Word In Your Ear

Neil Tennant joins the Word podcast where he reminisces about the days when he was "Doctor Bitz", talks about the most ridiculous things the Pet Shop Boys have been asked to do, discloses why they're going on tour with Take That, reveals the name of the best song ever written and answers some of your questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's 'cast features guest appearance from Delta Maid, who talks to Mark Ellen and Kate Mossman about how you can get the blues in Liverpool, and Daniel Tashian, the leader of The Silver Seas from Nashville, Tennessee, described by Danny Baker this week as "the best band in the world." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Lowe on meeting Keith Moon, Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson and recalling – in agonising detail – the moment the fresh-out-of-jail Keith Richards joined Rockpile at New York’s Bottom Line. Includes “World Premiere” performance of a new Nick Lowe tune! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Janice Long, Jude Rogers and Andrew Harrison convene in the pod to discuss Top Of The Pops, that Michael Jackson statue, and the t-shirts of rock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christian Ward joins us this week to discuss what happened to singers who can enunciate, work out what the deuce Elton John is singing about in "Sacrifice", talk about the links between British pop and comedy, remember Pinetop Perkins and Elizabeth Taylor and answer your questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian McMillan joins us in the pod to talk about: playing John Cage’s silence on Desert Island Discs, the only way to be a football supporter and stay sane, the lyrics of Pete Sinfield and the usefulness of being able to make that whistling sound between your teeth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Paphides joins David Hepworth and Mark Ellen in the pod with a load of old music papers. It's all here: bad puns, mistaken critical judgements, and momentous news announcements tucked away at the bottom of the page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Collins drops in to help kick around a few thoughts about comedians doing karaoke, the new Radiohead album, whether Krautrock would be more popular if it had happened 40 years later, and tips for the Oscars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, Fraser Lewry and David Hepworth on the effective apartheid between the r&b and folkie factions currently making up British pop, why British acts can't make speeches, and why people hate Mumford & Sons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Fitzpatrick talks about meeting Elton John in the flesh, Roy Wilkinson describes his father's role in the family business, which is British Sea Power, and we talk to people who worked with Gary Moore, who died last weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry wonder whether anybody is really heartbroken when bands break up, wonder what a Wichita Lineman does and why bands pick such uncommercial names, and answer your questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry on Iron Maiden: Flight 666, your questions, class and pop, "Seventies" Mike Johnson's fiendishly difficult rock and roll spelling test and the drumming genius of Keith Moon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry chew on the big topics de jour: is rock dead? And did the 80s kill proper music? Plus, David Hepworth comes up with a list of great records made in that unjustly maligned decade. Warning: contains an unexpected intrusion and a controversial opinion about Morrissey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and Fraser Lewry feature in the first podcast of 2011 which includes: Captain Beefheart remembered and mis-remembered, the likelihood of anyone with four drawers devoted to sunglasses finding room in their lives for a child, the terrible choice between Spandau Ballet versus Duran Duran and why Richard Thompson really should be cast in any remake of "It Ain"t Half Hot Mum". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest was snowed in and so David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and Fraser Lewry sort out previously unfinished business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're joined by Will "Wiiill" Macdonald, who talksl about his time as the producer of TFI Friday at the height of Britpop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry review last week's brilliant "Word In Your Ear" gig, report back from viewings of Bruce Springsteen's "The Promise" and Rush's "Beyond The Lighted Stage". Plus Matt Priest talks to the Charlatans' Jon Brookes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Kate Mossman and Mark Ellen in the pod is songwriter and session guitarist Darrell Scott, currently touring as a member of Robert Plant's band. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hepworth talks to Jac Holzman, who signed Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Love, The Doors, the Incredible String Band, Carly Simon and The Stooges, on the occasion of Elektra's 60th anniversary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dougie Anderson joins Mark Ellen and David Hepworth in the pod to mount a stout defence of Belle and Sebastian, Alex Harvey, John Gordon Sinclair and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Devon Sproule and Paul Curreri join Mark Ellen and David Hepworth in the pod, while David talks to the men at De Wolde music about the joys of production music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hepworth speaks to Sean Wilentz on the phone from Los Angeles. Wilentz is professor of history at Princeton University, resident historian on Bob Dylan's website, and the author of 'Bob Dylan in America'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dom Joly joins us in the pod to talk about his new book The Dark Tourist, Kate Mossman describes what it's like to share an ocean liner with a load of people who just want to boogie, and we talk to Andrew Losowsky about "Stranded", the magazine he put together when he was stuck in Ireland because of the Icelandic ash cloud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two old radio hands join us in the pod this week to talk about what’s been did and what’s been hid in the world of radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Harrison reports back from last night's Apple unveiling. What does it all mean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's podcast features CW Stoneking, who arrived straight from the airport to play and talk to Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry, plus concert industry watcher James Drury about the likelihood of the UK live business experiencing a meltdown such as has apparently occurred in America this summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wilko Johnson joins Mark Ellen, "Seventies" Mike Johnson and Fraser Lewry in the pod, with tales of the false economy of cheap suits, speed versus alcohol, going round to Strummer's house, seeing The MC5's Wayne Kramer sprayed gold, being left-handed before Hendrix, and the still painful story of his ejection from Dr Feelgood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robin Ince joins Kate Mossman and Mark Ellen to impersonate John Peel, discuss Mills & Boon, crab opera, 1970s stag films, Darwin's Origin Of Species and the Edinburgh Fringe, and eat Victoria sponge cake live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second podcast direct from the Latitude site Kate Mossman talks to John Grant and Mark Ellen talks to promoter Melvin Benn. Subjects covered include: the importance of putting your poetry tent in the right place, translating in a New York hospital, Christmas discos in August, presenting a birthday cake on stage and why you can take Tom Jones out of showbiz but you can never take showbiz out of Tom Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first podcast from the site at Latitude features Rob Young writer of Electric Eden, and Geoff Lloyd, who's here broadcasting from the site for Absolute Radio. Recorded in the luxurious surroundings of our Portkabin audio suite, it covers Vaughan Williams, Mark's posh digs in Worbleswick, the correct response to a fellow camper who sings the blues in the middle of the night, The National, how to distinguish between a real beard and a fashion beard, how Tom Jones lets himself go at Christmas and the dark pact forged between Florence + The Machine and Claire's Accessories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Go-Between Robert Forster joins us in the Word podcast to play a couple of songs and talk about hair care, bridge-opening, the likelihood of Mick Taylor rejoining the Rolling Stones, the statistical jiggery-pokery that meant Spain pinched what should by rights be New Zealand's World Cup and the 48th anniversary of the Rollin' Stones first ever gig. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we welcome our man Jim White back from the World Cup to deliver a first person account of the cack-handedness of FIFA, the inability of England players to hold instructions in their head for more than two minutes, and the irresistible attraction of 40 blondes in orange mini skirts. We also mark Ringo Starr's 70th birthday today with Mat Priest of Dodgy, a drummer who knows what's involved in being Ringo in a Beatles tribute band. Happy Birthday, Ringo, from all of us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and journalist Laura Barton joins us to talk about her novel "Twenty-one Locks" and the huge subject of music at weddings. Plus: Glastonbury, Engerland and London sight-seeing tips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hepworth talks to Mary Gauthier about her search for her birth mother and how it led to her new album "The Foundling". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Ian McMillan and James Medd. Features: live vuvuzela performances, actual impressions of Keats, the ethics of Kindie rock, how many free tickets is too many tickets and why we all miss Hovis Presley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The singer and songwriter brings his guitar and uke to talk about writing, co-writing, winning prizes and not winning prizes, getting caught short at a Bob Dylan concert and glancing encounters with superstars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and Fraser Lewry marvel at the myth of Exile On Main Street, and are joined by Kate Mossman for an impromptu review of the new Sex and the City movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry are joined in the pod this week by a be-suited Neil Hannon, who popped into Word Towers on his way to the Ivor Novello awards and played us a few songs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry are joined in the pod by returning guest Andy Murray, where we talk about Andy's time at Stiff Records and look back at the election, while Mark receives some genuine David Gilmour guitar strings and joins Fraser singing a short song about horses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry play Rock Trumps™ and reveal which music festival does a roaring trade in meat cleavers, discuss what Billy Preston was up to as an 11-year-old, marvel at a bunch of session men playing The Beatles with mind-boggling precision, and recall Louise Wener's days as a singing waitress aboard a floating restaurant in Boston. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eamonn Forde joins us in the pod to talk about: a childhood without music in the wilds of Norn Iron, the worst jobs we've ever had, how to stop a circus mule, the legacy of Malcolm Maclaren, Lyndon Johnson ringing up to order some trousers, legendary penises in rock and who, if anyone, really killed rock journalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Collins joins us in the pod to mark Rolf Harris Day and take part in talks about: Erykah Badu's bottom, International Record Store Day, and the likelihood of the cassette making a return. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The do's and don'ts of wedding dances, how to crowd surf and things we don't do anymore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Ball, author of "The Music Instinct: how music works and why we can't do without it", entertains and instructs Kate Mossman and David Hepworth (with examples at the pianoforte). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Includes: Mike "Seventies" Johnson's rock spelling test, Rob Fitzpatrick on promo copies, Mark Ellen on medieval pop groups and "Magic" Alex Gold with details of our upcoming A Word In Your Ear gig. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Hodkinson from Pamona Publishing joins David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry to talk about how bands were formed in the years after punk, the inevitable power struggles that take place within the ranks of those bands, the effect that fame has on personality, what it takes to succeed, and the economics and practicalities of running a small independent publishing house in the era of Amazon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry head to Gold Top studios in north London to talk to Neil Brockbank, producer of Nick Lowe. A believer in recording live with the musicians, he describes the changes that have taken place in the way music is recorded from the Beatles through Frank Sinatra to Ricky Martin and beyond and looks at the implications that has for what we listen to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry enter the pod to examine the new, more-words-than-ever edition of The Word as it arrives - minty fresh - from the presses. They also do their best to answer your questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fraser Lewry, Andrew Harrison and David Hepworth take the pod to meet the man you know as "The Wire"'s Stringer Bell and may soon know as Driis. Plus a report from last Friday's social, some reflections on the Word's One Hit Wonders Playlist and a discussion of what it's like to be with really, really good-looking people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reissues consultant and designer Phil Smee joins us to talk about what records are *really* rare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.