Heavy Soul (Paul Weller album) explained

Heavy Soul
Type:	Album
Artist:	Paul Weller
Cover:	paul_weller_heavy_soul.jpg
Released:	23 June 1997
Studio:	Woolhall Studios, Bath
Genre:	Rock, rhythm and blues, blue-eyed soul
Length:	40:44
Label:	Island
Prev Title:	Stanley Road
Prev Year:	1995
Next Year:	1998

Heavy Soul is the fourth solo album by English singer-songwriter Paul Weller, originally released on 23 June 1997 (5 August in the US). The album received largely favourable reviews. It sold enough to be the number one album on its week of release, however it was denied this position on a technicality – five images within the album's booklet were replaced with postcards of the images in the Special Edition release, meaning that sales of the Special Edition did not count towards the album's sales as they were defined as free gifts.

The title was lifted from a 1961 Ike Quebec album of the same name.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Paul Weller; except where indicated

1. "Heavy Soul (Pt 1)"
2. "Peacock Suit"
3. "Up in Suzes' Room"
4. "Brushed" (music: Weller, Marco Nelson, Steve White)
5. "Driving Nowhere"
6. "I Should Have Been There to Inspire You"
7. "Heavy Soul (Pt 2)"
8. "Friday Street"
9. "Science"
10. "Golden Sands"
11. "As You Lean Into the Light"
12. "Mermaids"

The Japanese edition included a bonus track, "Eye of the Storm" which was originally on the B-side of the "Peacock Suit" single.

Personnel

• Paul Weller – guitar, vocals, tamboura (1), zither (3), piano (6), vibraphone (7)
• Marco Nelson – bass, sitar (2,7), ukulele (3)
• Steve White – drums

with:

• Steve Cradock – guitar (1,2)
• Brendan Lynch – keyboards (3,5,11), accordion (6)
• Jools Holland – Wurlitzer piano (10)
• Rosie Wetters – string arrangements, extra vocals (7)
• Wired Strings – strings

Technical

• Martin "Max" Heyes – engineer
• Simon Halfon, Paul Weller – artwork

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

1. 298.
2. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1997. Official Charts Company. 11 September 2020.