Join us on a trip to Zanzibar by way of India & Feltham as we trace the early years of Freddie Mercury.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

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Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathy Valentine joins us to talk about her career, her new book, her time with The Go-Go's, her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & more.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

Kathy Valentine grew up in Austin, Texas but also spent time in London as a teenager via family connections. On one such visit she saw Suzi Quattro on Top of the Pops & decided to form a punk band back in Austin.

Kathy's first band The Violators also featured Carla Olsen (who later collaborated with Gene Clark, Bob Dylan, Mick Taylor, Percy Sledge, Ry Cooder & more) & in August 1980 they drove to LA in pursuit of their dream. Once in LA they become The Textones & release two singles, one of which is an unreleased Tom Petty track.

A chance meeting at the end of 1980 leads to Kathy leaving the band to join The Go-Go's with Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey & Gina Schock.

Her first gig was on New Years Eve of 1980 at the Whiskey a Go Go.

The band sign with IRS in April of 1981 & fly to New York the next day to begin work on what becomes the Beauty & The Beat album with producer Richard Gottehrer (Blondie, Dr. Feelgood, Richard Hell). 'Our Lips Are Sealed' becomes the first single co-written by Specials frontman Terry Hall. The track breaks through despite resistance from radio & within the industry.

The Go-Go's open for the Rolling Stones & The Police in the coming months as well as an appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Eddie Murphy. The album reaches number 1 & becomes one of the most successful debut albums of all time & is still the only album to reach top top spot entirely written & performed by an all female band.

Second album Vacation follows in 1982 with a title track written by Kathy & leads to an appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. The band are playing larger venues including a date with David Bowie on the Serious Moonlight Tour.

The final Go-Go's album Talk Show is made in England with producer Martin Rushent & founder member Jane Wiedlin leaves the band not long after the supporting tour.

The Go-Go's were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 & the band will be playing in 2025 including the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

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Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us as we present our first live episode - recorded at one of our live events here in Walthamstow, East London - talking all things Britpop & the 90's with Miranda Sawyer & Sian Pattenden.

Including Suede, Blur, Elastica, Sleeper, Pulp, Oasis, The Verve, Robbie Williams, Tricky, Glastonbury & a lot more.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

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Hosted by Sian Pattenden

Recorded by Rob Donnelly-Jackson

Recorded at the Walthamstow Trades Hall

Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell & Rob Donnelly-Jackson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 1989 album is 10 years old on October 27th 2014 - so we thought we'd take a deep dive into the story behind this iconic record.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is extremely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Joining us is writer Caroline Sullivan - her book 'Taylor Swift Era by Era' is out now on Michael O'Mara publishing - On her previous album Red, Taylor Swift had started to move into more of a pop direction & for her 5th album she decides to dive into the world of pop - what led her to this change of direction? Was it a gradual process? How did her fans & record label react?

Shortly before making 1989, Taylor Swift bought her house in Rhode Island - previously been owned by Standard Oil fortune heiress & socialite Rebekah Harkness & also relocates full time to New York City. This change of scenery leads to album opener 'Welcome To New York' which takes an 80s synth pop inflected sound which ends up running through the entire album.

The album features 7 songs produced by pop producers Max Martin & Shellback, as well as Ryan Tedder, British songwriter Imogen Heap but also marks one of the first contributions from Jack Antonoff who subsequently becomes a key collaborator on later releases.

1989 & lead single Shake It Off are announced via a livestream atop the Empire State Building in August of 2014 & Shake It Off becomes her biggest hit to date, spending 8 weeks at the top of the chart, shifting over 10 million units.

The album spawns 7 hit singles including a further 2 number 1s (Blank Space & Bad Blood) & crosses over in a way prior releases hadn't - going onto sell over 14 million copies.

The 1989 World Tour makes over $250m worldwide across 85 dates & becomes known for its many guest appearances including Mick Jagger, Joan Baez, The Weeknd, HAIM, Ed Sheeran, Lorde & dozens more.

Taylor Swift becomes the first woman to win 2 Grammy Awards with this album b ut also withholds her music from streaming services including Spotify & Apple Music & writes a strongly worded article in the Wall Street Journal making the case for music being paid for & not free.

Ryan Adams releases his version of the entire 1989 album in the autumn of 2015 & Bad Blood is re-released featuring Kendrick Lamar. Taylor also writes a song for Rihanna & Calvin Harris under the name Nils Sjöberg.

All this & more - join us to hear all about it.

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Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bella Union label founder Simon Raymonde joins us this week to talk us through his time with the Cocteau Twins.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

Simon joined the band in 1983 having met Robin Guthrie & Elizabeth Fraser a couple of years prior while working at Beggars Banquet record shop in South Kensington. The first album he is involved with is 1984's self produced Treasure - although Brian Eno & Daniel Landis were briefly discussed as possible producers.

Find out about Cocteau Twin's unique way of working in the studio - going in with nothing prepared or written in advance - as well as how they created their unique sound.

A collaboration with legendary Harold Budd follows along with various EPs but the band turn down the chance to record the soundtrack to David Lynch's Blue Velvet.

Around this time the band move into an industrial unit in North Acton & this newfound creative freedom leads to the Blue Bell Knoll album which comes out on 4AD in 1988. But not long after Cocteau Twins relocate to what becomes their September Sound studio in Richmond (rented from Pete Townshend).

Not long after the classic Heaven Or Las Vegas album is recorded, coming out in 1990 & achieving the timeless sound the band had been striving for.

Prince samples '50-50 Clown' from the album not long after & was reported to be a fan of the band but the band leave 4AD not long after the tour ends at the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas.

Signing with Fontana shortly after & the Four-Calendar Cafe album follows in 1993 along with their final album Milk & Kisses in 1996 - the band tour extensively & play festivals at Roskilde & Lollapalooza but their final gig comes at the Phoenix Festival in the summer of 1996.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

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Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us to take a deep dive into the life & career of LBGTQ icon Dusty Springfield - starting with her early life first in West Hampstead in London & then briefly in High Wycombe, Dusty attended a convent school but reinvented herself after leaving school into the glamorous blonde icon she became famous as.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

When our guest biographer Lucy O'Brien first wrote about Dusty in the late 1980s little was known about her but her legend has grown exponentially since - we talk about her interest in Hollywood film stars & what might have triggered her transformation from the shy & slightly plain Mary O'Brien to the larger than life Dusty Springfield.

Dusty joined singing act the Lana Sisters in 1959 & they sign to Fontana - a year later she leaves to join The Springfields with her brother Tom Springfield. The band achieve success with hits in the UK & unusually for the time, the US.

Sun Records boss Shelby Singleton was among the first to identify her R&B potential & brought The Springfields to Nashville to record, but not long after a show at the London Palladium in late 1963 Dusty leaves the band.

Within a month her first solo release 'I Only Want To Be With You' reaches number 4 in the charts - her debut album A Girl Called Dusty follows in 1964. A track from the album 'You Don't Own Me' was recently used as the intro music for Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour - we talk about why we think it may have been used.

Dusty helped introduce Motown to the UK & attended the first UK tour & championed the label - we also talk about the influence of her key collaborators Bacharach & David, Goffin & King, Ivor Raymonde & more.

She was the foremost female of the British Invasion of 1964 & scored a huge hit with 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' in 1966 & a Dusty Springfield track became a Northern Soul classic under the name Patti Austin but remained unreleased until the 1970s.

By 1968 the hits weren't coming as easily as before which leads Dusty to turn to America to reinvent her sound.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

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Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Wynn joins us to tell us all about his time with the Dream Syndicate, the formation of the band & the Paisley Underground scene. Steve's new book is out now on Jawbone Press & his latest record Make It Right is out on Fire Records.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

The Dream Syndicate formed in 1981 with Kendra Smith, Karl Precoda & Dennis Duck joining Steve in the band. Steve briefly had another band with Sid Griffin who later formed the Long Ryders but chose to concentrate on what became the Dream Syndicate.

The band comes together remarkably quickly with a demo, first show & a band name all within 3 weeks of forming - their debut EP followed shortly after & sold out its initial pressings immediately.

The scene that builds becomes known as the Paisley Underground & also includes The Bangs (later The Bangles), Salvation Army (later The Three O'Clock) & Rain Parade. Other bands including Green On Red & The Long Ryders are described by Steve as 'Paisley Adjacent'.

The band sign with LA label Slash Records & release their debut album The Days of Wine & Roses in 1982 which is an instant success.

The Dream Syndicate's first national tour follows & features a stop at the 9.30 Club in Washington D.C. & the legendary Maxwells in Hoboken & a missed show at the Danceteria in New York. Prince (allegedly) attended the bands show at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Kendra Smith leaves the band shortly after the tour & with that the first phase of the Dream Syndicate comes to an end.

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Featuring exclusive clips from Jah Wobble, Stewart Lee, Caroline Catz & Richard Norris sharing their memories of the Scala Cinema - documentary makers Jane Giles & Ali Catterall join us to share the history of the cinema from its original Soho location & its 2nd home in Kings Cross in London.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

The first cinema was built on the site of the Scala Theatre which featured extensively in The Beatles' feature film debut A Hard Days Night in 1964. This original Soho location opened as a cinema in 1976 originally known as The Other Cinema, becoming the Scala in the summer of 1978.

The cinema soon gained a reputation for its eclectic programming & diverse clientele. The Scala also put on gigs including Throbbing Gristle, Spandau Ballet,

The Slits, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column & New Order.

The Scala relocated to Kings Cross in 1981 but the new location had a musical history of its own having played host to gigs from Hawkwind, Soft Machine, Flamin’ Groovies, Mott the Hoople, Status Quo, Viv Stanshall, Lou Reed (the cover for Transformer was taken here) & Iggy & The Stooges (the Raw Power cover was also taken at the Scala at their only UK gig).

At the new location the Scala's legendary all nighters soon became infamous & were attend by the likes of Ian Curtis, Shane McGowan & more.

The Scala closed its doors in 1993 in the wake of the lease for the building reaching an end & a controversial screening of A Clockwork Orange.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

You can watch the Scala documentary on BFI Player: https://player.bfi.org.uk

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.