Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Peter Waterman (better known as Stock Aitken Waterman or SAW) are a British songwriting and record producing team active from 1984 to 1993 (their most successful period), 2005 to 2010, and 2015 to the present. They’re considered one of the most successful songwriting and production teams, having sold 40 million records, generated 100 UK hits, and earned £60 million ($105 million in the US). Here are five songs they wrote and produced from the late 1980’s.
- Mel & Kim, “Respectable”
- Jason Donovan, “Too Many Broken Hearts”
- Kylie Minogue, “I Should Be So Lucky”
- Sonia, “You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You”
- Rick Astley, “Together Forever”
Stock Aitken Waterman, your Five For Friday, February 17, 2023.
The Sound of One Hand Typing 
That’s the soundtrack to my childhood, right there. It’s no surprise I went down the rock and metal route, is it? Oh, with a side-step into glam rock and the Beatles!
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By the time they came along I was close to 30… Glad you found your way away from that.
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I have to say they seem to ve a Johnny one note. The beat is the same as well as the instruments or whatever is used. I know the last one and one other but it’s like muzak in a grocery store or an elevator.
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I noticed that as I was putting the playlist together.
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I’ve not heard SAW nor have I heard Respectable before today. However the clothes that Mel & Kim are wearing reminded me instantly of my sisters-in-law who dressed just like that back in the day.
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In the late ’80’s? That’s the first thing Ithought about…
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When you listen to them in a row the fact that the music is quite simular song-to-song hits. Very synthetic.
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I noticed that. Hard to argue with their success, but still…
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Yes it is.
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I have to say they seem to ve a Johnny one note. The beat is the same as well as the instruments or whatever is used. I know the last one and one other but it’s like muzak in a grocery store or an elevator. Gosh I’m harsh today…maybe because our Furnace went Tuesday night. Pilot light out, Crack in the main pipe, 24 yrs old. There goes a ton of money. New one on today so it’s been cold.
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I’ve been there with the furnace blues, believe me. In 35 years, we’ve replaced the HVAC three times. And you’re right, all their songs have pretty much the same beat and tempo.
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First thing I thought of was the sameness of them all, but then when you have a winning formula, you tend to stick with it.
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At least until it doesn’t work anymore…
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True. Sad about Mel though. I had Kim’s album and loved the track Momma said.
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I just looked up what happened to Mel. Horrible.
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So young, and such a sad loss.
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Such a distinctive genre! Great post!
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Thanks!
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