Café Blah

I’ve just started a Substack called Café Blah: a place to talk / argue about great 1980s albums that never quite got their due. This piece sets up the series which will launch next week with The Style Council’s Cafê Bleu. @paulwellerHQ @MRCOOLSDREAM open.substack.com/pub/neal1969/p…

Heading home to see mum in May so going to see Martin McAloon ⁦@CulpaFeliks⁩ ⁦@Prefabsprout supporting Thomas Dolby. Back to the City Hall for the first time in over 30 years , scene of many a good night out , check out the other dates martinmcaloon.com

@5goalthriller I’m with you on that one. I love it. This piece drew heavily on a lot of the work I’d already done for the book, and I was using it to unplug the writer’s block… fingers crossed.

@cafe_blah I’d go so far as to say it’s my favourite Costello album. What happened to that book we were promised?

Something for Costello nerds over on Café Blah: My take on the mighty Blood & Chocolate open.substack.com/pub/neal1969/p…

Some light weekend reading for @ElvisCostello fans. bit.ly/CafeBlahCostel… @cafe_blah @elvis_wiki

@sproutsfan @TheHouseof08 @PaulineMurrayX @penetrationband 💯

@TheHouseof08 Only one for me. @PaulineMurrayX @penetrationband

You can only pick one... XRAY SPEX - IDENTITY or PENETRATION - DON'T DICTATE What's it going to be?

@keepthefaith65 Quick plug for my Café Bleu article from last week: open.substack.com/pub/neal1969/p…

#Nowplaying My Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council (Café Bleu [Disc 2] [Special Edition]Original Album)

Two live recordings, one special release. ‘When Your Garden’s Overgrown’ and ‘Boy About Town’ arrive as a double A-side 7” vinyl for Record Store Day 2026. Captured live for Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 2’s 'In Concert' in 2015 and 2019. 📅 Saturday 18 April 2026 #RSD26

@unclewald @MickPuck Me and @thedavies would agree. Two tracks of joy on the b-side: something for Peaceniks and Potato-heads alike... I wonder what became of Duane Tremelo?

#ChurchOfRockAndRoll #32 Heatwave, Baby Love, How Sweet It Is, Reach Out, Stop In The Name Of Love, Where Did Our Love Go, Band Of Gold, Same Old Song, Can't Help Myself, Reflections, Standing In The Shadows Of Love, Can't Hurry Love, This Old Heart Of Mine, Bernadette etc HDH 💚

Six of the Best so-called 'Sophistipop' albums for you all 👇 And a friendly reminder that any and all subscribers to my Substack are appreciated more than you know 🙏🎶

@riffraffhands Not my favourite of the South Durham pit villages but definitely top three

@cafe_blah As did Trimdon!

The box set re-release may not have happened as planned today, but here's some Café Bleu reading for you. open.substack.com/pub/neal1969/p…

@riffraffhands The line about the widest high street in Europe may give it away…

@cafe_blah In that case I withdraw my assertion. Different town altogether!

@riffraffhands Or, the 61 and 64. Or the 53. Or the 5 and 6 Trimdon Motor Service!

@cafe_blah Great piece. Into town on the 63 and home on the 62. I know where you live(d) 😂

@MRCOOLSDREAM If anyone needs something to read until the physical sleeve notes arrive in May… open.substack.com/pub/neal1969/p…

30th January 2026. We have reached release day 1 for CAFE BLEU SPECIAL EDITION. "Streaming" is currently CD's 1 to 4, 54 songs (3 hours 21 minutes) BUT no sign of the BBC sessions or the gigs at Chippenham and Dominion (CD 5 and CD 6). So are they exclusive to the physical CD?

Wednesday 28th Jan 2026 in this great history of THE STYLE COUNCIL was #shambolic. It was actually a great post to read from the furious @paulwellerHQ We all deserve better .... #TheStyleCouncil

This from @paulwellerHQ is MASSIVELY disappointing. Two things: 1. I THINK I might be the one who caught the mistake & flagged it to the label last week. Apologies all round... 2. My Substack article about Café Bleu still goes ahead, coinciding with LP release or not.

There have been recent reports of fake accounts posing as Paul or his management, attempting to scam and defraud fans. We are also aware of an AI-generated video that falsely claims to be Paul, circulating online, asking fans for money to join a fan club. (1/2)