Cattales

Anyone living in 1982 couldn’t possible avoid signing, no dancing (well in my case anyway), to the iconic tune The Lion Sleeps Tonight by pop sensation Tight Fit. O-whim, o-whay! Lol Famed for their skimpy jungle outfits, the single reached number one in the UK charts where it fought off competition for three weeks. More chart success followed with Fantasy Island and Secret Heart before Denise Waterman, Steve Grant and Julie Harris went their separate ways.  But fast forward to 2010 and the original line-up responded to requests to perform again and have been singing live up and down the UK and in Europe ever since. Fast forward even further to the present day, the band have released a long-awaited third album with the debut single Fallout, which has already been hailed by their loyal fans as a fantastic nod to yesteryear. The tracks featured are: The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Fallout. Visit Tight Fit fan page on Facebook for more information, to vote for Tight Fit in the Heritage Chart on www.heritagec

The words ‘legend’, ‘superstar’ and ‘world-renowned’ are over-used these days but when referring to Rick Wakeman, they are more than appropriate. A classically trained keyboardist, Rick reached international stardom with the influential band that pioneered progressive rock: Yes. However, his real success came as a solo artist when he went on to sell more than 50 million records. As a keyboardist extraordinaire, he’s performed with Elton John, David Bowie and Cat Stevens, been an awarded a CBE, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and appeared as a Grumpy Old Man on BBC’s programme of the same name. When you chat with Rick, you’re never quite sure what direction the conversation is going to go. He’s intelligent, articulate, opinionated, and amusing, in fact anything but grumpy. We talk about anything and everything, from the overcrowded internet, his hatred of ‘family’ updates in Christmas cards, being impersonated online, and his love for stargazing to the subjects to ruin every good party: rel

Back in the 70s there was no other gang quite like the aptly named Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB). With a unique combination of blurred music genres, eye-catching theatrics, and progressive rock rifts, SAHB bedazzled viewers of Top Of The Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test alike. At Alex Harvey’s side, for hits like The Faith Healer, Midnight Moses, and Delia guitarist Zal Cleminson menaced mockingly, portraying a half mime, half clown character that was more suitable for a  horror film than a musical performance. Zal recounts the rise and fall of SAHB, his struggles with Nazareth, being a session player with Elkie Brooks and Midge Ure, writing a novel, and exclusively shares a track from his forthcoming album with Orphans of The Ash. The tracks featured are: The Faith Healer and The Dolphins (SAHB), Heart’s Grown Cold (Nazareth) and The Last Train Home (Orphans of The Ash), which are available in stores and digitally on all the main streaming/download outlets.

Dance anthem Everybody’s Free is the defining song of the 90s peaking at No.6 in the UK, selling more than 6 million copies, and catapulting Rozalla to international stardom. Hit after hit and a tour with Michael Jackson followed for the chart-topping Queen of Rave, but when musical tastes changed and girl and boy bands started to dominated the charts, dance music lists its edge. But Rozalla is no ordinary performer. She never let her love for music subside and continued to release music, and toured the UK with Billy Ocean. Now she’s back, proving that a single-minded passion for music will get you through, and the Queen of Rave is reclaiming her throne with no thought of relinquishing it any time soon. The tracks featured are: I Feel It Slipping Away and I Want You Back, which are available in stores and digitally on all the main streaming/download outlets.

Steve Ellis is the Great White of soul singers who fronted 60’s mod, pop, soul group Love Affair best remembered for their stunning singles Rainbow Valley, Bringing On Back The Good Times, and of course the smash hit Everlasting Love, which become one of the defining songs of its era. Now Brighton-based Steve (well, where else?), post-Love Affair, had more chart hits with Widowmaker, has since forged out a successful solo career, and is about to release a 10 CD boxed set. We chat about the forthcoming release, pop sensation Love Affair, organising a tribute concert in memory of the late Steve Marriott, and how he once got arrested. The tracks featured are: Lonely No More from Boom! Bang! Twang! and Hit The Spot from Ten Commitments. For more information about Steve and his music, visit www.SteveEllis.co.uk 

If selling over a million albums of new age, meditation, and relaxation music under the name Llewellyn wasn’t enough, multi-talented composer, James Zada, is now venturing into the world of contemporary pop music. Driven by a deep love for nostalgic 80s and 90s evergreen classics, Fame, his debut release under the name James Zada, is packed with catchy and uplifting pop tracks all with a distinctive nostalgic feel.  We chat about the inspiration behind the album, James’ reason for changing name, and how he won awards for his New Age music. Thank you for listening to CATtales with me, CAT, and my guest today, James Zada. The tracks featured are: Even In The Strangest Dreams and the title track from James’ album Fame, which is available in stores and digitally on all the main streaming and download outlets.  Visit www.JamesZada.com for more information.

American singer-songwriter Dean Friedman first entered into the international pop consciousness in 1977 with the Top 20 chart success of his infectious hit single, Ariel.  And before anyone could attach the label ‘one hit wonder’, Dean scored again with the release of his follow up album, “Well, Well,” Said the Rocking Chair, and hit singles, Lucky Stars, Lydia, Rocking Chair, McDonald’s Girl and Woman Of Mine.  Dean has has since become known as a songwriter par excellence and has composed and produced soundtracks for film and television including, most notably, for the TV series starring Michael Elphick, Boon. Now he has a new album, American Lullaby, which touches on a broad range of topics from the pandemic, looming environmental disaster, racism, sexism, fractured politics, and an intractable culture war.  The tracks featured are: American Lullaby and Too Much Stuff from Dean’s album American Lullaby which is available in stores and digitally on all the main streaming/download outlets.  To hear

Mercury-nominated and The Icicle Works frontman, Ian McNabb has done it all.  The band’s 1984 debut album, The Icicle Works, brought them Top 40 chart success in both the UK and US, and Ian has also maintained a highly prolific solo career working with Waterboys, Ringo Starr, Crazy Horse, Peter Buck, Lightning Seeds, and Jason Falkner amongst others. Speaking from his home in Liverpool Ian is delightful company as we discuss long musical career and whether he’s describing a song from 35 years ago, or his latest releases Utopian and Ascending, Ian is equally happy to talk about it all.

CATtales reaches 100….and aren’t we looking good on it! Cat celebrates 100 episodes.

From The Babys in the 70s via 80s solo smash ‘Missing You’ to the release of a stunning new album, John Waite is not stopping.  In a career spanning over four decades, John has written, recorded and amassed a back-catalogue of musical treasures and now unleashes Wooden Heart – Acoustic Anthology to remind us of his talent as he weaves ‘that’ voice through a stripped-back collection of songs. 

Power ballad queen Bonnie Tyler is proving that The Best Is Yet to Come still with a vibrant new album brimming with the same dramatic, full-bodied husky vocals that propelled her to fame with Total Eclipse of the Heart, It’s A Heartache and Holding Out For A Hero. The award-winning singer went on to sell over 20 million records worldwide and now inspires a new generation of female performers, like Mylie Cyrus, who cite Bonnie as an influence. Quite simply, she is nothing less than a national treasure. As well as her new album, we chat about TikTok, Bonnie singing in front of her contemporaries at the MTV awards, representing the UK in The Eurovision Song Contest, what it was like to sing at The Vatican and meet The Pope, and cooking stuffed figs.

I have a virtual girls nights in with one of life’s true survivors. Award-winning singer-songwriter Hazel O’Connor rose to fame over forty years ago starring in the ground-breaking film Breaking Glass. Hits and eye-catching appearances followed including Will You, Big Brother, Monsters in Disguise, Give Me An Inch, and of course, Eighth Day, which now seems even more relevant in our present day times. We look back at how Hazel got the part in the film and how her music career started, about falling in love and her adventures as a dancer in Japan and Beirut, as well as chatting about the dangers of the music business, sexism, her passion for audiobooks, box sets and history, and how she is almost single-handedly renovating her home in France.

In his late teens, classically trained pianist, Jordan Rudess, turned against the counsel of his parents and went on to be one of the most respected, loved and sought-after progressive-rock keyboardist of all time. He was voted “Best New Talent” in a Keyboard Magazine poll and later “Best Keyboardist of All Time” by Music Radar Magazine. Now, he is best known as the keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire for platinum-selling Grammy-nominated prog rock band, Dream Theater. But Jordan is also a man with many interests, as his experimental projects with Liquid Tension Experiment and Space Jam demonstrate, he’s worked with David Bowie, amongst others, and now releases his latest solo album A Chapter In Time.

There are stars and then there are superstars. And my guest today is nothing short of a superstar.  Petula Clark is one of the most successful British female recording artist of all time. She established herself as a child performer during the Second World War and went on to achieve major success as a recording artist clocking up record sales in excess of 68 million. The enormous popularity of her ‘signature song’ Downtown in 1964 led to an  incredible international career, a series of consecutive Top 40 hits, films and tv specials including appearances with everyone from Dean Martin and Fred Astaire, to Bob Hope and Sammy Davis Jnr. Actress, singer, composer, stage performer, television star, and more awards and accolades than she can remember, quite simply, Petula is the stuff that legends are made of.

Unleashing his 5th solo album, When Life Was Hard & Fast, Ricky Warwick aimed to deliver a collection of songs with the simplistic melodies of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers charged with the electric hedonistic fury of Johnny Thunders And The Heartbreakers. And, boy, has he done that! Somehow The Almighty, Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy frontman has managed to squeeze in the release of the album amidst sell-out live virtual shows and lockdown, all with a little help from his friends. And, of course, these are no ‘ordinary’ friends.  As well as ex-Buckcherry Keith Nelson producing the record, it features another ex-Buckcherry band member, Xavier Muriel, alongside Black Star Riders’ Robert Crane and guest appearances from: Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, Thunder’s Luke Morley, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, Guns n Roses Dizzy Reed and non other than Ricky’s daughter Pepper.

Rock band Inglorious are nothing short of glorious, fronted by the powerhouse vocals of founding member Nathan James. With the release of the band’s fourth album, We Will Ride, several new things surround them, not least of all a new line-up, songwriting process and producer.  We chat about how they managed to write and release a fabulous new album adhering to Covid restrictions during lockdown, the current struggles in the music industry, writing about bad ass women, the joys of being a ‘pet dad’, and being part of a brand new super-group collaboration.

Emmy and Brit Award-nominated composer, Sarah Class, has become one of Britain’s most sought-after composers and is described as having the ‘Midas touch’ when it comes to creating music.    She’s an accomplished musician and highly acclaimed at scoring for film and television, winning a Best Score Award for Sir David Attenborough’s BBC TV series ‘Africa’ and has been invited to performing tracks from her beautifully ethereal album, Natural High, on Songs Of Praise.   Exploring nature’s euphoric diversity, the album aligns each track with various deities from myths and legends of different cultures and was instrumental in raising funds to save the last 2% of Equador’s Choco Forest, a cause close to Sarah’s heart.

Evolving from The Housemartins, whose impressive catalogue would keep any chart-watcher busy, The Beautiful South was almost ever-present in the charts from the late 80’s with hits like Song For Whoever, A Little Time, Perfect 10, Rotterdam, and Don't Marry Her.   After they split up in 2006, founder member Dave Hemingway retired from live music, working behind the scenes, only to emerge late last year with a brand new band, new songs, and a new sound. Dave Hemingway is back with Sunbirds and their new album Cool To Be Kind is, well, pretty cool.  

It’s been 50 years since German guitar virtuoso, Michael Schenker, made his recording debut with the Scorpions at the tender age of 16.  From the start it was obvious he was playing at a level that was way beyond many of his contemporaries, a little detail that did not go unnoticed by UK rockers UFO who were quick to poach him. Michael has influenced an entire generation of guitar players who define the 1980s heavy metal era from Slash and Randy Rhoads to Kirk Hammett, was asked to join Ozzy Osbourne and auditioned for Aerosmith. Now, he’s back with the Michael Schenker Group and his latest release Immortality and we chat about his career, who influences him, and why he still loves the first song he ever wrote. Featured tracks:  Drilled To Kill & In Search Of The Peace Of Mind

Rudy Sarzo is a bass playing hero. With a career spanning over 40 years, he’s headlined worldwide tours with Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, and Dio, recorded multi-platinum albums, and appeared in numerous MTV videos.    But, without knowing what he’s been up to for the better part of his life, you’d never tell he’s one of the most fierce bass guitarists hard rock ever boasted by talking to him alone.  Charming company, entertaining and interesting, there’s a great depth to him that reflects the power behind the many, familiar, classic records he’s been part of.