Paul Wellers Studio 150, contains a healthy dose of roots and acoustic music including covers of tracks by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, even a traditional Scottish Folk song featuring Eliza Carthy we delve into all these in detail and check out Paul's obvious taste for good roots music.

This is Weller's 24th album since The Jams debut 1977 album ''In the city''. He is one of the most eclectic musicians this country has ever produced. A career spanning over 25 years and three bands (was The Style Council a band?). Amongst these albums you will find Rock, Jazz ,Soul even Garage on the final Style Council album.

The Modfather to some Paul has defined 'Modernism' in the past as being about 'good taste' well both his good taste and eclecticism are brought to bear on Studio 150. An album of carefully selected cover versions , named after the Amsterdam Studio he recorded in earlier this year. There's alot of soul on this album starting with Nolan Porters "If I could only be sure" a punchy Northern Soul number. Also included are covers of Gil Scott Heron's "The Bottle", Rose Royce's "Wishing on a Star" and Sister Sledge's "Thinking of You". The Carpenters even get a look in when Paul covers the Bert Bacharach song "Close to you" which they performed first in 1967. His pal Noel Gallagher's track "One Way Road" is given an inventive New Orleans Jazz treatment.

It was another one of Paul's friends solo artist Dr Robert (Fomerly of The Blow Monkeys) who turned Paul on to Tim Hardin, Paul says;

''I knew Tim Hardin's music through the Faces/Rod versions, but Dr Robert put me onto the man himself.''

Tim Hardin is an artist that most roots fans will be familiar with, Tim was one of the most memorable singers of his generation. He was part of the 1960's folk movement that included the likes of Tim Buckley, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. His first album was released in 1966, this includes another song which Weller has covered "The Black Sheep Boy''. Paul also nicked one of Tim's song titles "Speak like a Child" for his debut Style Council single. Tim's other classic songs include 'If I were a carpenter" covered by The Four Tops, "Reason to believe" covered by Rod Stewart and ''Lady Came From Baltimore'' later covered by Scott Walker.

Tim Hardins first two albums ''Tim Hardin 1'' and ''Tim Hardin 2" were something of nadir for this talented and sensitive artist. A combination of drug abuse, illness and psychological problems hindered his creative output. Tim finally succumbed in 1980 dying of drugs overdose.

"Black is the colour" is a beautiful rendition of the Scottish Folk Song. Paul shortens the verses (and changes the he's to She's for obvious reasons) then adds minimal accompaniment including Guitar, Mandolin, Tablas and Harp. We are thankful to the traditional music expert Rod Smith for giving us the information on this song. Its was first recorded by the historian Cecil Sharp sung by Mrs Lizzie Roberts in 1916. The song was passed down through several generations, no one is quite sure how old it is.Here is the full traditional verse;

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