Description
Paul Weller – Modern Classics (The Greatest Hits) – Double Vinyl Records
Paul Weller’s Modern Classics: The Greatest Hits, released on December 14, 1998, is a definitive collection that celebrates the first phase of Weller’s prolific solo career following his influential stints with The Jam and The Style Council. Compiling hits from his early solo albums—including Paul Weller (1992), Wild Wood (1993), Stanley Road (1995), and Heavy Soul (1997)—Modern Classics offers a powerful look at Weller’s evolution as a solo artist and his role in shaping the sound of ’90s British rock, Britpop, and modern soul.
As the title implies, this isn’t just a hits album—it’s a curated narrative of Weller’s reinvention. Moving away from the punk and mod revival energy of The Jam and the polished soul-pop of The Style Council, Weller’s solo material leaned into roots rock, British folk, soul, and blues, but always with his signature lyrical introspection and mod aesthetic.
The collection kicks off with the uplifting “Out of the Sinking” and includes iconic tracks like:
“Wild Wood” – a mellow, pastoral anthem that signaled Weller’s embrace of acoustic textures and mature songwriting.
“The Changingman” – one of his most commercially successful singles, filled with swirling guitars and existential energy.
“You Do Something to Me” – a haunting, heartfelt ballad that became a wedding staple and one of his most beloved songs.
“Peacock Suit” – a gritty, swaggering rock tune that became a rallying cry for Weller’s mod sensibilities in the late ’90s.
Other highlights include “Broken Stones,” “Sunflower,” and “Uh Huh Oh Yeh,” each demonstrating his skill at fusing personal reflection with groove-based musicianship. The compilation also features a then-new track, “Brand New Start,” which showcased a softer, more introspective tone, hinting at the stylistic shifts that would define his work in the 2000s.
Modern Classics was lauded for highlighting Weller’s artistic consistency and reinvention, serving both as an excellent introduction for newcomers and a cohesive retrospective for longtime fans. It arrived at a time when Weller had become a foundational figure for the Britpop generation, influencing artists like Oasis, Blur, and Ocean Colour Scene—not just musically, but also in terms of image and ethos.
Modern Classics: The Greatest Hits is more than just a summary of Paul Weller’s solo achievements up to 1998—it’s a portrait of an artist who never stopped evolving, remaining true to his roots while consistently pushing into new sonic territory. For anyone looking to understand the bridge between post-punk, soul-infused Britpop, and modern British rock, this compilation is essential listening.
Collection of his solo singles from 1991 to 1998.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Out Of The Sinking
Peacock Suit
Sunflower
The Weaver
Wild Wood
Above The Clouds
Uh-Huh Oh-Yeh
Brushed
The Changingman
Friday Street
You Do Something To Me
Brand New Start
Hung Up
Mermaids
Broken Stones
Into Tomorrow
Bonus Tracks: Live Classics
Into Tomorrow
Peacock Suit
Friday Street
Mermaids
Out Of The Sinking
Heavy Soul
Wild Wood
Up In Suze’s Room
(Can You Heal Us) Holy Man?
Changing Man
Porcelain Gods
Sunflower
Broken Stones
