A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman

As we reach the end of the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced singles from 1986, we hear for one last time from Phil Fearon , about his remake of "Ain't Nothing But A House Party", and Youth and June Montana from Brilliant about their cover version of "The End Of The World". We also learn about the record company dramas both acts encountered shortly after their time with SAW c...

What a mixed bag of SAW-produced singles we have in this episode, including the fifth and final PWL release by Princess , a Latin-flavoured tune by music legend Georgie Fame , the second single by pop/rock singer Jeb Million ("Speed Up My Heartbeat") and a novelty tune for TV puppet Roland Rat . Yes, really. Princess and her brother, Don Heslop, join us one last time to discuss "In...

In an exclusive interview, Kim Appleby reveals all the details behind Mel & Kim 's debut single. From the story of how she and sister Mel were discovered to the song they almost released instead of "Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)" to exactly what they thought of Stock Aitken Waterman when they met them, Kim shares her memories of and anecdotes about recording one of the...

It was meant to be the song that launched his solo career, but things didn't go to plan for Austin Howard , who recorded "I'm The One Who Really Loves You" with Stock Aitken Waterman for the soundtrack to ill-fated film Knights And Emeralds. We hear from Austin about his experience at PWL and the outrageous question he asked Pete Waterman. Plus, after releasing a non-SAW single...

We discuss a trio of new artists working with Stock Aitken Waterman for the first time, as well as a trio who were coming off the back of a massive SAW-produced hit. First up, it's Galaxy frontman Phil Fearon , who reveals that he almost didn't record his UK top 10 remake of "I Can Prove It" and tells us exactly what SAW brought to the track. Then, we hear from Tight Fit singer...

In our biggest episode yet, we look at the next four SAW-produced singles to be released in 1986, including "Tell Me Tomorrow", which was featured in the film Knights & Emeralds — and we hear from Princess about what it was like to be included on a soundtrack. There's also the third single by Brilliant , "Somebody", with Youth explaining how the SAW version of the trac...

Another major turning point in the Stock Aitken Waterman story came when they began working with girl group Bananarama . SAW hadn't had a major hit since "Say I'm Your Number One" and Bananarama's last couple of singles had been commercial disappointments, but when they teamed up for a remake of "Venus", everyone was a winner. The trio's remake of the Shocki...

We launch into 1986 with the first five singles produced by Stock Aitken Waterman released that year — and we hear from all the artists involved. What was going on with that choreography in Brilliant 's "Love Is War" music video? What happened in the aftermath of "This Is The House" by The Three Degrees ? Why wasn't Haywoode completely comfortable with "You'...

Before we continue our journey through Stock Aitken Waterman into 1986, we take one last look at the early years with a man who knows a thing or two about what happened during 1984 and 1985: Mike Stock . One-third of the songwriting and production team shares his thoughts on Divine , Hazell Dean , Dead Or Alive , Brilliant , Princess , The Three Degrees and more. Did a fight really almost break ou...

Brilliant and Rin Tin Tin were the two latest bands to release singles produced by Stock Aitken Waterman as 1985 came to an end — and we hear from members of both groups in this episode. Producer Youth (aka Martin Glover) and singer June Montana recall how their band was trimmed down to just them and future KLF member Jimmy Cauty, and why expectations were high for their remake of James Brown&apos...

As 1985 continued, Stock Aitken Waterman straddled two genres — hi-NRG and pop/R&B. Two of their regular artists, Dead Or Alive and Hazell Dean , released new singles: "My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me To The Doctor)" and "They Say It's Gonna Rain" respectively. And the trio began work with R&B singer Haywoode ("Getting Closer") and A-list girl group The Three...

It was the single that changed everything for Stock Aitken Waterman. The debut single for Princess, "Say I'm Your Number One" was not only a shift away from hi-NRG towards soul/pop but it saw Mike Stock and Matt Aitken take a more proactive role in writing the songs they would produce. In an exclusive interview, we talk to Princess and her brother/manager, Donovan Heslop, about her...

As we approach a major turning point in the Stock Aitken Waterman story, Gavin and Matt take a look at three singles by bands that worked with the producers. First, there's the next Dead Or Alive single, "In Too Deep", which was a change of pace for them. Next, Spelt Like This released their second single, "Stop This Rumour", and changed lead singer! And goth rock/dark wav...

We kick off our look at Stock Aitken Waterman's 1985 output with a couple of controversial projects. On the one hand, there is three-piece pop group Spelt Like This , described by Pete Waterman as "the biggest travesty I've been involved in". What did the band's singer think? We find out. And on the other hand, there's Michael Prince , whose song, "Dance Your Lov...

It was SAW's first UK number 1 single, and "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" by Dead Or Alive is paid due respect as Gavin and Matt take an in-depth look at one of the most enduring singles produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. Mixmaster Phil Harding, who worked on the track, joins us to talk about how Dead Or Alive came to work with SAW, what singer Pete Burns wa...

We continue A Journey Through SAW with the next four singles produced by Stock Aitken Waterman: "Dark Glasses" by Edwina Lawrie, who joins us for a chat about her Nik Kershaw cover; "Can The Rhythm" by Girl Talk; "I'm So Beautiful" by Divine, about which we talk with mix engineer and producer Phil Harding; and "Back In My Arms (Once Again)" by Hazell De...

We kick off A Journey Through SAW by discussing the first four singles produced by Stock Aitken Waterman: "The Upstroke" by Agents Aren't Aeroplanes, Eurovision entry "Anna Mari Elena" by Andy Paul, "You Think You're A Man" by Divine and "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" by Hazell Dean, who joins us to talk about how she came to record SAW's fir...