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.
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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

On 19 March 1990, Depeche Mode released what is still considered their finest album - 'Violator'. Anton Corbijn created its sleeve with assistance from graphic designer Richard Smith of Area. The two would go on to collaborate on dozens of sleeves for a wide range of artists, but to celebrate this seminal album's 35th birthday, I spoke to Richard about his creative involvement.

Richard has worked with dozens of artists and bands in his career, including Depeche Mode, ABC, OMD, Tears For Fears and many others. We talk about many of these commissions in this episode, and more recently, he's launched his own podcast - Destroy! about how the punk movement of 1976 spawned a revolution still being felt today. There's lots of information about this at the end of the podcast.

Sleeve art discussed in this episode:

So - Peter Gabriel (1986)
Boomerang - The Creatures (1989)
Violator - Depeche Mode (1990)
Sugar Tax - OMD (1991)
Abracadabra - ABC (1991)
The Girl With The Loneliest Eyes - The House of Love (1991)
Songs of Faith and Devotion - Depeche Mode (1993)
Liberator - OMD (1993)
Songs of Faith and Devotion Live - Depeche Mode (1993)
Elemental - Tears For Fears (1993)
This I Swear - Kim Wilde (1995)
Universal - OMD (1996)
Barrel of a Gun - Depeche Mode (1997)
Ultra - Depeche Mode (1997)

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Art on your sleeve at Apple Podcasts HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite shows, and if you’re very nice, you could give us some stars or a positive review. Art on your sleeve is also available on most popular podcast platforms, including Spotify,  Soundcloud, and Google Podcasts.

Art on your sleeve has an active Facebook group where additional content is shared, and you’re welcome to join. See you online…
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Art on your sleeve - Episode 24 - Richard Smith

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

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 24 - Richard Smith

Soft Octopus

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