Tim's Listening Party

Tim is delighted to welcome back Jim Kerr & Charlie Burchill from Simple Minds for another listening party. Previously they looked at their 1982 album New Gold Dream - make sure to check that episode out if you haven’t already - and now they become the first ever returning guests on the show, this time to talk about 1985 record, Once Upon a Time, on it’s 40th anniversary. Once Upon A Time was released on 21st October 1985 on Virgin and A&M.

This episode Tim is joined by Grant Nicholas from Feeder. Feeder were one of the most successful British guitar bands of the early 00s, with hits like Buck Rogers, Just a Day and Feeling a Moment. Their fourth album Comfort in Sound, released in 2002 went Platinum in the UK. Comfort in Sound was released on 21st October 2002 on Echo.

This episode Tim Burgess is joined for a Listening Party by JJ Burnel from the Stranglers to talk about their La Folie, their sixth album that was released in 1981. Over their career they have refused to be defined by category or genre. They have strayed from punk, with an initially aggressive ethos, to expanding into new wave and art rock, as their output became more sophisticated but always remained interesting. La Folie was released on 9th November 1981 on Liberty.

This episode Tim is joined by Shirley Manson from Garbage, to talk about the band’s debut album on its 30th anniversary. The album was one of the best alternative debuts of the 90s, standing out in a decade typified by grunge in the States and Britpop on this side of the pond. Garbage formed in 1993 with Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig, who was fresh off the back of the success of producing Nirvana’s Nevermind. They were joined by Shirley Manson the following year, and it is her work in Garbage that has established Manson as one of the most iconic women in rock music in the last 3 decades. Garbage’s debut went multi-platinum around the world and saw the group receive two Grammy nominations. Garbage was released on 15th August 1995 on Almo.

This episode, Tim was joined by Joan Armatrading and Glyn Johns to talk about Joan’s self-titled third album from 1976. In the 1970s, Joan Armatrading became one of the first British female singer-songwriters to achieve international success thanks to her brilliant musicianship and vivid songwriting. Glyn Johns, meanwhile, boasts a CV to parallel any record producer, having worked with the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Kinks, Bob Dylan, the Clash, Eagles, Eric Clapton and of course, John Armatrading. Joan Armatrading was released in July 1976 on A&M.

This episode Tim Burgess is joined by Graham Lambert & Clint Boon from Inspiral Carpets to talk about their debut album, Life on it’s 35th anniversary. Life hit the number 2 spot in the UK album charts in 1990 and Inspiral Carpets were one of a number of bands from the Greater Manchester area to have success during that period. The Charlatans being another who were also deemed to be part of the cultural movement dubbed Madchester. Life was released on 23rd April 1990 on Mute.

This episode Tim Burgess is joined by John Power from Cast. Having left legendary Liverpool band the Las, John Power, took inspiration from the last line of the last song on the sole album by the Las… ‘The change is cast’. And it certainly was. Emerging from the Britpop movement of the mid-90s, Cast gained plenty of admirers, including the Gallagher brothers, who taken them on tour with them as part of the Oasis Live 25 reunion tour. Cast’s debut album, All Change, became the highest selling debut album in the history of the Polydor label and here we are celebrating that record on its 30th anniversary. All Change was released on 16th October 1995 on Polydor.

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined by Holly Johnson for a Listening Party. Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Welcome To The Pleasuredome stands out as one of the most iconic album releases of the 1980s. Musically it soundtracked the middle of the decade as Frankie dominated the charts, this album containing 3 consecutive number one singles in the UK. They also dominated the conversations of the time, the record steeped in controversy, with on air bans, shocking videos and less controversially, everyone wearing Frankie Says Relax t shirts. Welcome to the Pleasuredome was released on 29th October 1984 on ZTT.

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined by one of Britain’s best bands to talk about their brilliant debut on its 10th anniversary. Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher from Royal Blood remember their self-titled first album that gave us hits like Figure It Out and Little Monster. Their debut record went to Number One in the UK, went double platinum and won them the Brit award for Best British band in 2015. It announced this incredibly loud two-piece onto the rock music scene and Tim asked Mike & Ben how it felt to be given the title ‘the saviours of rock’. Royal Blood was released on 25 August 2014 on Warner Brothers.

This episode Tim Burgess is joined for a Listening Party by Elvis Costello, to talk about his 1986 album, King of America. Which has been re-released as King of America and Other Realms, a new 6 disc box set including the remaster of this classic album, a previously unreleased live concert, demos, outtakes, live recordings, so much there to discover. Elvis Costello has rightly been lauded one of the greatest songwriters of his generations. His music embraces jazz, country, classical, rhythm and blues, rock n roll, Tin Pan Alley, with Dylan-esque lyricism which is underpinned by punk ethics & traditions. His genre-spanning career has seen him cross paths with everyone from Allen Toussaint to The Roots, Paul McCartney to Burt Bacharach, and his genius has been rewarded with a BAFTA, multiple Grammys and Ivor Novello awards. King of America was released on 21st February 1986 on F Beat & Columbia.

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined for a listening party by Nile Rodgers, to talk about Chic’s 1979 album, their third record, Risque. Nile Rodgers, along with his band Chic’s contributed to music cannot be understated. They are one of the most important artists in the popularisation of disco music in the 1970s. Nile Rodgers himself is one of the greatest guitar players of all time, with a unique style that he continues to lend to leading artists to this very day. He also remains a hugely in-demand record producer, his CV boasting credits on some of the biggest recordings from the likes of Daft Punk, Duran Duran, Madonna, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, INXS the B52-s, Pharrell Williams and so many more. Risque was released on 30th July 1979 on Atlantic.

Earlier in 2024, Tim Burgess recorded a very special episode with Kjartan Sveinsson from Sigur Ros for their 2002 album, (), at Iceland Airwaves Festival. It was the first time we had held a Listening Party Live in the actual space that the album was recorded, so we'd like to give a huge thanks to everyone at Sundlaugin Studio for making that happen. Thanks also to Iceland Music and the Record in Iceland project. Iceland is famous for its incredible landscape with waterfalls, volcanos and hot springs, its famous for its fishing, its famous for Bjork. Sigur Ros are certainly up there with one of Iceland’s finest exports, making so much intriguing music since their debut in 1997, including their third record that they discussed, (). () was released on 28th October 2002 on FatCat & Bad Taste.

This episode, Tim is joined by Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol, to talk about the band’s brand new, eight album, The Forest Is The Path. Over the years, Snow Patrol have racked up multi-platinum selling albums and singles worldwide, they’ve achieved having a song with over a billion Spotify streams, as well as winning a prestigious Ivor Novello award. Having just entered their 3rd decade as a band, they continue to go from strength to strength, still one of Great Britain & Northern Ireland’s favourite bands. The Forest Is The Path was released on 13th September 2024 on Polydor.

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined for a Listening Party by Alex Kapranos & Bob Hardy from Franz Ferdinand. Just as British indie rock exploded in the noughties, Franz Ferdinand’s debut represented something a bit different. It had elements of indie rock, but also funk, punk and dance. It stood out at the time as an arty take on indie, and remains incredibly and effortlessly cool. A commercial success, the record went Platinum both sides of the Atlantic, and won the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2004. One of Scotland’s greatest musical exports, they continue to make brilliantly interesting and enjoyable music. Their upcoming 6th album, the Human Fear, comes out in January. Franz Ferdinand was released on 9th February 2004 on Domino.

Tim Burgess is joined for a listening party by Robert Smith from The Cure, to talk about the band’s brand new album, Songs of a Lost World. The band’s long-awaited and much-anticipated 14th album marks 16 years since their last release and has received universal acclaim from fans & critics. As well as going through the band's latest release, Robert opens up about channelling grief into his song writing, his role as the singer of the band and why he continues to wear his iconic make up. Plus, he reveals what job he dreamed of having before he was in the Cure - it might surprise you! Songs of a Lost World was released on 1st November 2024 on Fiction, Lost, Polydor, Universal & Capitol. The Cure’s Songs of a Live World, an incredible set recorded at Troxy in London, is out on December 13th, and all the royalties from the album go to War Child

This episode, Tim Burgess has a listening party for one of the biggest and best bands of all time. Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers from the Police will be chatting to Tim about the band’s fifth and final album, Synchronicity. Grammy award winning, hall of fame inducted, number 1 both sides of the Atlantic, critically acclaimed and multi-platinum selling, Synchronicity is a record that cemented the Police as the biggest band in the world at the time. 4 decades after this incredible record was released, Tim hears all about the Police’s recording process and how they managed to navigate the infamous tensions within the band at the time. Stewart remembers how he’d record his drums in just 20 minutes, while Andy speaks about how created timeless hits like Every Breath You Take. Synchronicity was released on 17th June 1983 on A&M.

This episode Tim is joined by Jon Bon Jovi. One of the biggest rock stars ever fronting one of the most successful bands of all time, they have sold out stadiums, won Grammys, been inducted into music Halls of Fame. Here, Jon goes through one of the biggest albums ever, Slippery When Wet. Jon discusses the success of singles You Give Love A Bad Name and Livin’ On A Prayer, his time working as a tea boy at the Power Station, and his love for the UK. Slippery When Wet was released on 18th August 1986 on Mercury & Vertigo.

This episode Tim is joined by Caleb & Jared Followill, half of Kings of Leon. A band who have headlined pretty much every musical festival worldwide, playing the biggest stages across the globe. They are multi-Grammy award winning and multi-platinum album selling. Just play Sex on Fire wherever you are in the world, and everyone will know that song. It’s safe to say they are one of the biggest bands of the last 2 decades. Their last 6 albums have gone to number 1 in the UK, and they are back with their 9th record, Can We Please Have Fun. Caleb & Jared chat to Tim about Nashville, how their producer provided a link to Harry Styles and how Britpop (including the Charlatans) influenced their new album. Can We Please Have Fun was released on 10th May 2024 on LoveTap and Capitol.

Tom Chaplin and Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane join Tim to talk about their debut album, Hopes And Fears, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. One of the best-selling albums in UK history, it went 9xplatinum in the UK, selling over 10 million copies worldwide, and wracking up billions of streams online. The year of the album’s release, 2004, saw Keane hold the crown of being the biggest selling British artist in the country. The following year they won two BRIT Awards: Best British Album and British Breakthrough act. Tom & Tim discuss the effect of performing a huge song like Somewhere Only We Know to a crowd, which vocalists influenced Tom’s singing, and how his parents responded to hearing Bedshaped for the first time. Hopes And Fears was released on 10th May 2004 on Island.

Kate Pierson & Keith Strickland from the B52s are Tim's guests this episode for a Listening Party about their 1989 album, Cosmic Thing. The B52s are a band so unique, so unorthodox yet completely distinctive, it’s not often you get to say that a musical artist is totally original, and that is exemplified by this weird and wonderful album in its 35th year. Kate & Keith talk about how they wrote their huge hit, Love Shack, how a psychic helped to make the album and how the band came together in the wake of the passing of original B52s guitarist, Ricky Wilson. Cosmic Thing was released on 27th June 1989 on Reprise.