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Got a question to ask Pete Waterman? This is a chance to get that burning PWE-related question answered on-line! Please ensure your question is not already covered in this section. You can SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO questions@pwl-empire.com NOW!
Please Note: Questions may be edited and please be patient if your question requires a direct answer from Pete Waterman as these will take a little more time.
A: There are indeed some odd tracks that were recorded by Steps and which weren't made available to the public , however it seems unlikely that these will be issued as many were recorded specifically for tours etc. Helen Dann at PWE is looking into the possibilty of adding some sound files to the site in the near future and it's a possibility that some unreleased Steps tracks may be included...we will keep you posted if there is any progress!
A: Good news! This title IS available on Kylie's 'Greatest Remix Hits Volume One' double CD compilation. Although this title was originally issued in Australia, it is readily available on many internet shopping sites. Incidentally, it's a 12" mix, so you can enjoy the track for even longer! Happy listening!
A: PWE haven't yet been approached to licence original recordings for this project. If things change, we'll publish it here.
A: Lonnie did indeed record an album with us, but it was not exclusively recorded with S/A/W. The album, entitled 'If I Have To Stand Alone' was issued in Europe and Australia, but as you rightly state, was not made available to the UK market. Incidentally, the US recently issued a 'Best Of' compilation CD featuring some of Miss Gordon's finest moments.
A: Boy Krazy's self-titled album was released in the US and Japan. Interestingly enough the only difference between the two pressings was a different recording of one of the tracks, 'On A Wing And A Prayer'. Many Pete Waterman fans argue as to which is their their preferred mix, the Japanese version being much more pop-focussed than its more 'rockier' alternative on the stateside release.
A: Currently there are no plans to issue compilation packages for this artist. Sinitta did issue a hits collection a couple of years back, but these were re-recordings of her biggest hits.
A: The Capella track in question ('Take Me Away' featuring Lolleatta Holloway) was one of many tracks that Pete licensed for release in the UK and Eire only. The track was not specifically recorded for us, instead it was issued on Pete's 'PWL Continental' record label and heavily promoted on Granada's 'Hitman and Her' TV show.
A: Although some songs were written with certain artists in mind, it is was uncommon for the record-breaking, hit-making S/A/W team to write songs about particular individuals! Nice idea though!
A: Ronan came in to put down some vocals. The producer and writer of the track ,Greg Alexander, needed to work at a studio complex with 2 studios and ISDN facilities as he was away working on material in America at the same time. At that time PWL was the perfect place!
A: I really thought that this urban myth had vanished completely until I received not one, but two e-mails, about it in the space of a week! I can categorically state that the lead vocals featured on 'I Should Be So Lucky' (and any other Kylie hit produced by PWL) were provided by the gorgeous Miss Minogue! (And before anybody else writes in, no - Kylie's vocals weren't slowed down and used on Rick Astley's hits either!)
A: The lovely Suzette recorded six tracks at PWL back in 1993. The completed titles were:
After 'Free To Love Again', Suzette was scheduled to release 'Don't Stop' as her next single, however this never happened and the tracks were shelved. Four of the completed songs were however included on the promo-only CD, 'Unpolished Diamonds' (Cat No. SAWCD001) This title was pressed by BMG to promote its successful acquisition of the back-catalogue of the much-underused PWE publishing company 'All Boys Music'. Unfortunately this was a very limited pressing, and original copies of this CD are very rare.
A: WASP was an acronym for Waterman Aitken Stock Productions, hence the track WAS indeed produced by the legendary hit-making, record-breaking team!
A: Work on a second Mel and Kim album was not started. As you will know, Mel's health deteriorated very quickly and even the recording of 'That's The Way It Is' had its specific problems. "Mel had to check herself out of the cancer hospital in order for her to lay vocals down for that track. The doctors said that it would be at least twelve months before Mel would be able to record material again, so we put the second album on hold and prayed that she'd get better soon. Tragically that never happened." Pete explained. "I was only talking about Mel and Kim with someone the other day. To me they really were THE original Spice Girls; they had such confidence, such bravado - and they epitomised the whole concept of Girl Power completely. It's quite painful to think about what happened and how things turned out. I really enjoyed working with them."
A; As far as Pete Waterman is aware, Showing Out was not recorded
by Bananarama during their time at PWL. Pete Waterman says that on rare occasions
some tracks that were meant for one artist were given to another when things
did not work out, like Kylie being given 'Got To Be Certain' after it had
been recorded by Mandy Smith or Jason Donovan recording 'Nothing Can Divide
Us' after it was orginally intended for Rick Astley to record it, but generally
speaking this did not occur and only did happen if an artist needed a song
in a hurry.
Incidentally, regular visitors to this site will know that for quite a while
we did say that Mandy's version of 'Got To Be Certain' had not been recorded.
As you will appreciate, a lot of tracks were recorded at the Hit Factory during
its heydey and it is only natural that some were forgotten about or overlooked.
www.pwl-empire.com is more than happy
to set the record straight and admit that on this occasion we were wrong!
A: Denise Van Outen did express an interest in recording her own version of either a classic Sonia or Kylie S/A/W track, but nothing came of this in the end.
A: A far as I can make out, there were no plans to issue an album of remixes, however delicious this concept may seem! As with all tracks, the songs were recorded and mixed in a variety of ways in order to bring out the very best in them. Often, an extended mix was made at the same time as the standard edited version. Interestingly enough, Kylie's first PWL Records hit, 'I Should Be So Lucky' was mixed as a 12" master before it was edited down to the shedful-selling 7" version. The same also goes for Mel & Kim's "Showing Out".
A: The Reynolds Girls only recorded "I'd Rather Jack" at PWL. According to the studio documentation I have seen, there wasn't any contract drawn up between themselves and Stock, Aitken & Waterman - it was just a one-off project. Shedules just say that the girls were booked into the studio to record a single with S/A/W - and the result was the highly infectious "I'd Rather Jack". The Reynolds Girls did appear on some of Pete Waterman's successful 'Hitman Roadshows' alongside acts like Jason Donovan, Sinitta and Sonia, however it appears that the two sisters pretty much kept themselves to themselves. After their Number 8 hit had left the charts, the sisters set up their own record company (Reynotone) and attempted to issue a single themselves with their father acting as their manager.
A: David Hasselhoff DID record some tracks at PWL back in the early 1990s; however these were never made available commercially. Pete recalls that he actually came into the studio and recorded two tracks, neither of which were finished. As for the rumours of a whole album of unreleased material - well, that's all they are; PWL only recorded these two songs with him!
A: YES! All of Kylie's PWL Records video hits are now available to buy on DVD. Check out online stores for more details!
A: Hmm, it was true that Rick Astley was going to be working at PWE again; but that was over 24 months ago now. Pete Waterman says that Rick got very close and was beginning to discuss new projects with him, then Rick suddenly backed off. As you will know, a couple of years ago he has wrote tracks for Lauren Waterworth, and had worked on titles for One True Voice, however it seems unlikely that he will put himself back in front of the PWE studio microphone.
A: Great idea, but sadly at the moment PWE do not have any plans to do this - however, who knows what the future may hold?
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