I thought I'd continue to share my music collection with you all so today I've been listening to Days of Speed by the one and only Modfather, Paul Weller. The perfect accompaniment to my surfing, served with a large mug of strong black coffee.

About the Album

Days of Speed is Paul Weller's second live album, released in October 2001 in the UK and July 2002 in the USA. It features 18 solo acoustic tracks recorded from various concerts and gigs around Europe. The album contains a welcome mix of old and new so there'll be old familiar songs such as 'That's Entertainment' and 'Town Called Malice' as well as some lesser known songs. It's both a great introduction to new listeners of Weller's music as well as older fans and is a brilliant example of why he has had such a lasting influence on the British guitar bands of today.

1. 'Brand New Start'

'Brand New Start' is a perfect start to the album. A fantastically performed acoustic track with optimistic lyrics and a haunting melody. The performance is outstanding and the recording sets the tone of the album, making he listener feel like you're part of an intimate gig with Paul Weller sat in your living room.

2. 'The Loved'

The second track on the album is another laid back acoustic song with Paul Weller's unique vocals combined with a relaxed and laidback acoustic backing. Taken from Weller's second solo album, Wild Wood, this is a fantastic rendition of another beautiful track.

3. 'Out of the Sinking'

'Out of the Sinking' was originally released on Paul Weller's third solo album, Stanley Road. This acoustic version is an upbeat turn from the previous two tracks and again has an intimate feel with raw live vocals and simple acoustic guitar backing. I find this live recording so much more emotional and heartfelt than the studio version and even has a bluesey feel to it. You can also feel the enthusiasm in the vocals and the guitar playing that means you can't help but enjoy the performance as much as Weller is.

4. 'Clues'

'Clues' is perhaps my favourite track on the album, originally released on Weller's eponymous first solo album in 1992. It's a fantastic example of Weller's fantastic vocals combined with an emotional yet simple acoustic backing. The tempo and volume gradually increases throughout the song culminating in a corker of a finale.

5. 'English Rose'

Just to prove this album isn't just about Weller's success as a solo artist, 'English Rose' takes us back to the days of The Jam with a haunting rendition of this acoustic ballad from the 1978 album, 'All Mod Cons.' As with so many of Weller's songs, this is yet another track that has stood that has stood the test of time and still sounds modern and fresh even 30 years after it's original release.

6. 'Above the Clouds'

'Above the Clouds' is another single from Weller's debut solo album. On it's original single release, the song only had limited success, reaching number 47 in the UK charts on it's release. Don't write this song off though as it's another fantastic acoustic performance on the album.

7. 'You Do Something to Me'

One of my personal favourite Weller songs, 'You Do Something to Me' reached number 9 in the charts when it was released in July 1995. It's a fantastic melancholic ballad which has brought me to tears on many an occasion. In contrast to the studio version, the live recording from 'Days of Speed' has a raw and unrefined quality which makes the lyrics and melody seem even more heartfelt.

8. 'Amongst Butterflies'

'Amongst Butterflies' is another song taken from Weller's first solo album, 'Paul Weller.' It's an upbeat and buoyant song that contrasts quite starkly with the previous song, bringing us back into the quirky more cheerful area of Weller's repertoire.

9. 'Science'

'Science' is taken from Weller's fourth solo studio album, Heavy Soul and as the album title suggests, it has a soulful and funky vibe. It's another upbeat track and another of my favourite performances on the album with thoughtful lyrics and a fantastic guitar backing.

10. 'Back in the Fire'

'Back in the Fire' brings us almost completely full-circle in terms of Weller's musical career. This song was originally release on the album Heliocentric in 2000. It's not an album I'm familiar with but it just shows how much talent Weller has to continue writing fantastic lyrics and melodies over such a large time span.

11. 'Down in the Seine'

'Down in the Seine' is another track taken from Weller's success with The Style Council and was originally released on 'Our Favourite Shop' back in 1985. Not one of my favourite songs on the album but still a great tune performed well.

12. 'That's Entertainment'

If you're not familiar with 'That's Entertainment' then you should be! The song was originally released by The Jam back in 1980 and is perhaps the best known song by The Jam. This is a great upbeat acoustic version of the seat that is sure to get most people singing along. It's undeniably a classic yet it's a song that's stood the test of time and still sounds fresh even today.

13. 'Love-Less'

Another track of Weller's 'Heliocentric' album, 'Love-Less' is a melancholy tune with haunting vocals and a poignant acoustic accompaniment. It's hard to live up to the preceding buoyancy of 'That's Entertainment' so this track is perfectly placed in stark contrast to the previous song.

14. 'There's No Drinking, After You're Dead'

And 'There's No Drinking After You're Dead' continues the selection of greatest tunes from 'Heliocentric.' It has a rather angry acoustic guitar backing and shows a more aggressive edge to Weller's usually relaxed vocals.

15. 'Everything Has a Price to Pay'

This is perhaps a more obscure choice of tracks for this album as it never made it onto one of Weller's studio albums, instead being released as the B side to 'Above the Clouds' in 1992. It was however used in the film Face which perhaps explains it's place on this album. I do enjoy the vocals and lyrics on this song and the guitar backing has a country and western twang to it which certainly sets it apart from other tracks on the album.

16. 'Wild Wood'

'Wild Wood'is the title track from Weller's second solo album which reached number 13 in the charts when the single was released. You can hear the enthusiasm of the audience as soon as the intro begins and it's hard not to enjoy this emotive performance of a fantastic song.

17. 'Headstart for Happiness'

Another old Style Council song provides us with an uptempo and energetic penultimate track to the album. Yes you read right, only one more track to go and then we'll have to pop Paul back in his box ready to sing for us another day.

18. 'Town Called Malice'

A classic track from the Jam offers an upbeat and unforgettable finale to the album. Released in my year of birth, it easily outshines much of the tosh that features in the charts today. The audience can be heard singing along enthusiastically and it's a fantastic energetic rendition of this classic track.

===My Thoughts on the Album==

In the CD inlay, Weller talks about the difficulties in recording a live album:
'Trying to capture a live gig on tape is tremendously difficult. Aside from the technical problems (of differing acoustics, feedback, etc) there's the problem of capturing those special moments when real electricity hangs in the air. The vibe. The moment. The points where your audience absolutely meet and take the atmosphere (and the music) somewhere else.'

That said, Weller and his production team have clearly overcome these problems creating a fantastic live recording that creates the sound and atmosphere that you might expect were Weller to perform in your own home. I've not seen Weller perform live but listening to this album makes me feel as if I've been as close to a real gig without stumping up the cost of a ticket price and stepping foot through an arena door.

In contrast to large concerts in arenas, this recording has an intimate and relaxed feel that perhaps can't be achieved at a large live concert. The choice of songs is also without fault as it provides a welcome selection of Weller's greatest hits, both old and new with a range of songs spanning a number of decades. The order is well thought out with individual tracks complimenting one another and the culmination of 'Town Called Malice' is the perfect ending to a nigh on perfect live album.

*********************************************************************** *****

Also published on Dooyoo and Ciao.com