Word In Your Ear The genius of Sly Dunbar & Catherine O’Hara plus Springsteen’s anthem and old New York
Feb 1, 2026
A lively ride through Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare’s studio dominance and why their rhythms reshaped records. A celebration of Catherine O’Hara’s comic humanity across films and TV. A chat about Springsteen speaking out with a new protest song. Tales of four-walling, stadium ticket madness, 1970s New York nostalgia, fandom’s resistance to artists’ new directions, and a surprise rap singalong.
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Sly Dunbar’s Early Break And Studio Signature
- David Hepworth recounts discovering Sly Dunbar played drums on David Isaacs' Double Barrel at age 18 and later on countless reggae and pop records.
- He highlights how Sly's distinctive, muted drum sound became a studio signature used across genres and artists.
Session Players Can Define A Record
- Mark Ellen and David observe Sly and Robbie often made records sound half finished because their rhythm section dominated arrangements.
- They argue great session players can become the 'shop window' of a record, making other artists defer to them.
Catherine O’Hara’s Small Details Made Roles Work
- David Hepworth remembers Catherine O'Hara's work from Home Alone and Christopher Guest films that made absurd premises feel truthful.
- He praises her humanity in roles like Moira Rose and in ensemble mockumentaries where actors bring unscripted details.
