We were honoured to have the chance to dive deep into conversation with British pop music production legend, Dr Phil Harding, famed for his work with legendary songwriting and production team Stock, Aitken & Waterman. With more charted credits to his name than anyone else in the industry we researched, Phil is now supporting the education of future generations as co-vice-chairman of J.A.M.E.S. and is the author of two of the most entertaining, educational, and inspirational books on music production we've ever read - PWL From The Factory Floor, and Pop Music Production - Manufactured Pop And BoyBands of the 1990s, both ESSENTIAL reads, and available directly from Phil via his website:
http://www.philhardingmusic.com
And find out more about his current work with J.A.M.E.S.
https://www.jamesonline.org.uk
Here are just a few of the artists Phil has worked with in his forty-plus year career:
Berni Flint, Gerry Rafferty, The Clash, Amii Stewart, Killing Joke, Toyah, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Tracey Ullman, Twisted Sister, The Belle Stars, The Sapphires, Nik Kershaw, Matt Bianco, Gary Moore, Windjammer, Divine, Girl Talk, Hazel Dean, Dead Or Alive, Strawberry Switchblade, Pet Shop Boys, Princess, Elton John, Erasure, Bananarama, Five Star, Mondo Kane, Depeche Mode, Mel & Kim, Red Box, Billy Ocean, Pepsi & Shirlie, Belouis Some, ABC, Chic, Rick Astley, Imagination, Climie Fisher, Jermaine Stewart, Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five, Dollar, The Four Tops, Diana Ross, Kylie Minogue, Samantha Fox, Jason Donovan, Brother Beyond, Holly Johnson, Sonia, Cliff Richard, Big Fun, Sinitta, Basia, Jesus Jones, Dusty Springfield, Jimmy Somerville, Paul Varney, Mark Almond, Curiosity, East 17, Take That, Lisa B, Bjorn Again, Let Loose, Nick Howard, Deuce, J.Pac, Gemini, Boyzone, OTT, The Carter Twins, Kavana, 911, as well as his own solo projects and his band of over 40 years, 24 Club.
So grab a cuppa, sit back, and enjoy our conversation with pop production legend, Dr Phil Harding!
00:00:00 Intro
0:01:38 Phil's Career Kicks Off At 16
0:05:15 Starting At The Marquee Studios
0:09:50 Gus Dudgeon
0:12:36 Music Production Is Relatively New
0:17:28 J.A.M.E.S.
0:26:15 Strongroom Studios & Ian Curnow
0:27:40 Meeting Pete Waterman - Woolworths Ears!
0:35:50 Moving to PWL Studios
0:40:30 Pete Burns & Dead Or Alive
0:42:03 Mike Stock and Matt Aitken
0:44:10 The Famed Calrec Soundfield Microphone
0:48:10 The Problem with SSL
0:49:15 SAW Fight Off The Critics
0:53:20 Production To Suit The Song
0:55:47 The Kylie Scandal!
0:57:20 Quality Songs With Key-change Challenges
0:58:39 12" Mixes - A Window Into Production
1:08:40 The PWL Working Day
1:15:10 She Should Be So Lucky!
1:17:55 Rick Astley, The Superstar TeaBoy
1:25:00 End Of An Era
1:28:34 Phil's FANTASTIC Books
1:31:34 12 Step Mixing
1:37:40 Manufactured Pop And BoyBands Of The 1990s
1:47:32 Preparing For Vocal Sessions
1:49:46 Psychology and Dealing With Tension In The Studio
1:53:35 Service Industry & Leadership
2:02:10 Advice For Those Starting Out
2:07:45 Education
2:15:20 Dolby Atmos
2:29:56 Some Elton Anecdotes
2:32:36 Thank You, Phil!