A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman

A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman

Author: Chart Beats Language: English Episodes: 92
Gavin Scott from the Chart Beats network and Matthew Denby invite you to join their deep and often surprising chronological exploration of one of pop music's most defining production houses. This podcast, A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman, is exactly that: a meticulous, episode-by-episode trek through every single released under the SAW banner. It begins in the mid-80s with obscure early works like "The Upstroke" and follows the trail through the explosive hits that dominated charts worldwide. You'll hear the stories behind massive records from Dead or Alive, Bananarama, Mel & Kim, Rick Astley, and of course, Kylie and Jason, but the show also shines a light on the fascinating misses and lesser-known curiosities that complete the picture. The conversation blends music criticism, chart history, and technical commentary on the trio's iconic production techniques, creating a rich archive for both dedicated fans and the casually nostalgic. It’s more than a nostalgia trip; it’s a reassessment of a factory-hit machine that, for better or worse, crafted the soundtrack of an era. Tune in to Chart Beats' A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman for a detailed, engaging, and thoroughly researched appreciation of pop's most efficient hit-making operation.
Episodes
Ep 68: Shocked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:40
The fourth in arguably the best singles run in pop music history was also a first for Stock Aitken Waterman, as external mix team DNA took care of the 7" remix of "Shocked" by Kylie Minogue, Neal Slateford from DNA tells…
Ep 67: Better Off Without You to R.S.V.P. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:14
She was our very first interviewee back in Episode 1 — and we finally reach the conclusion of Hazell Dean's Stock Aitken Waterman journey with her version of "Better Off Without You", which was released in 1991. The Quee…
Ep 66: What Do I Have To Do Part 2: the styling and video [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:21
While "What Do I Have To Do" by Kylie Minogue stands on its own two feet as a song, the impact of the single was increased greatly due to the striking imagery on display on the single cover and in the music video. Celebr…
Ep 65: What Do I Have To Do Part 1: the song and mixes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:13
In 1991, it was another bold step forward for Kylie Minogue, and in the decades since, "What Do I Have To Do" has cemented its place among fans' all-time favourites from her extensive back catalogue. But the third single…
Ep 64: If I Have To Stand Alone to Breakaway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:40
What a tumultuous year 1990 had been for the Hit Factory — and the final four singles produced by Stock Aitken Waterman that year certainly highlight that. What should have been Lonnie Gordon's second SAW-produced single…
Ep 63: Step Back In Time (and Rhythm Of Love) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:55
After the big creative risk that was previous single and video "Better The Devil You Know", Kylie Minogue and Stock Aitken Waterman went for something more playful with follow-up "Step Back In Time". With its fun lyrical…
Ep 62: Wow Wow Na Na to Make It Easy On Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:58
Although she had been signed to PWL in the UK for a while and scored a couple of hits with remakes of "Don't Make Me Over" and "Walk On By", Sybil went into the studio with Stock Aitken Waterman in 1990 to record soulful…
Ep 61: Hey There Lonely Girl to Rhythm Of The Rain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:07
Although they'd achieved some hits with ballads that they had produced, Stock Aitken Waterman were better known for their uptempo pop/dance tracks, but in mid-1990, four ballads in a row emerged from the Hit Factory. Thr…