The Producers were formed in 2006. They include record producers Trevor Horn (The Buggles, Yes, ABC, Seal), Steve Lipson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Propaganda), songwriter/producer Chris Braide (Downes Braide Association) and musicians Lol Creme (10cc, Godley & Creme)) and Ash Soan (Del Amitri / Squeeze).
This new 5-CD set was compiled in conjunction with the band and includes the original album (Made in Basing Street) as well as an alternate version, re-mixes, out-takes and instrumentals all overseen by Steve Lipson.
The extensive booklet features a new interview with the band by Record Collectors Daryl Easlea who details the process of the making of the album.
The original album, released in 2012, still sounds amazing, and is included on disc three in this collection. The 2023 mix is a sympathetic re-imagining. Freeway is more than two minutes longer, with a different drum intro and a lighter mix.
Your Life is also longer in its 2023 incarnation, with a lovely, spacey intro, and a more organic arrangement that lets the song really flow.
The new versions do not detract from the songs if you are already familiar with the album. Man on the Moon has a warm new mix. Every Single Night In Jamaica is a reminder that I am desperate for a Trevor Horn album (either solo or from The Buggles) that features Horn on lead vocals throughout.
Stay Elaine has replaced Ryan Molloy’s lead vocal with a Chris Braide take, which gives the album more continuity. Barking Up The Right Tree remains a highlight of the album, featuring a wonderful contribution from the always wonderful Lol Creme.
Garden of Flowers is another longer take, and a less “bombastic” mix, closer in spirit to Trevor’s work with The Buggles. A heart-breaking lyric and vocal from Horn ensures that this became my favourite track on the album back on it’s original release, and the 2023 mix is now my favourite version of the song.
Watching You Out There is similar in arrangement to the original, whilst album closer You and I is a slightly longer version, with a brighter, more punchy mix and with further processing added to the lead vocal line.
The copious amount of extra material includes a selection of unreleased songs and some extended versions and alt-takes. Looking For Love (2023 Mix) is another fine Trevor Horn vocal, and could easily have fitted on the main album.
There’s Only So Much You Can Do is a mostly instrumental piece, apart from Braides’s vocals on the chorus. Extended versions of Freeway and Your Life are welcome additions to disc two, but the two alt-mixes of Garden Of Flowers offer the most value, with an almost Born To Run era Springsteen sounding arrangement driving the alternative edit.
The version of Two Tribes that ends disc two is a live instrumental version. Disc three contains the original album mix of Made In Basing Street from 2012.
Disc four adds further unreleased cuts from the long album sessions. Broadway is a funky little instrumental piece, with some fine interplay between Horn and Soan, and a go-go / Slave To The Rhythm like percussion track. Come In Elektra is a song about Amelia Earhart.
Give Us A Clue is a laid-back Chris Braide vocal piece, with a lazy summer groove. Home has a Beatles / John Lennon inspired arrangement, and the simplicity and space is a real change for the usual material from the band. As you would expect, the production is sumptuous.
Music From Bel Air is another Trevor Horn vocal. It is lovely to hear his vocals set against a very acoustic backing, away from his usual heavily electronic backdrop. The nostalgic lyrics are a delight.
Summer Rain is a surprising omission from the released album. Breezy guitars and a leisurely beat give the track a unique charm. The Path Of Sydney Arthur is a leftover from the original concept album idea that fed into the early sessions, and would have likely been the opening piece to this discarded alternative album sequence. This is definitely one for fans of the more electronic, synth-heavy side of Horn’s oeuvre. It’s a simple but effective piece.
Disc four has a set of fully realised and produced songs that give a tantalising glimpse into an alternative Producers album, that sadly we will never hear as this release appears to be the final word in the Producers story.
Fans of Trevor Horn / Lol Creme and Chris Braide will find plenty to love with this deep dive, expanded re-issue of Made In Basing Street.
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CHRIS BRAIDE – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, producer.
LOL CREME – guitars, marimba, bass, vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, percussion, producer.
TREVOR HORN – bass, backing vocals, vocals, acoustic guitar, vocoder, marimba, producer.
STEPHEN LIPSON – guitars, mandolin, percussion, programming, backing vocals
TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE
MADE IN BASING STREET
2023 mix
Freeway
Waiting For The Right Time
Your Life
Man On The Moon
Every Single Night In Jamaica
Stay Elaine
Barking Up The Right Tree
Garden Of Flowers
Watching You Out There
You And I
DISC TWO
Looking For Love (2023 Mix)
There’s Only So Much You Can Do (2023 Mix)
Freeway (Extended)
Your Life (Extended)
Garden Of Flowers (Alternative Edit)
Garden Of Flowers (Radio Edit With Guitars)
Two Tribes
DISC THREE
MADE IN BASING STREET
Original album mix
Freeway
Waiting For The Right Time
Your Life
Man On The Moon
Every Single Night In Jamaica
Stay Elaine
Barking Up The Right Tree
Garden Of Flowers
Watching You Out There
You And I
DISC FOUR
EXTRAS
Broadway
Come In Elektra
You And I (Dada Mix)
Give Us A Clue
Home
Music For Bel Air
Summer Rain
The Path Of Sydney Arthur
Your Life (End Intro Idea)
DISC FIVE
MADE IN BASING STREET
Instrumental – 2023 backing track
Freeway
Waiting For The Right Time
Your Life
Man On The Moon
Stay Elaine
Barking Up The Right Tree
Garden Of Flowers
Watching You Out There
You And I
Looking For Love
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