Tony Swain > Producer/ Composer / Musician / A&R Consultant.
While continuing a successful career in Production and Songwriting spanning from the early eighties,formed the Independent label ‘Big World’ in 1994 with the first release reaching
No 1 (dance and club). Invited in 1996 to have own label imprint at East West (Warner Bros) signing, A&R’ing and charting a new boy band. Joined Universal in 1999 as an A&R consultant and then becoming Head of International A&R for the Universal Music Group, involved at all levels across all labels with various artists, some of which are listed below :
No 1 (dance and club). Invited in 1996 to have own label imprint at East West (Warner Bros) signing, A&R’ing and charting a new boy band. Joined Universal in 1999 as an A&R consultant and then becoming Head of International A&R for the Universal Music Group, involved at all levels across all labels with various artists, some of which are listed below :
Nelly, Sting, MariahCarey, Three Doors Down, Christina Milian, Sheryl Crow, Enrique Iglesias,Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Mary J Blige, Shaggy, David Bisbal(Spain), Rolling Stones, Zucchero, Lazyboy, Sisqo, Jo Jo, Michael McDonald, Stevie Wonder,
Barbara Dickson, Toni Braxton.
Executive Producer on several albums including Motown 1&2, a concept developed for Michael McDonald from the ground up to around 3 million sales in the US.
Barbara Dickson, Toni Braxton.
Executive Producer on several albums including Motown 1&2, a concept developed for Michael McDonald from the ground up to around 3 million sales in the US.
Motown 1 was subsequently nominated for two Grammy awards and ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ from thesame album was used for one of the biggest telephone TV advertising campaigns ever commissioned in the US.
Developed new techniques for breaking acts Internationally and successfully implementing them with Enrique Iglesias using new duet versions resulting In one territory achieving
their biggest selling single of all time.
Productions Compositions and Mixes :
Alison Moyet, Spandau Ballet, Kim Wilde, Juliet Roberts, MN8, Lulu, Paul Young, Bananarama, Errol Brown, Diana Ross, Imagination, CultureClub, Beverley Knight, Kim Appleby, Wang Chung, Louise Goffin, Patti Austin, Sly & Robbie, Michael Ball, Ace
Of Base,Leee John, Zucchero, Jennifer Rush.
Of Base,Leee John, Zucchero, Jennifer Rush.
Production and Songs Sampled by :
Nelly, PM Dawn, DJ Yoda featuring Sway, Mariah Carey, V’s.
Audio Restoration:
Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Dusty Springfield, Thin Lizzy, The Who.
Awards / Professional Memberships
Ivor Novello Song Writer Of The Year (Nominated)
BPI producer Of theYear (Nominated)
BPI Album Technical Excellence Award ( Awarded)
ASCAP Most performed song in the US. (Awarded twice)
Society Of Distinguished Songwriters ( Chairman 1 year)
Producers Guild Great Britain ( served on Executive Committee)
Brits Academy (Previous Voting member)
PRS & BASCA (Full Professional member)
Tony Swain - Discography
Productions and Compositions:
Alison Moyet
Singles: Love Resurrection, All cried out, Invisible, For You Only.
Albums : Alf, Singles Collection
Bananarama
Singles; Shy Boy, Na Na Hey Hey, Cruel Summer, Robert De Niro’s Waiting, Rough Justice, Hot line To Heaven, Do Not Disturb.
Albums: Deep Sea Skiving, Bananarama, True Confessions, Greatest Hits
Spandau Ballet *
Singles : Lifeline,Communication, True, Gold, Only when You Leave,
Highly Strung, I’ll Fly For You, Round and Round.
Albums: True, Parade
Imagination
Singles: Body Talk, In And Out Of Love, Flashback, Just An Illusion,
Music and Lights, Heat Of The Night, Changes, New Dimension.
Albums: Body Talk, Heat Of The Night, Night Dubbing, Scandalous, Imagination
Kim Wilde *
Singles: Hey Mr Heartache, You Came, Four Letter Word, Who Do You Think You Are.
Albums: Close, Love Is **
Lulu
Singles: Every Woman Knows, Goodbye Baby and Amen
Wang Chung *
Single: To Live And Die in La (Movie Theme)
Errol Brown(Hot Chocolate) *
Single; Personal Touch
Tom Robinson *
Single; Feels So Good
Album; Still Loving You
Diana Ross
Single: Upfront (remix)
John Reid (Nightcrawlers)
Single: Memorise
Lousie Goffin
Singles: Carnival, Send A Message, In The Mood, Bridge Of Sighs
Album: This Is The Place
Culture Club *
Single: From Luxury To Heartache
Paul Johnson
Singles: No More Tomorrows, Masquerade
TheTruth *
Singles: Confusion, Stepping In The Right Direction
Paul Young
TV Christmas advert (Boots) : Make Someone Happy
MN8**
Single: Baby It’s You
Album: To The Next Level
Juliet Roberts**
Album: Natural Thing (2 Tracks)
Beverley Knight **
Album : The B Funk (2 tracks)
Patti Austin **
Single: Honey for The Bees
Margaret Urlich (Australia)
Album : Chameleon Dreams
Michael Ball
Album : The Essential Michael Ball (Mix 3 tracks)
Leee John
Single: Passion
Album tracks: Art Of Love Feel My Spirit
Leee John
Single: Passion
Album tracks: Art Of Love Feel My Spirit
Zucchero *
Wonderful Life
Jennifer Rush **
Before The Dawn
Pascal
The Power Of Dreams
Raios De Luz
Bossa Nova
(* Production Only ** Composition Only)
Executive Producer
Michael McDonald
Motown 1
Motown 2
Soul Speak
Sheena Easton
Fabulous
Stella Soleil
Dirty Little Secret
Lazyboy
Lazyboy
Sandy and Junior
Sandy and Junior
Barbara Dickson
Nothing’s Gonna To Change Our World
Anna Marie Jopek
Secret
Information © 2012 TSL
Hi Tony,
ReplyDeleteCould you please tell us which synth you used for the bass of Imagination's "Just An Illusion?"
Some say it's a Roland SH-1000, others say it's a Minimoog. I personally think it sounds like a Prophet 5 in unison mode. Would you kindly set the record straight for us please? Also, which sequencer did you use to run the bass?
Thanks Tony.
Love and respect,
Frankie.
Hi Frankie
DeleteThere has been much speculation about this subject but as I also played and recorded the bass lines it is time to put the record straight!
The Bass was played using an early Roland SH1000 made in the late 70's This was originally designed to sit on top of a Hammond organ so it looked like one! This was a monophonic synth but would play two octaves at once so using a combination
of square and sine waves an octave apart combined with a lot of wrestling with a portamento switch to get the slides this is how the bass lines were done. No sequencer was used at all on the bass lines just a lot of sweat and keeping time which was helped by me also being a drummer! The synth was recorded through a Boss chorus guitar pedal (blue type) and then compressed a lot through a studio DBX160 a really great vintage compressor.The bass was very high in the mix but cut through because of the compression and the split octaves.Just an illusion bass was the best of two different lines recorded over two days on Analogue 24tk before digital came in.
I hope this finally answers the question.
Best
Tony
Hi Tony - this is a fantastic description. Thank you so much. Have you seen the following video? A fan has created the bassline on YouTube, complete with a Roland SH1000, a Boss CE-2 chorus pedal, and the dbx160 compressor. It sounds pretty close to what you would have done: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfcPry3pkAg Thoughts on the video?
DeleteI love the video and the sound is pretty near spot on!
DeleteThe portamento slides are the difficult part and to get them
bang on time. The technique is to set the slide time as close
as possible and then as the note reaches the next note to be played, turn the portamento switch off. This has the bonus of appearing to slide perfectly in time and turning the switch off makes the new note 'strike'. Believe it or not I still have the original SH1000 that played all the Imagination lines in its original case! (it looks like you are carrying a trombone) The synth is very heavy and needs to be in a museum!
A lot of the high riff parts, solos,and the helicopter type
noise in Flashback were also from the SH1000. Best Tony
Thank you so much Tony. It's a question that's been asked by many for so long. Such a detailed response too. Top guy.
ReplyDeleteLove and respect to you Tony.
Frankie
Tony, echoing Frankie, thank you very much for clearing up the "mystery" of one of the best synth bass lines of all time. I had the hunch it was a synth from the SH line because of the way the portamento behaves. I had actually emailed Leee J. and he very kindly swiftly responded, but had answered that it was a Minimoog. I could not get the smooth, repeatable glide from the Mini, since the wheel is too coarse. I had the feeling it had to be an SH-series portamento (the SH-101 has a similar feel). Since you are the one who played the part, I think this settles it. Thanks!!
ReplyDeletePaolo of Synthmania
Hi Tony
ReplyDeleteI've always been a big fan of your writing and production work. I am currently working on my thesis for a Masters degree and I am writing about 1980s UK pop music and would like to reference your work. I was wondering if it would have five minutes by email for me to ask you a few questions about some of the songs you worked on in the 80s?
Many thanks in advance
Paul
paulie75 at gmail dot com
Great to meet you today over a panini today. Hope you had a great afternoon & got some great shots - Ian & Sally
ReplyDeleteHi Tony,
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the albums Bpdy Talk and In The Heat Of The Night so much. Would you consider listening to some original songs that I composed and produced since I've been told it sounds a bit like Imagination when you produced it? And if so, how can I get send them to you? Thanks. Chris
Hello Tony from Pete Greenslade! I hope you are doing well! I am not succeeding in finding any contact details for you, it would be lovely to get in contact again. Pete
ReplyDeleteHello I would like to know how it comes that you have been only producing one track for Culture Club "From luxury to heartache" ? Do you have a story about it ? Thank you ;-)
ReplyDelete