Two Songs, Two Worlds: Paul Weller’s New Single
By Dan Jennings
Paul Weller has today announced Find El Dorado, a new album of reinterpretations due out on Friday 25th July on Parlophone Records. Described as a deeply personal project, the record sees Paul revisit songs that have long lived in the back of his mind – tracks that have shaped him emotionally and musically, now reimagined through fresh arrangements and collaborations.
To mark the announcement, two tracks from the album, ‘Lawdy Rolla’ and ‘Pinball’ have been released today, and as this is also coming out on 7″ vinyl, I think we can safely call this a single rather than an impact track or instant grat! You can order / listen here.
Though vastly different in origin and tone, both songs reflect the spirit of the project – uncovering and reshaping music that’s travelled with him over time.
‘Lawdy Rolla’ – The Guerillas
Originally released in the 1969 by The Guerrillas – a short-lived French studio outfit – ‘Lawdy Rolla’ is a raw, propulsive track that simmered in obscurity for decades. Featuring the unmistakable saxophone of Afro-jazz pioneer Manu Dibango, and guitar of André Charles Pezin (AKA Slim Pezin). The original mixes loose funk rhythms with psychedelic flourishes, wah-wah guitars, heavy conga-led percussion, and a chant-like vocal that loops with hypnotic insistence. The track walks a fine line between spiritual groove and gritty street-funk, with a trance-like quality that builds tension without ever fully releasing it. It’s the sort of deep-cut oddity you’d expect to find on a rare compilation in a Hackney record shop crate, not on a major label release.
Paul Weller’s take on the song is no mere revivalism; it’s a full-blown re-contextualisation, a masterclass in breathing new life into forgotten sounds. The original’s raw, almost feral energy is refined into a sophisticated soul groove with a beautiful sonic bedrock from Steve Cradock (who plays bass, drums, percussion and piano). Clean and precise guitar licks, subtle yet effective, weave in and out of the mix, adding a touch of bluesy grit without overpowering the groove. The organ, a swirling, Hammond-drenched affair, provides a warm and enveloping counterpoint to the track’s insistent, propulsive rhythm. Sax comes from Awoifaleke (Kevin) Haynes, a veteran of London’s jazz scene known for blending African spiritual traditions with hard bop intensity.
Weller’s vocal is the focal point though. Eschewing the original’s chant-like delivery, he opts instead for a soulful, almost conversational approach, delivered with a confident and knowing swagger. It’s a performance that exudes experience, inviting the listener to move and groove, but also to sink into the track’s many layers.
‘Lawdy Rolla’ is more than just a cover; it’s a sonic excavation, a testament to Weller’s ability to find the soul in the most unexpected places. It’s a track that invites close listening, revealing a nuanced and polished production that rewards repeated plays.
‘Pinball’ – Brian Protheroe
In contrast, ‘Pinball’ is well known to crate-diggers and cult music fans alike. A one-hit wonder for actor-turned-musician Brian Protheroe, the 1974 single is often described as a diary entry in song form. Written during a lonely weekend in Covent Garden, it’s a gently devastating reflection on breakup blues, empty bedsits, and running out of pale ale.
Weller’s version keeps the bones of the song intact but adds his own emotional weight. The arrangement is minimal, letting the lyrics breathe, with a standout contribution from longtime collaborator Jacko Peake on saxophone swapping out the original’s Tony Coe – and adding a haunted, late-night atmosphere. Where Protheroe’s original drifted with theatrical detachment, Weller’s voice brings warmth and gravity, drawing the listener further into the song’s intimate world.
These two releases mark a compelling start to the Find El Dorado campaign, offering early insight into an album built not on nostalgia, but on reinterpretation – and a lifelong conversation with the music that lingers. The songs underline the ethos of the project: not just a covers album, but a personal map. They’re less about nostalgia, more about discovery – both for Paul Weller and for anyone listening closely.
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AcastThe Official Album Announcement
Paul Weller announces the release of Find El Dorado, a deeply personal new album of reinterpretations, out on 25th July. Drawing on a lifetime of listening, the record sees Weller revisit songs that have long lived in the back of his mind – now reimagined with fresh meaning and a sense of reverence. “These are songs I’ve carried with me for years,” Weller says. “They’ve taken on new shapes over time. And now felt like the moment to share them.”
The release also marks a new chapter in Weller’s storied legacy. As a defining figure in British music who has sold approx. 11 million albums in the UK throughout his incredible career, Paul makes a return to Parlophone Records, the label behind his critically acclaimed run of albums from 2015 to 2019.
If it’s possible to get lost in music, Weller shows that you can also find yourself in it. Find El Dorado is less a covers album and more a map of his emotional and musical DNA. From the quiet melancholy of Ray Davies’ “Nobody’s Fool” to the shimmering ache of “El Dorado,” these are songs that shaped his inner world—and now, through a mix of intimate arrangements and standout collaborations with the likes of Hannah Peel, Declan O’Rourke, Robert Plant, Seckou Keita, Amelia Coburn and Noel Gallagher, he’s passing them on. This is Weller at his most reflective, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the music that made him, and a reminder that great songs never age, they just evolve.
You can order at paulweller.lnk.to/findeldorado
The tracklist for Paul Weller’s ‘Find El Dorado’ is:
1. ‘Handouts In The Rain’ (Richie Havens)
2. ‘Small Town Talk’ (Bobby Charles)
3. ‘El Dorado’ (Eamon Friel)
4. ‘White Line Fever’ (The Flying Burrito Brothers)
5. ‘One Last Cold Kiss’ (Christy Moore)
6. ‘When You Are A King’ (White Plains)
7. ‘Pinball’ (Brian Protheroe)
8. ‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire’ (Willie Griffin)
9. ‘I Started A Joke’ (Bee Gees)
10. ‘Never the Same (Lal and Mike Waterson)
11. ‘Lawdy Rolla’ (The Guerrillas)
12. ‘Nobody’s Fool’ (The Kinks)
13. ‘Journey’ (Duncan Browne)
14. ‘Daltry Street’ (Jake Fletcher/PP Arnold)
15. ‘Clive’s Song’ (Hamish Imlach)