Tim's Listening Party

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined for a listening party by Nile Rodgers, to talk about Chic’s 1979 album, their third record, Risque.

Nile Rodgers, along with his band Chic’s contributed to music cannot be understated. They are one of the most important artists in the popularisation of disco music in the 1970s.

Nile Rodgers himself is one of the greatest guitar players of all time, with a unique style that he continues to lend to leading artists to this very day. He also remains a hugely in-demand record producer, his CV boasting credits on some of the biggest recordings from the likes of Daft Punk, Duran Duran, Madonna, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, INXS the B52-s, Pharrell Williams and so many more.

Risque was released on 30th July 1979 on Atlantic.

Earlier in 2024, Tim Burgess recorded a very special episode with Kjartan Sveinsson from Sigur Ros for their 2002 album, (), at Iceland Airwaves Festival.

It was the first time we had held a Listening Party Live in the actual space that the album was recorded, so we'd like to give a huge thanks to everyone at Sundlaugin Studio for making that happen. Thanks also to Iceland Music and the Record in Iceland project.

Iceland is famous for its incredible landscape with waterfalls, volcanos and hot springs, its famous for its fishing, its famous for Bjork. Sigur Ros are certainly up there with one of Iceland’s finest exports, making so much intriguing music since their debut in 1997, including their third record that they discussed, ().

() was released on 28th October 2002 on FatCat & Bad Taste.

This episode, Tim is joined by Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol, to talk about the band’s brand new, eight album, The Forest Is The Path.

Over the years, Snow Patrol have racked up multi-platinum selling albums and singles worldwide, they’ve achieved having a song with over a billion Spotify streams, as well as winning a prestigious Ivor Novello award. Having just entered their 3rd decade as a band, they continue to go from strength to strength, still one of Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s favourite bands.

The Forest Is The Path was released on 13th September 2024 on Polydor.

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined for a Listening Party by Alex Kapranos & Bob Hardy from Franz Ferdinand.

Just as British indie rock exploded in the noughties, Franz Ferdinand’s debut represented something a bit different. It had elements of indie rock, but also funk, punk and dance. It stood out at the time as an arty take on indie, and remains incredibly and effortlessly cool. A commercial success, the record went Platinum both sides of the Atlantic, and won the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2004.

One of Scotland’s greatest musical exports, they continue to make brilliantly interesting and enjoyable music. Their upcoming 6th album, the Human Fear, comes out in January.

Franz Ferdinand was released on 9th February 2004 on Domino.

Tim Burgess is joined for a listening party by Robert Smith from The Cure, to talk about the band’s brand new album, Songs of a Lost World.

The band’s long-awaited and much-anticipated 14th album marks 16 years since their last release and has received universal acclaim from fans & critics.

As well as going through the band's latest release, Robert opens up about channelling grief into his song writing, his role as the singer of the band and why he continues to wear his iconic make up. Plus, he reveals what job he dreamed of having before he was in the Cure - it might surprise you!

Songs of a Lost World was released on 1st November 2024 on Fiction, Lost, Polydor, Universal & Capitol.

The Cure’s Songs of a Live World, an incredible set recorded at Troxy in London, is out on December 13th, and all the royalties from the album go to War Child

This episode, Tim Burgess has a listening party for one of the biggest and best bands of all time. Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers from the Police will be chatting to Tim about the band’s fifth and final album, Synchronicity.

Grammy award winning, hall of fame inducted, number 1 both sides of the Atlantic, critically acclaimed and multi-platinum selling, Synchronicity is a record that cemented the Police as the biggest band in the world at the time.

4 decades after this incredible record was released, Tim hears all about the Police’s recording process and how they managed to navigate the infamous tensions within the band at the time. Stewart remembers how he’d record his drums in just 20 minutes, while Andy speaks about how created timeless hits like Every Breath You Take.

Synchronicity was released on 17th June 1983 on A&M.

This episode Tim is joined by Jon Bon Jovi.

One of the biggest rock stars ever fronting one of the most successful bands of all time, they have sold out stadiums, won Grammys, been inducted into music Halls of Fame. Here, Jon goes through one of the biggest albums ever, Slippery When Wet.

Jon discusses the success of singles You Give Love A Bad Name and Livin’ On A Prayer, his time working as a tea boy at the Power Station, and his love for the UK.

Slippery When Wet was released on 18th August 1986 on Mercury & Vertigo.

This episode Tim is joined by Caleb & Jared Followill, half of Kings of Leon.

A band who have headlined pretty much every musical festival worldwide, playing the biggest stages across the globe. They are multi-Grammy award winning and multi-platinum album selling. Just play Sex on Fire wherever you are in the world, and everyone will know that song. It’s safe to say they are one of the biggest bands of the last 2 decades.

Their last 6 albums have gone to number 1 in the UK, and they are back with their 9th record, Can We Please Have Fun.

Caleb & Jared chat to Tim about Nashville, how their producer provided a link to Harry Styles and how Britpop (including the Charlatans) influenced their new album.

Can We Please Have Fun was released on 10th May 2024 on LoveTap and Capitol.

Tom Chaplin and Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane join Tim to talk about their debut album, Hopes And Fears, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

One of the best-selling albums in UK history, it went 9xplatinum in the UK, selling over 10 million copies worldwide, and wracking up billions of streams online. The year of the album’s release, 2004, saw Keane hold the crown of being the biggest selling British artist in the country. The following year they won two BRIT Awards: Best British Album and British Breakthrough act.

Tom & Tim discuss the effect of performing a huge song like Somewhere Only We Know to a crowd, which vocalists influenced Tom’s singing, and how his parents responded to hearing Bedshaped for the first time.

Hopes And Fears was released on 10th May 2004 on Island.

Kate Pierson & Keith Strickland from the B52s are Tim's guests this episode for a Listening Party about their 1989 album, Cosmic Thing. The B52s are a band so unique, so unorthodox yet completely distinctive, it’s not often you get to say that a musical artist is totally original, and that is exemplified by this weird and wonderful album in its 35th year.

Kate & Keith talk about how they wrote their huge hit, Love Shack, how a psychic helped to make the album and how the band came together in the wake of the passing of original B52s guitarist, Ricky Wilson.

Cosmic Thing was released on 27th June 1989 on Reprise.