80sography - 80s music interviews

Another gem of a AOOS with songwriter/musician Martin Page and is there anything more iconic and anthemic than the equally loved and (wrongly) derided 80s classic, We Built This City. Loads to enjoy here - Martin's enthusiasm is infectious. And does Marconi play the Mamba? Check out Martin here; twitter: @martinpagemusic facebook: martin page website: martinpage.com podcast: radio owl's...

It was an absolute thrill to be able to chat to the female Thompson Twin, the iconic Alannah Currie under the pretence of an Anatomy of a Song episode. Although we discussed the fantastic Sister of Mercy it was an excuse to discuss much more about her time with Tom & Joe in the 80s; the highs and lows, the music, the fame, the pressures, the writing & recording and just what role exactly t...

Another day, another dollar, another cracking episode of 80sography (and another lame intro to an episode description..) Luckily the guest is the brilliantly talented director, Daniel Kleinman, a hugely successful ad maker of the past 30 years, the creator of all James Bond sequences since Goldeneye (bar one) and who made his start in the 80s directing some of the most innovative music videos of t...

Enjoy this interview with the hugely successful photographer Lynn Goldmsith on her 80s music side project, Will Powers and the hit single, Kissing With Confidence. And what a cast list; vocals by Carly Simon, co-written and played by Steve Winwood, Nile Rodgers and Todd Rundgren. Further co-writes on the LP with Sting and Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins. We explore the creation of this fabulous t...

Very excited about this one - I've been looking to do another audio commentary for a while and what better place to continue with than one of the best-selling LPs of the decade. We join Producer, the great Hugh Padgham, and go through each song track-by-track, with additional chat further on, and, of course, a quickfire round on the album at the end. So sync up (should that be your desire) or...

Welcome back to part 2 of the chat with 80s music video director, Jim Yukich, and it's a biggie - in fact, the longest episode yet. Much enjoyment to be had and FOUR audio commentaries for music videos so get syncing peeps. And checkout Jim's Michael Jackson impression - top notch! 1986 (08:51) Genesis - Invisible Touch/In Too Deep/Tonight Tonight Tonight/Anything She Does Mike & The...

 * DEFINITELY ONE FOR PHIL COLLINS/GENESIS FANS * Heading into the visual stratosphere this week with the 80s music video career of director Jim Yukich, who now has a hugely successful career producing comedy specials for the like of  Bill Maher and Chelsea Handler, etc. In the 80s though he was responsible for some of the best music videos around  including all the best Phil Collins & Genesis...

And we go again for the 4th round of 80sography with brand new guests and new exciting features. One of which is Anatomy of a Song, where we explore a hit of the 80s with a special guest. Our first guest is songwriter Martin Page, here in his role as keyboard player on only fricking Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jnr. Martin is normally known for his writing hits such as These Dreams and We Built This...

Wow, we've reached the end of the road with Mr Hague with yet more continued success and fantastic pop records. 1987 (2:39) New Order - True Faith New Order/England World Cup Squad - World In Motion (I know it's 1990 but, come on, had to ask...) 1988 (20:18) Climie Fisher - Love Changes Everything Jane Wiedlin - Rush Hour Erasure - The Innocents 1989 (37:06) P.ublic Image Limited - 9 Pos...

Part 2 of the interview with the 'godlike' producer, Stephen Hague, with some great LP work in '86 followed by talk on 75% of the massive hits  he produced in '87. Which one didn't he like? Couldn't cram it all into one second part so part 3 to come to conclude the decade. Don't tell me that you think it's green - me? I know it's red (YNWA)   1986 (4:06...

Grabbed another interview that would've gobsmacked the 14-year-old-me. Stephen Hague, the producer responsible for some of the most joyously beautiful pop music of the 80s - that most joyously musically beautiful of decades. Lots on West End Girls obvs but part 1 is a fascinating interview covering Stephen's earlier career as musician, writer and producer before the big breakthrough with...

More goodies in the second part of the interview with Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley, exploring the years 1983-89. More Madness! Excess Costello! Bowie! Morrissey! Dexys! And more importantly, Marilyn!! (I mock, but it's a cracking one hit wonder) Clive and Alan on top form - this is one of my favourite episodes so far. So enjoy... 1983 (2:29) Elvis Costello - Punch The Clock Elvis Costel...

Next up for the deep dive into their 80sography is the magnificent production team of Langer/Winstanley. Such a thrill to speak to the guys about their incredible 80s. In part 1 there is a lot of Madness, Dexys, a Teardrop Explodes and we find out what links Shipbuilding and Ullo John Got A New Motor. Beware - there is some exceptionally fruity language from the off. So if easily offended avert ye...

2nd part of the interview with the great Stephen Lipson covering a lot of ground in the 80s (plus I indulged myself in allowing a few post 80s questions at the end. Mea culpa, etc) From Grace Jones to Macca. Frankie to The Pets - it's all here... 1985: Slave To The Rhythm - Grace Jones (03:25) Duel - Propaganda (13:00) 1986: Liverpool - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (19:31) 1987: Tomorrow (12&quo...

2nd guest for the My 80sography is music producer, Stephen Lipson. An incredibly successful career for over 40 years who really made his mark in the 80s working with Trevor Horn. Episode 1 focuses largely on his incredible work with Frankie Goes To Hollywood on their epic double album, Welcome To The Pleasuredome and the massively successful singles; 1980/81; Lindisfarne (07:07) Stop and Smell The...

* INCLUDES PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD MATERIAL * We conclude the epic season on The Boys From Bath with a compendium of interviews based on The Seeds of Love era (many thanks to listener Tom Teodorczuk for the idea). CHRIS HUGHES * (01:40) DAVE BASCOMBE ** (22.40) NICKY HOLLAND (44.09) DAVID BATES (65.12) IAN STANLEY (78.00) CLIVE LANGER/ALAN WINSTANLEY ** (97.51) HUGH PADGHAM * (105.41) SUMMARY (113.02)...

 We reach the end of the 80s Padgham Parade where we began with more success with Phil, Sting & Genesis. Plus more besides including an ex-Beach Boy (THE Beach Boy), Hojo’s last big hit and an underrated gem of an LP.    In PART 4;   1986 (part 2);   Invisible Touch – Genesis (1:50)  No One Is To Blame – Howard Jones (20:35)   1987;   …Nothing Like The Sun – Sting (24:00)  Remembrance Days – T...

Plenty more to uncover in the 3rd part of Hugh Padgham's 80sography as we hit the mid-80s with further success with Genesis, the task of following era defining hit albums with Human League and David Bowie, multi-platinum mega success of peak Collins and issues arising from working with an ex-Fab. In PART 3; 1983 (part 2): King of Pain - The Police (2:40) Genesis - Genesis (5:31) 1984: Hysteri...

Welcome back to the second part of the Ian Stanley interview. Much explored including the following; * The Working Hour * Mothers Talk (masterpiece!) * Listen * THE Big Chair (see picture, courtesy of Ian) * Which major pop act did Ian & Roland try to write a song for? * Sowing The Seeds of Love * The Quickfire Round and so much more... A great thrill - much thanks to Ian (and also David Bates...

We could not end the interview section for the Tears For Fears season better than with our final interviewee; Mr Ian Stanley - band member from the beginning and part of the key creative unit behind Songs From The Big Chair.  Chatting to Ian was a great thrill and we cover the early part of the decade here from initial meeting to working on The Hurting with diversions into the making of both Every...

We are back for the 2nd part of the “My 80sography” interview with Hugh Padgham. Much to cover here in a phenomenally busy & successful stage of Hugh’s career. Discover the unique contribution he made to Maneater, the film David Bowie turned him on to and the one thing Sting is not good at (surprisingly, it’s not acting…) And much, much more. Also two quickfire rounds discussing Hugh’s favouri...

Welcome to “My 80sography” a new  80sography series where we talk to key figures who had a cultural and creative impact in what is, of course, the most entertaining and enjoyable of decades. We start with a season on music producers and what better place to start than with Hugh Padgham;  a man responsible for as many hits and platinum albums in the 80s as anyone. So much covered (and HUGHge thanks...

Second part of fascinating chat with A & R guru, David Bates where he details the years of success with the band (both in the UK and US). Worth listening out to discover; * Who fainted recording a vocal * Who won the bet with his US equivalent over which TFF single would sell the most * Which single actually helped shift the most copies of Big Chair * How he wangled dinner with Kim Basinger *...

Another great interview to add to the collection with the man who signed the boys in 1981 and was the only person there from the beginning through to the end of the 80s; A & R guy, David Bates. We spoke for three hours so edited it into two parts (2nd part next week). In this part, discover; * Which other huge band David wasn't allowed to sign * What caused Curt to cry while recording The...

Another Tears For Fears related interview - in The Big Chair this time is the wonderful Nicky Holland, co-writer of 62.5% of The Seeds Of Love and key member of the live band during The Big Chair tour. A real thrill to speak to her and if you are a fan you will find plenty here to engage and entertain from Fun Boy 3 to Tears 4 Fears. Contact Nicky  on Twitter @NickyJLHolland on Facebook at NickyHo...