The Hustle

Australian producer Charles Fisher's resume is all over the place. Two of his earliest producing jobs were with Australian punk legends Radio Birdman followed by Air Supply! That kind of diversity co…

Thanks mostly to his magical work with John Mellencamp, Don Gehman was one of the biggest producers of the 80s. He was by John's side from the Cougar days through his whole peak period ending with Th…

Robin Millar doesn't let anything hold him back. The man is blind, and yet he became one of the most successful producers in the UK in the 80s. His biggest claim to fame is shepherding a young Sade t…

When David Bowie wanted to update his sound in the 90s to the drum-n-bass that was popular on the streets, he picked producer/musician Mark Plati to get him there. Mark had come up under the mentorsh…

The way producer Niko Bolas tells it, he's never worked a day in his life. He went into a studio about 45 years ago and just never came out. Along the way he's worked with many of the greats like Tot…

Stereo MC's are coming back to the states this month for the first time in 24 years. It's a short trip - three shows on the east coast in three nights - but it's a start. Frontman Rob Birch joins us …

By the late 70s, drummer Dony Wynn thought his music career might be over. Nothing was really happening and he wasn't holding down gigs. Then the great Robert Palmer heard him and everything changed.…

This is epic. XTC guitarist Dave Gregory returns to the podcast to give us all the scoop on the creation of XTC's 1986 masterpiece Skylarking. The album almost can't be listened to without an underst…

Whether you know it or not, you've been listening to Fonzi Thornton for almost 50 years. As teenagers he and Luther Vandross formed a lifelong friendship and devoting their lives to music pays off fo…

Who doesn't love a good list! Music nerds especially will spend hours debating one topic or another. Author Gary Graff returns to the show to discuss his new book - 501 Essential Albums of the 90s. G…

WARNING: EXTREMELY SENSITIVE CONTENT

Like it or not, this is the year of Redd Kross! This underappreciated power pop band is coming at you with an assault of good stuff in 2024. They have an incredible new self-titled album, a memoir ca…

This week is synth pioneer Peter Godwin! In the 70s he was a part of the very arty and European band Metro who are best known for being the originators of the song "Criminal World" that was covered b…

The Blue Nile would never be accused of being overly prolific. In 20 years of activity, they only managed four albums, two of which, 1984's A Walk Across the Rooftops and 1989's Hats, are absolute ma…

We all miss Prince. It's a hole that will never be filled. Imagine what it would have been like to be a part of the Revolution during his peak 80s period. He can play every instrument better than his…

Author Graeme Thomson returns this week to discuss the updated release of his 2012 book, Under the Ivy: The Life & Music of Kate Bush. He had no idea when he finished that book 12 years ago how Kate'…

Music writer Chris Charlesworth joins us to discuss his new book, Just Backdated, which depicts his years writing for Melody Maker in the seventies. Every music lover would kill for a job like this a…

We've got a unique twofer for you this week. First up is Mr. Big frontman Eric Martin! Eric had been at it for a decade before Mr. Big happened. He fronted bands in the Bay Area and recorded a solo a…