [www.yeproc.com]