Engine Room Insights

No matter what anyone says  I’m sure American Idol has had it’s day, they won’t be producing a Carrie Underwood or a Kelly Clarkson for that matter and when you look at all the winners few are ’stars.’ To be idolized there should be some immortality and where is that in any of them? They’re pop [...]

In reality TV Cowell is a one off, American Idol need to do something very off the wall to replace him and I think Ellen’s DeGeneres’ addition to the judges panel was done with the knowledge that  this series would be Simon’s swansong. Surely she too would have known that?  I think they did right [...]

Once the  jury was out and back with the verdict then time to put the wheels in motion. Was it good enough? If all were agreed about the finished product the planning would begin. They’d have ideas about a single , they would decide on the order of the tracks and start to engage in [...]

This all started with the question, ‘What makes a great album.’ I can only offer my own conclusion because if I ever went in a recording studio I can guarantee one thing, that I wouldn’t come out with a great album. I can’t play or sing, maybe a great spoken word album but then again [...]

The Stiff Chiswick Challenge that April night in Manchester had left everyone wanting….Tony Wilson and Alan Erasus a label, more immediately a venue to put bands on…. Rob Gretton managing a band, Ian Curtis a chance to be on TV, and me to go home because it was ludicrously late and I needed my bed! [...]

What I remember from when I first started in the music business back in the 70’s was that record companies had ‘record people’ who worked there. I was fortunate enough to work for two labels who were run by three such people, Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert, the two guys who’s initials together made up [...]