CMU Weekly Editor's Letter

CMU Weekly – Friday 10 Jun 2011

By Andy Malt | Published on Saturday 11 June 2011

Since the beginning of the year, far too many music legends have passed away, amongst them Poly Styrene, Nate Dogg and Gil Scott-Heron. Last weekend it was sadly announced that producer Martin Rushent had joined that list.

In his column for CMU this week, Xfm’s Eddy Temple-Morris remembered the effect Rushent’s work had on him after he first discovered the producer in the late 70s. He wrote: “The actual first album I bought with my own pocket money was ‘Rattus Norvegicus’ by The Stranglers. In those days we devoured every fact on the sleeves of every piece of vinyl we bought. It was only minutes before I was aware the album was produced by Martin Rushent. It was my first year at secondary school”.

He continued: “In the following years, that name cropped up again and again, he was a production tour de force. My final year of education was mostly spent smoking in the bushes and drawing, developing photos or painting in the Malvern College art centre, with my little paint spattered ghetto blaster constantly pumping out the tunes of the day. In that last twelve months the most important album in my life was ‘Dare’ by The Human League. Another Martin Rushent album, and without any question, one of the most important British records, certainly of that generation, but I’d say EVER”.

Following the announcement of Rushent’s death, his son James’ band Does It Offend You, Yeah? posted a tribute via their Facebook page earlier this week, saying: “It is with great sadness that someone very close to us has passed away. Martin Rushent was not just James’ dad, but also someone very involved with the shaping of DIOYY and countless other musicians he worked with. He had an amazing character and was great friend to all of us. Rest in peace, sitting at your mixing desk in the sky”.

For this week’s Powers Of 10 playlist, we’ve selected ten Martin Rushent-related tracks, which span almost his entire career in music and show off the diverse scenes and styles he was associated with. Check it out and then explore his oeuvre further – there’s plenty more we couldn’t fit in.

On a happier note, with the arrival of this week’s CMU Weekly also comes the latest CMU podcast. Hurrah! This week, Chris and I can be found discussing the iCloud, HMV’s banking arrangements, the latest Michael Jackson-related litigation, diplomatic metal, Katy Perry and Alice Cooper.

That’s all from me for another week. See you next time.

Andy Malt
Editor, CMU

THE BULLETIN: Click here to read this week’s CMU Weekly bulletin

THE PODCAST: Click here to download this week’s podcast or stream below