I am a Paul Weller fan, and it’s nice to see what he did after he left The Jam in 1982. Some really good soul pop songs and excellent songwriting, as you would expect from Weller. I mostly know his Jam songs but I’m learning more about him.
Paul Weller and Mick Talbot built the song around a bright keyboard riff and a gospel-type groove that is more Curtis Mayfield than punk. It was a stand-alone single. It was later added to the 1984 album Our Favourite Shop CD release, and it became one of their biggest hits in the UK and a club favorite. It was on the US album Internationalists, a version of this album.
This song is a great example of a perfect blend of soul history and modern pop. It’s built for radios and dance floors…and anyone needing a push through their day. Instead of stacking layers of guitars, the band focused on the rhythm and let the groove carry everything.
The song peaked at #7 in the UK and #6 in New Zealand in 1984-85. The album peaked at #1 in the UK, #6 in New Zealand, #123 in the Billboard Album Charts, and #53 in Canada.
Should It To The Top
I was half in mind, I was half in needAnd as the rain came downI dropped to my knees and I prayedI said, “Oh heavenly thing, please cleanse my soulI’ve seen all on offer and I’m not impressed at all”
I was halfway home, I was half insaneAnd every shop window I looked in just looked the sameI said, “Now send me a sign to save my life‘Cause at this moment in time there is nothing certain inThese days of mine”
You see it’s a frightening thing when it dawns upon youThat I know as much as the day I was bornAnd though I wasn’t asked, I might as well stayAnd promise myself each and every day
That when you’re knocked on your back and your life’s a flopAnd when you’re down on the bottom there’s nothing elseBut to shout to the topWell we’re gonna shout to the topWe’re gonna shout to the topWe’re gonna shout to the topHey, we’re gonna shout to the top
You see it’s a frightening thing when it dawns upon youThat I know as much as the day I was bornAnd though I wasn’t asked, I might as well stayAnd promise myself each and every day
We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)
So when you’re knocked on your back and your life’s a flopAnd when you’re down on the bottom there’s nothing elseBut to shout to the top (shout)Well, we’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)
And when you’re knocked on your back and your life’s a flopAnd when you’re down on the bottom there’s nothing elseBut to shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)
Hey, yeah, shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)
We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)
We’re gonna shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)Shout to the top (shout)
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I am in the same boat here as I was with The Jam. Just not on the general radar in my neck of the woods, nor mine out little radar back then. Like the flow of this song.
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Yea it’s much more, as Dave said, more bouncy than some of their others and certainly more than the Jam…more of a lighter side.
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A great one, a bit bouncier than usual for the Style Council but still a bit smoother than The Jam. I would’ve liked seeing them stay together for another album or two but Weller never wanted to risk stagnating.
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I like what I’ve heard so far and from your blog. Yea he didn’t stay still long like Bowie and Young.
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I loved “Shout to the Top” when it came out and think it’s still holding up pretty well. The Style Council also was the first time I heard music by Paul Weller without realizing it. While I listened to a lot of contemporary music back in the ’80s, especially on the radio, in most cases, I didn’t research the bands and artists. It would likely have been very different, if I would have had access to the Internet.
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Yea I didn’t hear it much when it came out. Our radio station here played some MTV stuff but not all. Weller never sat still for long at all.
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They released several good singles. I never saw them live though.
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When it comes to Paul Weller I’m just learning…we weren’t exposed to much of his music from any outlet he had. I bet they would have been great live though.
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Yes, it’s as if I missed the Style Council out by not seeing them live.
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I’m glad you got to see the Jam though….which is great.
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Haven’t listened to much post-Jam Weller, but this one’s good. Sounds like where he was trying to get to with late Jam, but has the musicians to do it here.
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I was thinking of that as well…near the end of the Jam…he was venturing into it…but yea a trio would be hard to pull this off.
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Those bongos give me the fever and so do the horns. Yup this a feel good one. From the Jam to this pretty cool.
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