Four decades after its original release in March 1984, ‘Café Bleu’ , The Style Council’s debut album, is returning in spectacular fashion with a deluxe reissue that promises to continue the record’s profound legacy. Originally a bold statement from Paul Weller following the end of The Jam, the album saw him partner with keyboardist Mick Talbot to create a blend of jazz, soul and sophisti-pop that strayed away from The Jam’s iconic punk sound.

Universal Music is releasing the ‘Café Bleu’ Special Edition, a package that expands the record beyond its original 43-minute runtime. Initially penned for a January release, the special edition has been subject to a recall and delayed until May 15 following issues with early pressings, but the extra wait is likely to be worthwhile given the breadth of material included.

The reissue centers around a 6-CD collection that curates the original album as well as a huge archive of additional recordings spanning singles, B-sides, demos, alternate takes, BBC session recordings and live performances. Among the archivaes are early versions of fan favourites like “Long Hot Summer” and “Summertime Song,” as well as the first official appearance of the track “Boy Hairdresser”, which finds its way onto a Style Council release for the first time with vocals from Weller.

The first CD presents an expanded edition of 1983’s ‘Introducing… The Style Council’ - previously a Dutch import; the second disc houses the original UK ‘Café Bleu’ tracklist; later discs gather the group’s singles, remixes and B-sides. New sleeve notes by BBC broadcaster and long-time Style Council supporter Gary Crowley accompany the set, offering fresh context and insight into the creation and legacy of the music.

The reissue is structured as follows:

• CD 1 expands the band’s earliest work with extended and club mixes.
• CD 2 preserves the original UK album sequence.
• CD 3 gathers singles and remixes that followed the album’s release.
• CD 4 offers deep cuts, demos and rarities.
• CD 5 & 6 immerse listeners in live and BBC session performances, capturing the band’s energy on stage.

Alongside the 6-CD box, there’s also a 3-LP vinyl edition for collectors who prefer analogue formats. Though not as extensive as its CD counterpart, the vinyl reissue still widens the scope of the original album with expanded ‘Introducing…’ material and selected extras from the CD reissue’s content.

Ultimately, the ‘Café Bleu’ Special Edition is more than a reissue, it’s a retrospective that celebrates The Style Council’s artistic boldness and offers an insight into one of the most innovative British albums of the 1980s. Whether you approach it as nostalgia or discovery, the reissue solidifies ‘Café Bleu’s place in pop history and offers something new for even the most devoted fans.

All variants of the reissue are available for purchase here.