From freelance writing on Bowie and Beck for Record Collector, working for record labels, contributing to the liner notes for the Diamonds & Pearls Deluxe album, and working with the Prince Estate. Sam talks to Jason Draper.

INTRO

2mins30s - "What led you to have the career you've had?" 25 years ago, Jason tells a friend at University that no one is going to give him money to be a music journalist.

4mins - "Finding a pathway to doing what I wanted to do..." Jason looks for work experience on Music monthlies, and picks up first freelance work at Record Collector.

6mins - Parents musical taste - 'were they big music lovers?'

7mins - Kids in Plymouth weren't listening to Kid Creole & The Coconuts...! Bowie, Beck and Prince being the Father, the Son & the Holy Ghost.

9mins30s - Was Prince in your mind (as a subject to write about)? 'I was 8 when Diamonds & Pearls came out, and my Mum had the cassette in the car...'

13mins - checking out Prince, making the connection to Beck, Sly Stone amd borrowing his friend's Dad's Sign O The Times VHS

14mins30s - How did Jason get from being a Post-Graduate student to writing books on Prince?

17mins - From the Record Collector to the Rough Guide to Prince (Pitching on 'Prince is going to turn 50 this year')

18mins - Jason discusses the publication of his Prince books and their re-issues.

21mins45secs - Favourite interviews in Prince world? Lives of the musicians... Covid-era interviews with Mayte, 3rd Eye Girl and others.

26mins - Was Prince aware of the books you were writing? "He became aware after the fact..."

29mins - How did Jason get to work on the D&P liner notes? "I think The Estate knew who I was at that point..."

31mins - A different approach: Four to five writers discuss Diamonds & Pearls from their own perspective and angle.

35mins - What is Jason's view of The Prince Estate, having worked for big record labels in the past?

39mins - What's the biggest challenge to protect Prince's legacy? "The biggest challenge is to keep Prince's audience growing..."

How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests!

The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder.

LINKS

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