(* as The Paul Weller Movement )
Chart entered : 18 May 1991
Chart peak : 36
Number of hits : 37
British pop's greatest survivor began the third and probably final phase of his career with this one.
We know where he came from. The failure of his post-Style Council project, Slam Slam, was probably the best thing that ever happened to him , making it clear that house music wasn't going to be his musical salvation. In early 1991 he took to the road with a new band including drummer Steve White and James Taylor Quartet bassist Paul Francis as The Paul Weller Movement playing Jam and Style Council songs as well as new material.
"Into Tomorrow" was released on the independent label Freedom High as Paul had no record deal at the time. Although there's a strong seventies funk influence in the music , it still marked an unashamed move back into rock as is clear from the first few notes of Paul's muscular guitar riff . Paul gruffly sings of his own personal restlessness with his usual commitment while the rhythm section try and inject some spring into it but it's all very workmanlike and completely forgettable melodically. I've never heard it on the radio since.
Still, a Top 40 hit without major label backing indicated that he still had an audience and put him back in the game.
Telling cover for the single: mod-ish design and, crucially, picture of the man playing an electric guitar. I'd guess there were enough fragments of the old Jam fanbase still buying singles to get this into the top 40. From here, he'd pick up plenty of new converts... I should know, being one of them!
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