Entertainment Weekly (10/30/92, p.87) - "...much like the sound Weller explored with his late-'80s group, Style Council, only now with a high spark..." - Rating: A-
Musician (10/92, p.100) - "..a full-out homage to late-'60s/early-'70s soul...dreamy...What's really striking about this record is how improved Weller's vocals sound..."
Personnel: Paul Weller (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion);
Jacko Peake (flute, saxophone, background vocals); Steve White (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Brother Marco (bass); Dr. Robert (bass, background vocals); Dee C. Lee, Camelle Hinds, Carlene Anderson (background vocals).
Producers: Paul Weller, Brendan Lynch, Chris Bangs.
Engineers: Martin Heyes, Paul Gumersall, Robin Black.
Weller's first solo album is stylistically of a piece with his earlier work with the Style Council, which is to say that there's a '60s soul feel to it but it also reflects his passion for various '60s English bands, primarily Traffic. Soul-flavored songs like "Remember How We Started" and "Above the Clouds" are virtual tributes to Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, but the rest of the album tilts, quite attractively, towards a sort of pastoral, psychedelic R&B reminiscent of Traffic's classic MR. FANTASY.