"Speak Like a Child" is the debut single by English pop band

the Style Council The Style Council were a British musical ensemble, band formed in late 1982 by Paul Weller, the former singer, songwriter and guitarist with the punk rock/New wave music, new wave/mod revival band the Jam, and keyboardist Mick Talbot, previousl ...

, released on 11 March 1983 and was included on the

mini-LP A mini-LP or mini-album is a short vinyl record album or LP, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered full-length. It is distinct from an EP due to containing more tracks and a slightly longer running length. A ...

, '' Introducing The Style Council'' (1983). Backed with "Party Chambers", it became a hit, peaking at number 4 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. Band members

Paul Weller Paul John Weller (born John William Weller; 25 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/ new wave/mod revival band the Jam (1972–1982). He had further success with the blue-eyed soul m ...

and

Mick Talbot Michael Talbot (born 11 September 1958) is an English keyboardist. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Talbot is probably best known as co-founder of the Style Council. He has been a member of Dexys Midnight Runners, the Merton Parkas and ...

were already well-known from their previous bands,

the Jam The Jam were an English mod revival/ punk rock band formed in 1972 at Sheerwater Secondary School in Woking, Surrey. They released 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 198 ...

and

the Merton Parkas The Merton Parkas were an English mod revival band, formed in the Merton area of South London in the mid-1970s, by Danny Talbot (vocals and guitar), his brother, Mick Talbot (keyboards), Neil Hurrell (bass) and Simon Smith (drums). The group wa ...

, respectively. It has remained one of their most enduring hits. The single also features

Tracie Young Tracie Young (often just billed as Tracie; born 25 March 1965) is a former English pop singer in the 1980s. She achieved success after becoming a protégée of Paul Weller. Career Born in Derby, England, Young was discovered by The Jam frontma ...

, who had just signed to Weller's Respond Records label, on backing vocals.

Compilation appearances

As well as the song's single release, it has featured on various Style Council compilation albums. The song was included on ''

The Singular Adventures of The Style Council ''The Singular Adventures of The Style Council'' is the first greatest hits album by the Style Council, released in 1989. Subtitled ''Greatest Hits Vol.1'', there was never a 'Volume 2' although other Style Council singles albums have been releas ...

'' (1989), ''

The Complete Adventures of The Style Council ''The Complete Adventures of The Style Council'' is a box set by The Style Council, released in 1998, nine years after their split. It contains most of their material in chronological order, including their previously unreleased final studio al ...

'' (1998), and ''

Greatest Hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...

'' (2000).

Track listing

* 7" single (TSC1, TSC 1, 810 873-7) #"Speak Like a Child" – 3:15 #"Party Chambers" – 3:20

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. Musicians *

–

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

s *

–

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

Zeke Manyika Zeke Manyika (born 23 February 1955 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland) is a drummer, vocalist and songwriter. Career Manyika was born in Zimbabwe, but has lived in Britain for most of his life. From 1982 to 1984 he was a member of the pop gro ...

–

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

–

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are use ...

Charts

References

External links

* 1983 songs 1983 debut singles The Style Council songs Songs written by Paul Weller Polydor Records singles {{1980s-pop-song-stub