In this one-off music special, musician Paul Weller discusses the records that shaped his career and personal taste.
Presenter Steve Rowley joins Paul Weller for an intimate tour of his record collection. In a relaxed, informal setting, Weller selects and plays tracks from his personal archives, discussing the artists and songs that have influenced him throughout his life. The conversation covers a wide range of genres and eras, offering insight into the musical foundations of his work with The Jam, The Style Council, and his solo career.
This programme was a departure from the typical music interview or performance special, instead offering a format structured around the artist as a curator and fan. By focusing on the physical records and the personal stories attached to them, the production gave viewers a more authentic and grounded perspective on a notoriously private musician. Produced by Channel X, a company more associated with alternative comedy, the special had an unpolished, conversational feel that sidestepped the promotional machinery of the music industry. It treated the musician’s influences not as trivia, but as the primary text for understanding their creative process.
Broadcast: Channel 4 – Channel X, 1 Episode, Friday 25 December 1998
Producers: Alan Marke, Steve Lewis
Main Cast: Paul Weller, Steve Rowley (Presenter)
