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 51: Never Too Late to When Love Takes Over You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:25
Kylie Minogue. Big Fun. Donna Summer. The last time we encountered these three artists, things were going swimmingly for each of them. In the case of Kylie, she had just racked up her seventh UK top 2 hit in a row — a ru…
Ep 50: I Just Don't Have The Heart to Can't Forget You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:23
Teen heartthrobs past and then-present rubbed shoulders as Stock Aitken Waterman wrote and produced the latest hit for music industry veteran Cliff Richard and the final single was lifted from Jason Donovan's debut album…
Ep 49: Wouldn't Change A Thing to Love's About To Change My Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:07
As we hit the second half of 1989, we take a look at the latest singles from Kylie Minogue and Donna Summer. On "Wouldn't Change A Thing", PWL's pop princess took another step towards a cooler sound and, in the video, a…
Ep 48: Sealed With A Kiss to Tell Him I Called [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:07
The UK chart-toppers continued for Stock Aitken Waterman as another two singles reached the top spot in 1989. First, there was Jason Donovan's remake of a much-covered tune. Part of SAW's series of '50s and '60s covers p…
BONUS: The Look Of A Bright Young Britain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:13
In this special episode focusing on the PWL look, we hear from former PWL MD David Howells, who was responsible for the label's visuals, stylist Sharon "Shazza" McPhilemy and hairstylist Lino Carbosiero. The three member…
Ep 47: Hand On Your Heart to I Don't Wanna Get Hurt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:08
After blitzing the Australian and UK charts with her debut album, it was time for Kylie Minogue to move onto her follow-up, Enjoy Yourself, and thanks to the chart-topping success of its lead single, "Hand On Your Heart"…
Ep 46: Too Many Broken Hearts to I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:55
By early 1989, Jason Donovan had a couple of hits under his belt, but his music career went into overdrive with the release of "Too Many Broken Hearts" and the mass hysteria that followed his every move in the UK. Jason…
Ep 45: This Time I Know It's For Real [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:46
She was the queen of disco; they were an unstoppable pop music force. Together, Donna Summer and Stock Aitken Waterman made some of their best music together. In this look at the first single from the Another Place And T…
Ep 44: I'd Rather Jack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
A protest song. A novelty record. A camp classic. The beginning of the end. "I'd Rather Jack" by The Reynolds Girls has been called a lot of things over the years and it remains one of the Stock Aitken Waterman singles t…
Ep 43: Help! (and Pop Life) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:18
Thanks to a little help from comedy trio Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Kathy Burke (aka Lananeeneenoonoo), Bananarama's hit streak continued as their remake of The Beatles' "Help!" took them back to the UK top 3 in…