Sophie and Peter Johnston: Guestbook

Tony Scott

1 January 2010

Just received my copy of 'Best Of' and swept back instantly to evenings of taping stuff off the John Peel show. I no longer have those tapes, but do have the gatefold single of Happy Together. Unfortunately I no longer own a vinyl player.

Every couple of years I've checked the Internet, searched on eBay etc to see if any of your other material has shown up, but with no joy. And then out of the blue I found this site. I obviously wasn't as diligent as I thought. Good old Web: here's hoping you get a new audience for your songs old and new. (I'll play Best Of to death for a couple of weeks, then I'll be sending for some of your new material too.)

Thanks again.

TonyS

Martin

13 November 2009

Great to come across this website. I still love 'Losing You' as much as the first time I heard it and it brings back so many good memories. Looking forward to catching up on some of your more recent output.

15 October 2009

Ta for the info Pete- I actually wrote to Cherry Red a while back asking them to give your back catalogue some attention, so here's hoping!
BTW had the 2 CD's that I ordered this morning (nice and quick and in good condition- Thanks).
Cheers, Darren.

Pete

15 October 2009

Thanks Darren and to everybody else who has posted their kind comments in the guestbook over recent times :-) It's wonderful to hear from you all.
I'm unclear as to what the position is with Warners Music regarding the debut album Darren. As far as I know they own the rights and I don't think they have any plans to re-release it. I was approached by Cherry Red Records a while back who said they were interested in trying to get permission or whatever from Warners to re-package & re-release it but I've not heard anything more since.
Thanks again to all,
All the best,
Pete

Darren Lewis

14 October 2009

Been a fan of you two since buying the double 7" of "Happy Together" in 1986- £1.25 HMV Swansea!
Peter, is there any chance of re-releasing the debut album from that time or is everything tied up in red tape with WEA??
BTW, I ordered the Best of and the latest album online last night- Great stuff, indeed the latest record is as good as anything you've done imo- Congratulations, its criminal that people like La Roux are milking off success by using retro '80's posturing/synth sounds (but without any tunes I might add) when you two are still producing something thats in a different league....Chalk and cheese to be frank...
Best Regards, Darren.

Best Wishes to everyone concerned, Darren.

Mark Evans

2 October 2009

CD arrived safely, cheers. Not heard "Rain" since I left my cassette of the John Peel sessions in a trunk in a flat in Marchmont Crescent in Edinburgh in 1986. As good as I remember! mark

Jez Kay

6 September 2009

Was sorting out my iphone (like you do!) and found Torn Open (not for the first time in the past 22 years) - digitised it from the gorgeous 12". Made my Sunday morning (again). Reminded me of Maureen McLaughlin (who said she went to school with Sophie but that might have been stretching it, don't know!) Hope you keep singing / playing from time to time. Thanks again

Harvey Mills

18 August 2009

Like many of the people in your Guest-book, I grew up listening intently to John Peel - as often as I could. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that he was probably the biggest influence on my musical tastes as I sulked my way through adolescence. I vividly remember listening to the S&PJ sessions, and was just blown away - unusual as my tastes were more towards the punky end of the spectrum. Me and another guy in the 6th form were keen fans, and I freely admit to taping your stuff off JP's show - the finger hovering above the play and record buttons most evenings! Thanks for the great music - so evocative of the early-mid eighties, it leaves me misty eyed, and cursing my mid-life crisis. Hx

Ian Hadingham

1 July 2009

So, when are you guys gonna sue the heck out of La Roux; they stole your music guys!!!!

Chris (WaXDOLLY)

12 May 2009

It's so lovely to find your site after all these years. I remember hearing "Rain" and "Television Satellite" on the John Peel show, so long ago. I'll be visiting your shop to order some goodies at last! Thank you both for the wonderful music that you've produced.

C x

Catalin

16 April 2009

Many many years ago with "Television Satellite", you make me dream far away. Now, I discover your site...amazing, It is very pleasant for me, I wish you all the best in the world!!

10 April 2009

gianfranco,there is a CD available with Happy Together on,its the Japanese Import of the debut album it also includes a new track 'Dreams'.
http://eil.com/shop/ExtSearch.asp?DiscArtist=Sophie-_-Peter-Johnston
If you look at what they've had previously in stock there is also a 3" Japanese CD single 'Dreams' that includes Happy Together.

Simon

21 March 2009

Wow. Have had Open Eyes in my head since '83 and that was the last I'd heard until today (March '09). 26 years later. You two should be immensely proud of what you achieved all those years ago. Great stuff!

gianfranco

14 March 2009

Hi - is there a CD of Happy Together available - was surprised it does not feature on your "Best Of" !

Marsh

21 February 2009

Just found your website! Brilliant! I had a tape of a number of your songs from many, many years ago which I taped from the radio (John Peel sessions? - which has since gone missing!). All the songs were fantastic and I never understood what happened to you and why you never made it 'big'. Anyway, I've never been able to forget 'Open Eyes' and I've been searching for a CD with it on ever since and I've now found one! Thank you!

mick

1 January 2009

Hi Pete, Its been a while, just wanted to wish you and the family all the best for 2009 ,And i look forward to new tunes this year Bye for now Mick.

Pablo

30 December 2008

Hi Pete & Sophie,
festive greetings to you both & all the best for 2009 etc.!
Just wanted to thank you for your wonderful CD (Best of 83-87)*
which arrived just in the nick of time, Xmas Eve afternoon (pppheew!),
as it was a prezzie for the Missus** ( who's as great a fan of you as I).
How wonderful to actually POSSESS the real thing after all these years (cf.last post).
I noticed that 'Television Satellite' isn't the JP version (though ,of course, only detectable
by the initiated) , I suppose it's the 'official' release then.Are all the other tracks what I
missed on that fateful day in Spain, all those years ago then?(I blame it on the heat!)
In return ,though I admit it's a rather pitiful contribution in comparison, for all those
years (& years) of unmittigated joy you've brought me (& anyone lucky to be within hearing range)
I'd like to send you my own CD (25 years in the making!) though I can't guarantee it'll
have the same effect, if you'd be so kind (or foolish ) to e-mail a postal address I can send it to.
Kindest regards from soggy Provence
Pablo
* All relevant info on CDDB.......'bout time too!
** I ALWAYS offer my dearest CDs I like myself,it saves shelf space!

Mark Pugh

26 December 2008

Hope your Christmas and new year goes well,lets hope 2009 is the year i see you 'live'.

Mark McArthur

22 December 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to S&PJ. Hope we hear more from you in 2009.

All the best.

Mark

Mark Pride

6 December 2008

I was recently listening to some old cassette recordings I made back in the 80's of the John Peel show and remember with great fondness all the great music that was about at the time (amoungst all the crap!) ,I remember listening to your sessions at the time and had forgotten how brilliant you were,I jumped on the internet and have discovered this site, I have recently purchased one of your cd's and have been blown away,it's fantastic,it is played constantly!.It was so different to the stuff I was listening to at the time(as a young art student in Leeds),the Cocteau twins,Orange Juice,Josef K and the Wild Swans,but your music was so infectious and up beat, I look forward to purchasing more very soon and hopefully more info regarding gigs and cd's ,I wish you both well and lots of love.

Dave M

4 December 2008

Hi Pete and for the first time Sophie,

I have just discovered (via this website) and purchased your latest recording on iTunes. My day has been transformed. Your music is as fresh, vibrant and life enhancing as the first time I heard the legendary Peel session (many years ago). Watching the performances on this website, particularly Candlelight, was a joy. As a young at heart 44 year old who loves his music, I have had plenty of time to build an extensive music library with a very eclectic artist mix. In terms of the positive energy given off by your music, my S&PJ collection (on tape, vinyl, CD and now MP3), sits right at the top. I now think it's time to introduce my 11 year old music mad daughter to the wonder that is Sophie and Peter Johnston. Please, please don't stop.

The very best to the both of you,

Dave

Andy Mullen

24 October 2008

Sophie/Peter. Sooooooooo glad Ive found you again. I never had anything other than Peel session recordings of you & they'd got worn being played for the last 20 years in my car. Peely was so right. At the time I was into Killing Joke, Sisters of Mercy, X-mal Deutschland and the Cocteau Twins so there wasnt a lot of common ground but I just couldnt help myself with your material. You just cant help loving your style. So many goods tunes & songs. Brilliant to have found you again. Andy

Rob G

2 September 2008

It's been a while since I've tuned in and I'm pleasantly suprised to see you and Sophie have not only re-united, but have some new material out!
I was only recently listining to a promo version of 'Sold On you'which was sent to me by your former record company all those years ago, by the way I think they where right it was a better mix than the eventual release. I be in touch over purchasing the new stuff as soon as the finances allow, great to have you back!

Paul

23 August 2008

Hi Pete and Sophie

Further to my e-mail I got the discs in the post today - absolutely fantastic, your old stuff is dream to hear again, in fact if it's possible to love it more than I did in my 80's student days I do, and the new album is superb. Can't wait for your live gigs.

All the best

Paul

ps. Spammers to this site posting offensive dross get a life ! - Pete, get them barred it's a disgrace to a long overdue site to celebrate your music.

G

12 August 2008

you are the missin' link between Kirsty Macoll and Kraftwerk :-) , Please don't stop making more music. Thank you.

Mark Evans

9 August 2008

My bro just sent me a link to this little corner of the Internet.
What a treat! Your stuff always made me feel great! Thanks for the past,
and now I realise there is a present, too!

You should see the smile on my face. :o)

Pablo

7 August 2008

Hello Pete & Sophie,
apologies for the length of this post but 26 years is a LONG time!
I don't know what made me google your names the other day but........
(actually I've been trawling the internet looking for any scrap of info
since 1997 & gave up about 2001) ........Wow! I'm still in a state of shock
......it's like encountering the shining entities of some ethereal world!
I, like (surely) thousands of other Peel listeners have literally never
been the same since the (now so far off) days of those 2 magical sessions.
Five songs that instantly crystalized into our innermost selves & have never lost
their initial lustre.Diamonds are for ever as they say (now THERE's a song!).
As a fellow bedroom-recording artiste (though I did one album in the kitchen & even one in a derelict vodka factory!),
I've always stood in gob-smacked admiration of the technical meticulousness of those tracks.In fact it (still) represents
an absolute ideal of the kind of music I've always wanted to make.At the time I was struggling (valiantly) with a TEAC
2-track cassette recorder,a Dr.Rythmn & an infamous mono synth that came (& went) in kit form (I'm SURE Half Man
Half Biscuit had one!) foolishly trying to imitate the likes of Arthur Baker & Scritti Politti!.
Amongst my fondest memories of those days was lying sprawled on the floor over a sheet of 4 to a box graph paper,
counting attentively the bars flashing by on the Dr.Rythmn with intense concentration, waiting to change the drum pattern at
the required moment with one hand whilst the other skillfully tweaked the depth control on the reverb at each snare beat trying
desperately to instill some kind of dynamic ,all in the (usually) forlorn hope that it would still be audible after the 5th bounce of the tape.
Today's youngsters ,they don't know what they've missed!

Needless to say the cassettes of your JP sessions ( & all subsequent repeats thereof)
were guarded jealously & with infinite care & at length became an essential & integral part
of my vademecum whist travelling through the world (& time!) in the patient hope there would
be something as tangible as an LP to cherrish shortly.
As a prime example of the cruelty of fate & a true-life confession, I shall NEVER forget
the day I stood in a record shop in Seville (some 20 years ago now, amigos)
holding in MY OWN ****ING HANDS !!! your Ist album.A soul-wrenching devilish dilema now
ensued.......I didn't have enough cash to buy this AND a certain (but damned excellent) LP
by the world famous* Gallician bagpipe rappers , 'Os Resentidos'
*They ought have been at least,I sent Peelie the bloody record!
If life is about living with the choices you make,the moral of this story is NEVER enter a record shop
without 'at least' TWICE as much money as you can afford to spend !!!
I am overjoyed to hear you are still making great music & didn't become estate agents or Jehovah's witnesses.
I will (at last!) buy ALL your records when I get back from my hols.A PROMISE!
P.S.
Listening to the downloads (thanks) on my mp3 yesterday in the sweltering heat (100+F°) of Provence
(where, for my hideous sins I now live ),I still got that chill down my spine from the sublime sound of
Sophie's harmonies & Pete's sparkly synths
...if that's not proof of quality in music ,what is ?

As someone once said,you've made an old man very happy( for a long time now!).
(Yeeks! I've just realized I'm now even older than JP when he said that!)

All the best
Pablo

Simon Hui

22 July 2008

Hi guys! Torn Open is one of the most spiritually uplifting song ever, well, melody-wise at least. I even played it during my wedding banquet! Good to see you're back and I will be sending in the order for the new releases. Please stay a little while longer before disappearing again. ha ha.. Cheers, Simon (Hong Kong)

Gareth

17 July 2008

Tremendous! Played your LP until it nearly wore out then managed through modern technology to MP3 it onto my computer, please keep making music. Listening to it again in Bangkok you have made a 46 year old man feel 20 again and now making my kids listen to it. Is this the sort of thing you envisage as feedback when composing?

springspring

16 July 2008

Hello,,im new here,,i just wanna say hello to all.

G

16 July 2008

Nice one, thanks, top, sorted etc etc!

Daisy

12 July 2008

Wow, i've never heard auntie sophie sing before you are really good and i've just showed a friend one of your video's and she thought it was great!

Oh yeah and HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE SOPHIE!! x x x x x love you lots xx

Dave W

11 July 2008

Well, bloody hell.
There I was, a student at Durham, in the early 1980s, with cheapo walkman playing S&P Johnson (often) that I'd taped from John Peel...who were they? what did they look like? when was the LP out? Sadly, no way of ever knowing. No clue as to why they disappeared without trace. They were the most mysterious band on the most obscure radio station back then. Oh well. Tape long gone, but not forgotten.
So, fast forward 25 years and for some very unknown reason I decided to Google them today. And there, at the click of a button, Open Eyes and Paradise bring my room a touch of sparkle! Better quality than I've ever heard them before, and finally I get to know a little more about them, see what they looked like even (Sophie your haircut was just like mine!!)
I must admit to having little interest in hearing any new stuff - the astonishing trip down memory lane is quite enough for me! Thanks a zillion, you've made an old man very happy.

mick

25 June 2008

Hi Pete & Sophie,
As always hope the clan r fit n well nice to see a new pic on the photos section ,
How,s the guitar stuff going ? OK i imagine .Im still working on lots of stuff and also seeking out new /old outboard which i would like to use on the final mixes whenever that might be ,So it was a surprise when i read you had used an eventide H910(your name came up when i did a search) this is one of the pieces of gear im about to purchase also an ams rmx 16 and the dmx 15/80s delay ,so anyway i then headed straight back to S&P to read this list once again ,god you must have been 10 times as bogged down with cables as i am LOL and i noticed you used the roland sde 3000 ,I used one in 83 at spectro always thought it was great you had some cool gear thats for sure by the way i was outbid on two ppg,s so that was a bummer but they do surface more these days so i might be lucky next time ,any way enough ramblings about nowt as i said hope this find,s you all fit n well and writing and recording bye for now Mick.

Steve

11 June 2008

Hi
First heard you on the JP session and loved the tracks been looking now and again ever since with no luck. Just found the new tracks on I tunes fantastic!!! My favourite track is still Open Eyes, great voice, great synth sounds. I probably qualify as your oldest fan at 43 but as a failed synth player I just love what you do. Cheers

Nick

12 May 2008

After a spring clean and finding a box of tapes I've just found the cassette tape of the first album, starts with "Television Satellite" and played it. I first heard it on the John Peel show back in the 1980's. Its still brilliant. As someone else noted, crisp uplifting synth pop. Thanks I loved it then and I love it twenty odd years later. Best wishes to you both.

hyjandax

5 May 2008

Hello, just want to say hello :) qpwoencheydebey

Manuel Felipe Palma

23 April 2008

Hello Fellows, I have 37 years old and still i like me your song Happy Together, is a beautiful theme of love, thank you for writed it for everybody person in this world, i was study a secundary when a heart it for first time and today, i saw your video for first time too. I wondered if they could send me this song (happy together) to my email manuelfelipepalma@hotmail.com? Thank you for all, bye...

wilkie

21 April 2008

I never ever expected to hear from Sophie&Peter Johnson again,so it was a great surprise to come across their web site and also discover they have a new album. I quickly bought it and it is very good with great songs and the very unique vocal style from Sophie. Thanks again for the music.

livdolu

7 April 2008

Hello friends, I wish I had come here earlier as the forums are well organized and I look forward
to gaining further knowledge and sharing my experiences. Ive been reading the posts and learning
quite a bit from the members.

Mark McArthur

6 April 2008

I had a look at the recent NARC review. Not the most sophisticated critique I have ever read- a bit Kevin and Perry in fact. In my view, if they get reviews like that then they must be doing something right.

This highlights the point that great art is likely to generate extreme response. In the case of S&PJ, this is exemplified by the opinions of John Peel and their fan base on one hand and on the other the views of the NARC reviewer and some music industry execs (see S&PJ track Brain Def).

Perhaps the reviewer will re-discover his sense of cosmic wonder and come to the view that the last S&PJ album was a great piece of work. But then again maybe not- so it goes.

Speaking as an Edinburgh man myself, I think that NARC could do itself and the North East music scene a great service by recognising that S&PJ are one of the greatest undiscovered talents in UK pop music, and by getting behind them. I suggest that they should offer some more enlightened coverage.

yuki

24 March 2008

I really happy to find your web. I was teenager when I heard your first album. I still love your music, especially torn open. Now I make radio programs in japan. Please come to here for promotion when you release music!!!(sorry for poor english)

Mark McArthur

22 March 2008

I was watching Control, the film about Joy Division, which made reference to the critical panning they got in the music paper Sounds. The offending journo ended up being a New Order fan!

I approached the new S&PJ album with trepidation (could they still cut it?). I'm pleased to say that the album is among the best of the last few years- truely outstanding tracks. I am a man of taste (if not wealth) and know genius when I hear it (John Peel spotted it straight away). S&PJ are not obviously or self-consciously avant-garde, but the quality of their music may be too challenging for some listeners. However that doesn't stop them being the best of their genre.

Phil Reynolds

20 March 2008

So glad to have found your music again. Remember hearing the Peel sessions and falling in love with "Open Eyes". Managed to get hold of the "Torn Open" 12" and the LP, but the rest has remained in memory. Until now. Have just ordered the retrospective CD. Can't F**ing wait!

Best wishes

Phil.

Pete

18 March 2008

Hi David and thanks for your message. I guess you're probably referring to the 'Carols on Guitar' CD I did which contained my guitar interpretations of some well & other not so well known Xmas Carols. No actually I haven't written any music specifically for the Easter period (as yet anyway).
Sophie & I were brought up as Catholics & although I long ago stopped practising myself, I still have an affinity with & for religious/church music.
Cheers,
Pete

wedjoeldrop

16 March 2008

Hi Friends,
i am new here and i am from Canada. i love cricket and i am a big fan. Nice
to meet you all guys and hoping to learn more from this forum.
Cheers

david boyle

15 March 2008

hi Pete,
i recently heard some music that you wrote for the Christmas season. Have you ever written music for Easter or Passiontide?

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Mark Pugh (pughie)

22 February 2008

sorry that last post i didn't 'declare'!!!,the Human League rant was mine!!

22 February 2008

Dare & Unlimited Orchestra Love & Dancing have been remastered and released as a 'book' type affair or seperately. Love & Dancing was one of those remix albums that came around that time to boost sales,a very similar one was for Imagination (remember them?,Music & Lights/Just An Illusion),i saw them on the Dare Tour 2007 and it was amazing playing the whole album through as it appears on the album,then a break and the rest of the brilliant back catalogue they own. It must be a great feeling knowing that you've made something that will go down in history as something people loved,like your self titled debut album that keep bringing new fans to this site (like me last year) who thought they were the only people in the UK who had heard of you,so it must make you very proud to know that you've made a piece of 'art' that will be with people forever like the Human League did for you with Dare.

Mick

16 February 2008

Hi Pete, Thanks for that it's always interesting to get your slant on things , Dare would certainly be a great tape to borrow for a while ,I once read a page on a Human League search that detailed each track from the album and how they were put together ,I also read the demos were terrible until Martin Rushent was approached to produce ,possibly just an urban myth but i would love to have a listen to the originals .I also wouldn't mind a few Lalo Schifrin tapes to delv into or maybe Felt Mountain (Goldfrapp) i love the sheer scale of these scores when heard at the flicks like your almost there in the pits with the orchestra they sound massive ,(The Lalo Schifrin stuff that is ) i think Felt Mountains got that kind of feel to it also ,Operatic or Cinematic in parts or whatever the term is fantastic (I was brought up on a diet of opera as my dad and my uncle were both opera singers as young men when they arrived here from Ireland a long time ago. Dad made an album and his brother sang for the BBC also carnegie hall in NY ,They were eventually deported for breaking the rules of there work permit or some thing i guess it all came good in the end as im hear so they must have been forgiven ) As always Pete lovely to get a response to my silly topics ,When my opus is complete i shall let you know ,Bye for now Mick.

Pete

15 February 2008

Hi Mick, good to hear from you, hope likewise you & yours are all well.
Interesting question. I often try to pick up on and analyse/understand something in a track that appeals (a chord progression, vocal harmony, sound, production trick or whatever) & then maybe try to incorporate some of its flavour/inspiration into a song I might be writing, or I'll stand back and admire a spectacular or intensely beautiful piece of music from a less analytical and more 'allowing oneself to be transported' kind of angle but I'm not sure if I often actually wish I'd written the entire piece in itself. It's more of a kind of borrowing of other peoples ideas scenario with me.
As for having any multitrack tape to pick apart, hmm, maybe the album 'Dare' by The Human League although I remember having an album of 'Dare' instrumental extended mixes(called 'Love & Dancing' I think) that stripped down the tracks so you could pick out the constituent synth parts for each song which is possibly why that one came to mind.
No new album in the pipeline as yet I'm afraid. Glad your studio project is going well & wish you good luck with it. Hi Brandon! I'll tell Sophie that you said hi.
Thanks again for getting in touch,
all the best,
Pete

mick

13 February 2008

Hi Pete,
Hope this finds you and yours all fit and well ,I see there hasn't been much chat so i just thought id ask is there a song or theme tune or film score you listen to and think wonderful wish it were mine or a piece of music you would love to have the master tape, to take apart track by track ,just one of the many daft conversations friends and i have after a few beers sad buggers we are ,and to all S&P fans how about a vote for Pete& Sophie's efforts which songs are your favs ,come on people get thinking ,So on to my next topic are you busy with a follow up album because as every one must realise by now your very prolific in the writing department so i imagine its almost done, and what about some more of the anthology i like many others gutted to have missed it ,any way enough of my ramblings ,by the way my studio project is going well, I've had to make a few compromises regarding the desk i will be using a Soundtracs inline 48/ which is an amazing desk for the price 96 channels on mix down and lots of other goodies this free,s up cash for other bits and pieces I'm gonna need will let you know how its progressing and when its complete.Say hi to Sophie from her no 1 fan Brandon and i hope to catch you both soon at a gig far far away in a distant ,take care bye for know Mick.

Zesallemo

12 February 2008

Greetings to everyone !! You www.sophieandpeterjohnston.com always interestingly.
Respect to the author! It is better, than to write the report about ,undoubtedly. Bye!So long!

Kevin Wright

25 January 2008

Hey Sophie, remember me....? Was in the band with Tim at the Hilton all those years ago. Good to see you are still in the business and doing well. My best wishes to Tim and the rest of you.

Kev

Pearse McCann

23 January 2008

Hi Pete+Sophie and all S&PJ fans,
Like Ian H yesterday I'm just delighted to have had the new and best of CDs delivered so speedily - next day in fact! Cheers! The oldies/goldies got the spin first and what fantastic sound quality compared to the taped Peelie sessions I have. I'm so glad to hear you intend to release some more of the anthology tracks later in 2008 - keep us posted - I'm looking forward to getting them all at some stage. The previously unheard "He led the way to sunshine" plus "Instrumental 19" have certainly whet my appetite for more - keep them coming! There are also some great tracks on the new CD - I especially like "I won't give up my nightmare", "Candlelight", "Beyond the dark" and "World in a snowdrop" - but I love them all! Here's to another new one in the not too distant future!
Pete, there are a couple of good venues in Belfast - The Limelight and The Spring&Airbrake. The first is where I saw China Crisis a few years back and I went to see Joe Jackson in S&A last year - both are in the city centre. There are too many to mention in Dublin but Whelans (T.Dolby) and the Temple Bar Music Centre (in U2 country) are two I've been to recently and would recommend as well. There's the Nerve Centre in Derry city also which is another widely used spot (The Undertones played there - on their home turf - at the end of '07) and is even closer to us. It would be great to see you play anywhere in Ireland but I'll try to get across the sea to catch you somewhere on your tours of England. Thanks-a-million once again and all the best, Pearse.

Pete

23 January 2008

Hi Ian and thanks very much for your kind comments. Hopefully see you at the London gig.
Pearse the 3-CD anthology in its previous format has been shelved for the time being I'm afraid however we are likely to be putting out another retrospective CD of tracks that aren't on the current 'best of 1983-87' CD but were on the old 3-CD set sometime later this year. Thanks for your generous remarks. I'd love to play in Ireland - we'll see what we can get together. Any venues you would recommend round your neck of the woods?
Cheers,
Pete

Ian Hadingham

22 January 2008

Thanks for the amazingly quick dispatch of the CD, Pete. And wonderful to hear the mix of familiar and unfamiliar songs. Unlike many here, I did not manage to get a copy of the album in the 80s when it came out.
I was clearing out my Mother's attic at the seekend, and finally found the box of C90s of Peel recordings. Jools put one in the stereo of the car as we drove down, and turned out to be one with your first session on it. Peelie really loved it, and it was his passion that made me tape that session twice just to make sure.

Hope to see you if the London gig happens.

Pearse McCann

18 January 2008

After my most recent phase of listening to one of my all time favourite acts (following trawls through the John Peel Sessions book I got for Christmas) I googled Sophie and Peter Johnston before midnight last night and sat until 1am in disbelief, leafing through all the incredible stuff contained in their web site. Why I never thought of doing it before? I just don't know - I thought they were long gone. It's brilliant to see they're back "live" + kicking and recording/releasing new material.
Like most of the rest I started with the Peel sessions - taping them and playing them to the uninitiated whenever I could, stating the obvious superiority of the product over the likes of Yazoo etc. Later on I was lucky enough to get hold of the 12" singles (in Belfast) and the LP (in Dublin) which I treasured and still do - giving the compilation tapes (made of all the S&PJ recordings I had managed to gather together) regular plays.
Like all their other fans I'm just delighted to have more of them to enjoy today and as soon as I've signed off I'll be adding to my collection of Sophie + Peter songs via their shop.
To Sophie and Peter themselves: please do reissue your full 3CD Anthology - it's a must-have, with so much unheard material I'm sure - please, please, please! - and do keep touring (you might hit our shores sometime or I'll get across to see you). I went to see two other favourites of mine recently - Thomas Dolby in Dublin at the end of last year and China Crisis a few years ago in Belfast, so I'll be keeping an eye on the gigs page. Thanks so much for making all the old gems available to us again on CD and long may you continue to produce new works of art. Cheers, PO.
PS: Where can I find the track listing for the Anthology?

Ian Hadingham

15 January 2008

Wow, a website and finally the chance to buy a cd of your great songs from the 80's. Of all Peelies sessions, yours was the ones i most treasured, especially the first one. I had not googled your name for a year or two and to find that you are still going is just wonderful. Really looking forward to getting the cd as the tape had just about given up the ghost.

mick

11 January 2008

Hi Pete ,Happy new year sorry no chat for a while but its basically back to the old routine 9 to 5 and all that .You must have been chuffed getting some air play on the radio, About bloody time well over due .I am again looking forward to the gig and have been spreading the word ,With regard to my search for a desk ,well its a minefield Ive started looking towards Amek as apposed to the soundtracs desks and for the multi track otari they are going to be more reliable so I'm told, Any thoughts on this Pete?oh and one last thing with regards to what David Boyle says its taken me about 3mins 20 seconds to write this just about enough time for you to write another piece of perfect pop bye for know and good luck tomorrow Mick.

David Boyle

10 January 2008

I must say that I've just heard "getting lost together" on that new album. It was so great to hear that the sound is still fresh as after 20 years and hasn't really changed that much but this is the brillant thing for me. I was hoping it would be similar. I had just recently watched a BBC 4 programme about what makes a pop song. The programme missed out on not featuring acts like Sophie and Peter Johnston. Excellent team!

Pete

7 January 2008

Happy New Year to everyone from Sophie & myself!

Hi again Mike and thanks very much for your kind comments. As regards the synth sounds on the latest album they were produced using a number of virtual instruments which were: Pro-53(prophet 5 emulation), FM8 (DX7 imitation), Absynth 4 and Massive by Native Instruments; Sampletank 2, SonikSynth 2 & Miroslav Philharmonik (orchestral samples) by IK Multimedia ; and a Mini Moog V (copy of a minimoog) by Arturia. The only effects used on the virtual synths were the internal effects of each software instrument (reverb, chorus, delay, etc.) plus some Steinberg Cubase individual MIDI track EQ (Cubase was the sequencing software I used). Many of the broken chord/arpeggiated synth sounds on the new CD are composite sounds achieved by layering or stacking different, hopfully complementary, sounds. A number of the synth sounds used were indeed modified presets but many others were created from scratch. I'm a fan of Roland synths and particularly the sounds of the Junos and Jupiter 8 so it's quite possible I was subconsciously going for similar sounds to what might have been produced by those instruments even though those instruments didn't actually feature. Hope this answers your questions.
Cheers,
Pete.

Mike Harley

3 January 2008

Hi Pete. After listening to your latest cd for the hundredth time I got to thinking that most of the keyboard voices featured sound very much like some of the pre programmed ones from the classic Roland Juno series of synths from the early eighties with some skillful tweaking (Especially on the opening and closing tracks).
If that's not the case I would be very interested in the source of the sounds and what effects (If any) were used. I tried to emulate the sounds on my Korg N1 and Roland XP50 with limited success.
In my humble opinion 'World in a snowdrop' and 'A soul on high' are the two most outstanding songs with sophie's vocals at their absolute best.
Long may your musical genius continue and have a great new year.

Cheers Pete

Mike.

OxiaWorksXS

31 December 2007

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ANDY MCGREVY

27 December 2007

Ihave been a fan for years and never thought I would get to see you two live at gig. Will be at the Cumberland Arms in Byker for my birthday night out. Really looking forward to it - good luck!

Mark McArthur

24 December 2007

Have just seen the videos on Youtube- fantastic. It was really good seeing the two oustanding tracks from the new LP- spellbinding. I've really enjoyed re-discovering your music over the past couple of months.

Despite your general absence from the public consciousness, I think you should get an entry in Wikipedia. There are many talented bands with entries, some even more obscure (cult) than S&PJ. Look forward to hearing more great music from you.

Have a very Merry Chritmas and a Happy New Year.

Rich Gilchrist

23 December 2007

Merry Christmas Pete & Sophie and all the best for 2008.

sophie selwood

21 December 2007

We are geting marryed

Pete

18 December 2007

Cheers for those gig venue suggestions Pughie & for your kind comments. We're planning to play in London & Falmouth in 2008. Watch this space!

Tim, thanks very much for your message which made for very interesting reading. Good to hear from you. I remember the Peel session on which 'Travel In Time' was recorded, Sophie & I had recently started using a MCS2 Movement drum computer (as employed by The Eurythmics & Thompson Twins) but hadn't quite figured out how to sync it to the Roland MC-4B microcomposer which drove the synths hence the hit and miss timing problems! It was though, as you say, a really cool & creative vibe in the Maida Vale studios and we were only too aware of some of the amazing bands & musicians that had passed through those hallowed BBC portals! We liked Martin Colley very much & were lucky enough to work with him subsequently on some other recordings. The tracks from the Travel In Time session appear on our 'Best Of 1983-87' CD purchasable vie the 'Shop' link on this site.

Mick, thanks a lot for your message & kind words. We'll have a look at seeing if we can resurrect 'Some Sunny Day', I'm afraid I can't make any promises though.

Cheers to all!

Pete

mick

17 December 2007

Hi Pete ,Just watched the cluny footage ,whats there to say really except bravo,more ,more, So pleased to have been there the clip totally refreshes the day in my thoughts brilliant ,really looking forward to the cumberland arms ,And just out of pure down right cheek as i know your promoting the new stuff please slot in a version of some sunny day the song that got me into your music its to good not to be played ,In the words of Mr Peel my version ,that song ment as much to me

Tim

14 December 2007

There seemed to be loads of bands passing through Maida Vale in the eighties recording seesions for Radio One. There were sessions for Janice Long, David Jenson, The Friday Rock Show and, of course, John Peel to name but a few. I was lucky enough to work on many of these (mostly as a tape op in those days) but as time goes by much of the music we recorded has faded from my memory. So why, after nearly twenty five years, does a song like "Travel In Time" still stick in my mind? Even the session sticks in my mind. I had never heard any of Sophie and Peter's material before but as the synths were wired up and the music started to flow it was quite obvious that here was something extraordinary. Martin Colley was the sound engineer on the session and he produced a beautiful, rich mix which really worked well with this material. But it was more than just the songs. Sophie and Peter were lovelly to work with and there was a great sense of creativity throughout the day. It wasn't all plain sailing though. These days we take for granted that you can record and play back using midi but back then this sort of technology wasn't exactly stable. Things would go out of synch and that meant going for yet another take. It all added to the challenge of recording and mixing four songs in 12 hours. I was really pleased to see this web site appear and to see that your back at the creative coal face. Next step for me? Tracking down the new CD. And I must see if I can find a copy of that session!

Tim

Mark Pugh (Pughie)

12 December 2007

Got the new (2007) CD today listening to it now,its like you've never been away!! (now you can take that both ways,either its like we've woken up from being in a 25 year coma or you sound dated!! take your pick)....'dated sound'.....don't think i can go down that route,synth-pop like this sounds good whenever you hear it,is there a market for this type of thing?....well yes there is but you have to find them,just look at the mainstream charts of nowadays its all throwaway crap,heard it once forgotten it unless it has a gimmick like being a crazy toad or a german DJ with a ponytail!,totally forgetable. What we have here is well crafted pop songs with a melody,thoughtful lyrics & a feeling of beng loved out of the soft synths used,rather than preset heaven and appregiated cheating!!,i don't believe ive almost written a well crafted review here!!...panic!!,oh how we long for another 'Peel',ive just listened to his MP3 of comments,God did he love you.
I suppose gigs are something that may not ever happen 'down south',but if they were to appear how about the-
Robin 2 (Bilston Wolverhampton)
http://www.therobin.co.uk/
or-
Cox's Yard (Stratford-Upon-Avon)
http://www.coxsyard.com/entertainment/index.php
venues that may well take a chance.
Thanks for reading,i hope it wasn't a chore!!

FreeStoring

11 December 2007

hay!!
good project :)
senks :)

Pete

11 December 2007

Mick, Jeff Brown who produced TX45 on Tyne Tees asked if I'd adapt 'Some Sunny Day' from our 1987 album to use as the title music for the programme. I was flattered to be asked and to be honest didn't need much persuasion to agree. (Nothing of course to do with getting paid for it!) We went on to appear on the show on 2 different occasions. Thanks for your kind words & all the best again to you & your family for Xmas & the new year.
Mark, thanks very much for your kind comments. Yes TX45 only went out, as far as I know, on Tyne Tees TV. Your ears may not be as manky as you possibly think as I vaguely remember having a friendly disagreement with Sophie a few years back when she was convinced that she had sung part of the verses! All the best for Xmas & the New year.
Jamie, great to hear from you! Thanks for your comments and best wishes to you for Xmas & the new Year.

Jamie

10 December 2007

Gorgeous...love it...very very happy you put this together. xxx

Mark Pugh

9 December 2007

How unbeleivably embarrassing!!!.......no not your youtube videos the fact that after all these years i didn't realise Peter sang lead vocals on Happy Together!!,i just thought it was Sophie singing in a different key......just goes to show how manky my ears must be!,great to watch the TX45 videos,i didn't get to see these shows when they aired (maybe that was a regional programme??),but after all these years seeing footage like this is like finding Wonka's golden ticket. You see don't listen to old people telling you the t'internet is all bad,this is what its all about.

mick

9 December 2007

Hi Pete ,Just had my first opportunity to watch the tx 45 videos very surreal having now met the two of you but fantastic all the same,If at all possible you must tell us all how this came about and what the whole experience was like was this several visits to tyne tees or just the one and how did they convince you to let them have in my opinion one of the best songs I've ever heard for there theme it really suited the show way better than The Tubes main theme just my opinion of course so apologies to Tube fans . By the way the ppg looks very cool love the sound of it as you obviously did amazing .So I'll finish by wishing yourself, family extended family all the very best for Xmas&new year and will continue spreading the word .bye for now Mick .PS Brandon s just walked in and says hi.

Nick

8 December 2007

YouTube videos - brilliant!! Really enjoyed watching these, I'd never even heard of the TV program before. Look forward to footage of your cd launch gig which I'm so so disappointed I wasn't able to attend. When's a DVD coming out??!!
Merry Christmas!

Pete

8 December 2007

Hi Brandon, thanks for your comments. Glad you liked the video! Happy Christmas & best wishes for the New Year to you and your dad & family from Sophie & Pete.
Hi Grant, thanks for ordering the Xmas Carols CD which was posted off to you yesterday. Festive good wishes & all the best for the New Year to you from both of us. Happy Xmas decorating!
Pete

Grant

7 December 2007

Hi Pete,

Just ordered your Xmas Carols CD. Hopefully it will arrive in time to put the decorations up next weekend :-)

Merry Christmas to you and your family and Sophie.
All the Best
Grant

from brandon

6 December 2007

Pete I've just watched your video on u tube it was very good and i really like television satellite from Brandon .

Pete

4 December 2007

Hi Mike, Thanks very much for your kind words. Glad you like the carols tunes! I've not tried the dulcimer I have to admit but I do very much like the sound it makes. I did the carols recordings a couple of years ago but as far as I remember it was just my Telecaster set to the neck pick-up and going straight into the mixer with a touch of chorus, some digital delay and a generous serving of reverb added. I also, perhaps somewhat bizarrely, and I'm sure this is more than you need to know, remember having a wire with one end wrapped around the pick-up switch on the guitar and the other tucked inside my trouser waistband in contact with my skin to get rid a buzzy hum from the guitar - I guess I was acting as a kind of electrical earth or something. I was 99.99% convinced that I wasn't at risk from an electric shock but there was just that tiny niggle of doubt which added an extra frisson to the recording process!
All the best to you too Mike for Christmas & the New Year from Sophie & me and thanks again.
Pete

Mike Harley

3 December 2007

Pete, Is their no end to your talents? Not content with being a synth pop/techno wizzard you come up trumps once again with those fabulous festive guitar versions of popular carols.
It's very reminiscent of Martin Carthy's guitar work with Steeleye Span in the late sixties/early seventies (of which I'm very much a fan). Have you ever tried playing the dulcimer?
What kind of effects did you use on the recordings, just reverb and chorus?
I'm not usually taken with Christmas carols but I'm seriously tempted to invest in a copy. This is easy listening at it's very best.
Here's wishing you and Sophie all the very best for Christmas and a successful and prosperous new year. You both really deserve it.

Mike.

Pete

3 December 2007

Hi Mick, thanks for your message.
If you go to the 'links' page & click on the MySpace link you can hear the track 'Dreams' there.
Sorry about your diappointment at missing the 3-CD anthology. Some possible good news is that it may be making a reappearance in 2008.
All the best,
Pete

mick

2 December 2007

Hi Pete ,sorry no chat for a while we've all been under the weather + as you said it's that time of year again so its all hands on deck getting last minute bits n bobs .Anyway just wanted to ask about the CD version of the album the Japanese import any chance of a few bars of the track dreams on the site i haven't heard this one and what about getting the anthology back I'm gutted i missed it any way got to dash looking forward to the first gig proper bye for now Mick.

Mark Pugh

23 November 2007

To Celia-thanks for comments,its always great to 'find' something like this after all these years,S&PJ are (or was) in one of those 'long lost' bands who no-one else has heard of (well in my circle of friends) along with Fashion/Set The Tone/Feelabeelia (who i recently found their only LP on vinyl and is amazing.)
I'm really looking forward to the 3 CD set whenever that comes available again.

Celia

22 November 2007

To mark pugh - you're on the right lines, linkin up with Sophie and Peter Johnston! May you discover more! You missed a fantastic CD launch in Newcastle. They are certainly massively talented - the songs they played were amazing. It's hard to believe they aren't known by everyone. If you haven't heard pete singing...and he's got an amazing voice...look on 'Paul Rose' website (a guitarist) and scroll down to bottom left - pods. He has made two podcasts of pete johnston playin acoustic stuff and singin and it's f***in staggeringly beautiful. Three words CHECK IT OUT! Love you Pete. Cissy. xxx

Andrew Dineley

21 November 2007

I am really sad I couldn't make the recent gig but it's great news that some of the footage will hopefully end up online at some point. Out of interest what was the set list? And while you're looking at putting video stuff online any chance we can see the Japanese advert that I have heard mention used one of your songs a while back, 'Dreams'? Love the new album by the way. Keep it goin'...

michaelmjoyce@btinternet.com

20 November 2007

Hi Pete,
thanks for the mention about Brandon he is thrilled to bits cheers .Mick.

Mark Pugh

19 November 2007

Well its november 19th,the morning after the night before!!!.......the night i discovered S&PJ website,i was trawling through Youtube and typed in S&PJ and found a video to a track called 'Paradise'....what?,Paradise?,i don't know that track. Then a link to this website and a whole world of new stuff has appeared,Sophie & Peter have returned to my life. I thoughti was the only fan in the UK,i have the cassette of the 1st album,i was amazed when a few years ago i stumbled (again) onto a copy of the japanese CD release with a bonus track 'Dreams' i thought that was a dream finding a new great song by a group that foundered years ago. How wrong was i?,new photos new songs new CD's and what looks like an anthology that i really need but at this moment in time is not on sale..bugger!,i shall order the 'best of' to give me a taster of what is to come when i eventually get my grubby hands on the 3 disc set (can in Peter?........please).
I do feel though a bit of an 'outsider' with you lot here,as you all seem to be of the 'John Peel' sessions set,i didn't discover S&PJ via his show,i do seem to remember i found them via the single 'Happy Together' of which i still think i have 2 spare shrink wrapped copies....you know i will buy those seeing as they are in the flop box,they may become valuable type thing!,i'm a massive Erasure fan and love pure class synth-pop at ots best and i always felt that S&PJ were in the same synth-pop genre. I notice in the 'links' section that The Human League & Propaganda are also classed as influences for Peter,i would just like to say i am big fan of both the HL & Propaganda,in fact i'm seeing HL on december 4th with support from OneTwo who is Paul Humphries (OMD) & Claudia Brucken (Propaganda) as support (and just supported Erasure on their last tour).
Its a pity i can't get to Newcastle for the CD launch at all,i am from Leamington Spa (nr Coventry/Birmingham) in the midlands.but to find this site is good enough for me at this moment in time. one more thing before i bore you all to death......i'm now 41,the bands who i loved when i was a teenager i am now getting to see live,at the time i didn't have the money or transport to get to gigs,but now i'm reaping the rewards with gigs by those groups i know and loved from my youth,a plus point is now they are so obscure that it only costs around £6-12 to see them,maybe a S&PJ gig will be not far away we can only hope.
I look forward to chatting/meeting maybe more S&PJ fans through here in the future,as far as i'm concerned the 80's is alive & kicking to this day.
Mark.

mick

18 November 2007

Hi Pete&Sophie,
Having had a chance to reflect on the launch of your new CD which took place yesterday i would just like to share my thoughts of the day .Firstly Pete thank you so much for the invite and your hospitality on arrival to what was a very relaxed family type affair .Both Brandon and i were made to feel very welcome ,Also a big thank you to Sophie for the warm positive response she gave to Brandon when he said hello ,Let her know she has a new no 1 fan he was very excited to show mum his signed picture , Also hello to Duncan the web guy whom with out i might not be typing this as this page might not exist, Oh and not forgetting your wife Pete also said hello to us both so again many thanks guys .Any way with regard to the launch i hope you achieved more than what you hoped for. Both live sets were fantastic great opening song and great finish your time has definitely come .(If any body down south reads this and they are lucky enough to get an invite when P&S head your way make sure to go you will not be dissapionted )bye for know Mick.

Mark

16 November 2007

Have been listening to your new CD for the past week and a half. It took me a couple of listens to get to grips with, but am of the opinion that it is very good indeed- probably the best new LP I have heard in 2007.

Are you going to put anything on Youtube? This might act as a calling card and it would be interesting to see any live material (even snippets if copyright is an issue). You could put any video from your CD launch on the site.

mick

14 November 2007

Hi Pete ,With regards to what Grant&Rich mention ie lyrics what about some production notes for the songs u merit the most complex I'm positive there will be more than just me keen to know how they were created (then again its probably just me sad git)who knows ,I remember the likes of h17 hum league with lists of kit on the sleeves of there records ,more possibly to let others in the industry know how high up the ladders they were with there flash synclaviers and fairlights any way just a thought looking forward to meeting you both the CD launch and what ever else the day has in store good luck by the way break a leg and all that other stuff the luvvies waffle on about bye for now Mick .

Pete

14 November 2007

Hi Grant. Thanks for your suggestion. Okay I'll see what I can do in the near future re posting up some of our lyrics on the site.
Cheers, Pete.

Grant

12 November 2007

Hi Pete. I'd like to chip in with Rich about getting your lyrics, new and old, up on the site. Cheers, Grant.

Pete

11 November 2007

Hi Rich. Thanks for your comments. I'm pleased you feel the new album stands up alongside our older material.
I'll definitely look into your idea of putting some of our lyrics up on the site. Thanks for that suggestion & for your kind words.
All the best, Pete

Rich Gilchrist

10 November 2007

Hi Pete. Like Mick I must also compliment your speed of CD delivery - puts Amazon to shame.
It's been great this afternoon re-acquainting myself with old favourites from the 83-87 best of collection. Given that my only previous recordings of SP&J were made on a mono tape recorder held next to the speaker of a mono radio tuned to medium wave, I'd not been in a position to appreciate the subtlties of your music and Sophie's singing.
I was really hoping the new album would be up to the same standard as the old songs and am really pleased to say it hasn't disappointed as far as I'm concerned.
By the way, do you have any plans to publish the lyrics on this site? There's some great lines in your songs.

Pete

10 November 2007

Cheers Mick! Glad you like the CD & thanks very much for your kind words. See you at the CD launch,
Pete