Modern Classics: The Greatest Hits

by Paul Weller

Overview

Wrapping up his contractual commitment to Go! Records, Paul Weller delivered Modern Classics: Greatest Hits, his first compilation of solo material, late in 1998. Modern Classics plays it safe, collecting all of his singles and adding a fine new song, "Brand New Start," which may not at first seem live up to its title, but eventually reveals itself to be a weightier ballad variation of the trad rock of Heavy Soul. Regrettably, the album is not sequenced in chronological order, but there was a consistency to Weller's solo work that makes the compilation hold together well. And while it certainly confirms that his solo work is easily his most conservative music to date, it also proves that it wasn't slight -- these singles are uniformly solid, whether it's the driving "Into Tomorrow," the rugged soul-pop of "Uh-Huh Oh-Yeh," the passionate "Sunflower," the ersatz ELO tribute "The Changingman," or ballads like "Broken Stones" and "Mermaids." Like Snap! and The Singular Adventures of the Style Council, Modern Classics is a testament to Weller's strength as a singles artist and a terrifically enjoyable listen in its own right. [The U.K. edition of Modern Classics included a bonus live disc, culled from various shows, which was every bit as good as Live Wood.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/14/2022
Label:	Island / Umc
UPC:	0602435793412
Rank:	70974

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Out Of The Sinking
2. Peacock Suit
3. Sunflower
4. The Weaver
5. Wild Wood
6. Above The Clouds
7. Uh-Huh Oh-Yeh
8. Brushed
9. The Changing Man
10. Friday Street
11. You Do Something To Me
12. Brand New Start
13. Hung Up
14. Mermaids
15. Broken Stones
16. Into Tomorrow

Disc 2

17. Into Tomorrow [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
18. Peacock Suit [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
19. Friday Street [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
20. Mermaids [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
21. Out Of The Sinking [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
22. Heavy Soul [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
23. Wild Wood [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
24. Up In Suze's Room [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
25. (Can You Hear Us) Holy Man?[Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
26. Changing Man [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
27. Porcelain Gods [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
28. Sunflower [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]
29. Broken Stones [Live at Victoria Park, Hackney, London, 8/8/98]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Paul Weller   Primary Artist
Brendan Lynch   Guest Artist,Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Bass)
Carleen Anderson   Guest Artist,Vocals,Cyremin,Accordion,Guitar (Bass)
Simon Fowler   Guest Artist,Accordion
Dr. Robert   Guest Artist,Drums,Cyremin
Steve Cradock   Guest Artist,Drums,Cyremin
Chris Bangs   Piano (Electric),Guitar (Bass),Vocals,Guitar
Jamie Johnson   Strings
Max Beasley   Organ
Yolanda Charles   Drums
Steve White   Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion

Technical Credits

Cole Porter   Composer
Mark Nelson   Composer
Brendan Lynch   Composer,Producer
Simon Halfon   Sleeve Design Assistant
Lawrence Watson   Photography
Marco Nelson   Composer
Steve White   Composer,Composer
Paul Weller   Sleeve Design,Producer,Composer
Martin "Max" Heyes   Engineer