80sography - 80s music interviews

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 HOLLYWOOD (1983-86)

Andy sprinkles his magic synth-dust all over Relax for Trevor Horn as well as working on Two Tribes and the Welcome to the Pleasure Dome LP.

Also discussed is the contrast with working on the follow-up, Liverpool.

Rage Hard!

3. TREVOR HORN (1983-86)

As well as Frankie, Andy worked on other Trevor Horn projects such as

Duck Rock, the massively influential Propaganda LP, A Secret Wish plus

the trifecta of 1985 pop perfection singles; Duel, Cry and Slave To The Rhythm.


4. PETER COLLINS (1983-89)

Another producer Andy cultivated a long working relationship with in the 80s was

the late Peter Collins. From the pop of Nik Kershaw to the rawk of Rush and

Gary Moore.

EITHER/OR

New feature (any excuse for another QFR). Andy’s 80s choices. 
Duran or Wham was a bit of a no brainer (unless he secretly worked on The Reflex as well)

more on Andy at andyrichards.com

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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 gorgeousness]

 
8. LIVE AID (1985)

Billy and the boys play Live Aid in what ends up as Warren's last
gig with the band until they reform in the 21st century.

Billy discusses the day, how the stage set-up affects performance and
what he discussed with Bowie on the way out of Wembley stadium.

I forgot to ask how they chose the songs to play. Oh well.

9. U-VOX (1986)

Post-Live Aid and Midge's number one with If I Was (and now minus
Warren), the band get together to make their last LP for 20 years.
 
Billy discusses the issues surrounding making the album and regrets.
I defend 60% of the album as actually pretty bloody good.
Follow Your Heart is not defended though.

10. TRANSPORTATION (1988)

And finally we have the first Billy Currie solo LP released
(supported by Steve Howe of Yes fame)

80SOGRAPHY QUICKFIRE ROUND

How would Billy describe the other members of Ultravox in the 80s and
other questions.

Plus a countdown of Billy's best Ultravox solo's of the 80s.

billycurrie.com

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For Chris x

                                             Destined We Had To Collide

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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 found on the Anatomy of a Song episode on said track.

2. B SIDES (1980-87)

An interesting detour as we discuss the many Ultravox b sides of the 80s. Billy discusses his favourites.

3. VIENNA (1980/81)

Another iconic hit of officially “the best number 2 of the 80s”, and another excerpt from an Anatomy of a Song episode. 

4. THE VOICE (1981)

Original concept of interview was to discuss ten tracks, this changed during the course of the chat. This is why The Voice is discussed rather than the brilliant LP, Rage in Eden.

Originally we discussed the music video as an audio commentary but edited down due to large pauses and just included as part of the chat. 

5. GEORGE MARTIN (1982)

Moving away from Conny Plank, the boys decide to try an up-and-coming producer called George Martin. Billy discusses how they worked together and the influence George had on them.

He later did the orchestration for All In One Day but that is not discussed at this point. [It’s farking great tho]

For more on Billy check out billycurrie.com

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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

U2 - With or Without You

1988

Elton John/Minnie Mouse - Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

1989

The Rolling Stones - Almost Hear You Sigh


More on Daniel at danielpearldp.com

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U2 Pride in colour;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsIlbWJQFis

Dancing on the Ceiling making of;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyMVuyUZgm4


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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

Duran Duran - The Reflex/Arena Live Video


For more on Daniel;

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Instagram: @dpearldp

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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 videos of the 80s and beyond and working with just about every icon of the last 40 years you can name.

McCartney, Dylan, Springsteen, Rolling Stones, U2, The Police, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Prince, Elton John, Duran Duran, Tina Turner, Minnie Mouse, etc, etc.

I am usually glad I stop at the end of the 1989 but never more than in the case of the illustrious and exhaustive/ing career of Mr Pearl.

Anyway, part 1 be here...loads to enjoy; 


PRE-80s

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

1980-82

Supertramp - It’s Raining Again
(plus an interesting perspective on who directed Poltergeist)

1983

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (audio commentary)

The Police - Every Breath You Take (audio commentary)

The Police - Wrapped Around Your Finger (audio commentary)

Lionel Richie - All Night Long

U2 - With or Without You (1987)

Genesis - That’s All

Donna Summer - She Worked Hard For The Money

Billy idol - Dancing With Myself

For more on Daniel;

danieldp.com
Instagram: @dpearldp

Moan at me for taking so long to get episodes out at [email protected]

[pic of DP with Mariah & Whitney, which he references in the episode, is courtesy of Daniel's Instgram page - please check it out]




                                    I Could Leave But I Won't Go

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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" - Genesis
 JJ JECZALIK on "Relax" - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
 THOMAS DOLBY/MARTIN McALOON/WENDY SMITH on "Moving The River" -   
   Prefab Sprout
 JOHN POTOKER on "Sussudio" (extended mix) - Phil Collins
 BILLY CURRIE on "Vienna" - Ultravox
 THOMAS DOLBY on sex and drugs & rock and roll


Thank you to the guests and thank you to YOU, the dear listener.

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                                            Peace and love and hugs x

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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. DAVID BOWIE (1985)

Keyboards for Bowie at Live Aid, playing on TVC 15, Modern Love, Rebel Rebel and "Heroes".

8. JONI MITCHELL (1985)

"Producer" for Dog Eat Dog and a definite contrast to his experiences with Paddy and Davy Jones.

9.  FILM WORK (1985-87)

Scored Fever Pitch (no, not that one) and did the songs for Howard The Duck (yes, that one) as well as a rather impressive score for Gothic.

10. ALIENS ATE MY BUICK (1988)

The third album. Contains the BEST SONG HE EVER DID (fact!)

80SOGRAPHY QUICKFIRE ROUND

to finish. Including the favourite question I have ever asked (with a perfect answer)


For more Thomas Dolby (not Dobly);

thomasdolby.com

Twitter: @ThomasDolby
Facebook/Instagram: thomasdolby

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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 album

4. SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE (1982)

The breakthru hit in America. Science!

5. THE FLAT EARTH (1984)

The second LP


More on Thomas Dolby...

www.thomasdolby.com
Twitter: @ThomasDolby
Facebook: thomasdolby

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                         Then a Dog Woke Inside Her Head to Watch the Explosion

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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
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                                                  Hear The Notes From A Distant Song

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