Studio 150


Studio 150 is the seventh solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Paul Weller. It comprises covers of songs by a variety of artists, and showcases Weller's myriad musical influences. It was named after the small Amsterdam studio in which it was recorded. Released in September 2004, it entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 2, its overall peak position.

Track listing

  1. "If I Could Only Be Sure"
  2. "Wishing on a Star"
  3. "Don't Make Promises"
  4. "The Bottle"
  5. "Black Is the Colour"
  6. "Close to You"
  7. "Early Morning Rain"
  8. "One Way Road"
  9. "Hercules"
  10. "Thinking of You"
  11. "All Along the Watchtower"
  12. "Birds"

    Original versions

  13. "If I Could Only Be Sure", a Northern soul song from 1972 by Nolan Porter
  14. "Wishing on a Star", originally a 1977 song from Rose Royce that became a hit single in 1978
  15. "Don't Make Promises", from Tim Hardin's 1966 debut album
  16. "The Bottle", from Scott-Heron's 1974 album Winter in America
  17. "Black Is the Color ", Appalachian folk song with Scottish origins, popularised by Pete Seeger, Nina Simone and Joan Baez around 1960
  18. "Close to You", originally sung by Richard Chamberlain in 1963, popularised by The Carpenters in 1970
  19. "Early Morning Rain", by Gordon Lightfoot from his 1966 debut album Lightfoot!
  20. "One Way Road", originally appeared as a B-side on Oasis' 2000 single "Who Feels Love?"
  21. "Hercules", recorded in 1973 by Aaron Neville for a single release
  22. "Thinking of You", originally by Sister Sledge from 1979, became a UK hit in 1984
  23. "All Along the Watchtower", originally recorded for Dylan's 1967 album John Wesley Harding
  24. "Birds", originally from Neil Young's 1970 album ''After the Gold Rush''

    Personnel

  • Paul Weller – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Steve Cradock – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Damon Minchella – bass guitar
  • Steve "Supe" White – drums, percussion
  • Petra Rosa – harp
  • Danny Thompson – double bass
  • Dalbir Singh Rattan – tabla
  • Eliza Carthy – solo violin
  • Bill Newsinger – mandolin
  • Stefan Schmid – Moog and Korg synthesizer
  • David Kweksilber – clarinet
  • The Stands – background vocals
  • Carleen Anderson, Sam Leigh Brown, Claudia Fontaine – background vocals
  • Horn section, arranged by Benjamin Herman and Willem Friede
  • String section, ''arranged by Willem Friede''

    Production

  • Recorded and mixed by Joeri Saal at Studio 150 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Additional recording for tracks 5, 11 and 12 by Charles Rees at Black Barn Studios, England
  • Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe at Sound Masters
  • Produced by Jan "Stan" Kybert, Paul Weller
  • Co-Producer – Steve "Supe" White

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

The singles, with B-sides, from Studio 150 were:
  • "The Bottle" - No. 13 UK
  • *"Corrina Corrina"
  • *"Coconut Grove", originally by The Lovin' Spoonful
  • "Wishing on a Star" - No. 11 UK
  • *"Family Affair"
  • *"Let It Be Me"
  • "Thinking of You" - No. 18 UK
  • *"Don't Go to Strangers", originally sung by Etta Jones
  • *"Needles and Pins", originally sung by Jackie DeShannon and then The Searchers
  • "Early Morning Rain" - No. 40 UK
  • *"Come Together"

    DVD

Besides the Studio 150 album, there was also a DVD release featuring a studio concert Weller gave at the Riverside Studios in London in 2004. The DVD features most songs from the album and some songs Weller wrote during his career, including a song of The Jam and The Style Council.
It also includes interviews and the video promo for "Wishing on a Star".