Walls Come Tumbling Down! Explained

Walls Come Tumbling Down!
Cover:Wallscometumblingdown!.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Style Council
Album:Our Favourite Shop
Released:1985
Genre:Northern soul[1]
Label:Polydor
Prev Title:Soul Deep
Prev Year:1984
Next Title:Come to Milton Keynes
Next Year:1985

"Walls Come Tumbling Down!" is a song by English band the Style Council which was their ninth single to be released. It was written by lead vocalist Paul Weller, and released in 1985. It is the first single from the band's second studio album, Our Favourite Shop (1985). Our Favourite Shop was renamed Internationalists for the U.S. market.

The song "Blood Sports", which appeared on the single, is about anti-hunting and anti-animal blood sports. Its writing royalties went to the Bristol Defence Fund for two hunt saboteurs jailed for anti-blood sports activities, including attempted murder of a teenage rider and animal cruelty.[2]

The music video was filmed in Warsaw, Poland.

Reception

Matthew Bingham of Hucknall Life called the song, "an irresistible call to arms.. a soul stomper to believe in "[3]

Compilation appearances

As well as the song's single release, it has featured on various compilation albums released by The Style Council. The song was included on The Singular Adventures of The Style Council, The Complete Adventures of The Style Council, and Greatest Hits.

Track listing

  1. "Walls Come Tumbling Down!"
  2. "Spin Drifting"
  3. "The Whole Point II"
  4. "Blood Sports"
  1. "Walls Come Tumbling Down!" – 3:25
  2. "The Whole Point II" – 2:50
  3. "Blood Sports" – 3:25

Charts

Chart (1985)Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart19
Irish Singles Chart[4] 6
New Zealand Singles Chart[5] 15
UK Singles Chart[6] 6

Cover versions

Australian indie band Screamfeeder covered the song on their 1999 album Home Age (The Hypnotized Label, HIP035), and reissued in 2004 on Introducing: Screamfeeder Singles & More 1992-2004 (Shock, SCREAM1CD).

Golden Earring frontman Barry Hay released a big band cover on The Big Band Theory, a 2008 collection of covers recorded with Metropole Orkest (Blue Note, 50999 2364972 9).

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bradley, Larry. The Alternative Jukebox. November 4, 2014. The 1980s: The Style Council - "Walls Come Tumbling Down. 149. Cassell. 978-1-84403-789-6.
  2. Web site: 2018-09-08. Internationalists 1985. Wellerworld.co.uk. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20041021134545/https://www.wellerworld.co.uk/Internationalists.htm. 21 October 2004.
  3. . Singles. Matthew Bingham. September 1985. 5. 32.
  4. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know . 2023-07-13 . www.irishcharts.ie.
  5. Web site: Steffen Hung . New Zealand charts portal . charts.nz . 2012-04-19.
  6. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 537.