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Paul Weller鈥檚 Sofa Session

Jo chats to Paul Weller, and he plays some music from his latest chart-topping album, On Sunset, for his Sofa Session.

Jo chats to Paul Weller, and he plays some music from his latest chart-topping album, On Sunset, for his Sofa Session.

Written and recorded at Black Barn Studios in Surrey, On Sunset was produced by Jan 鈥淪tan鈥� Kybert and Paul himself with help from Charles Rees.

鈥淥ne thing that seems to unite much of this album is a sense of reflection,鈥� says Paul Weller. 鈥淎 lot of the lyrics are about looking back, from the point of view of a sixty-something man, not with regret or sadness, but with huge optimism. Turning 60 could be something that triggers some kind of crisis in a lot of people, but it鈥檚 calmed me down and inspired me to create in the best way. In the last ten years I鈥檝e given up the booze and got clean. I鈥檝e got three young children, and I can now look at things with much more clarity than I鈥檝e ever been able to. And I think that鈥檚 started to come out in my lyrics.鈥�

The sense of retrospection is not musical 鈥� Weller retains a rigorous forward-looking focus when it comes to seeking out the best contemporary music. But lyrically, Weller 鈥� back on his old home, Polydor Records for the first time since The Style Council days 鈥� is starting to look back on the past with the insight of age.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a bit in the track 鈥極ld Father Tyme鈥� where I sing 鈥楾ime will become you, you will become time鈥�. I love that line. It鈥檚 that kind of wisdom that starts to make sense as you get older, when you start to reflect on your mortality and your legacy.鈥� Another track, 鈥淪unset鈥�, sees Weller in Los Angeles, reflecting upon his first visits to America with The Jam four decades ago. 鈥淲e used to stay right by the Sunset Strip, playing little venues like the Whisky A Go Go and the Rainbow,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淚 went back to Los Angeles last year to visit my eldest son, who lives out there, and I could see the Sunset Marquis and it brought back tons of memories 鈥� it was like looking up an old lover. It was 40 years鈥� ago and it still seems like last week.鈥�

On Sunset also might be Weller鈥檚 most soulful album since The Style Council days. 鈥淚 wrote several songs imagining them being sung by great soul singers,鈥� he says. 鈥淢ore鈥� was written with Bobby Womack in mind; Pharrell Williams inspired 鈥淓arth Beat鈥�, while Weller was thinking of the Southern gospel singer Bobby Bland when he penned the New Orleans-style soul stomper, 鈥淏aptiste鈥�. 鈥淏aptiste is a celebration of soul music鈥檚 universality,鈥� says Weller. 鈥淚鈥檓 not religious but there is a spiritual vibe to great soul music that speaks to all of us. When I hear that music I do feel that ancient connection.鈥�

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Thu 3 Sep 2020 19:00
麻豆约拍 Radio 2

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Music Played

  • The Jam

    A Town Called Malice

    • Jam Story.
    • Universal.

  • Biffy Clyro

    Space

  • The Jam

    Down In The Tube Station At Midnight

    • Into The Eighties - Various Artists.
    • Global Television.

  • The Jam

    Going Underground

    • Fantastic 80's Disc 2 (Various Artis.
    • Columbia.

  • The Style Council

    You're The Best Thing

    • Classic.
    • Universal.
    • 6.

  • Paul Weller

    You Do Something To Me

    • Love Songs - 39 All Time Love Classic.
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Paul Weller

    Wild Wood

    • Acoustic Rock (Various Artists).
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Moby

    Porcelain

    • (CD Single).
    • Mute Records.

  • The Go! Team

    Cookie Scene

    • Memphis Industries.

  • AURORA

    The Secret Garden

  • James Brown

    Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine Part 1 & 2

    • And They Danced All Night.
    • Debutante.

  • Paul Weller

    Old Father Tyme (Sofa Session, 03 September 2020)

  • Paul Weller

    More (Sofa Session, 03 September 2020)

  • The Kinks

    Wonder Boy

  • Paul Weller

    Gravity (Sofa Session, 03 September 2020)

  • Monks Road Social & Romy Deighton

    Running Blind

    • Humanism.
    • Monks Road Records.
    • 17.

  • Ethel Merman

    There's No Business Like Show Business

    • Thanks For The Memory.
    • Decca.
    • 18.

  • The Wonder Stuff

    Welcome To The Cheap Seats

  • Sash!

    Encore Une Fois

    • Best Of.
    • X-IT Records.

  • Kate Bush

    Wow

    • Lionheart.
    • EMI.
    • 9.

  • Queen

    The Show Must Go On

    • Queen - Greatest Hits II.
    • Parlophone.

  • Judy Collins

    Send in the Clowns

    • The Very Best Of.
    • Elektra.
    • 15.

  • Original Broadway Cast Of Matilda The Musical

    Revolting Children

  • Emmy the Great

    A Window/O'Keeffe

    • A Window/O'Keeffe.
    • Bella Union.
    • 1.

  • Arab Strap

    The Turning Of Our Bones

    • The Turning Of Our Bones.
    • Rock Action Records.
    • 1.

  • David Bowie

    Heroes

    • David Bowie - Best Of Bowie.
    • EMI.

  • First Aid Kit

    On The Road Again

    • On The Road Again.
    • Kobalt / AWAL.
    • 1.

  • Barry Manilow

    Could It Be Magic

    • Manilow Magic.

  • 叠别测辞苍肠茅

    Halo

    • I Am...Sasha Fierce.
    • Columbia.
    • 1.

  • Janis Joplin

    Mercedes Benz

    • Janis Joplin - Pearl.
    • Columbia.

Broadcast

  • Thu 3 Sep 2020 19:00
    麻豆约拍 Radio 2