Hit That Perfect Beat - The London Records Story

London Records

From underground misfits to global hitmakers, ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The Story of London Records’ is a thrilling, no-holds-barred journey through one of the most influential eras in British music, and the maverick label that helped define it. London Records didn’t just follow trends: it created them. Born in the chaos of the early 1980s, the label was fuelled by instinct, risk-taking, and big personalities. What followed was a cultural explosion that would shape pop, dance, and club music for decades to come. Through exclusive interviews and first-hand accounts, journalist Siân Pattenden speaks with the artists, executives, and insiders who lived through it all. From the DIY beginnings of Bananarama and Blancmange, to the global domination of Fine Young Cannibals, this is the inside story of how hits were made, and sometimes lost. Along the way, legendary voices like Pete Tong reveal how a generation-defining sound emerged from late-night clubs and record shop imports, while artists like Goldie and Orbital show how London Records helped push electronic music into the mainstream, changing the sound of modern Britain forever. But this isn’t just a story of success. It’s a story of ambition, excess, and the realities of fame. From the dizzying highs of chart-topping acts like East 17 to the personal and creative struggles behind the scenes, the series pulls back the curtain on an industry where fortunes were made, and sometimes lost, overnight. You’ll also discover how the label helped launch bold, era-defining acts like All Saints and Sugababes, while navigating the shifting tides of the music business, from vinyl to CDs to the digital revolution that changed everything. This isn’t just music history, it’s the story of how culture moves. It’s about rebellion, creativity, identity, and the power of a great song to change lives. Whether you lived through these moments or are discovering them for the first time, this podcast puts you right in the room where it happened: the deals, the risks, the parties, the breakthroughs. Packed with unforgettable stories, iconic tracks, and the people who were really there, ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The Story of London Records Story’ is unmissable listening.  Follow London Records for clips, more content and to send us your questions and thoughts: Instagram London Records TikTok Facebook Website  ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The London Records Story’ compilation is released on 2CD / Digital on June 12, 2026 and available to pre-order now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story | Episode 1 - A New Era

    5 DAYS AGO

    Hit That Perfect Beat: The London Records Story | Episode 1 - A New Era

    Before the hits, before the headlines, there was chaos, instinct… and a gamble. Welcome to the birth of London Records: a label that didn’t just ride the wave of 1980s pop, but helped create it. In this opening episode, journalist Siân Pattenden throws us headfirst into a music industry that feels more like the Wild West: fast-moving, rule-breaking, and full of possibility. With founders Roger Ames and Tracy Bennett at the helm, London Records wasn’t interested in playing it safe. Instead, they built a culture driven by risk, rebellion, and raw creative energy. Through the voices of artists and insiders, we hear how early signings like Blancmange embodied a DIY, art-school ethos, proving that pop could be smart, strange, and fearless. Then came Bananarama: Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward; three friends squatting in London who would go on to define a generation. Their rise captures the spirit of the time: scrappy, stylish, and completely self-made. Behind the scenes, a young Pete Tong begins shaping the label’s future, while staffers recall an office buzzing with urgency, noise, and big personalities. Deals are struck fast. Records are rushed out. Hits are chased with instinct as much as strategy. But this isn’t just about success; it's about attitude. London Records becomes a family of outsiders: loud, ambitious, and unapologetically cool. As journalists like Miranda Sawyer explain, this was the moment pop exploded into everyday British life. And then, pop turns political. Enter Bronski Beat and the unmistakable voice of Jimmy Somerville. With ‘Smalltown Boy,’ the pop charts become a place of protest, identity, and emotional truth. From underground beginnings to cultural revolution, Episode 1 tells the story of how a maverick label and its cast of fearless artists helped usher in a brand new era of pop. Written and presented by Siân Pattenden. Produced by Robin Leeburn. A Podmasters production for London Records. Guests featured in this episode: Goldie, Richard Coles (The Communards), Siobhan Fahey (Shakespears Sister / Bananarama), Neil Arthur (Blancmange), Sara Dallin (Bananarama), Keren Woodward (Bananarama), Pete Tong, Sean Rowley, Colin Bell, Juliette Sensicle, John Niven, Hillary Shaw, Miranda Sawyer. Songs featured in this episode:   Goldie - Kemistry (Doc Scott mix) Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat Blancmange - Living on the Ceiling Bananarama - Ai Ae Mwana Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy Communards - Don’t Leave Me This Way Bananarama - Cruel Summer Bronski Beat - I Feel Love Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy Follow London Records for clips, more content and to send us your questions and thoughts: Instagram London Records TikTok Facebook Website  ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The London Records Story’ compilation is released on 2CD / Digital on June 12, 2026 and available to pre-order now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

From underground misfits to global hitmakers, ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The Story of London Records’ is a thrilling, no-holds-barred journey through one of the most influential eras in British music, and the maverick label that helped define it. London Records didn’t just follow trends: it created them. Born in the chaos of the early 1980s, the label was fuelled by instinct, risk-taking, and big personalities. What followed was a cultural explosion that would shape pop, dance, and club music for decades to come. Through exclusive interviews and first-hand accounts, journalist Siân Pattenden speaks with the artists, executives, and insiders who lived through it all. From the DIY beginnings of Bananarama and Blancmange, to the global domination of Fine Young Cannibals, this is the inside story of how hits were made, and sometimes lost. Along the way, legendary voices like Pete Tong reveal how a generation-defining sound emerged from late-night clubs and record shop imports, while artists like Goldie and Orbital show how London Records helped push electronic music into the mainstream, changing the sound of modern Britain forever. But this isn’t just a story of success. It’s a story of ambition, excess, and the realities of fame. From the dizzying highs of chart-topping acts like East 17 to the personal and creative struggles behind the scenes, the series pulls back the curtain on an industry where fortunes were made, and sometimes lost, overnight. You’ll also discover how the label helped launch bold, era-defining acts like All Saints and Sugababes, while navigating the shifting tides of the music business, from vinyl to CDs to the digital revolution that changed everything. This isn’t just music history, it’s the story of how culture moves. It’s about rebellion, creativity, identity, and the power of a great song to change lives. Whether you lived through these moments or are discovering them for the first time, this podcast puts you right in the room where it happened: the deals, the risks, the parties, the breakthroughs. Packed with unforgettable stories, iconic tracks, and the people who were really there, ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The Story of London Records Story’ is unmissable listening.  Follow London Records for clips, more content and to send us your questions and thoughts: Instagram London Records TikTok Facebook Website  ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The London Records Story’ compilation is released on 2CD / Digital on June 12, 2026 and available to pre-order now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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