Sodajerker On Songwriting

Influential New Orleans songwriter, producer, arranger and pianist Allen Toussaint sits down with Simon and Brian to discuss his long career including the writing of classic songs like 'Mother in Law' (Ernie K-Doe), 'Whipped Cream' (Herb Alpert), 'Working in the Coal Mine' (Lee Dorsey), 'Here Come the Girls' (Ernie K-Doe), 'Southern Nights' (Glen Campbell), 'Happiness' (The Pointer Sisters) and more. Allen talks in depth about his creative process and also gives advice for young songwriters.

John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants take an hour out of their busy tour schedule to talk with Simon and Brian about their new album Nanobots; their approach to songwriting; the Dial-A-Song service; writing music for children; their collaborations with production team Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley on songs like 'Birdhouse in Your Soul', and more.

Singer-songwriter P. F. Sloan, known the world over as the author of political anthems such as 'Eve of Destruction' (Barry McGuire) and popular hits like 'Secret Agent Man' (Johnny Rivers), 'A Must to Avoid' (Herman's Hermits) and 'Summer Means Fun' (Jan & Dean), joins Sodajerker to talk about starting in music as a teenager, his songwriting partnership with Steve Barri, the heady successes of the 1960s, and the many struggles that pushed him away from music for more than 30 years.

As one half of The Sherman Brothers, Richard M. Sherman is responsible for co-writing the most memorable Disney songs of all time. In this hour of conversation, Mr Sherman joins Simon and Brian to talk through landmark works like his Academy Award-winning compositions for Mary Poppins, and so much more.

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.