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Bauer Media

Tim’s Listening Party is the new podcast from The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess as he brings his world-famous Twitter Listening Party to Absolute Radio. Back during lockdown with everyone missing live music, Tim realised we all had the opportunity to take part in one great big listening party. What has followed is over a thousand album playbacks in real time, together with the people who made them. Now, Tim will bring these listening parties to podcasts as he celebrates records alongside some of his favourite artists. We’ll hear unique stories and exclusive insights to albums as Tim once again creates the world’s biggest listening party.

Tim's Listening Party

Tim is delighted to welcome back Jim Kerr & Charlie Burchill from Simple Minds for another listening party.

Previously they looked at their 1982 album New Gold Dream - make sure to check that episode out if you haven’t already - and now they become the first ever returning guests on the show, this time to talk about 1985 record, Once Upon a Time, on it’s 40th anniversary.

Once Upon A Time was released on 21st October 1985 on Virgin and A&M.

Simple Minds 2

This episode Tim is joined by Grant Nicholas from Feeder.

Feeder were one of the most successful British guitar bands of the early 00s, with hits like Buck Rogers, Just a Day and Feeling a Moment.

Their fourth album Comfort in Sound, released in 2002 went Platinum in the UK. 

Comfort in Sound was released on 21st October 2002 on Echo.

Feeder

This episode Tim Burgess is joined for a Listening Party by JJ Burnel from the Stranglers to talk about their La Folie, their sixth album that was released in 1981.

Over their career they have refused to be defined by category or genre. They have strayed from punk, with an initially aggressive ethos, to expanding into new wave and art rock, as their output became more sophisticated but always remained interesting.

La Folie was released on 9th November 1981 on Liberty.

The Stranglers

This episode Tim is joined by Shirley Manson from Garbage, to talk about the band’s debut album on its 30th anniversary.

The album was one of the best alternative debuts of the 90s, standing out in a decade typified by grunge in the States and Britpop on this side of the pond.

Garbage formed in 1993 with Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig, who was fresh off the back of the success of producing Nirvana’s Nevermind.

They were joined by Shirley Manson the following year, and it is her work in Garbage that has established Manson as one of the most iconic women in rock music in the last 3 decades.

Garbage’s debut went multi-platinum around the world and saw the group receive two Grammy nominations.

Garbage was released on 15th August 1995 on Almo.

Garbage

This episode, Tim was joined by Joan Armatrading and Glyn Johns to talk about Joan’s self-titled third album from 1976.

In the 1970s, Joan Armatrading became one of the first British female singer-songwriters to achieve international success thanks to her brilliant musicianship and vivid songwriting.

Glyn Johns, meanwhile, boasts a CV to parallel any record producer, having worked with the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Kinks, Bob Dylan, the Clash, Eagles, Eric Clapton and of course, John Armatrading.

Joan Armatrading was released in July 1976 on A&M.

Joan Armatrading

This episode Tim Burgess is joined by Graham Lambert & Clint Boon from Inspiral Carpets to talk about their debut album, Life on it’s 35th anniversary.

Life hit the number 2 spot in the UK album charts in 1990 and Inspiral Carpets were one of a number of bands from the Greater Manchester area to have success during that period. The Charlatans being another who were also deemed to be part of the cultural movement dubbed Madchester.

Life was released on 23rd April 1990 on Mute.

Inspiral Carpets

This episode Tim Burgess is joined by John Power from Cast.

Having left legendary Liverpool band the Las, John Power, took inspiration from the last line of the last song on the sole album by the Las… ‘The change is cast’. And it certainly was.

Emerging from the Britpop movement of the mid-90s, Cast gained plenty of admirers, including the Gallagher brothers, who taken them on tour with them as part of the Oasis Live 25 reunion tour.

Cast’s debut album, All Change, became the highest selling debut album in the history of the Polydor label and here we are celebrating that record on its 30th anniversary.

All Change was released on 16th October 1995 on Polydor.

Cast

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined by Holly Johnson for a Listening Party.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Welcome To The Pleasuredome stands out as one of the most iconic album releases of the 1980s. Musically it soundtracked the middle of the decade as Frankie dominated the charts, this album containing 3 consecutive number one singles in the UK.

They also dominated the conversations of the time, the record steeped in controversy, with on air bans, shocking videos and less controversially, everyone wearing Frankie Says Relax t shirts.

Welcome to the Pleasuredome was released on 29th October 1984 on ZTT.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined by one of Britain’s best bands to talk about their brilliant debut on its 10th anniversary.

Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher from Royal Blood remember their self-titled first album that gave us hits like Figure It Out and Little Monster.

Their debut record went to Number One in the UK, went double platinum and won them the Brit award for Best British band in 2015. 

It announced this incredibly loud two-piece onto the rock music scene and Tim asked Mike & Ben how it felt to be given the title ‘the saviours of rock’.

Royal Blood was released on 25 August 2014 on Warner Brothers.

Royal Blood

This episode Tim Burgess is joined for a Listening Party by Elvis Costello, to talk about his 1986 album, King of America.

Which has been re-released as King of America and Other Realms, a new 6 disc box set including the remaster of this classic album, a previously unreleased live concert, demos, outtakes, live recordings, so much there to discover.

Elvis Costello has rightly been lauded one of the greatest songwriters of his generations.

His music embraces jazz, country, classical, rhythm and blues, rock n roll, Tin Pan Alley, with Dylan-esque lyricism which is underpinned by punk ethics & traditions. His genre-spanning career has seen him cross paths with everyone from Allen Toussaint to The Roots, Paul McCartney to Burt Bacharach, and his genius has been rewarded with a BAFTA, multiple Grammys and Ivor Novello awards.

King of America was released on 21st February 1986 on F Beat & Columbia.

Elvis Costello

This episode, Tim Burgess is joined for a Listening Party by Alex Kapranos & Bob Hardy from Franz Ferdinand.

Just as British indie rock exploded in the noughties, Franz Ferdinand’s debut represented something a bit different. It had elements of indie rock, but also funk, punk and dance. It stood out at the time as an arty take on indie, and remains incredibly and effortlessly cool. A commercial success, the record went Platinum both sides of the Atlantic, and won the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2004.

One of Scotland’s greatest musical exports, they continue to make brilliantly interesting and enjoyable music. Their upcoming 6th album, the Human Fear, comes out in January.

Franz Ferdinand was released on 9th February 2004 on Domino.

Franz Ferdinand

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