A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman

Ep 44: I'd Rather Jack


Listen Later

A protest song. A novelty record. A camp classic. The beginning of the end. "I'd Rather Jack" by The Reynolds Girls has been called a lot of things over the years and it remains one of the Stock Aitken Waterman singles that is most fiercely debated by fans. A swing at restrictive radio playlists, the record was fronted by teenage sisters Linda and Aisling Reynolds, who got their deal with PWL Records by approaching Pete Waterman repeatedly after his weekly radio show in their home city of Liverpool. The duo was seen as the perfect act to perform the track, which was the natural successor to SAW's previous swipe at the industry, "Roadblock". Matt Aitken reveals the unexpected inspiration for the song, while David Howells and Lino Carbosiero talk about their memories of turning the sisters into pop stars. As well as reflecting on the importance of "I'd Rather Jack" as a sign of how SAW were laser focussed in their targeting of the teen and pre-teen market in 1989, we also dive deep into the archives to detail the feud that erupted between The Reynolds Girls and Pete Waterman after the song had been a top 10 hit in the UK, and discuss Linda and Aisling's hasty exit from the music industry and our own efforts to track down the elusive sisters.

Support the show

Subscribe for bonus material at chartbeats.com.au/saw
Instagram: @chartbeatsau
Threads: @chartbeatsau, @matthew_denby360
Bluesky: @chartbeatsau, @matthewdenby.bsky.social
Facebook: Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop
Email: [email protected]

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

A Journey Through Stock Aitken WatermanBy Chart Beats

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

47 ratings


More shows like A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman

View all
Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

10,991 Listeners

Sodajerker On Songwriting by Sodajerker

Sodajerker On Songwriting

383 Listeners

Switched on Pop by Vulture

Switched on Pop

2,642 Listeners

Take 5 by Double J

Take 5

52 Listeners

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware by Jessie Ware

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware

1,534 Listeners

Legends Only - A Pop Culture Podcast by T. Kyle and Bradley Stern

Legends Only - A Pop Culture Podcast

555 Listeners

TRUMP100 by Sky News

TRUMP100

76 Listeners

Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt by Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt

Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt

318 Listeners

Gay Men Going Deeper by Gay Men's Brotherhood

Gay Men Going Deeper

355 Listeners

Alan Carr's 'Life's a Beach' by Keep It Light Media / Travesty Media

Alan Carr's 'Life's a Beach'

519 Listeners

Pop Pantheon by DJ Louie XIV

Pop Pantheon

529 Listeners

Word In Your Ear by Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold

Word In Your Ear

64 Listeners

Electoral Dysfunction by Sky News

Electoral Dysfunction

91 Listeners

Where There's A Will, There's A Wake by Sony Music Entertainment

Where There's A Will, There's A Wake

198 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

897 Listeners