From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V2001 #244 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T *NEW* http://www2.worldmachine.com/level42 *NEW* Level42 Digest Volume 2001 : Issue 244 1256 subscribers Today's topics: WHAT THE ...?? Mike Bartlett Stock Aitken Watermann ... back? Charl Mocke ------------------------------ Subject: WHAT THE ...?? From: "Mike Bartlett" Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 11:17:21 Well bugger me senseless ... ... I come back to the Digest after a thousand years away and find the link to this new Web Digest caper. I use the link and find myself in the middle of some kind of Level 42 X-File. What the ...?? Can someone tell me (a) what the buggery bollocky hell is happening and (b) what Uni course do I enrol in so that I can understand this thing? I have lots more questions but I'm concerned that no-one will read them on the (good) old Digest.... Cheers ~ Mike (Sydney City Milkman) P.S. Am I the only one in the dark on this ...?? _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Subject: Stock Aitken Watermann ... back? From: "Charl Mocke" Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 22:33:58 +0200 Hi friends, long time no hear from me. Slightly non - Level 42 related topic........ A few weeks ago, someone wrote something about the 80's type of music seeming to be re-incarnated again, something to which I tend to agree with when I listen to the stuff played on radios these days worldwide, and the style of new music that is coming out (we all know that the (in?)famous 90's BritPop era is just about dead). I am very happy about this since I am a huge 80's fan, and news like this can only mean good news for our boys (Level 42!). On a related subject, I have found new interest in the Stock Aitken Watermann productions of 1984 to 1991, and they seem to be coming out again in recent co-productions by Steps (e.g. 5,6,7,8). Is the S/A/W type of music making a comeback? I have done some very extensive (and intensive) study on the S/A/W produced hits (especially for artists like Kylie, Rick Astley, Donna Summer, Bananarama, etc.) and why these became such mega-popular music. The broad in-a-nutshell answer to this is that they write really good songs that appealed to the correct audience, applied proper marketing and timed the releases of the singles excellent. The height of their career was 1985 to 1988 (hit singles from Kylie & Rick Astley), about the same time as our boys' career height! (World Machine & RITF hit singles) The critics slammed S/A/W but the public buyed the records in huge numbers, which is after all the bottom line. I was wondering if there is anyone else on the Digest who are S/A/W fanatics and who would like to share some thoughts or discussions with me, especially on the low-level music of the hits and the "magic formulas" Aitken as music technician and Stock as songwriter used to come up with these brilliant 3-minute slick tracks that really tick one's mind (I know it is more than 10 years ago but yes it still ticks my mind!). I am not so much a fan of the artists that S/A/W produced for; rather the unique style and talent they showed in the hit songs and how they came about doing it. I have written some songs using my own formulas but based on the unique creativity by S/A/W, and I have had some very good responses. To really re-incarnate the 80's, more people with creativity, initiative and maybe just pure songwriting magic like S/A/W are needed to bring back what was undoubtedly the best decade years of music of the previous century! FYI, some very useful info on Stock Aitken Watermann (and what they are currently up to): http://www.cafe80s.freeserve.co.uk/saw/index.html http://www.hitfactory.org.uk/ Anyone who would like to discuss S/A/W with me or would like to share interesting facts & stuff, write to me at: charl42 @ telkomsa.net In closing, a lyrics snippet from Donna Summer's smash-hit "This Time I Know It's For Real", released February 1989 and produced by Stock Aitken Watermann and Donna Summer: "To say I love you with a neon sign anything to make you mine... I'm going crazy just to let you know you'd be amazed how much I love you so baby when I get my hands on you I won't let go this time I know it's for real..." For more info on Donna Summer: http://www.Donna-tribute.com/ Bye for now, Charl O O O O O O