Andy Richards' 80:10 (Pt 2) (George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, Chris de Burgh, Prefab Sprout, Producing, Misc)

80sography - 80s music interviews

Part 2 with keyboard magic-dust provider, ~Andy Richards with more hits, more number ones (including a potential 2 more to make the full 10).

And so much brilliant 80s pop…

5. GEORGE MICHAEL

An opportune meeting, a Sunday afternoon session and more immortality as Andy works with George on the iconic Careless Whisper. A later session with David
Cassidy (on yet another top 10 smash) allows him the opportunity to work with George again.
6. PET SHOP BOYS

A triple whammy of number one singles between July 87 - April 88 as Andy works on It’s a Sin, Always on my Mind and Heart (which he also produces). Not
forgetting more hits in Suburbia and Rent as well as working on the Actually album.

Later he works on the Liza Minelli album, Results (produced by the Pets) ‘resulting’ in another top 10 hit in Losing My Mind.

Comparisons are made between working with Liza and Dusty Springfield (who he produced on her Reputation album).

7. CHRIS DE BURGH

From the great experience working on the sublime pop of the Pets to the more problematic cheesy monobrow of The De Burgh.

Another massive number one single with The Lady In Red (with a little help from George Michael) but at some cost.

Despite the experience (and like mothers forgetting the pain of childbirth) Andy returns and works on another top 3 hit in Missing You.
Plus discussion at the end on where else George Michael appears in the AR
oeuvre.
8. PREFAB SPROUT

Andy produces the wonderful “Hey Manhattan!” By The Sprouts from their From Langley Park To Memphis album.
Discussion on Paddy’s views of the track (and why he is wrong, bless the little genius).

9. PRODUCING
As well as being the keyboard maestro go-to guy, Andy also produced many artists in the 80s.

Here we go through some of them, from less successful experiences (Berlin) to yet more chart success with Fuzzbox and Holly Johnson.

10. MISCELLANEOUS

80s odd and sods including the start of his film/TV work and a chance to mop
up any other hits worked on, including a potential 10th number one (Foreigner’s I
Want To Know What Love Is being the potential 9th).
THE 80SOGRAPHY QUICKFIRE ROUND

And why not.

For more on Andy - andyrichards.com
To help fund the pod or say hi - 80sography@gmail (PayPal)
Vaughn George. Neil Tennant vocal analysis “Heart”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMjGpyzAIs
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