On this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, my special guest is multi-award-winning British songwriter and musician, Paul Barry. Paul formed his first band The Questions whilst at high school in Edinburgh in the summer of 1977.
A few years later, the band were supporting The Jam and signing to Paul Weller’s Respond Record Label before hitting the road with their own shows and as part of the live Respond packages and Style Council shows.
Whist the band didn’t enjoy Top 40 success – they did sell tens of thousands of records and were hugely popular with live audiences too. Paul co-wrote (with John Robinson) The House That Jack Built which was a Top 10 single for Tracie Young.
Over the past 30+ years as a songwriter, Paul has had massive success with smash-hit singles for Cher, Enrique Iglesias and James Bay. He’s also written for, and with, the likes of Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, Mica Paris, Ricky Martin and James Morrison (an exclusive reveal of a Paul Weller co-write in our chat!).
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EP116 – Paul Barry – The Questions, Songwriter, Musician… ”Answers all your questions…” – Desperately Seeking Paul : Paul Weller Fan Podcast
Spotify Playlist
1983 – Love The Reason – Respond Records Compilation
The Questions featured on album opener Work ‘N’ Play, track 6 – Building on a Strong Foundation and on album closer Give It Up Girl. They also played with Tracie on Mama Never Told Me (billed as Tracie & The Questions).
Sleeve notes from Paul Weller… “Hailing from Edinburgh. It has taken John, Frank and Paul two years to reach where they now find themselves, with a direction, with faith and with confidence. And now the ability, They don’t have to rely o other peoples perspective of hipness – they have their own, in the shape and context of classic song’s. If Tracie embodies Responds vitality, then the Questions represent its quality. They have a word for cats like these – it is potential – let it breach and grow as potential must.
The Questions Discography
1978 – Some Other Guy
1978 – Can’t Get Over You
1982 – Work and Play
1982 – Price You Pay
1983 – Tear Soup
1984 – A Month of Sundays
1984 – Building on a Strong Foundation
1984 – Tuesday Sunshine
1984 – Belief (Album)
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