SONG TALK - Episode 1

[@Ursabomb]

God I loved your production back in the 80’s. I didn’t realise it was a precursor to so many other artists. You started my love of electronic music in 1981. Thanks for inspiration and the music.

[@Lineageholder]

I love 'Waiting in the Wings' and 'I'm in a Different World' - in fact, the whole 'Singles' CD is a delight. I also got the 'Henry and James' flexi in Keyboard magazine and played the hell out of it!

[@PeterGrenader]

I haven't heard Waiting in the Wings for eons. What a pleasure to revisit. This was the last physical 45 I ever purchased. Just found it on Apple Music. Fantastic.

[@davidsimon2096]

I first found about Dave Stewart when he did the "It's My Party" with Barbara Gaskin which I thought was amazing (and still do) but it was the B side "Waiting in the Wings" which I ended up listening to the most- what a great slice of Progressive Pop. From there I investigated all of Dave Stewart's back catalogue starting with Egg going through Hatfield and The North, National Health the stuff he did with Bruford and of course those brilliant re-working of classic pos songs (plus originals) with Barbara Gaskin. Brilliant stuff- all of it. And let's not forget Barbara's voice-just gorgeous.

[@charlesnolan7602]

I met Clem Fandango in June, 1979 at the record store I worked at- Record Revolution, King of Prussia, Pa. Clem was banging the ivories for ex many bands Bill Bruford! Egg, Hatfields, Bruford, and with Barb, here. I knew nothing about keyboard technology, but was keen on reading Clem's hilarious asides in those keyboard magazine articles!

[@pierre-emilebertona3331]

Huge fan of Dave Stewart.. From the complex and « obscure » Egg tracks to the Stewart/Gaskin songs, there’s always a quality and originality which I find amazing and still impress me after all these years. Good luck for your gig, Barb and Dave.

[@streetlegalsprintcar]

My very first CD was The Big Idea. I didn't have a CD player then but my girlfriend had a CD Walkman. The Canadian station CFNY 102.1 out of Toronto turned me on to them. Dave's synth work and Barbara's angelic voice made me a HUGE fan of their work. Proud to have them as my very first CD.

[@3243_]

I'm familiar with (and a big fan of) your various bands from the '70s (Spirogyra, Egg, Khan, Hatfield And The North, et al), but not that familiar with your Stewart/Gaskin recordings. Thank you both for giving me a little taste of what I have been missing. If only more pop music were like yours...

[@redjones8010]

I still remember those remarkable versions of It's My Party and The Locomotion. The most fascinating and enjoyable style of cover versions I've heard.

[@kentbyron7608]

The greatest, most insightful, most hilarious, most interesting essay writer in keyboard player magazine in the 1980s and 90s... I can listen to you talk all day sir and I'm not even mentioning how great your musicianship is. Gratitude! I look forward to hearing you speak more online you are a sage. So happy you have a podcast blog here. ❤️🙏🏼🦅👏

[@chrisw1018]

Can we have more episodes, please?

[@Biddulphable]

Yes!😃

[@royrashbrook]

Thanks for this - so fantastic to hear the stories behind these songs.

[@legendnyc]

Great start! I distinctly remember hearing "Waiting in the Wings" for the first time play over the P.A. of the 5th Avenue Disc-O-Mat on in New York City back in the 1980's. #FanForLife

[@fernsehdesign]

remember when Henry and James was on that ridiculous little plasticfoil record inside the german Keyboard magazine. It blew me away, I hadnt heard something like it in popmusic. Still love it and have that single as a file on my phone. Actually like it more than the album released version.. Anyway thank you both for that everlasting historical moment. Love it. 👍🏼🖖🏼🍀

[@jbognap]

I'm a huge fan (actually I'm not huge) - starting with Dave's work with Bruford and his great book Introducing the Dots and his column in Keyboard magazine (both hilarious - remember "Little Dave" - the MSQ-700?)

[@davidcummings2709]

Can’t wait for the July concert. Have wanted to see you guys live for literally decades. Cheers from Alabama.

[@flyversusfly76]

This podcast is a great idea, i love your music and would love to hear more stories about these fantastic songs.

[@larrybenigno4919]

This was absolutely wonderful. These songs are very person for me, and hearing the process makes it even better. Was fortunate to see Dave (my favorite keyboardist) quite a few times with Bruford. Man, those were and still are the days....wait, where did I put that Henry & James floppy record that came in Keyboard Magazine? It's around here somewhere ;-)

[@fernsehdesign]

did you find it?

[@stephankoehr9789]

Nice podcast, thank you! Since Egg and Hatfield in the 70's I have been trying to stay up-to-date with Dave's music. Oh those lovely ingenious early B-sides, they're still among my all-time favourites of D&B. And, being a analog synth lover, I really enjoy all Prophet 5 goodness which shaped the sound of those early tunes... In addition these B-sides seem to prove that composers of all eras work best facing a close deadline... Never mind ;)

[@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore]

The very first CD I bought (before I even had a CD player) was the S-G compilation "Up From the Dark" which I found in a shop in Boulder, Colorado while on vacation in the mid-1980s. I knew it was unlikely to come out on vinyl, and it was obvious by then that I'd be upgrading to CD. I was already familiar with S-G from Bruford, Nat Health, Hatfield, so it was an obvious buy. Besides, it included "Henry and James"*, which I first heard on a flexidisk (remember those?) from Keyboard magazine. I've always loved the arrangements of the tunes, not to mention the playing (which I just mentioned). Also, S-G was where I first heard Gavin Harrison. Say no more, say no more! * Love the "fretless bass" sound on Henry and James. I assumed that was done on something like a DX-7 (popular at the time).

[@droningmachine583]

I would watch all of these you guys make! Sending love from Alaska!!! ❤️❤️

[@quark37]

Ahhhh! British people know who Toast is! What a thrill. Thanks for this video. Great fun. Looking forward to the next one. - Charlie and Kathy in Michigan, USA

[@anacronista]

thank you for this GREAT initiative! ciao!

[@croiners4166]

Wow!❤

[@terrytin7352]

Love all your work you two. Really wondering how you get that sound on the Hammond in National Health (also a la early Dave Sinclair of early Caravan)! Been trying to mimic it (sadly) on my Clavicord !!

[@blackcatcentralmusic]

I've done this with VSTs and Gig Performer. Basically, you put the Hammond through a Shaftesbury Fuzz pedal or similar fuzz component. Use a pure tone on the organ. You can put the signal chain through a wah pedal (VST component) as well when needed. Sometimes the organ uses wah and at other times only fuzz.

[@DavidCKendall]

Hello you two lovely people! I've been a fan for decades. Can you please tell me what Henry and James is about?! Your music is entirely original. It's not similar to anything, and that's an earnest compliment. Long may you wave!

[@Stewart.Gaskin]

Hi David, Henry & James are fictitious middle-aged office workers who first appeared in Thomas Dolby's song 'Leipzig'. We liked the song, recorded a cover version and released it as a single - if you Google it you'll hear H & J mentioned in the chorus. Some time later I thought it would be cool to keep these guys alive, so I wrote the song 'Henry & James' about them. They also make a fleeting appearance in the song 'Wings On Our Shoes' on our album Star Clocks. HTH! Best, Dave.

[@DavidCKendall]

@@Stewart.Gaskin Thank you so much for your kind and prompt reply, and the story and clues concerning Henry & James. I had just listened to Lepzig before I wrote to you. Now I'm bound to go sleuthing through all the lyrics to get a better sense of these two office blokes. 'Waiting is its own reward' -- either that's true, or ironic... I'll investigate. 'Henry & James' is fresh and sparkling every listen. And if I may, your 'Subterreanean Homesick Blues' spanks Dylan's and does the same...it captivates. So glad you both still have skin in the game. Again, thank you for solving the Henry & James riddle for me. All the best from a Californian ex-pat living in Paris.

[@daviddavies9157]

Hi Dave It's Gareth Davies here.... Eleanor's son...how are you both?

[@Stewart.Gaskin]

Hi Gareth, nice to hear from you! We remember you, Ben & Eleanor well. We're in good health, hope you too :) Best, Dave & Barbara