80sography - 80s music interviews

2nd part of the chat with Producer/Mixer/Engineer, Phil Harding 6. PET SHOP BOYS 7. STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN (pt 2) 8. MISCELLANEOUS SINGLES 9. CHARITY SINGLES 10. 12" MIXES 80SOGRAPHY QUICK FIRE ROUND Phil can be found  Website: philhardingmusic.com Twitter: @phardingmusic Facebook: Phil Harding 80sography@gmail.com Send us Fan Mail

Phil Harding had his hands in as many hits in the 80s/90s as anyone you care to mention. We will only concern ourselves with the better decade as we look into his career as producer/engineer and mixer. 1. THE EARLY YEARS (Pre-1980-83) How Phil got into the business in the 70s, working with the likes of Gerry Rafferty (Baker Street!), The Walker Brothers (No Regrets!) and The Clash (White Man in Ha...

Second part with Bill discussing more great LP/single artwork courtesy of Bill Smith Studios... 6. QUEEN (1984) BSS work with Queen on The Works LP and associated singles.  Also discussed is other work in the rock world; AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Shakey. 7. LOOSE ENDS (1985 - 88) Location! Location! Location! Bill draws the short straw and shoots some Loose Ends covers all over t...

From the audio to the visual, we delve into the wondrous world of the album sleeve with Bill Smith, of Bill Smith Studios, responsible for some wonderful images in the 80s.  1. THE JAM (1977-1981)  After getting his foot in the door at Polydor in the 70s, Bill has a breakthrough with The Jam. He is responsible for the artwork for all their albums up to and including Sound Affects as well as a numb...

And our Was (not Was) odyssey comes to an end with the glory years of What Up, Dog? and Walk The Dinosaur alongside working with Elvis Costello, Roy Orbison and Frank Sinatra Jr. 7. WHAT UP, DOG? (1986-88) A two year process begun with a rejected album by Geffen. Then former podcast guest, David Bates saves the day and one of the best albums of the 80s results. Special focus made on the superlativ...

Aaaand we are back for part 2 of the magnum octopus that is the David Weiss/Was interview with a cast list including Ozzy Osbourne, Madonna, Mel Torme, Kim Basinger, Bob Dylan, Versace, George Harrison, Rickie Lee Jones, etc, etc. 3. OUT COME THE FREAKS (1981-90) After a brief preamble taking in his relationship with Don and diversions with The Rolling Stones and Rickie Lee Jones, we tackle the ma...

Next up is an intriguing chat with one half of the Was Brothers (Was (not Was)) (too many brackets), the eternally interesting Mr David Weiss. We spoke for a looong time so this will end up in three parts (still lost a couple of hours of tangents in the process). Part 1 will cover the early years of Was (not Was) including their debut LP as well as plenty of talk of Walk The Dinosaur as well as di...

A very special episode with a great guest on a brilliant, underrated classic LP of the 80's, one of my personal favourites, Hearts and Bones by Paul Simon (second only in his back catalogue to Bridge Over Troubled Water in my book...) NOT an audio commentary so no syncing up required so sit back, relax, close your eyes and indulge (unless driving) with the legendary producer, Russ Titelman, o...

Part 2 with keyboard magic-dust provider, ~Andy Richards with more hits, more number ones (including a potential 2 more to make the full 10). And so much brilliant 80s pop… 5. GEORGE MICHAEL An opportune meeting, a Sunday afternoon session and more immortality as Andy works with George on the iconic Careless Whisper. A later session with David  Cassidy (on yet another top 10 smash) allows him the...

A great guy, a wonderful chat and a borderline genius of the keyboard, Andy Richards played on seven number ones of the 80s and loads more hits besides (as I attempt to define throughout the conversation).  1. THE EARLY YEARS (PRE-1980-83) Andy’s background in music culminating in him reaching the studio, And how working on jingles set him up for 80s chart success (cf Relax). 2. FRANKIE GOES TO HO...

Parts 6-10 of Billy's 80:10...  6. UNRELEASED SOLO LP (1983)   Inbetween Ultravox albums, an attempt is made at a solo album. Billy explains why this does not come to pass.     7. LAMENT (1984) Another belter of an album is made and tracks such as Dancing With Tears In My Eyes, Man of Two Worlds and the wondorous title track are discussed. [Check out the 12" mix. 8 minutes of glorious go...

Part 1 of the 80:10 for Ultravox keyboard player, Billy Currie, with lots of fabulous music discussed in lovely bite-sized pieces. Part one covers 1-5; 1. FADE TO GREY (1980/81) After a pre-amble, setting up where Billy was come 1980, we start with the first of Billy’s seminal hits of the 80s, Fade to Grey by Visage. This is a 5 minute excerpt of Billy’s chat about F2G. The full version can be fou...

Final part of the magnum opus (my favourite ice cream, actually) with DP, DP... 1985 Don Henley - Not Enough Love In The World Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero Phil Collins - No Jacket Required Tour (live video) Cyndi Lauper - Live in Paris (live video) (1987) 1986 Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling Paul McCartney - Stranglehold Wham! - The Edge of Heaven/Where Did Your Heart Go 1987 U...

More honesty and endeavour from Mr Pearl and we cover just the one year in part 2. And below just a slither, a morsel of the work done in these twelve months. Enjoy. 1984 U2 - Pride (in the name of love) Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark (original, unreleased) The Cars - Drive Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters Phil Collins - Against All Odds Elton John - Passengers Van Halen - Hot For Teacher Dur...

And we are back (after a brief hiatus, apologies...) for season 8 and an interview from 2023 I finally get around to releasing (apologies to Mr DP) As you will find out in these three parts, Daniel Pearl has had a quite phenomenal career as a DP/cinematographer - working on Texas Chainsaw Massacre at the age of 23 would be enough for immortality. Add that to filming some of the most iconic music v...

Finally got round to doing one of these (always have the idea in the summer when it's too late). The best of the guests of 2023.  TREVOR HORN on "Leave It" - Yes  PETER COX on his voice  DAVE BASCOMBE on Tears For Fears  TRACEY BELLAND on meeting Morrissey  KEVIN GODLEY on "Two Tribes" video - Frankie Goes To Hollywood  HUGH PADGHAM on "Anything She Does" - Genes...

We return to part two of Thomas Dolby's 80:10 with production work with two songwriting icons; one massively successful the other less so, plus playing Live Aid with yet another. Plus lots of film work and a technicolour third solo album... 6. PREFAB SPROUT (1985-89) Producer for Steve McQueen, From Langley Park to Memphis and Jordan: The Comeback (recorded 1989, released in 1990, pedants!) 7...

Hi, Another episode, another format. 80:10 breaks down a guest's 80s into 10 parts - whether a song, album, artist or category. The inaugral guest is the uniquely brilliant Thomas Dolby. 1. NEW TOY (1981) Songwriter for Lena Lovich 2. FOREIGNER (1981) Musician for hire for Foreigner as well as Def Leppard, Malcolm McLaren & Belinda Carlisle 3. THE GOLDEN AGE OF WIRELESS (1982) The first a...

Another day, another great Billy Currie episode - this time another Anatomy of a Song released in 1980 which hit the charts in 1981; the eternally brilliant Fade to Grey by Visage. Chris Payne on F2G as referenced in episode can be found on YouTube here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmF_jeokUX8 billycurrie.com 80sography@gmail.com                                                   Hear The Notes...

Pt 2 of the chat with John including lots more excellent 12" mixes and much more besides (including TWO quickfire rounds...) POTOKER'S PREFERENCES John's favorite film/TV/book/LP/live event of the decade 1985 Thompson Twins - Roll Over/Here's To Future Days Phil Collins - Sussudio (12")/One More Night (12") Paul McCartney - Spies Like Us (Party Mix) Peter Gabriel - Sl...

And we have returned after a little break at 80sography Towers to indulge in more 80s goodness with Engineer, Producer and 12" Mixmaster John 'Tokes' Potoker. Before we enter the realm of the extended mix we first travel with John through the early part of the 80s and John's part in some truly iconic music with Steely Dan and Talking Heads. Plus plenty more besides.... 1980 Ste...

Interview with one of the chief architects discussing simply one of the best songs of the 80s; Ultravox keyboard player/violinist, Billy Currie on the making of Vienna. www.billycurrie.com Support the podcast via PayPal at 80sography@gmail.com                                                           So mystic and soulful x Send us Fan Mail

Antiques! Do we have a special episode for you, or what? (answer: not 'what') Only an audio commentary of one of the very best albums of the 80s (if not all time) Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen, with producer, Thomas Dolby and Sprout bassist, Martin McAloon. Much covered, much discussed, much to enjoy. Sync up or standalone listen to possibly my favourite ever episode of the Pod. Che...

Another day, another part of the ZTT story,  another member of the Art of Noise and another great guest, Mr JJ Jeczalik. 1980 : Yes-Drama (LP) 1981: Kate Bush - Sat In Your Lap 1982: ABC - The Lexicon of Love (LP) 1983 : Malcolm McLaren - Duck Soup (LP)                Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart                Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax 1984: Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Ple...

Another audio commentary and another Hugh Padgham to add to the collection. Following The Police and Phil Collins we had to have a Genesis one and why not their most successful and (IMHO) their best, Invisible Touch? Sync up and enjoy this fab outing from Phil and the boys (or Tony and the guys. Or Mike + the non-Mechanics) PayPal Contributions gratefully received via 80sography@gmail.com Help spr...