Crucial Track for May 30, 2025

"Speak Like a Child" by The Style Council

Listen on Apple Music

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What's a song you initially disliked but now love?

The Jam had split, and I was grieving, ok? I hated the soft melody, the Mick Talbot keyboards (huge Merton Parkas fan here!), Dee C. Lee’s backing vocals. It was just all wrong.

Complete nonsense of course. It took me a while to ‘accept’ The Style Council but I’m glad I eventually did. They had some lows (Confessions Of A Pop Group, The Cost Of Loving) but their highs were very high indeed, including this debut single.

I’ve seen them probably 5 times, bolstered by following the Red Wedge Tour around, and they were a great live band.

They were no Jam though, who arguably (along with The Who) created my favourite music of all time.