Let Christy Take It

Derek and Kieran are joined for our 50th episode by the brilliant Neil Conti.

As a member of the outstanding Prefab Sprout and subsequently the drummer of choice for countless sessions and shows around the world, Neil has finally settled into the inevitable role of producer and collaborator. He has contributed to a number of recordings by UK and French artists and has written and released songs with BJ Cole and Perry Blake among others.

Neil began to play around the age of 6 and became an accomplished classical pianist, encouraged by his cousin Morgan Fisher, the long-time keyboard player in Mott The Hoople.

Switching to drums at 12 and moving to London in 1979 he toured Europe and recorded the first five albums with Prefab Sprout, playing on all of their most treasured recordings. He also filled the rest of his time founding and running  “Backstage Club” at The Borderline in Soho, a club dedicated to presenting the best emerging UK vocalists and songwriters with a killer house band, directed and led of course by Neil himself. As his reputation grew, he was asked to play on an ever increasing number of albums by artists as diverse as Annie Lennox, Mick Jagger, Youssou N’Dour, Pascal Obispo, David Bowie, Alison Moyet, Paul Young, Jean-Luis Murat, Robert Plant, Sandie Shaw and Deep Forest, while his live work was topped at Wembley Stadium when he played in the all-star band behind David Bowie at Live Aid.

Taking a break from constant touring and recording, Neil spent time in France and decided that was where he wanted to live and work. Neil opened Magic Circle Studio (now re-launched as minimoon) in 2002 and he has been working flat out ever since. He has produced a host of established artists and upcoming bands from France, England, Ireland and USA.

Let Christy Take it are proud to bring you Neil Conti

Derek and Kieran are joined by Alex Lowe. Fresh from his hilarious performance as the royal corespondent on the finale of This Time with Alan Partridge.

 Alex is a popular actor with a unique sense of humor. Lowe is famous for his pseudonyms Barry from Watford and Clinton Baptiste, and he has appeared in numerous television, film, and radio programs.

Lowe made his professional acting debut in 1981 and went on to appear in a diverse selection of acting roles. Throughout the nineties, he made notable appearances in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Grange Hill, The 11 O’Clock Show, and more. In 2001, he played Clinton Baptiste in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, a character that has since become part of Lowe’s persona. A quirky psychic who can contact the paranormal, Clinton Baptise entertains crowds across the UK on headlining tours.

Debuting in 2005 on Iain Lee’s radio show, Barry from Watford is Lowe’s other character known for his outlandish political and social commentary. The notoriously entertaining Barry has appeared in numerous broadcasts throughout the years including Harry Shearer’s Le Show. He has released several original podcasts, most notably  Clinton Baptiste's Paranormal Podcast and The Angelos and Barry Show alongside comedy partner Dan Renton Skinner as Angelos Epithemiou.

Recently, Lowe continues to take on acting roles in Sam Delaney’s News Thing, Tinkershrimp & Dutch, Fireman Sam, The Late Night Alternative, and In The Long Run. He enjoys a strong online following and is scheduled for more headlining comedy tours in the future. A one-of-a-kind talent that can entertain any audience, Alex Lowe and his characters are famous across the world.

Kieran and Derek are proud to present the blue eyed voice of soul, Paul Carrack.

One of the most revered voices in music and a figurehead of soulful pop for decades, Paul Carrack remains one of the best blue-eyed soul singers, writers and purveyors of songs that are deep in the DNA of pop history. Dubbed “The Man with the Golden Voice” in a BBC documentary about his phenomenal 50-year career, Paul, whose vocals have graced million-selling songs such as ‘How Long’ by ACE, ‘Tempted’ by Squeeze and the GRAMMY Award nominated ‘Living Years’ by Mike + the Mechanics, is now firmly established as one of the hardest working, independent musicians on the scene. He’s also a hugely popular touring artist, talented multi-instrumentalist and record label owner.

Touring since the age of 17, the Sheffield-born Carrack wrote and sang 'How Long', the much-covered 1974 classic from his days with Ace, and was the voice of 'Tempted', from his tenure with Squeeze.

Then came such hits with Mike + the Mechanics as the GRAMMY-nominated 'The Living Years' and 'Over My Shoulder', the latter a co-write with Mike Rutherford. Not to mention that another co-write, ‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’, was covered by the Eagles and won a prestigious ASCAP award for Song of the Year.

Diana Ross, no less, covered Carrack’s co-write with Nick Lowe, ‘Battlefield’, and as an in-demand collaborator, Paul’s decades of distinction include sessions with The Smiths, Elton John, Roxy Music, B.B. King and countless others, culminating in an invitation from Eric Clapton to join his touring band.