Tony Swain - 80s hit producer!

Spandau Ballet's 'True', Imagination's 'Body Talk', Bananarama's 'Cruel Summer', are just some of the albums (and also the singles) that Tony Swain, one-half of the production duo Jolley and Swain produced during the early to mid-1980s.

In the mid-1970s, Tony's career started as a camera operator on The Muppets where he witnessed many star performances, maybe the strangest one, the Bowie-Bing Crosby duet 'Little Drummer Boy'.

But it was in 1981 that his production skills were first feted after producing Imagination's 'Body Talk', an album so new and fresh, that Frankie Knuckles cited one track - Burnin' Up as an influence on House Music. Even Madonna, whose career was about to make it through the wilderness, called him up, desperate to work with him.

But Tony's schedule didn't fit with hers. Instead, he, along with Steve Jolley went on to produce the first two albums with Imagination, and work with Spandau Ballet, Bananarama, and Alison Moyet.

Tony's story is of a man who has remained fascinated by technology, and its uses in creating new and inventive sounds. One of the reasons he believes is why the 80s remain attractive to music lovers today.

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