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The Style Council, Re-collected

Kevin O'Conner | 11/17/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"By my reckoning, this is the eighth compilation of songs by The Style Council released since their untimely demise in 1989. Not bad for a band that was often misunderstood and seldom got the respect they deserved."The Collection" most closely resembles 1990's "Head Start For Happiness" (Pickwick, out of print) and 1996's "The Style Council Collection" (Polydor), offering a mix of key tracks and less-obvious choices - and, like "Head Start For Happiness", it eschews chronological order altogether.Unlike any previous TSC compilation, however, the emphasis is squarely on the first couple years of the group's existence. Only two tracks (both from the "Confessions Of A Pop Group" LP) date past 1985; 1987's under-rated, yet uneven "The Cost Of Loving" is completely ignored."The Collection" will be unnecessary for fans who have shelled out for "The Complete Adventures of The Style Council", since they'll have all of these tracks already. Those who don't own the box set may want this collection for the 1985 b-sides "Blood sports" and "(When you) Call me", neither of which have appeared on any previous TSC compilations. The handful of early singles (including "Long hot summer", "A solid bond in your heart", "My ever changing moods", and "Shout to the top") and important album tracks (among them being "A stones throw away", "All gone away", and "Here's one that got away") will make the set as a whole worth listening to - and there's even one of the better tracks ("A casual affair") from 1993's rarities/b-sides collection "Here's Some That Got Away".All in all, this is one of the better Style Council collections available - and budget-priced, too."