Good buys

Being a new section mainly for interesting and musical people of medium height: a little short for a feature but far too sturdy for a news item. Today, Weather Report refugee Alphonso Johnson and an instrument to gawp at and the curious Gruppo Sportivo (Q: Are we not Italian? A: We are Dutch).

Floyd, Eno, Gabriel... Grid?

New Grid on the block

How it was done in the heyday of Pop - Philip Bashe tracked down the bands your dad snogged along to and found out the history of the '60s hits

Books '84

instruments and playing in print

Chas De Whalley quizzes Fall guy John Leckie. Totally weird

How it is to be solo

Drums and Percussion

Nowhere is the correct use of reverb more important than in the treatment of drum and percussion sounds. We reveal all — and we tell you a bit about reverb too.

All You Need To Know About Making Your Own Records

Some musicians and bands decide to take their future success into their own hands, by putting money into producing their own records. Tony Batchelor and Sue Silutoe take the mystery out of making your own CD, vinyl or cassette release, from initial Session Tape to final product.

Mr & Mrs Mark E. Smith at home

A readable survey covering manufacturers from I to T.

Songwriters's Special

Lorna Read Explains 'How To Sell Your Songs'

While many producers are content to work within one or two musical styles, Peter Collins casts a much wider net - using high technology to increase the number of possibilities open to him.

BBC Radiophonic Workshop

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop's network of Macintosh computers handles everything from music programming to looking after the tape library. Richard Elen talks to Brian Hodgson, the head of the Workshop, about their musical Macintoshes.

Chas de Whalley records the thoughts of David Bowie's young, gifted and black producer, Derek Bramble

Declaring Independence

They've been on CBS, they run their own company called Dry Communications, and they've learned a thing or two: they are a band called Thomas Lang. Phil Ward meets the Scousers with a Dry sense of humour.

The live workaholics explain to Andy Hughes that success is more than image-deep

After April's In Brief review, Rick Davies sends us a user report on the latest FM synth module, and throws in a review of the MDF1 MIDI data filer for good measure.

RUSH Guitarist locked in room with Max Kay — Shock Horror!

workings of the press part two; dealing with music papers

John started his career as a tape op and worked his way up. He is now a respected engineer and producer as well as being a great supporter of ambisonic recording.

Clarke, Radcliffe & Marlow

Battery Studios

Jive Records' own Battery Studio complex has to accommodate acts as diverse as Schooly D, Mark Shreeve and Samantha Fox. David Bradwell raps technology.

Keith Emerson On Korg. Gordon Giltrap On MIDI Guitars Peter Oxendale On Sampling