Paul Williams

Episode 36 – Paul Williams

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.

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© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Harry Shearer

Episode 35 – Harry Shearer

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’.

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© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Don Black

Episode 34 – Don Black

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.

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© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle

Sodajerker talk Odessey & Oracle on Love That Album

Brian and Simon appeared on the Love That Album podcast to talk about Odessey & Oracle, the classic album by The Zombies. You can hear it using the player above or via iTunes.

Odessey & Oracle is a truly amazing record and one that we hold dear. Hope you’ll check out this conversation. Many thanks to the very affable and knowledgeable host Maurice Bursztynski for having us on.

Carole Bayer Sager

Episode 33 – Carole Bayer Sager

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’.

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© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Stitcher

Songwriting podcast now on Stitcher Smart Radio

Happy New Year to you all! Just a quick blog post to let you know that our podcast ‘Sodajerker On Songwriting’ is now available on Stitcher Radio On Demand. They have a free app for iOS and Android that allows you to listen wherever you are without Wi-Fi or a cellular connection (no downloading or syncing). It’s even available on some car dashboards! What will they think of next?

We don’t have any advertisers or sponsors on the podcast, so we won’t harp on too much about Stitcher, lest you think we’ve sold out to The Man. Nonetheless, some of the biggest podcasts in the world are part of Stitcher, and so we are proud to also have our episodes featured on their network. Check out their app and get your fix of our interviews with some of the world’s most successful songwriters.

Mike Stock

Episode 32 – Mike Stock

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.

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© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Ben Folds Five

Episode 31 – Ben Folds Five

Ben Folds, Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge, known collectively as Ben Folds Five, sit down in person with Simon and Brian for a special edition of Sodajerker On Songwriting.

In this video podcast, the band talk about the writing of songs like ‘Brick’, ‘Battle of Who Could Care Less’, ‘Philosophy’, ‘Steven’s Last Night in Town’ and songs from their new album The Sound of the Life of the Mind, such as ‘Do it Anyway’, ‘Sky High’ and ‘Michael Praytor, Five Years Later’.

Special thanks to the band for taking part. There is an audio only edition available below.

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© 2012 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Episode 31 – Audio Version

This is the audio version of the Ben Folds Five interview seen above including the usual intro/outro from Simon and Brian plus extra music cues missing from the video version. Think of this as the deluxe edition with the bonus features, ideal for the Ben Folds Five fan on the move.

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© 2012 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Graham Gouldman

Episode 30 – Graham Gouldman

10cc’s own Graham Gouldman joins Simon and Brian for episode 30 to talk about the writing of songs like ‘For Your Love’ (The Yardbirds), ‘Bus Stop’ (The Hollies), ‘No Milk Today’ (Herman’s Hermits), ‘Johnny Don’t Do It’, ‘Wall Street Shuffle’, ‘I’m Not in Love’, ‘Iceberg’ (10cc) and ‘Bridge To Your Heart’ (Wax). Graham talks in depth about his work with 10cc, the late Andrew Gold, and his latest solo album Love and Work.

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© 2012 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Stephen Bishop

Episode 29 – Stephen Bishop

Veteran singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop talks about the writing of songs like ‘On and On’, ‘Save it for a Rainy Day’, ‘Looking for the Right One’ (Art Garfunkel), ‘Losing Myself in You’, ‘Red Cab to Manhattan’ and his Academy Award-nominated song ‘Separate Lives’ (Phil Collins). Stephen also speaks about his work on a number of movie soundtracks, such as National Lampoon’s Animal House, Tootsie and The Money Pit.

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© 2012 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

Ben Folds Five and Sodajerker

Ben Folds Five to appear on Sodajerker Xmas podcast

We’ll be seeing out 2012 in style with a podcast every week in December culminating in a special episode with one of the finest piano-fuelled beat combos ever to walk the earth – Ben Folds Five! Simon and Brian caught up with the band in Manchester on their current UK tour to talk songwriting and their new album The Sound of the Life of the Mind. Look out for that in the week prior to Xmas. Until then, we’ll be filling up your feed faster than a generous farmer. Enjoy!

Valerie Simpson

Episode 28 – Valerie Simpson

Valerie Simpson, one half of legendary songwriting team Ashford and Simpson, joins Sodajerker to talk about the writing of Motown classics like ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘You’re All I Need to Get By’ and ‘Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing’. Valerie also speaks about ‘I’m Every Woman’ (Chaka Khan) and Ashford and Simpson’s own hits including the seminal ‘Solid (As A Rock)’.

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© 2012 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.

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