66 (album)
66 is the seventeenth solo studio album by the English singer-songwriter Paul Weller. It was released on 24 May 2024 through Polydor Records and Solid Bond. The title is a reference to his 66th birthday, just a day after the release.
Background
With 66, the artist remains "steadfastly creative" and digs into "his bedrock". It was recorded at Weller's Black Barn studio from 2021 to 2024. The "reflective and inward thinking album" features contributions from Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream, Suggs of Madness, Richard Hawley, Dr Robert of the Blow Monkeys, Christophe Vaillant of Le SuperHomard, and Erland Cooper as well as orchestral arrangements by Hannah Peel. The lead single "Soul Wandering", which was released on 23 February 2024, is a "sleek midtempo rocker" and features "regal horns", "gospel-style backing vocals" and organ sections. Weller released "Rise Up Singing" as the second single on 19 April, alongside a music video directed by Calum Macdiamid.The album's artwork is by Sir Peter Blake, who also created the cover art for Weller's third album, Stanley Road.
Critical reception
Writing for The Observer, Phil Mongredien described 66 as "solid, rather than exceptional", awarding it three stars out of five.Personnel
Musicians
- Paul Weller – lead vocals, background vocals, electric guitar, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, Mellotron, organ ; percussion, Rhodes, synthesizer ; Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano ; celesta, slide guitar
- Ben Gordelier – drums, percussion
- Jacko Peake – flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
- Steve Pilgrim – acoustic guitar, background vocals
- Max Beesley – vibraphone
- Le SuperHomard – synthesizer ; acoustic guitar, background vocals, bass guitar, piano, tambourine, vibraphone ; celesta, Hammond organ, harpsichord, keyboards, organ ; Mellotron, percussion, stylophone
- Josh McClorey – bass guitar, electric guitar
- Charles Rees – drum programming, synthesizer
- Dave Boraston – trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn
- Steve Trigg – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Tom Heel – background vocals, electric guitar ; acoustic guitar, background vocals ; Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond organ
- Louise Marshall – background vocals
- Sumudu Jayatilaka – background vocals
- Andy Gilliams – trombone
- Steve Brown – Moog bass
- Hannah Peel – conductor
- Britten Sinfonia – orchestra
- Steve Cradock – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
- Dr. Robert – background vocals
- Leah Weller – background vocals
- Paul Speare – baritone saxophone
- Marco Rees – electric guitar
- Anthony Gaylard – tenor saxophone
- Steve Brookes – acoustic guitar
- Richard Hawley – lap steel guitar
- Jake Fletcher – background vocals, bass guitar
- Tom Doyle – drum programming, electric guitar, glockenspiel, Hammond organ, saxophone, strings, synthesizer, Wurlitzer electric piano
- Say She She – background vocals
- Erland Cooper – background vocals
- Andy Crofts – bass guitar
Technical
- Paul Weller – production
- Christophe Vaillant – production
- White Label – production
- Charles Rees – additional production, mixing, engineering
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Christopher Parker – engineering
- John Barrett – engineering
- Tom Ashpitel – engineering assistance
- Steve Trigg – horn arrangement
- Hannah Peel – orchestral arranger