The Style Council’s Shout To The Top is the bright ‘n breezy signifier of a summer just around the corner. A groove of loose piano and stabbing guitar, it’s a string swept beauty that endures to this day.
If you’ve caught Paul Weller on any recent tour, there’s a good chance he’ll have slotted it in mid-set, a major 7th audience perker-upper after one new track too many. It still has the ability to raise a smile and just a smidgen of Proustian angst, of being glued to Top Of The Pops in the hope that it might make it to that week’s show. A frothy and enduring number, it reached number 7 and was, serendipitously, single number 7 for The Style Council as well. One of its writer’s very best, for sure.
The Style Council – Shout To The Top
It’s got a stylish video too, all four group members in its spotlight with Weller happy to fade to the back when he feels like it. Weller is understated cool, the gum-chewing singer in carefully chosen penny loafers and well-cut ankle hugging trousers, the missus alongside him in a sleeveless halter neck and hair band, tight fighting capri pants and bee stung lips, looking fantastic and dredging up all sorts of forgotten teenage fantasies. YouTube is your pal, old man, YouTube is your pal.
Weller glides the soles of his loafers across the floor, almost northern soul shuffling, hanging on to that era-defining skinny mic for all its worth, his swept back and centre-parted hair looking distinctly European and modernist.
By the time The Style Council were playing it live, Weller’s fringe had fallen as long as the silly faces on all those old Jam fans who still pined for a clanging Rickenbacker and an angry vocal delivery. Imagine having to pretend you didn’t like Shout To The Top. Life’s too short for that sort of idiocy, man. Embrace the new and, yeah, shout to the top.
There’s a magic, discofied club version out there. Loleatta Holloway takes over from Weller, giving it the full soaring house diva approach, Philly strings, Italo piano and a four-to-the-floor disco beat replacing much of The Style Council’s idiosyncratic nuances, taking it home in a riot gold hot pants and over the topness.
Originally released in 1998 with dance production team Fire Island, the track was reworked into a thumping, filling-loosening club classic by Hifi Sean a year or two ago. Stretched out and funked up, you need it in your life.
Fire Island ft. Loleatta Holloway – Shout To The Top (Hifi Sean mix)
* I know that’s not the line that Weller sings in the bridge, but it’s what I’ve always sung. It’s a funny little thing when it dawns upon ya right enough.
Plain Or Pan 
Always enjoy your writing but you’ve outdone yourself here. Such perfect and vivid descriptions. I’m right back there.
Well, thank you Alyson. That’s made my day!
I wonder did Weller take inspiration, sub-conciously or otherwise, from the 1980 tune “Beginning” by The Durutti Column
Oh wow! Great spot! He has form for this sort of thing, does our Paul. Here’s an older post. Evidence #1 for the prosecution…
Wonderful post, Craig. Very glad to see a mention of HiFi Sean’s rework of the Fire Island/Loleatta Holloway version as well. His painstaking recreation of the strings lifts the original cover version to another level and was a precursor to the lush arrangements on Happy Ending, his collaboration with David McAlmont.
So many strong contenders, but Shout To The Top is probably my favourite song by The Style Council too. Thanks!
I know Fire Island and obviously, I know Loletta Holloway and I love HiFi Sean ….. but I never knew this existed. Thank you good sir. Obviously going on the playlist for next SongsYaBass!
I meant to request it about a year ago. It’s long-overdue an outing at SYB.
Thanks Khayem. I’d never considered the connection between Hifi Sean’s remix and his recent McAlmont album, but you’re spot on.
Got the 12” when it came out – ‘84? Seems to have stayed the distance better than any other single they released. It’s the only song of theirs I’ve heard on the radio in recent years.
It has stayed the distance…but plenty of other Style Council tracks have too, I’d argue. Long Hot Summer, Walls Come Tumbling Down, You’re The Best Thing, Ever Had It Blue….all box-fresh and thrilling whenever they pop up.
Defo.
It’s the DJs need convincing – not me. Shout To The Top indeed.