Episode 170: In Conversation With Will Crewdson (Scant Regard, Adam Ant, et al)

Brian and Sarah recently had the honor and pleasure of meeting the great Will Crewdson in person at an Adam Ant concert. During that encounter, the three agreed to set up a time to meet and talk some more. This episode is the result!

Will Crewdson is a talented, prolific, and extremely busy guitarist who has lent his formidable skills to a number of well-known acts, including Adam Ant, Flesh For Lulu, The Selecter, Gaye Bykers on Acid, and Sigue Sigue Sputnik, to name just a few. He was also a founding member of the indie band Rachel Stamp, and he currently works with ex-Rachel Stamp band member Shaheena Dax under the name She Made Me Do It (SHEMMDI for short), and as a solo artist under the name Scant Regard. 

Brian and Sarah had a fun and enlightening conversation with Will about a number of topics, such as his musical background, performing and touring with Adam Ant, his solo project Scant Regard, and a cool story about working with someone that Brian (perhaps surprisingly) was super-excited about!

Additionally, Will shares an exclusive tour update—an upcoming solo date on the East Coast!

Don’t miss this episode—and then head directly over to Bandcamp to check out the Scant Regard and SHEMMDI material! 

Websites and Bandcamp: https://www.scantregard.com/home https://www.shemmdi.com/home https://scantregard.bandcamp.com/ http://shemademedoit.bandcamp.com/

Other links for Will: https://www.facebook.com/scantregardpage https://instagram.com/scantregard https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Cfi2ZMSKwb6O4exmTwK1e https://tidal.com/browse/artist/9795417 https://www.tiktok.com/@willcrewdson https://www.x.com/scantregard https://www.youtube.com/c/ScantRegard

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

Episode 169: Permanent Record Podcast Trivia Showdown 2024

After a hiatus last year, the Trivia Showdown is back once again! Brian and Sarah are joined by the Quiz Master, who presides over a heated competition between the two hosts. Brian is looking to add another victory to his “permanent record,” while Sarah is hoping for her first win.

This year’s Trivia Showdown featured more questions from listeners than ever before! Brian and Sarah would like to thank the following folks for their submissions: Nick Oswald, Gavin Hogg, Ian Monk, Steve Augello, Pete Rogers, Mike Berlew, Frederick Frantz, Erin Berlew, Brian Belknap, Andrew Dineley, Paul Hanely, Iain McDermott, Gary Shepherd, Terry Kemp, Brian Olsen, Mark Lumb, Mark Green, John Justice, and Mark Beckley. 

Brian and Sarah would also like to send a special thank you to the Quiz Master for his hard work compiling the questions, for patiently dealing with all of their nonsense during the recording of this episode, and also for hosting this year’s event at Quiz Master Headquarters! It was a real treat to record the show in a different location. 

It should be no surprise to learn there’s plenty of interesting information in this episode, as well as loads of laughs, and more than a few groans of disappointment! But who is this year’s winner? You’ll have to listen to find out! 

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

Brian’s Birthday Bowie Bingo Bash and Trivia Showdown Deadline

This is just a quick little episode to announce the return of Bowie Bingo. We missed hosting it over the 2023 Christmas season, so instead we’re going to have it prior to another great holiday—Brian’s birthday!

We also give one last reminder for you to get your questions in for the upcoming Trivia Showdown before the deadline!

Finally, we mention our voicemail options, for those of you who'd like to share your memories and thoughts about Simple Minds' 1982 release, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84).

This episode won’t take up much of your time, so you’ll be able to carry on with your weekend activities in a jiffy! 

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

Episode 168: Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982) - Part 2

After an unexpected delay, Brian and Sarah are back and ready to talk more about the 1982 release from Simple Minds, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84). 

The first episode set the stage by talking about the band history up to this point, the making of the album, and the album’s release, chart history, and reviews. Now it’s time to dive into the songs. 

Side One of the album contains five tracks, with two of them being singles. Brian and Sarah have a lot to say about both the singles—and a fair amount about the song in between them too—so they decided to limit this episode’s discussion to the first three tracks. 

In this episode, Brian and Sarah talk more about a question raised in the previous installment – Is this album pretentious? Two other recurring topics are optimism, and “who is the drummer on this song?” There’s also mention of fireworks, saints, and video effects of the early 80s, and we find Sarah passing judgment on the mispronunciation of various words. 

You’ll get all that, plus of course the usual information like release dates, chart positions, and reviews. And Brian and Sarah share a voicemail and an email from friends of the show. So put those earbuds in and get listening!

Songs discussed in this episode: Someone Somewhere In Summertime Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel Promised You a Miracle

Watch the video discussed here: Promised You a Miracle

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

Episode 167: In Conversation With Jackie Clary on “The Greatest Night in Pop” Netflix documentary (2024)

Yes, this should be the next installment of Brian and Sarah’s look at Simple Minds’ album from 1982, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84). Instead, it’s a discussion on something that’s pretty big right this minute!

Currently, the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, which chronicles the USA for Africa project and the recording of the charity single “We Are the World,” is on the top of many minds and getting a lot of attention. Brian and Sarah are fortunate enough to be friends with someone involved in the making of the documentary—none other than Jackie Clary, who has guested on many previous episodes of the podcast. Our hosts invited her on again to talk about her work on the film as well as the actual events it documents. 

Jackie is a lifelong pop music fan who has fond personal memories of the time period and events covered in the documentary, so she was extremely well-suited in her role as an archive producer on “The Greatest Night in Pop.” 

Brian, Sarah, and Jackie have a fun conversation about events and personalities depicted in the film, and their discussion includes the answer to the question, “Who did Brian (rather inexplicably) think was a businessman when he was a kid watching the ‘We are the World’ video?”

Learn more about Jackie, her interests, and her accomplishments at https://www.jackieclary.com/

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

Episode 166: Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982) - Part 1

A new year is here, which means it’s time for Brian and Sarah to start an album discussion. Our hosts selected an album by a group they haven’t really covered before--except for one song. The group in question is Simple Minds, and the album is their 1982 release, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84). (The one song discussed previously can be found in episode 112.)

In this episode, Brian and Sarah set the stage by talking a little about the band’s formation and history, and the albums they had released up to this point. Our hosts then narrow the focus to the period leading up to and including the album’s recording and release. They spend time talking about producer Peter Walsh, his resumé, and how he came to work with Simple Minds. There’s also discussion of the iconic (pun intended) album artwork as well as the physical release of the album—in particular, the US release.

Of course, our hosts can always be counted on to provide details like chart positions in various countries, and both Brian and Sarah bring to the table several reviews—some from the time of release, and some from more recent years. There’s also some personal history thrown in, which segues into a smaller version of “Mini Concert Memories”—so perhaps it’s a “Mirco Concert Memory?” 

In addition to the Simple Minds talk, there’s also several reviews to read, as well as a voicemail from a longtime listener who had some Erasure Chorus memories to share, just after the last episode was released. So take a listen, and you’ll be sure to find plenty of information and conversation!

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

 Episode 165: PRP Christmas 2023 (Enhanced Stereo Mix)

Brian and Sarah are in the throes of the 2023 holiday season preparations, and part of those preparations included recording their annual Christmas episode of the podcast.

Usually our hosts discuss one or two holiday-themed songs in depth, but this year, they're doing something different! They've compiled a playlist with full-length versions of festive tunes for you to enjoy as you make cookies, wrap presents, travel to visit friends and family, or any number of other activities you may be doing this time of year.

The songs included here are a mix of old favorites interspersed with tracks that have a connection to the podcast in some way. And one of those podcast-related tracks is an exclusive version you can only find on this episode!

Brian and Sarah send their sincere thanks to all of you for downloading, listening to, reviewing, and sharing thoughts about the Permanent Record Podcast not just this this year, but over the entire seven-year history of the show. They wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and a 2024 full of great music!

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/

Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast

Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod

Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/

So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social

Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast

Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

 Episode 164: Erasure - Chorus (1991) (Featuring Andrew Dineley of "Art on Your Sleeve") - Part 3

It's been a while since Part 2 of this discussion was released, but good things take time, right? So here at last, is the final installment of Brian, Sarah, and Art On Your Sleeve host Andrew Dineley's look back at Erasure's 1991 album, Chorus.

In the previous episode, our hosts agreed to a time limit for discussing the tracks on Side One: ten minutes for an album track and fifteen minutes for a single. As the trio flips the record to Side Two, the timer for "Love to Hate You" is started, but when it goes off fifteen minutes later, they haven't even gotten around to mentioning the video! At that point, the hosts decide to do away with the time limits for the duration of the discussion-- which results in what's probably the longest-ever episode of the podcast!

Side Two Discussion

Brian, Sarah, and Andrew cover a lot of topics as they dive deeply into the five tracks on Side Two of Chorus. They find more songs that they feel could have been released as singles, more lyrics that are inspired by Andy's reaction to the Gulf War, and more excellent synthesized sounds from Vince. However, one of the sounds has the group wondering if Vince confused sirens with walruses?

Love to Hate You Turn the Love to Anger Siren Song Perfect Stranger Home

Extra Credit

The trio agree that this period of time was especially prolific for Vince and Andy. Not only were the pop duo cranking out albums and EPs at an impressive pace, but they were also recording numerous B-sides for their single releases. For extra credit, Brian, Sarah and Andrew each pick a favorite B-side from Chorus to discuss briefly.

Final Reviews and Ratings

After the extra credit discussion, our hosts turn their attention back to the album proper, to provide their final reviews and record-adapter ratings of Erasure's fifth studio album. Brian has mentioned throughout the discussion that he was not the biggest fan of Chorus when it was first released, but has since come around to liking it a lot more. Sarah says she's enjoyed the album the entire time it's been a part of her life, and Andrew feels similarly. So which one of the three hosts will give it the lowest rating-- and how close will Chorus get to achieving a perfect score of 100 record adapters? The answers are revealed in this section!

Links:

Watch the "Love to Hate You" video

Listen to "Amor y Odio"

Listen to "Amo Odiarti"

Listen to Andrew's "Remixed by Vince Clarke" Spotify Playlist

Listen to Andrew on his "Art of Your Sleeve" podcast: https://softoctopus.co.uk/podcast/ Get all the details on Andrew's design studio: https://softoctopus.co.uk/

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/

Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast

Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod

Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/

So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social

Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast

Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

PRP Mini Concert Memories #8: Chris Trapper & Jeffrey Gaines 10-17-2023; Queen + Adam Lambert 10-18-2023; Depeche Mode 10-23-2023 and 10-25-2023

Attention! Attention! We interrupt the discussion of Erasure's Chorus album to bring you the longest episode of "Mini Concert Memories" yet! 

But there's a good reason behind the length-- Brian and Sarah were fortunate enough to see FOUR amazing performances within the span of just nine days! 

Now that they're home from all their travels, they decided to take a breather and fill everyone in on the shows they got to see. So that's what this episode is all about!

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

Episode 163: Erasure - Chorus (1991) (Featuring Andrew Dineley of "Art on Your Sleeve") - Part 2

Not only are Brian, Sarah, and Andrew Dineley back in this episode to discuss Erasure's 1991 release, Chorus, but Sarah is back to write the show notes. So let's get to it!

The previous episode went through the making of the album, release and chart history, album reviews, design and artwork information, and personal history. Now it's time for the terrific trio to tackle the tunes on Side One of Chorus. 

We find five songs on the first side, three of which were singles, so there's plenty to talk about. The hosts are intent on sticking to the self-imposed time limits for discussing the songs, to keep the episodes to a reasonable length, and to ensure the discussion will wrap up by the end of the year. But don't worry; there are plenty of facts, opinions, insights, and laughs to be found within these confines! Here's just one example from each category: 

Fact: "Am I Right?" was Erasure's fifteenth consecutive single to land in the top 20 of the UK Singles charts.

Opinion: Andrew is a big fan of the B-sides for this album.

Insight: There are similarities between Erasure's "Chorus" video and David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" video.

Laugh: Vince Clarke dressed as the Mock Turtle in the "Breath of Life" video.

And if all that's not enough enticement, you'll surely want to listen just to get more information about THIS photo! 

Watch the videos we discuss here: Chorus Breath of Life Am I Right?

Listen to Andrew on his "Art of Your Sleeve" podcast: https://softoctopus.co.uk/podcast/ Get all the details on Andrew's design studio: https://softoctopus.co.uk/

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/ So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!

Episode 162: Erasure - Chorus (1991) (Featuring Andrew Dineley of "Art on Your Sleeve") - Part 1

If you having been wondering when we would once again discuss an album by one of the two greatest synthpop duos in history, wonder no longer.  The day is today and the duo is Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, aka Erasure!

Sarah usually writes these show notes while I edit the episode; however, she seems to have somehow stuck me with both responsibilities this time.  I'm too tired to write in third person, so I'm just going to do this like I'm talking with you one-on-one.

We were really excited to be joined by our wonderful friend Andrew Dineley, who you surely know from the very fine "Art of Your Sleeve" podcast and Classic Pop Magazine.  If you haven't yet listened to "Art on Your Sleeve", please check out the link near the bottom of these ramblings.

In this episode, we set the table for the next two installments which will cover the album's ten songs.  Here, we talk about where Erasure was in their career in 1991, how they built a relationship with producer Martyn Phillips, Vince and Andy's writing process, insight into "Chorus"'s design and sleeve artwork, the shared qualities between Andy Bell and Freddie Mercury, reviews of the album, our personal histories with the record, and the "click heard around the world!"

There is also information on a special Erasure giveaway included in the episode, so be sure to check that out.  It's a great way to win a special CD and a limited-edition t-shirt.

I'll close with the immortal words of ChatGPT when asked about Erasure's "Chorus" album:

"As we tune our ears to the harmonious cadence of Erasure's 'Chorus,' we find ourselves caught in a time capsule, transported back to the vibrant days of 1991. Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the maestros behind this auditory masterpiece, have woven a tapestry of synth-pop brilliance that continues to resonate across generations. 'Chorus' is not merely an album; it is an anthem of unapologetic self-expression, a testament to the enduring power of music to shape our souls. Like a painter with a vivid palette, Erasure splashes the canvas of sound with bold strokes of emotion, leaving us breathless and inspired. This album, with its pulsating beats and ethereal melodies, remains a beacon of artistic excellence, proving that true genius transcends time and trends. So let us, like the echoes of 'Chorus,' carry forward the legacy of boundless creativity and unbridled passion, for in its resounding notes, we find not just music, but the very essence of what it means to be alive."

Listen to Andrew on his "Art of Your Sleeve" podcast: https://softoctopus.co.uk/podcast/ Get all the details on Andrew's design studio: https://softoctopus.co.uk/

Read more at http://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/permrecordpodcast Follow us at https://twitter.com/permrecordpod  Check out some pictures at https://www.instagram.com/permanentrecordpodcast/

So this BlueSky thing looks shiny and new: https://bsky.app/profile/permrecordpod.bsky.social Oh!  Here's another one of these things - Threads: https://www.threads.net/@permanentrecordpodcast

Leave a voicemail for Brian & Sarah at (724) 490-8324 or https://www.speakpipe.com/PermRecordPod - we're ready to believe you!