Enjoyed that interview. Thanks for sharing it.

Amazing - thank you for making this happen. Bob Linney was one of the reasons I became interested in becoming a designer. 

Bob! how blessed to have shared an aesthetic adventure with you X

In this episode of Art on your sleeve, I speak with graphic designer and art director, Bill Smith. Since the 1970s, Bill has been one of the busiest designers servicing the music industry and he's worked on so many record sleeves that a book has been published celebrating his amazing portfolio. In the introduction to the show I read from the back cover of the book - a succinct summary of a life's work...

"Bill Smith and his studio have been designing record covers since 1976. In those five decades they have worked with over 200 bands and artists, creating hundreds of album covers, singles bags, and CD covers. Bill Smith Studio worked with some of the world's best photographers, illustrators and painters on covers for among others; The Jam, The Cure, Kate Bush, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, King Crimson and Mike Oldfield."

With such a massive portfolio of work, it's a challenge to cover all bases in a one-hour podcast but we cover plenty of ground and I'm thankful to Bill for his honest insights about the creative process and key artists he's worked with, including: The Jam, Toyah, The Cure, Genesis, Thomas Dolby, Queen, Kate Bush, Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Alison Moyet.

I hope you enjoy this episode, if you do, please subscribe at Apple Podcasts and if you’re very nice, you could give us some stars or a positive review. Art on your sleeve is also available on several other popular platforms including Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Art on your sleeve now has a growing Facebook group which you’re welcome to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442664446671424

Art on your sleeve - Episode 17 - Bill Smith

My hybrid remix of Man In The Mirror - a little synthwave; a little tropical house.

Man In The Mirror (Nick* Poolside Remix)

Pet Shop Boys - Home And Dry (Oberheim DMX 1984 Remix)

To celebrate the release of Pet Shop Boys' new album, "Nonetheless", I live-streamed a 4+ hour DJ mix on Remark Sunday Sessions. The mix featured songs from the new album, plenty of hits, some deep cuts, and delicious b-sides. This mix is exclusive to Soundcloud and an official third installment of the Remark Encomium series (Pet Shop Boys tribute mix) will follow soon.

Remark Livestreams

Podcast

Remark Sunday Sessions: 40 Years of Pet Shop Boys, Nonetheless

Art on your sleeve - Episode 1 - Introduction

Electronic 80's Recorded at Blackwing Studios - London

Return Of The Funky Lizard

TV Glare (Reworked)

Track featuring samples taken from the Samplography sample library produced by Pete Gleadall long-time partner of the Pet Shop Boys and many other top artists such as George Michael, Aswad and many more. His library, featuring many of the sounds from these hit records, is available for instant download in WAV format from samples-now.com soon and audio CD format now.

Thank You - Demo track for Pete Gleadall's Samplography sample library

This episode is an audio supplement to a six-page Pop Art feature I wrote for Classic Pop magazine, issue 13, published October/November 2014. In the podcast I interview artist and designer, Bob Linney about his record sleeve artwork for The Beloved and play track excerpts along the way. We also touch on other sleeves that he has worked on and discover how he ended up forging a long time creative relationship with Jon Marsh and The Beloved.

The interview was recorded over Zoom during the COVID-19 lockdown period with Bob and I in our respective studios in East Anglia and Liverpool. Apologies for the variable recording quality. The podcast also coincides with the re-release of Happiness, an album by The Beloved, and the release of a limited edition range of screen prints that Bob made available in June 2020. The prints are available to order directly from Bob Linney’s online store at: www.boblinneyposters.com/beloved-artwork

Full show notes and archive at: https://softoctopus.co.uk/podcast/

Art on your sleeve - Episode 12 - Bob Linney

My remix of the Years and Years cover of It's a sin by the Pet Shop Boys

Years & Years - It's A Sin (spEE Cyberpunk Mix)

The fact that Years & Years released a piano rendition... shameful!! Here is a haunting mix of the original with their cover.

Years & Years - It's a Sin (Liiiam's PSB 2020 Mix)

A podcast about design and music by a graphic designer who has a regular article about these subjects in Classic Pop magazine. https://softoctopus.co.uk/index.php/podcast/

Art on your sleeve - Episode 12 - Bob Linney

Soft Octopus

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