• A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman

  • By: Chart Beats
  • Podcast
A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman cover art

A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman

By: Chart Beats
  • Summary

  • Hosts Gavin Scott (from Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop) and Matthew Denby work their way through all the singles produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman (SAW), starting in 1984 with "The Upstroke" by Agents Aren't Aeroplanes and taking in hits by Dead Or Alive, Hazell Dean, Bananarama, Princess, Mel & Kim, Rick Astley, Kylie Minogue, Sinitta, Jason Donovan, Divine, Sonia and more, as well as lesser known chart misses. Bonus interviews and discussion: chartbeats.com.au/saw (Theme music: Switch Me On by Shane Ivers at www.silvermansound.com)
    © 2024 A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman
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Episodes
  • BONUS: Remixing The Hits with Tony King
    May 3 2024

    To mark the third anniversary of A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman, former PWL remixer Tony King joins us to share his story of going from Phil Harding's assistant to being responsible for a Billboard Hot 100 smash hit thanks to his remix of "Don't Make Me Over" by Sybil. Tony recounts the "weird" way he landed a job at PWL and how his first task was to remix "Packjammed (With The Party Posse)" by Stock Aitken Waterman — in a matter of hours. He also talks about some of his early remixes on tracks by Kylie Minogue and The Reynolds Girls. We follow Tony's journey into the '90s and how crucial his partnership with Asha Elfenbein was to the development of his remix ability. He also weighs in on the changes at PWL in the '90s, including the departure of Matt Aitken and the proliferation of dance sub-labels and European licensing deals.

    Support the Show.

    Subscribe for bonus material at chartbeats.com.au/saw
    Twitter: @ChartBeatsAU, @MrMattDenby
    Instagram: @chartbeatsau
    Facebook: Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop
    Email: chartbeats.au@gmail.com

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    46 mins
  • Ep 70: That's What Love Can Do
    Apr 22 2024

    The Boy Krazy story is one of the most interesting — and complicated! — in the SAW history. The American girl group was put together through auditions in New York, going through a few line-up changes before the final five-piece, Johnna, Josselyne, Kimberly, Renee and Ruth Ann, signed a deal with PWL Records and flew to London to start recording with Stock Aitken Waterman. Kimberly and Josselyne join us to reminisce about that process and how debut single "That's What Love Can Do" came together. Released in mid-1991 in the UK, it unfortunately didn't connect with the British public, but over a year later, it started picking up steam in the US when a Denver, Colorado radio station put it on high rotation. By 1993, it became one of SAW's biggest hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Kimberly and Josselyne talk us through the highs and lows of that process. And thanks to Mario at Cheer Up (@cheeruppopparty), we're also able to share some of an interview with Johnna, who performed lead vocals on "That's What Love Can Do". Great song, great story!

    Support the show

    Subscribe for bonus material at chartbeats.com.au/saw
    Twitter: @ChartBeatsAU, @MrMattDenby
    Instagram: @chartbeatsau
    Facebook: Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop
    Email: chartbeats.au@gmail.com

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Ep 69: Roadblock 91 to All Mixed Up and Matt Aitken's departure
    Apr 7 2024

    It had to happen at some point. In May 1991, the Stock Aitken Waterman era ended when Matt Aitken walked away from his role as one third of the songwriting and production trio. In this episode, he explains what prompted his decision and we explore the changing nature of PWL at the time, which was a contributing factor in the split. Mike Stock also weighs in on Matt's departure and reveals whether he blames his musical partner for leaving. In terms of the music, we look at one of the most polarising singles in the SAW catalogue — and one which was among the last things Matt worked on. The latest Neighbours stars to come to the Hit Factory, Gayle and Gillian Blakeney (aka The Twins) were hoping to follow other SAW stars up the chart, but "All Mixed Up" was a commercial disappointment. It also divides fans like almost no other track. We follow the sisters' story from their early appearances on Australian TV to their deal with Mushroom Records and discuss why their SAW experience wasn't so great and why their single provokes such strong reactions. Plus, we take a quick look at the 1991 remix of "Roadblock", which featured in-demand rapper Einstein.

    Support the show

    Subscribe for bonus material at chartbeats.com.au/saw
    Twitter: @ChartBeatsAU, @MrMattDenby
    Instagram: @chartbeatsau
    Facebook: Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop
    Email: chartbeats.au@gmail.com

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    57 mins

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