When Paul Weller dissolved The Jam at the height of their fame in 1982, it was a shock to the British music scene. But that bold act of reinvention gave rise to The Style Council, a genre-blending project that redefined pop sophistication. Their debut album ‘Café Bleu’ arrived in 1984 as a mix of jazz, soul, and pop that sounded like nothing else at the time—an artistic statement and a complete reimagining of what British pop could be.
Now, forty years later, ‘Café Bleu’ is being celebrated with a sprawling 6-CD and 3-LP Special Edition, available January 30, 2026, on Universal Music Recordings and pre-order is happening here. The release is a treasure chest for fans, featuring unreleased demos, alternate takes, B-sides, live sessions, and BBC performances. From early versions of “Long Hot Summer” and “The Paris Match” featuring Tracey Thorn, to rare outtakes like “Boy Hairdresser” and new extended club mixes, this collection captures The Style Council at their creative peak. Broadcaster Gary Crowley contributes brand-new sleevenotes, offering deep insight into Weller’s most daring era.
Full Track Listing:
CD1 – Introducing Expanded
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)
CD2 – Original Album
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’
CD3 – Singles, B-sides, and Remixes
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)
CD4 – Demos, Outtakes, and Alternate Versions
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
CD5 & CD6 – BBC Sessions & Live Performances
- BBC Radio 1 Session (May 1983)
- Saturday Live Session (Dec 1983)
- Live at Gold Diggers, Cheltenham (Mar 1984)
- Live at the Dominion Theatre, London (Mar 1984)
3LP Vinyl Edition
Includes selections from the expanded edition, original album, remixes, demos, and BBC live recordings, spread across six sides. Highlights include “Speak Like A Child,” “Long Hot Summer,” “My Ever Changing Moods,” and “The Big Boss Groove.”
