Sodajerker On Songwriting

Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 chat with Simon and Brian about the creative processes behind songs like '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang', 'Let's All Make a Bomb' (Penthouse and Pavement), and gems from The Luxury Gap. Martyn and Glenn also talk in detail about their early lives in Sheffield, their approach to synthesisers and recording technology, and early songs for The Human League such as 'Almost Medieval' and 'Being Boiled'.

Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning Hall of Fame songwriter Paul Williams sits down with Sodajerker to talk about his approach to the art and craft. Paul describes the creative process behind hits like 'We've Only Just Begun' and 'Rainy Days and Mondays' for The Carpenters, as well as songs for films such as 'The Rainbow Connection' (The Muppet Movie), 'Evergreen' (A Star is Born), Phantom of the Paradise, Ishtar, and Bugsy Malone.

Harry Shearer, the actor, writer and musician known for his work on Spinal Tap and The Simpsons, talks with Simon and Brian about writing the songs for his latest album Can't Take A Hint. In addition to describing his process on songs like 'Celebrity Booze Endorser', 'Deaf Boys' and 'Autumn in New Orleans', Harry talks in detail about his work with Michael McKean and Christopher Guest on Spinal Tap classics like 'Big Bottom', and songs from A Mighty Wind, such as 'Old Joe's Place' and 'The Good Book Song'.

Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black talks with Sodajerker about his many collaborations on songs for films, musicals and pop artists alike. Don's credits include 'Born Free' (Matt Monro), 'Thunderball' (Tom Jones), 'To Sir, With Love' (Lulu), 'Diamonds Are Forever' (Shirley Bassey), 'The Man With the Golden Gun' (Lulu), 'Ben' (Michael Jackson) and 'The World is Not Enough' (Garbage). He also talks in detail about his long and hugely successful relationships with composers John Barry and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Celebrated songwriter and artist Carole Bayer Sager is the guest for this episode in which Simon and Brian quiz her about some of her best-known songs, such as 'Nobody Does it Better' (Carly Simon), 'It's the Falling in Love' (Michael Jackson), 'Arthur's Theme' (Christopher Cross), 'On My Own' (Patti LaBelle/Michael McDonald), 'That's What Friends Are For' (Dionne Warwick/Elton John/Gladys Knight/Stevie Wonder), 'A Groovy Kind of Love' (Phil Collins) and her solo hit 'You're Moving Out Today'.

Mike Stock of Stock, Aitken and Waterman joins Sodajerker to talk about the writing of songs like 'Say I'm Your Number One' (Princess); 'Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)', 'Respectable' (Mel and Kim); 'Never Gonna Give You Up' (Rick Astley); 'I Should Be So Lucky', 'Better the Devil You Know' (Kylie Minogue); 'This Time I Know It's For Real' (Donna Summer), and other 'Hit Factory' smashes for artists like Cliff Richard, Jason Donovan and Bananarama.

Ben Folds, Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge, known collectively as Ben Folds Five, sit down in person with Simon and Brian for a special edition of Sodajerker on Songwriting. In this audio version of the video podcast, the band talk about the writing of songs like 'Brick', 'Battle of Who Could Care Less', 'Philosophy', 'Steven's Last Night in Town' and songs from their new album The Sound of the Life of the Mind, such as 'Do it Anyway', 'Sky High' and 'Michael Praytor, Five Years Later'.

10cc's own Graham Gouldman joins Simon and Brian for episode 30 to talk about the writing of songs like 'For Your Love' (The Yardbirds), 'Bus Stop' (The Hollies), 'No Milk Today' (Herman's Hermits), 'Johnny Don't Do It', 'Wall Street Shuffle', 'I'm Not in Love', 'Iceberg' (10cc) and 'Bridge To Your Heart' (Wax). Graham talks in depth about his work with 10cc, the late Andrew Gold, and his latest solo album Love and Work.

Veteran singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop talks about the writing of songs like 'On and On', 'Save it for a Rainy Day', 'Looking for the Right One' (Art Garfunkel), 'Losing Myself in You', 'Red Cab to Manhattan' and his Academy Award-nominated song 'Separate Lives' (Phil Collins). Stephen also speaks about his work on a number of movie soundtracks, such as National Lampoon's Animal House, Tootsie and The Money Pit.

Valerie Simpson, one half of legendary songwriting team Ashford and Simpson, joins Sodajerker to talk about the writing of Motown classics like 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', 'You're All I Need to Get By' and 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing'. Valerie also speaks about 'I'm Every Woman' (Chaka Khan) and Ashford and Simpson's own hits including the seminal 'Solid (As A Rock)'.

Singer-songwriter and producer Brendan Benson provides Sodajerker with insights into his songwriting process and creative life by discussing songs like 'Spit it Out', 'What I'm Looking For', 'Broken Boy Soldier', 'Bad for Me' and 'Keep Me'. Brendan also speaks about his many collaborations with artists like Ashley Monroe and Jack White of The White Stripes in their band The Raconteurs.

Pianist, songwriter, musical director and vocalist Patrice Rushen sits down with Sodajerker to chat about the writing of songs like 'Hang it Up', 'Haven't You Heard', 'The Funk Won't Let You Down', 'This is All I Really Know', 'Remind Me' and her seminal dance floor hit 'Forget Me Nots'. Patrice talks about her early jazz-fusion work, the Elektra albums and her eclectic approach to sustaining a career in music.

Veteran singer-songwriter and pianist Neil Sedaka joins Simon and Brian to talk about the writing of songs like 'Oh! Carol', 'Stupid Cupid', 'Calendar Girl', 'Breaking Up is Hard To Do', 'Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen', 'Where the Boys Are', 'Amarillo', 'Solitaire' and 'Laughter in the Rain'. Neil also talks in detail about songs from his new acoustic solo piano record, The Real Neil.

Level 42 bassist, vocalist and songwriter Mark King is our guest for this episode of the podcast in which he talk about the writing of songs like 'Lessons in Love', 'Running in the Family', 'Something About You', 'The Chinese Way', 'Mr Pink', 'The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)' and 'Dune Tune'.

Singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw talks with Sodajerker about the writing of songs like 'Wouldn't It Be Good', 'I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me', 'The Riddle', 'Dancing Girls', 'Don Quixote', 'Human Racing' and 'Wide Boy'. Nik also talks about penning hit songs like 'The One and Only' (Chesney Hawkes), 'The Woman I Love' (The Hollies) and 'Seventeen' (Let Loose) as well as his approach to writing his new solo album, Ei8ht.

Internationally renowned parodist, singer-songwriter, actor and accordionist "Weird Al" Yankovic takes some time out to chat with Simon and Brian about his approach to writing comedy songs and style parodies. Al discusses the processes behind songs like 'Trapped in the Drive-Thru', 'Hardware Store', 'The Night Santa Went Crazy', 'Pancreas' and 'Skipper Dan'.

Clive Langer and Steve Allen of cult Liverpool band Deaf School join Simon and Brian to talk about the writing of songs like 'What a Way to End it All', 'Taxi', 'Hi Jo Hi', '2nd Honeymoon', 'Knock Knock Knocking', 'Working Girls', 'I Wanna Be Your Boy' and 'Golden Showers'. Clive also talks about his work as a producer and the classic Robert Wyatt song 'Shipbuilding', which he wrote with Elvis Costello.

Prolific singer-songwriter and producer Mike Viola, aka Candy Butchers, sits down with Sodajerker to talk about the writing of songs like 'Girly Worm', 'Falling into Place', 'Good Ideas Grow on Trees', 'Kiss Alive II' and 'Closet Cutter'. Mike also talks about his work with singer-songwriter and actress Mandy Moore on the Amanda Leigh album and his work on songs for movies like Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Get Him to the Greek and Tom Hanks' directorial debut That Thing You Do.

Veteran writer Albert Hammond joins Simon and Brian to talk about the writing of his incredible catalogue of hit songs, such as 'The Air that I Breathe' (The Hollies), 'One Moment in Time' (Whitney Houston), 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now' (Starship), 'When I Need You' (Leo Sayer), 'I Don't Wanna Lose You' (Tina Turner) and 'Don't Turn Around' (Aswad). Albert also talks in depth about his work with songwriters and artists like Hal David, Diane Warren, Carole Bayer Sager, The Carpenters and Duffy.

Musician and producer Thomas Dolby is the guest for episode 18 during which he talks about his illustrious career and the writing of songs like 'She Blinded Me With Science', 'Europa and the Pirate Twins', 'Hyperactive!', 'Nothing New Under the Sun', 'Evil Twin Brother' and 'The Toad Lickers'. Thomas also discusses his work as producer on the classic Prefab Sprout album Steve McQueen (aka Two Wheels Good).