The Style Council – Café Bleu

My copy did come with the booklet, otherwise seems identical.

Finally got my hands on this after all this time. after reading the review from jwrider98 I was wondering if I should even still look for it. I did find a new copy, couldn't resist buying it, but exactly as he said, too much hiss. So disappointing. Compared it to my UK and US originals. Have to say my US original is the one to have.
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Still, looks great but sounds crap.

The Cappuchino Kid had the forsight to include on the jacket's rear a warning written over 230 years ago. Still relevant today (that is, except for all you yuppie, PMC, high-tech industry, neoLib, new wealth folks):

"Don’t be deceived when they tell you things are better now. Even if there’s no poverty to be seen because the poverty’s been hidden. Even if you ever got more wages and could afford to buy more of these new and useless goods which industries foist on you and even if it seems to you that that you never had so much, that is only the slogan of those who still have much more than you.

Don’t be taken in when they pat you paternally on the shoulder and say that there’s no inequality worth speaking of and no more reason to fight because if you believe them they will be completely in charge in their marble homes and granite banks from which they rob the people of the world under the pretence of bringing them culture. Watch out, for as soon as it pleases them they’ll send you out to protect their gold in wars whose weapons, rapidly developed by servile scientists will become more and more deadly until they can with a flick of the finger tear a million of you to pieces."
Jean-Paul Marat

The Cappuchino Kid had the forsight to include on the jacket's rear a warning written over 230 years ago but relevant more than ever:

"Don’t be deceived when they tell you things are better now. Even if there’s no poverty to be seen because the poverty’s been hidden. Even if you ever got more wages and could afford to buy more of these new and useless goods which industries foist on you and even if it seems to you that that you never had so much, that is only the slogan of those who still have much more than you.

Don’t be taken in when they pat you paternally on the shoulder and say that there’s no inequality worth speaking of and no more reason to fight because if you believe them they will be completely in charge in their marble homes and granite banks from which they rob the people of the world under the pretence of bringing them culture. Watch out, for as soon as it pleases them they’ll send you out to protect their gold in wars whose weapons, rapidly developed by servile scientists will become more and more deadly until they can with a flick of the finger tear a million of you to pieces."
Jean-Paul Marat

jwrider98: "Possibly the worst pressing in my collection. Extreme sibilance on multiple tracks, particularly Paris Match. Bass is nonexistent, even with the EQ cranked right up. It's as if no one ever tested it before sending it out. The other TSC coloured reissues sound far better. Avoid this entirely, unless you are desperate to complete the set of reissues."

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Just seek an original pressing. Used copies are still abundant and affordable forty years on.

I just noticed after all these decades the U.S./Geffen Records version of Café Bleu has NEVER been issued on CD. Why?

In the States I knew only of this album in the 1984 Geffen form, re-titled My Ever Changing Moods. Although nearly identical to the U.K. version, it has a unique track sequence which I prefer over the Polydor version's order. Most importantly, it replaces the Paul-Mick acoustic rendition of "My Ever Changing Moods" with the Latin flavoured, dynamic, full band + horns version. By placing it, instead of the jolly "Mick's Blessing" as the first track, followed directly by "The Whole Point of No Return", they cement an underlying tone of disenchantment, discontent for the rest of the record, despite the upbeat diversions of Strength of Your Nature, and A Solid Bond'. For me, tracks 1 & 2 are the strongest of MECM.

This pressing provides a very clear and detailed soundstage. Instrumentation is the real standout in this mastering while vocals remained balanced in the mix. Perhaps this is pressing is straight from the original UK tapes?

Pro-Ject X1B + Sumiko Wellfleet / Schiit Mani 2 / Musical Fidelity M5si / Dali Oberon 7's

I played a ton of Style Council recently. Dug out all the 12”s. What a blast !!! This was a quality band. I get why Jam fans ran a mile but they’re missing out badly. Weller never let me down when it came to VFM. Stylish sleeves with instantly recognisable artwork, the Capuchino Kid, whose Colin McGuiness-esque prose I would lap up, and a load of remarkable B sides, many of which could have been A sides !!
So, Cafe Bleu is basically TSCs philosophy pressed onto one slab of vinyl. I can’t think of a more eclectic 80s album. We veer from swing, bop, to Brel-esque torchery, British rap, r n’b, hoe-down pop, 60s film music, pop. Its all there. And you know what ? Some of it doesn’t work, but Im so glad they did it and stuck to their guns.
They got it together with the follow-up but this, and the run of stunning singles before and after this, make for one Hell of a trip.
They meant a lot to me back then. I ed the addresses that were printed on the record sleeves : CND, Greenpeace, Anti Blood Sports. I believed in them totally. This was more than a band and I will forever be grateful for Paul and Mick et al for educating me and enlightening me.

mine appears to be this pressing but on the back cover it has a box containing the text ‘promotional copy not for resale’ all in gold writing imprinted into the back cover. anyone else have this?

Side One is fantastic
Side Two isnt. A Gospel and Strength Of Your Nature are painful.