Word In Your Ear

Graeme Thomson on John Martyn's "lifelong grudges and huge, messy explosion of records"Music writer, author and old pal from Word magazine, Graeme Thomson on his spledid new book, "Small Hours: the Long Night of John Martyn", a tale involving immaculately delicate music, dark undercurrents, Glaswegian folk clubs, Nick Drake, Lee Perry, Joe Boyd, countless chaotic relationships, oceans of booze and a manager with two broken ribs. @GraemeAThomson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Hours-Long-Night-Martyn/dp/178760019X https://www.amazon.co.uk/Graeme-Thomson/e/B001JS877A%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share https://www.graemethomson.net/Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content and benefits: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Music writer, author and old pal from Word magazine, Graeme Thomson on his spledid new book, "Small Hours: the Long Night of John Martyn", a tale involving immaculately delicate music, dark undercurrents, Glaswegian folk clubs, Nick Drake, Lee Perry, Joe Boyd, countless chaotic relationships, oceans of booze and a manager with two broken ribs. @GraemeAThomson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Hours-Long-Night-Martyn/dp/178760019X https://www.amazon.co.uk/Graeme-Thomson/e/B001JS877A%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share https://www.graemethomson.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we shudder to imagine life in a group with Brian Jones, David Crosby, Dennis Wilson etc, chew tobacco with Charlie Daniels, invent reggae acts, ponder the predicament of Kasabian and Lady Antebellum, remember Garry Shandling and Hitchcock's Rear Window and tell the hoary old Richard Pryor story.Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content and benefits: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we shudder to imagine life in a group with Brian Jones, David Crosby, Dennis Wilson etc, chew tobacco with Charlie Daniels, invent reggae acts, ponder the predicament of Kasabian and Lady Antebellum, remember Garry Shandling and Hitchcock's Rear Window and tell the hoary old Richard Pryor story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we ponder American pop showbiz v shambling British charm, bands v solos acts, Will Farrell's Eurovision movie, Ed Sheeran's bank balance, Beyoncé at Glastonbury, which rock star will live the longest and Disco v Grunge in the Stack Waddy game.Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content and benefits: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we ponder American pop showbiz v shambling British charm, bands v solos acts, Will Farrell's Eurovision movie, Ed Sheeran's bank balance, Beyoncé at Glastonbury, which rock star will live the longest and Disco v Grunge in the Stack Waddy game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we ponder rock and roll stage names, the immortal gag that launched Billy Connolly, KT Tunstall versus the streaming system and best guests on chat shows - and the only British Prime Minister to ever host one. That PM and his chat show ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4kS15y5MDEKT Tunstall on the Broken Record Campaign ...https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08hw0xlSubscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content and benefits: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we ponder rock and roll stage names, the immortal gag that launched Billy Connolly, KT Tunstall versus the streaming system and best guests on chat shows - and the only British Prime Minister to ever host one. That PM and his chat show ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4kS15y5MDEKT Tunstall on the Broken Record Campaign ...https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08hw0xl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we contemplate pop stars' statues, 50th anniversary albums, excruciating things actors do in Lockdown, fictitious Monsters of Rock, the curious tale of Madonna's Ray Of Light and the best/worst things about Oasis. The Southsea Alternative Choir with Love’s Johnny Echols doing Alone Again Or …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oeg5J028uI ... and (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding with Nick Lowe …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1yfkye_qR4The London Symphony demonstrating their instruments: https://youtu.be/TMUwtGuOzFMSubscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content and benefits: http://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we contemplate pop stars' statues, 50th anniversary albums, excruciating things actors do in Lockdown, fictitious Monsters of Rock, the curious tale of Madonna's Ray Of Light and the best/worst things about Oasis. The Southsea Alternative Choir with Love’s Johnny Echols doing Alone Again Or …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oeg5J028uI ... and (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding with Nick Lowe …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1yfkye_qR4The London Symphony demonstrating their instruments. https://youtu.be/TMUwtGuOzFM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we spot the fake Country & Western song titles and ponder the man who launched the Undertones, Classics that leave us cold, eternally comforting sitcoms and the analogue childhood of Andy Partridge.Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive content and benefits: http://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we spot the fake Country & Western song titles and ponder the man who launched the Undertones, Classics that leave us cold, eternally comforting sitcoms and the analogue childhood of Andy Partridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we play the Stackwaddy Game with power pop and the UFO club, wonder how come artists remake their classic albums, explain why nobody truly wanted Little Feat to be massive, ponder the one relationship in a rock star's which matters more than marriage and look at a bunch of album covers which accidentally made a few members of the public famous.Get access to each podcast before it goes public (and in vision as well as sound) by becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we play the Stackwaddy Game with power pop and the UFO club, wonder how come artists remake their classic albums, explain why nobody truly wanted Little Feat to be massive, ponder the one relationship in a rock star's which matters more than marriage and look at a bunch of album covers which accidentally made a few members of the public famous.To experience this podcast in its full audio-visual glory please see our brand new Classic Tier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... for Richard Thompson!In which we ponder the hellhounds on Robert Johnson's trail, the song Randy Newman's second wife let him write about his first, the BBC's upcoming re-run of Live Aid and the longest-running rock and roll marriages.Get early access to every Word Podcast via our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we ponder the hellhounds on Robert Johnson's trail, the song Randy Newman's second wife let him write about his first, the BBC's upcoming re-run of Live Aid and the longest-running rock and roll marriages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... and how Astrid Kirchherr invented Indie.In which we update the Pink Floyd wars, remember launching Q and marinade in the calming qualities of Lee Sklar's lockdown bass adventures.Lee Sklar – on bass guitar!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSNv41kVJs0 Curt Smith and daughter …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSf5-TelBuw Astrid Kirchherr’s portraits of the Beatles …https://www.invaluable.com/artist/kirchherr-astrid-4euya6a1cw/sold-at-auction-prices/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we update the Pink Floyd wars, remember launching Q and marinade in the calming qualities of Lee Sklar's lockdown bass adventures.Lee Sklar – on bass guitar!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSNv41kVJs0 Curt Smith and daughter …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSf5-TelBuw Astrid Kirchherr’s portraits of the Beatles …https://www.invaluable.com/artist/kirchherr-astrid-4euya6a1cw/sold-at-auction-prices/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... and the curious tale of the Beatles-busting Sgt 'Nobby' Pilcher.In which we play the Stack Waddy game, ponder the fate of live rock and roll and investigate the B-side that gave Joan Jett a career and "the power ballad that ended the Cold War". The Arrows’ I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AT_Pbtyid0 Pyewackett – they exist!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaiU4OAnf-o Scorpions’ Wind Of Change …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQ Little Richard …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj059o9OwqY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fairport's momentous year and the curious tale of the Beatles-busting Sgt 'Nobby' Pilcher.In which we play the Stack Waddy game, ponder the fate of live rock and roll and investigate the B-side that gave Joan Jett a career and "the power ballad that ended the Cold War". The Arrows’ I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AT_Pbtyid0 Pyewackett – they exist!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaiU4OAnf-o Scorpions’ Wind Of Change …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQ Little Richard …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj059o9OwqY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... and other pop parlour games.In which we get Alexa to play Stack Waddy, Carly Simon meets James Bond, we wonder if girls make passes at rock stars in glasses, and remember Millie, Dave Greenfield, Florian Schneider and the first edition of the Face.Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpr0kvlQpx0 John Fogerty’s back garden …https://www.loudersound.com/news/marshmallows-a-golden-retriever-and-a-view-john-fogerty-raises-the-bar-on-lockdown-videos Doobie Brothers in lockdown …https://www.ktlo.com/2020/05/04/watch-doobie-brothers-members-virtually-perform-black-water-with-fans-while-in-lockdown/ Bugger Off by Stack Waddyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbBxhbAOdPY The Stranglers’ version of Walk On By with stunning Dave Greenfield keyboard solo …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqfqVDHNW6c Meryl Streep (aged 16) at Shea Stadium …https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x6aNSHLg18Y Creedence Clearwater playing I Put A Spell On You …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeXqtzusIU0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which we get Alexa to play Stack Waddy, Carly Simon meets James Bond, we wonder if girls make passes at rock stars in glasses, and remember Millie, Dave Greenfield, Florian Schneider and the first edition of the Face.Made exclusively available early to you, dear Patron. Thanks for your continued support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... the Incredible String Band, Mr Chalk and Mrs CheeseIn which we celebrate the 50th birthday of The Who's "Live At Leeds", wonder why the Incredible String Band suddenly sound so right and talk about what all those living room performances tell us about Rock Star's Homes.The case of the missing hit.https://tinyurl.com/y9ymj7saToyah and Robert Fripp dance in the kitchenhttps://youtu.be/gIPuHzCvXMMCat Stevens somewhere warm enough to leave the door openhttps://youtu.be/yXuq6XpoasESupport us via our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... reading old music papers, and telling Alexa to button it.In a packed programme David and Mark continue their quest to second-guess Amazon's mysterious lady DJ, remember the man who used to buy the Beatles' cars, look at how Pink Floyd's investment problems led to their embrace of disco, read out some small ads from old music papers, wonder whether rock music without an audience is really worth the trouble and recite the names of our new Patreons in a very exciting new way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... before we play unplayable albums?Just how desperate do you have to be before you give John and Yoko’s “Two Virgins” or Michael Nesmith’s “The Prison” a spin? Also in this episode, another round of Alexa’s Favourites, more people sign up to be Patreon patrons, getting Lene Lovich’s autograph on a train ticket, exactly when people started having their pictures taken on the Abbey Road zebra, and travel back in time to when Bob Dylan played Earls Court and the compact disc was about to make the LP redundant.LinksThe Sound Of The Hound is the new podcast from the EMI Archive Trusthttps://www.emiarchivetrust.org/the-sound-of-the-hound-a-new-podcast-series-about-the-birth-of-recorded-sound/Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wordinyourearWord In Your Attic on YouTube: www.youtube.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... to the special talents of John Prine & Adam SchlesingerAlso in the episode: pink moon over London, waking up to birdsong, Brinsley Schwarz at the Fillmore and the strange majesty of old Melody Maker headlines. Plus name-checks for our inaugural patrons. If you'd like to joint them see below. And don't forget to catch up with our brand new "Word In Your Attic" with Mark Billingham at https://youtu.be/JQoTS0mKeVM.John Prine and Iris DeMent doing "In Spite Of Ourselves"https://youtu.be/P8tTwXv4glYFountains of Wayne doing "Hackensack"https://youtu.be/S6N2KYq8q14Word In Your Ear Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

... in which Mark Ellen and David Hepworth discuss milk in rock, read your correspondence and invent a game you can play with Alexa.Massively encouraged by the fact that nobody tried to physically stop them doing it again, Mark and David podcast from their lofts to anyone who has nothing better to do for the next half an hour. Subjects covered include: the musical tastes of "Parks And Recreation"'s April Ludgate, when dad bought his hifi on hire purchase, why the current lockdown is good news for the Abbey Road zebra and a really funny list from an old copy of Word.Bono doing "Let Your Love Be Known"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlA8p3O1C-UPaul Simon singing "American Tune"https://youtu.be/wVYPVvS-mI4The Roots and Jimmy Fallon performing "Stuck In The Middle With You"https://youtu.be/JKYiTg6_J-MIt's the 19-piece Rotterdam Philharmonic playing Beethoven's Ode To Joy on lockdown.https://youtu.be/nNBtwsPigccKevin Ayers Whatevershebringswesing with Robert Wyatt on backing vocals and Mike Oldfield playing bass and guitar…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j7AIUnRf4wFollow David on https://www.instagram.com/dhepworth/Please leave a comment on iTunes or anywhere else that allows you to post. We read all of them and really appreciate it. If you’ve got any particular favourites among the old Word podcasts please let us know which at [email protected] watch our "Word In Your Attic" video.https://youtu.be/qXm4DyPPwI0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Mark Ellen and David Hepworth talk about Joni Mitchell, Krakatoa and the importance of dressing properly while WFH.Since they're spending a proportion of the Current Unpleasantness talking to each other anyway. Mark Ellen and David Hepworth thought they may as well record some of it, explaining what's happening with Word In Your Ear in the light of the current situation, how they're getting by at home, what they're reading, what they've been listening to and what it might all mean for the return of long form listening. Well, it's not as if they've got anything else to do.Joni Mitchell in concert at the BBC in 1970https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAxjPfWOiqIJoni Mitchell doing "Me And My Uncle" i n 1965https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k6OYIvLLcAHere's a good place to start on the books of Simon Winchester.http://www.simonwinchester.com/And here's an introduction to Anthony Powell.http://anthonypowell.org/David's book "A Fabulous Creation" is out in paperback.https://amzn.to/39gVWmOPlease leave a comment on iTunes or anywhere else that allows you to post. We read all of them and really appreciate it. If you've got any particular favourites among the old Word podcasts please let us know which at [email protected]. Here's Ronnie Lane and Pete Townshend singing "Annie"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYoqT-RJLDo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Paphides' acclaimed "Broken Greek" is, as David says when introducing him, the best book written by a former Smash Hits reader and looks set to do for unjustly uncelebrated popular music what Nick Hornby did for football in "Fever Pitch". This chat encompasses: Abba, West Brom, the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Mind Your Language, shopping for singles at Woolworths, living above a chip shop, hoping to be adopted by the Brotherhood Of Man and making the amazing discovery that John Lennon and Paul McCartney actually used to be in the same band! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Franklin's first book "Heavy" chronicles his life-long love affair with heavy music in all its different manifestations, from Meat Loaf to Sunn 0))), and argues that it deserves a lot more respect than it gets as a rule. It's a story that takes us from a cassette copy of a Guns N' Roses album thrust into the hands of a puzzled eight-year-old, via the fields of Donington and the mosh pits of Camden to the lengths a new father will go to free a Type O Negative CD from the mangled remnants of a family car. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Mitchinson and Andy Miller do the award-winning Backlisted podcast which, as they like to say on the tin, "brings new life to old books". They're also big music fans so we thought they would be the ideal people to come along and talk in their own inimitable style about what they feel are some of the best and sometimes overlooked examples of the genre. That's how come, in a wide-ranging discussion we came to touch on "Dino: Living High In The Dirty Business Of Dreams" by Nick Tosches, "Black Vinyl, White Powder" by Simon Napier Bell and Levon Helm's "This Wheel's On Fire", "Nico: Songs They Never Play On The Radio" by James Young, Julian Cope's "Krautrock Sampler", Stephen Sondheim's "Look: I Made A Hat" and "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon" by Crystal Zevon, all of which are in their different ways recommended. Conversation covers: how much a rock star gets for their memoirs, how to tell if an anecdote is made up or not, why Julian Cope doesn't mind you downloading his book for free and how you, yes you, can easily increase the amount of reading you do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were delighted to welcome Bethan Roberts to Word In Your Ear to talk about her novel “Graceland”. This is based on the most important relationship in the life of Elvis Presley. His mother Gladys brought him up single-handedly when his father went into prison, she encouraged his singing, she feared for what the girls would do to him and what the managers might take from him, wished he didn’t have to go away so often and would have preferred him to be a furniture salesman married to a nice local girl with some grandchildren on the way. Then, when he was undergoing basic training in the army, she died.People say that Elvis was never the same after he went in the army. In fact he was never the same after his mother died. Bethan tells us about how she got the idea for the book, what fascinates her about the intense relationship between mother and son and while, as she explains, the odd incident may have been embroidered, the basic facts of her narrative are not in dispute. What’s most amazing, when you read “Graceland”, is that nobody’s written this story before. This book is highly recommended, not merely to fans of Elvis, but for anyone who wants to understand what sudden dramatic fame does to the nearest and dearest of the Famous One. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book "A New Day Yesterday", an account of progressive rock in the 1970s, Mike Barnes tells the story of how this peculiarly British musical form was born out of the Small Faces' "Itchycoo Park" and the Graham Bond Organisation and went on to flourish throughout the 70s in the universities of Britain and the arenas of the United States. He talks to Mark and David about all the issues that matter: capes, mellotrons, seated audiences, prolonged soloing, the real names of the members of Quintessence and whatever happened to Egg. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sid Smith first finished his definitive biography of King Crimson in 2001 he thought, not unreasonable that would be that. But then Robert Fripp reactivated the band and so Sid had to take up his pen once more. This has resulted in an even more definitive work "In The Court Of King Crimson". He came to Word In Your Ear to run Mark and David through the key facts of their extraordinary rise and their exceptional longevity, what it's like to spend six weeks on the road with a bunch of musical gentlemen of a certain age and why he's not planning to put down his pen just yet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexis Petridis was very lucky Elton John chose him to help tell the story in his best-selling memoir "Me". Elton John's equally lucky Alexis agreed because without him it probably wouldn't be half as good as it is. In fact it's two stories: the first is the story of a musical career that seems to be headed nowhere until a chance meeting with a lyricist began a partnership which operated in an unprecedented way and led to unprecedented success; the other is a personal story of how a very tense little boy from Pinner grew to be able to afford all the addictions on a Pharaonic scale, managed to conquer them and belatedly found contentment in a state that wasn't even invented when he was first a superstar. Every home should have a copy because everyone in that home would find at least some of it jaw-dropping. Alexis told us what it was like to write and what he learned about life in the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On December 7th Thomas Alan Waits celebrates his 70th birthday and to mark that occasion we asked Barney Hoskyns, the author of his biography "Lowside Of The Road", to talk about what makes Waits one of the rare examples of a misfit who has prospered on his own terms. It's all here: developing his shtick entertaining the line of customers outside, choosing to dress in a way that had gone out of style twenty years before, living his character twenty four hours a day, being taken in hand both personally and professionally somewhat late in the day and eventually becoming a success on his own terms. Barney thinks he as important an artist as the 20th century has produced. He came along to explain why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's always good to welcome Andrew Collins back to the pod. Andrew was with us most recently to talk about the new edition of his official biography of Billy Bragg. This time he's got his movie hat on, as befits the man who writes about films for the Radio Times and presents "Saturday Night At The Movies" on Classic FM. Since 2019 has been such a bumper year for music biopics we asked him to remind us what are the best of breed in ten categories ranging from fiction to festivals and everything inbetween. You probably won't agree with it all but it will probably leave you determined to have a look on Netflix and search out some overlooked classic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Parker had an unusual career trajectory. "I didn't pay my dues until after I had some success," he says. In the wake of his greatest triumph, 1979's "Squeezing Out Sparks", he broke up his partnership with the Rumour and moved to America. Here he was the unwitting beneficiary of a record business which had difficulty adapting to a changed world. In the 80s and 90s, he says, they actually gave him too much money. A few years back he resumed his partnership with the Rumour, who were all present and correct and all got on with each other, a state of affairs almost unique in rock and roll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The big hit records of today are assembled. The great records of 1968 were made. In a few cases they just happened, seemingly brought into being by some higher power over and above the efforts of any one individual. In his new book “Wichita Lineman: Searching In The Sun For The World's Greatest Unfinished Song” Dylan Jones traces the combination of inspiration and chance which makes this “the world’s greatest unfinished song” and, more to the point, arguably the greatest pop record ever made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Rachel talked to everyone from Noel Gallagher to Tony Blair for his new book “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and he came in to Word In Your Ear to talk about how Kate Moss, David Beckham, Alan Macgee, Damien Hirst, Alastair Campbell and many others, knowingly or otherwise, managed to shape Britain’s last feelgood decade, which began with Spike Island and finished with the death of Diana. We guarantee, this will change the way you think about the era you lived through. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Dave Lewis first went to see Led Zeppelin at the Empire Pool, Wembley in 1971 it cost him 75p. When they played their final show at the O2 in 2007 he was on Robert Plant's guest list. From the germ of his teenage scrapbook he built a small empire, based on his fanzine "Tight But Loose", which has produced a staggering range of titles dedicated to every aspect of Led Zeppelin's career. His book "Evenings With Led Zeppelin" has the distinction of being literally the heaviest book ever to feature on "Word In Your Ear". Dave came in to the Islington to talk about what got him excited in 1971 and, as you'll hear, still excites him today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For more than forty years Ian Penman has been one of the best writers about music in the country. His new book, "It Gets Me Home, This Curving Track", is made up of essays about James Brown, Prince, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, John Fahey and other musicians who have a strange fascination for him. Ian came to the Islington to talk about his career as a writer, the book and his plan to write a book about searching for music in charity shops. Be warned. This is the kind of book that will send you straight back to your records to listen for things that you've been missing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Nick Lowe the only musician of his generation who has actually got better as he’s got older? How did he survive the Famepushers hype? How did England’s most laid-back musician become the Midas of the punk era? What’s the secret of his success as a producer? What does he understand that most other musicians don’t? Will Birch, a musician himself, has known him a long time, and has written “Cruel To Be Kind”, the definitive biography of one of our great musical institutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fifty years ago to the week the first Crosby, Stills and Nash LP was released in the UK, holding out the prospect of brotherly love in close harmony. Thus begun half a century of bitter infighting, chemical and sexual excess, regular break-ups and tearful reunions, all of which is documented in lip-smacking detail in “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young” by one of our favourite authors Peter Doggett. He came along to the Islington to talk to Mark and David about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday the Dutch group The Analogues, who have set out to play the Beatles songs that the Beatles never played live, using the same equipment that was used fifty years ago, recreated the whole of "Abbey Road" in Studio 1 at Abbey Road. Mark and David were there and they haven't stopped babbling about it since. Hence we thought they should share their enthusiasm with the wider public. This conversation was recorded via Skype which is prone to the odd drop-out but we trust you'll find it worth listening round. If you want to get an idea of why they considered it so remarkable, watch this clip from a recent Dutch TV show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book "Fried and Justified", veteran PR Mick Houghton writes about his experience as the man whose job it was to get these bands and many others written about in the NME and Melody Maker, back in the days when thousands of bands formed, toured and split up purely in order to achieve their ultimate ambition, which was getting on the cover of a weekly music paper. Have we really seen the last of all those mad haircuts, all those dramatic break-ups, all those madly controversial interviews in budget hotels in the Benelux countries? Mick came along to Word In Your Ear to tell us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a departure from our usual way of doing things we were delighted to welcome Art Of Noise-nik, ABC arranger and purveyor of fine soundtrack music for everything from "Poldark" to "The Hustle" Anne Dudley to talk about a career that has been largely spent behind the scenes. Subjects covered include: the surprising things you can learn from working with people with no musical talent, why everything in a film is provisional, how to suggest a chord to Paul McCartney, the uncanny ear of George Michael and what it's like to stand in front of an orchestra with a baton. Plus, for the first time ever, we're delighted to introduce actual musical illustrations. Let us know what you think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Crowley has just put together “Gary Crowley’s Lost 80s”, a lovingly-curated four CD set of the kind of oldies that the radio station computer doesn’t automatically reach for. It’s the kind of stuff that might have soundtracked his teenage discos, his nights at the Wag, his shows on Capital Radio and GLR or served to warm up the crowd as he presided over shows by Wham or the Style Council. He came along to Word In Your Ear to talk to Mark Ellen and David Hepworth about his extraordinary career, which began with meeting Joe Strummer in the street, climaxed with introducing Oasis at Knebworth and involved everybody from Elton John to the Wonder Stuff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2007 private equity firm Terra Firma borrowed a lot of money from Citibank to buy EMI, the UK’s most venerable music company. Their plan was to transform this most traditional of companies to meet the challenges of a new age. A year later the economic crash came along to make what was already a difficult job even harder. Eamonn Forde covered what was going on at EMI for The Word as the smart guys from the city tried to grapple with the idiosyncrasies of a business which is strangely touchy-feely and utterly unscientific. And now that the Terra Firma misadventure is over and EMI has been divided up among the other major comglomerates he’s brought it together into The Final Days Of EMI: Selling The Pig, a uniquely authoritative insider account of an industry that was losing an empire and was yet to find a role. He came along to Word In Your Ear to talk about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hepworth's new book "A Fabulous Creation" is about the era of the LP, from "Sgt Pepper" in 1967 to "Thriller" in 1982. The book was launched at Foyles in Charing Cross Road with a chat between David and Mark Ellen in front of a packed house. This was illustrated with the usual magic lantern show which you can probably reproduce in your head. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.