The Hustle

For most of us, singer/songwriter Donna Lewis appeared out of nowhere in 1996 when her smash hit "I Love You Always Forever" got to #2 on the charts and seemed to never go away. What was strange is she kind of disappeared almost as fast, with further singles and albums not making the same impact. You may be surprised to find out Donna's never stopped working and even has a new album, Wanderlust, her seventh, with collaborator David Lowe and it's just as strong as the rest. Get to know an artist you remember, but probably don't know that much about! 

www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
www.donnalewis.com

There is a new series of books released the last couple years that tell the story of a band we all love from the perspective of the fans. Hundreds of stories have been crowdsourced from true obsessives to tell a biography you don't hear as often. This time we welcome Richard Houghton and Iain Key to discuss their new book telling the story of the Smiths. Anecdotes from personal interactions with the band members, epic concerts, purchasing albums and other swag, correspondence, etc. Has Morrissey tarnished the band's legacy beyond repair? Why did they attract such a "laddish" fanbase? What are their worst songs? And a giveaway! Enjoy! 

www.spenwoodbooks.com/current-titles 

www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod?vanity=user

Robin Beck could have been one of the top AOR singers of her era. She had the looks, the voice, the songs - the whole package. But, she was so successful in the jingle world she never really wanted it that much. She did have success anyway, including a massive global hit with "First Time" which, coincidentally, was used in a popular Coca-Cola ad at the time. With this came Top of the Pops, working with people like Desmond Child, Cher, Bowie and even Miles Davis. She has released consistently strong albums on her own schedule over the years, including her latest, Living Proof, which features contributions from former guest Peppy Castro. Robin's never done a podcast before, so we're honored to be her first and hope you all enjoy her fascinating story! 

www.robinbeckrocks.com
www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod

You won't find a list of "bands that should have been huge" that doesn't include The Producers. Their debut album from 1981 stood perfectly at the crossroads of power pop and new wave and should have birthed multiple hits. They even performed at the very first MTV's Rockin' Eve. Unfortunately, it just didn't happen and neither did the excellent follow up, You Make the Heat with "She Sheila". Eventually the guys took the hint and broke up, but anyone who's heard them is utterly confused. What more could you ask for?! Drummer Bryan Holmes joins us this week to tell the whole story. Thankfully, the tide is turning as the band are included on this year's Totally Tubular bill that also includes Thomas Dolby, Men Without Hats and more. If any band deserved success, it's them. Enjoy!

www.totallytubularfestival.com
www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod

We love talking about Simple Minds around here. Their road has been diverse, rocky, drama-filled, and also wonderful. One of the key members was founding keyboardist Mick MacNeil. His revolutionary playing was a huge part of the fabric of those game-changing early albums. After 1989's Street Fighting Years, Mick decided to leave and has never really looked back. He recently released the gorgeous solo album, Themes From Glory Days, which is largely reimagined versions of the songs he originally played in that band. In this conversation we discuss his current status with Jim and Charlie, his feelings about the trajectory of the band, the writing process and tons more. We're so lucky to hear from him! 
 
www.th3minds.com
www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod?vanity=user