The Style Council Café Bleu – Special Edition

PREORDER AVAILABLE HERE

6 CD / 3 VINYL SETS FEATURING UNRELEASED TRACKS

JANUARY 30TH 2026 ON UNIVERSAL MUSIC RECORDINGS

When Paul Weller disbanded The Jam at the height of their fame in 1982, it was nothing short of seismic - a bold, almost reckless act of creative reinvention that stunned fans and critics alike. But out of that audacious decision emerged one of the most inspired pivots in British pop history: The Style Council.

When The Style Council’s debut album Café Bleu was released in 1984, Weller and wing-man Mick Talbot unveiled a cosmopolitan blend of jazz, soul, and pop that felt effortlessly sophisticated and daringly fresh. Café Bleu was more than a debut—it was a statement of intent, redefining what British pop could sound like in a new decade.

Since then, fans have been waiting for a deep dive into the Style Council vaults eager to hear any unreleased material. And now the wait is over.

The Café Bleu Special Edition is a treasure trove for Style Council devotees and music lovers alike - an immersive journey into one of the most inventive eras of Paul Weller’s career. This lavish release unveils a wealth of previously unheard material, including early demos, alternate takes, and unreleased songs that showcase the band’s restless drive for experimentation and evolution. Adding even more depth, the set features an extraordinary collection of BBC session and live recordings, capturing the band in full creative flight. Completing the package are superb new sleevenotes from broadcaster and longtime Café Bleu champion Gary Crowley, offering fresh insight into this timeless classic’s enduring legacy.

The Café Bleu Special Edition is released on January 30^th 2026 on Universal Recordings and will be available as a 6 CD set and 3 Vinyl LP’s.

Highlights from the collection include:

CD1 – Extended edition of Introducing… The Style Council, previously only available as a Dutch import.

CD2  – Café Bleu full album. As well as the two hit singles “My Ever Changing Moods” and “You’re The Best Thing”, stand-out tracks on the original Café Bleu include "Headstart for Happiness" and "The Paris Match" which features Tracey Thorn on vocals.

CD3 - All related singles, B-sides, remixes, and demos from that era.

CD4 – Unreleased demos, Outtakes & Alternate Versions, including:

• An early demo of “Long Hot Summer” (Aug 1982) showing its evolution from “Le Départ" offering a fascinating insight into its evolving musical journey.

• “Boy Hairdresser” (written for Respond artist Tracie Young). 

• Extended 6:31 version of “The Paris Match” and early variant “Summertime Song.”

• Unreleased instrumental gems from Mick Talbot including a jazzier “Party Chambers” and “Mick’s Demo.”

CD5 & CD6 – BBC Sessions & Live Performances, including:

• Live recordings from Cheltenham’s Gold Diggers and London’s Dominion Theatre.
• BBC Radio One sessions (1983) for David Jensen and Saturday Live, featuring standout versions of “Headstart for Happiness,” “The Paris Match,” “Long Hot Summer,” and “My Ever Changing Moods.”

Full track-listing in all its glory here:

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 - Post album released singles, b-sides, single edits 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 - Demo’s, 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 - BBC Sessions & Live
Radio 1 Session 5/5/83
1 Headstart For Happiness
2 Mick’s Up
3 Here’s One That Got Away
4 The Paris Match

SBH: In Concert 11/6/83. Recorded as part of the Respond Package night at the Paris Theatre London
5 Head Start For Happiness
6 Here’s One That Got Away
7 The Paris Match
8 Times Are Tight

Saturday Live 31/12/83 In Session
9 My Ever Changing Moods
10 Mick’s Blessings
11 Paris Match
12 Head Start For Happiness
13 Long Hot Summer

BBC Live at the Dominion Theatre Pt.1 14/3/84
14 Meeting Over Yonder
15 My Ever Changing Moods
16 It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands
17 Mick’s Up
18 Here’s One That Got Away
19 Up For Grabs
20 Dropping Bombs On The White House
21 Long Hot Summer

CD6 – Live versions
BBC Live at the Dominion Theatre Pt.2 14/3/84
1 Money Go Round
2 Speak Like A Child
3 Headstart For Happiness
4 Hanging On To A Memory

BBC Sight & Sound In Concert - Live At Goldiggers Chippenham 10/3/84
5 Meeting Over Yonder
6 My Ever Changing Moods
7 Speak Like A Child
8 The Whole Point Of No Return
9 Le Depart
10 The Paris Match
11 Party Chambers
12 Money Go Round
13 Head Start For Happiness
14 Hanging On To A Memory
15 Dropping Bombs On The White House
16 Long Hot Summer

3LP Vinyl
LP1 - side A
1 Speak Like A Child
2 Party Chambers
3 Mick’s Up
4 Headstart For Happiness
5 Money-Go-Round (Parts 1&2) (Bert Bevans remix/club mix)

LP1 - side B
6 Long Hot Summer (Extended Version)
7 Le Depart
8 The Paris Match
9 Spring, Summer, Autumn
10 Mick’s Company

LP2 - side C
11 Mick’s Blessings
12 The Whole Point Of No Return
13 Me Ship Came In!
14 Blue Café
15 The Paris Match
16 My Ever Changing Moods
17 Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse

LP2 - side D
18 A Gospel
19 Strength Of Your Nature
20 You’re The Best Thing
21 Here’s One That Got Away
22 Headstart For Happiness
23 Council Meetin’

LP3 - side E
24 My Ever Changing Moods (Long Version)
25 A Solid Bond In Your Heart
26 The Big Boss Groove (12" version)
27 You’re The Dub Thing

LP3 - side F
28 Long Hot Summer (pre TSC demo)
29 Party Chambers (alternate version)
30 Up For Grabs (demo)
32 Mick’s Demo
32 Take It To The Top (demo)
33 Dropping Bombs on The White House (alternate version)