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Artwork for The Strange Brew

The Strange Brew - artist stories behind the greatest music ever recorded

Jason Barnard
The Beatles
David Bowie
Rock Music
Songwriting
Music Industry
John Lennon
Folk Music
Paul Mccartney
1960s Music Scene
Manfred Mann
Fairport Convention
Covid-19
Bob Dylan
Renaissance
Music Collaboration
The Jam
Rock and Roll
Genesis
John Paul White
Fleetwood Mac

Rock music from the mid 60s onwards - podcasts, features and much more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes301Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicMusic InterviewsMusic History

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Artwork for The Strange Brew

Latest Episodes

He wrote some of the greatest songs in American music, Dark End of the Street, Do Right Woman, I’m Your Puppet, and now, at 84, Dan Penn is back with an excellent new album, Smoke Filled Room. Penn got his first chart record while still a junior in h... more

YouTube

Gary Talley was 19 when The Box Tops scored a number one hit with ‘The Letter.’ Alex Chilton was 16, had been up all night before the session, and came from the kind of household where that sort of thing wasn’t questioned. What followed was two and a... more

YouTube

In a market town seven miles south-east of Manchester, a recording studio opened above a shop in 1968 that became one of the most significant facilities in British music history. Strawberry Recording Studios in Stockport was where 10cc built their so... more

YouTube

Few works of musical theatre receive the recognition they deserve, and The Kibbo Kift is a prime example. Written by Judge Smith, co-founder of Van der Graaf Generator, and composer Maxwell Hutchinson, this ambitious rock musical told the stranger-th... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Dan Penn
Renowned songwriter and musician
Songwriter/Recording Artist
Episode: Dan Penn
Gary Talley
Lead guitarist of The Box Tops
The Box Tops
Episode: Gary Talley – The Box Tops
Peter Wadsworth
Music historian and co-author on Strawberry Studios Forever
Strawberry Studios Forever book authors
Episode: Strawberry Studios Forever
Peter Tattersall
Founder of Strawberry Recording Studios
Strawberry Recording Studios
Episode: Strawberry Studios Forever
Judge Smith
Co-founder of Van der Graaf Generator; composer and lyricist for The Kibbo Kift
Judge Smith (artist and musician)
Episode: The Kibbo Kift: The Lost Rock Musical
Duncan Mackay
Musician and keyboardist known for work with Cockney Rebel, Alan Parsons Project, Kate Bush, 10cc
Episode: Duncan Mackay – Cockney Rebel, Alan Parsons Project, Kate Bush, 10cc
Rat Scabies
Drummer, The Damned; member of One Thousand Motels
One Thousand Motels
Episode: Rat Scabies and Chris Constantinou
Chris Constantinou
Musician; worked with Adam Ant; member of One Thousand Motels
One Thousand Motels
Episode: Rat Scabies and Chris Constantinou
Chris Wade
Artist and author, expert on The Kinks
Episode: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

Host

Jason Barnard
Host focusing on in-depth conversations with musicians and collaborators, exploring artistic processes and historical context behind landmark recordings.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 181 ratings
  • Please more studio quality

    Unfortunately many interviews were done by VC or even telephone with rather questionable quality, sometimes hard to understand. But those that were not, are great!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Matiasmoulin
    Switzerland3 months ago
  • Another top Interview

    Congratulations Jason on your interview with Jeff Skunk Baxter. In all these interviews your knowledge of the subject and the person being interviewed shines through. One can tell that your knowledge and care for the subject impresses your interviewee. This makes the interviews immensely enjoyable. The Skunk Baxter interview is a case in point. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joolsjm
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Beautiful and in-depth

    Came here in search of Peggy Seeger and found an inspirational conversation , loved the one with Neil Storey too, great interviewer really knows his stuff when it comes to music and the art of conversation - lots of sonic gems, Stories,and words of wisdom

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nina Miranda singer
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Top stuff for retro music buffs

    If you are into anything from beat bands to post punk outfits this is your podcast. Full tracks, in depth interviews, knowledgeable host - like listening to Mojo magazine!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark Eggins
    Australia3 years ago
  • The peak of deep dive interview podcasts

    The combination of long form dialogue sessions with influential musicians and expertly curated (and often seldom heard/rare) accompanying tracks is unbeatable. Jason’s sensitive approach undergirded by passionate research drives insightful questions and results in revelatory interviews with many artists who rarely grant interviews. I particularly enjoyed the chats with Jim Lea, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Gerry McAvoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nick moroney
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive remarks emphasize the quality of guests, the storytelling, and the curated musical selections that accompany conversations.
Listeners praise the host for being knowledgeable and engaging, delivering long-form interviews with depth and thoughtful questions.
The show consistently highlights rare or overlooked stories and tracks, appealing to retro music buffs and deep-cut appreciators.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dan Penn
Q: What was it like working with Aretha Franklin on Do Right Woman, Do Right Man?
He explains the moment they wrote the song in Alabama, then traveled to work with Aretha, and how the bridge was developed with producer Jerry Wexler, marking a pivotal point in his career.
Dan Penn
Q: How did you get into songwriting in the first place?
Penn describes starting as a teenager on the farm, finding opportunities in Nashville via a song plugger, and realizing songwriting could be a living after a chart hit with Conway Twitty.
Gary Talley – The Box Tops
Q: What was it like joining The Box Tops and making The Letter, given the producer dynamics and studio pressure?
He explains how Dan Penn produced the early records, the tension with Chips Momin over the sound, and how the band members stayed involved in basic tracks while touring, ultimately shaping their early hits.
Gary Talley – The Box Tops
Q: So when was it you started getting into your first bands? Was that the early 60s?
Talley describes starting in the mid-60s with local Memphis groups, moving from acoustic folk to a rock band, and then joining The Box Tops after first performing with The DeVilles.
The Kibbo Kift: The Lost Rock Musical
Q: Can you tell us about putting the Edinburgh show together in 1976?
It was a very challenging process because it required coordinating theatre performers who could both sing and move, under theatre structures that didn't always allow for the ideal cast, which led to compromises but ultimately produced a remarkable double album.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Strange Brew

What is The Strange Brew about and what kind of topics does it cover?

- The show focuses on in-depth conversations with artists and collaborators spanning from the 1960s onward, with a strong emphasis on backstory, creativity, and the cultural context of landmark recordings. Episodes frequently highlight touring histories, collaboration dynamics, and the evolution of genres, often pairing long-form dialogue with curated traces of the artists' work. A standout pattern is the host's calm, knowledgeable approach that surfaces lesser-known anecdotes and connections behind well-known tracks, making it a compelling listen for serious music fans and industry professionals alike.

- Noteworthy is the consistent attention to archival context, personal histories, and the way artists' identities intersect with broader mu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Strange Brew?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Strange Brew:

1. Word In Your Ear
2. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
3. Sodajerker On Songwriting
4. EggPod Express
5. Something About the Beatles

How many episodes of The Strange Brew are there?

The Strange Brew launched 17 years ago and published 301 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Strange Brew?

Recent guests on The Strange Brew include:

1. Dan Penn
2. Gary Talley
3. Peter Wadsworth
4. Peter Tattersall
5. Judge Smith
6. Duncan Mackay
7. Rat Scabies
8. Chris Constantinou

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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