40th Anniversary Audio Special - Insider's story of ‘The Hit Factory’, Stock Aitken Waterman & their base, PWL Studios - told by their chief mix-engineer, Phil Harding - who talks through their 1984-91 ‘rise & fall’ & plays key audio clips. PWL Studios also worked on many other dance & pop hits (e.g. Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Five Star) beyond the output of Stock Aitken Waterman (e.g. Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Dead Or Alive, Bananarama), & was Pete Waterman's vision of a 'British Motown'. Using many pioneering techniques still used now via today's technology, PWL ‘The Hit Factory’ was one of the most fast-paced & successful music studios of all time... This Audio Special ties in with Phil Harding's acclaimed book 'PWL From The Factory Floor' (from http://www.philhardingmusic.com & Amazon)... 2024 sees the continued success of the recently-launched SAW-Hits Musical (as seen on BBC Children In Need) and the 40th Anniversary of SAW's very first hits in 1984, spotted & championed from the start as stand-out by John Peel of BBC Radio 1...

Phil Harding moved on from PWL to produce a long list of hits for artists such as East 17 (e.g. Xmas No.1 ‘Stay Another Day’), Boyzone (No.1 ‘Words’), Let Loose, 911 and Deuce - all in partnership with long-standing collaborator & former PWL teammate, Ian Curnow...

Programme created by John Paul Palmer | Voice recording by Marc Mason | Special thanks to GEN X Radio.

-----------------------------------------------

More about PHIL HARDING...

Working from the basement in PETE WATERMAN's 'PWL Studios' (in the 80s), home of producers STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN (on the top floor), PHIL HARDING & IAN CURNOW mixed dance & club versions of many big name artists as well as remixing/mixing many classic Stock Aitken Waterman hits. Phil Harding's book 'PWL FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR' reveals behind-the-scenes & discusses the state-of-the-art techniques used at one of the most successful & fast-paced studios of all time. Out now from http://www.philhardingmusic.com/books with top reviews...

Harding/Curnow ran P&E Music from The Strongroom studios in the 90s, producing hits for artists such as EAST 17 (inc. Xmas No.1 ‘Stay Another Day’), Deuce, 911, Let Loose, Caught In The Act & Boyzone (inc. No.1 ‘Words’). Phil's 2nd book 'POP MUSIC PRODUCTION' is for music creators, students & 90s pop music fans looks at the business, culture, songwriting & production processes of the era & today - and includes Phil's sought-after 12-Point Mixing Plan, fascinating production case studies & behind-the-scenes working with artists & managers TOM WATKINS, LOUIS WALSH & SIMON COWELL..

Phil has worked with ABC, AMII STEWART, BANANARAMA, BAND AID II, BASIA, BELINDA CARLISLE, CHIC, CLIFF RICHARD, DIANA ROSS, CLIMIE FISHER, CURIOSITY, DEAD OR ALIVE, DEBBIE HARRY, DEPECHE MODE, DOLLAR, DONNA SUMMER, DUSTY SPRINGFIELD, EAST 17, EIGHTH WONDER, ERASURE, FIVE STAR, GARY MOORE, GODLEY & CRÈME, HOLLY JOHNSON, IMAGINATION, JERMAINE STEWART, JESUS JONES, JIMMY RUFFIN, JIMMY SOMERVILLE, KILLING JOKE, KYLIE MINOGUE, LIBERTY X, MATT BIANCO, MEL & KIM, NIK KERSHAW, NITZER EBB, PEPSI & SHIRLIE, PET SHOP BOYS, RICK ASTLEY, ROGER DALTREY, ROXETTE, ROZALLA, SAMANTHA FOX, SINITTA, TAKE THAT, THE BELLE STARS, THE BLOW MONKEYS, THE CLASH, COOL NOTES, FOUR TOPS, JACKSON FIVE, THREE DEGREES, THELMA HOUSTON, TOYAH, TPAU, VOICE OF THE BEEHIVE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.