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In this episode we ask the former Time Out editor and acclaimed author of fascinating studies of fonts, maps and encyclopaedias about his long writing career; we also discuss semi-colons and listen to clips from audio interviews with Cher and Luther Vandross. Our guest reflects on Expensive Habits — his 1986 investigation of the music industry's "dark side" — and revisits two of his many great pieces: a hilarious 1987 encounter with Guns N' Roses and a 2003 interview with the newly-solo Beyoncé for the Observer Music Monthly.  Cher's new autobiography leads to discussion of the singer-actor's remarkable life and work, while the new documentary Luther: Never Too Much prompts thoughts on the sadness of Vandross's double life as a closeted gay man and object of romantic female desire. Among the newly-added library articles we consider, aptly, is Lucy O'Brien's 2001 Q piece "Why Is Pop So Gay?"; we also hear quotes from the late great Eve Babitz's 1979 Rolling Stone celebration of L.A.'s Troubadour club and from Del Cowie's 2009 Exclaim! interview with hip hop elder Big Daddy Kane. Many thanks to special guest Simon Garfield. For more Simon, visit his website at simongarfield.com.  Pieces discussed: Guns N' Roses, Cher audio, Beyoncé: Uh-Oh! Uh-Oh! Uh-Oh!, Pete Townshend: Who He Is, Luther Are Good For The Soul, Luther Vandross: Let's Start with Pacman, Luther Vandross: The Sadness Behind the Soul, Shel Talmy, The Good Old Days at L.A.'s Troubadour, Stock Aitken and Waterman, Pet Shop Boys, Why Is Pop So Gay?, Snoop Dogg live and Big Daddy Kane.

In this episode — recorded on the somewhat sombre Wednesday after the U.S. elections — we welcome the wonderful Beverley Glick to our Hammersmith lair and ask her about her New Romantic nom de plume Betty Page. Beverley tells us about her early days on Sounds, where she started out as editor Alan Lewis' secretary, and talks us through her seminal 1980 encounters with Spandau Ballet and Steve Strange. Her subsequent early interview with Duran Duran leads us to clips from David Keeps' 1993 audio interview with the Brummie band's frontman Simon Le Bon. After touching briefly on Depeche Mode, whom Beverley also interviewed very early on, our guest revisits the short-lived Noise! — Sounds' very own attempt at "doing" a Smash Hits — and recounts her subsequent path to the editorship of the rather longer-standing Record Mirror. Memories of mad moments with Happy Mondays (for Vox), and Beverley's eventual graduation to national newspapers, take us to her decision to forsake journalism for a career as a life coach specialising in "leadership communication" — and as the author of this year's In Your Own Words. A few glum thoughts on the political distortion of words such as "freedom" segue into our homage to the brilliant and outrageous Quincy Jones. Mark then quotes from newly-added library pieces about the Who (1965) and Ronnie Scott (1979)... and Jasper wraps up the episode with his thoughts on articles about "Brazilian Prince" Ed Motta (2006) and Tricky's magnificent Maxinquaye (2023). Many thanks to special guest Beverley Glick. For more Beverley, including info on her books and coaching, visit beverleyglick.com. Pieces discussed: Spandau Ballet: The New Romantics — a Manifesto for the Eighties, Visage: Stranger In Town, How I Discovered Duran Duran. Or Did They Discover Me?, Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon audio, Quincy Jones Has a Story About That, The Who, Ronnie Scott: King Of Clubs, The World of Ed Motta and Tricky: Maxinquaye (Reincarnated) (UMR/Island)

In this episode we're joined by NME legend Chris Salewicz, author of acclaimed books about Bob Marley, Joe Strummer and others. We hear about our guest's boyhood in Yorkshire — and about the first gig he ever saw: the Beatles in Leeds in 1963 (followed in rapid succession by the Rolling Stones — plus a young David Bowie — in Huddersfield). Chris then describes how a move to London in the early '70s led to getting his foot in the door at Let It Rock and then, in 1974, at the indispensable New Musical Express. Discussion of the culture at the NME — sprinkled with yarns about such colleagues as Mick Farren,  Tony Tyler and Tony Stewart — prompts recollections of Chris' interviews with Jimmy Page (in 1977) and Prince (in 1981)... and culminates in the moment he opted to quit the paper for pastures new. A digression on Supertramp's 50-year-old Crime of the Century sparks a passionate defence of that unfairly maligned ensemble by 28-year-old Jasper Murison-Bowie. Jumping forward to the 21st century, we hear wonderful clips from Gavin Martin's 2006 audio interview with the youngest member of the "27 Club" series Chris collected in his 2015 book Dead Gods. Our thoughts on the astounding talent and tragically short life of Amy Winehouse then follows. After Mark quotes from newly-added library pieces — Val Wilmer's 1967 interview with free-jazz trailblazer Archie Shepp; Mick Brown's 1975 encounter with Bakersfield country icon Buck Owens – Jasper concludes the episode with his thoughts on a piece about "hip hop's Mozart" J Dilla (2011). Many thanks to special guest Chris Salewicz. For more Chris and info about all his books, visit chris-salewicz.com. Pieces discussed: The Gig Interview: Jimmy Page, The Clash: Clash On Tour, Bob Marley: A Day Out At The Gun Court, Prince, Supertramp: Crime Of The Century, Supertramp: To Concept Or Not To Concept?, Supertramp: The Taking of America by Strategy, Supertramp: Is This Really The Most Fun You Can Have With a Washing-Up Glove?, Amy Winehouse audio, Archie Shepp, Buck Owens and J Dilla: The Mozart of Hip-Hop.

For this episode we're joined by the admirable Simon Raymonde, sometime Cocteau Twin, head honcho at Bella Union Records and author of the autobiographical In One Ear. We commence by asking our guest about growing up as the son of the legendary Ivor Raymonde, string arranger on umpteen hits by pop idols from Billy Fury to the Walker Brothers. We hear clips from Ira Robbins' 1989 audio interview with Raymonde Sr.'s most famous client Dusty Springfield — and discuss a Ray Connolly piece from 1970 in which she more or less outs herself as gay. Simon then talks about his days behind the counter at Beggars Banquet Records and how they led to his joining the Cocteaus in 1984. Clips from a 1996 audio interview with the trio prompt his reflections on writing and performing with Robin Guthrie and Elizabeth Fraser — and how their extraordinary music won the admiration of everyone from Prince to Jeff Buckley. Simon also recalls the fallout from leaving indie sanctuary 4AD for major-label Fontana. We conclude by asking our guest about the 27-year-old Bella Union label, home to Midlake, Fleet Foxes, Beach House, John Grant, Flaming Lips and Father John Misty… and to 17-year-old Nell Smith, who tragically died in a car accident three days before we recorded this episode. After Mark quotes from newly-added library pieces — Val Wilmer's 1966 interview with Sun Ra; Lester Bangs' rave review of the Temptations' Sky's the Limit — Jasper brings the episode to a close with his thoughts on early interviews with Alicia Keys (2001) and Amy Winehouse (2004). Many thanks to special guest Simon Raymonde. In One Ear: Cocteau Twins, Ivor and Me is published by Nine Eight Books and available now from all good bookshops. Visit the Bella Union Vinyl Shop at 25 Church St in Brighton and online at bellaunionvinylshop.com. Pieces discussed: Cocteau Twins, Cocteau Triplets, Cocteau Quadruplets, Dusty Springfield audio, Dusty Springfield: Dusty at 30... loneliness is an occasional thing, Sun Ra: Flying Saucers Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha!, The Temptations: Sky's the Limit, Alicia Keys: Move over Macy and Whine and Song; Amy Winehouse hits out at girl singers and why she's one of the very best.