We're at Rewind 2025 in Henley On Thames, and as a celebration predominantly of all things '80s, Andrew Roachford has every reason to be here. Released in 1989, his song 'Cuddly Toy' was a smash hit, peaking at number four and spending a further nine weeks inside the top 75. His signature song, it's been covered by Beverly Knight and Gary Barlow (among others), and featured predominantly in the 'Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa' movie. We caught up with Andrew following his performance at Rewind to talk about the song's creation. Lion's den; Eamon O'Neill.
Photo; Eamon O'Neill.
Hi Andrew, how are you doing today?
I am amazing. Nice and warm.
I was just watching you on stage, and if you told us once, you told us 21 times!
I did, I did. I like to make the point heard!
We've got to get straight on there and talk about 'Cuddly Toy', as you seem to have a lot of fun playing it.
Still! Isn't that mad? I've been playing it for like, thirty odd years, and still really enjoy it. That's a sign of, I guess, a good song, where you can keep playing it and still discover something new in it and have fun with it and groove it, you know? It's kind of groovy, so it's fun to play it.
It's one of those songs what has a perfect intro; you've got power chords with the chorus effect on it, and it's very identifiable. Was that a conscious decision?
I think the whole thing came together kind of just by osmosis. That guitar line, I think the guitarist at the time, my guitarist, Hawi Gondwe, threw it on top of it, and I went; "that works. Let's go!", and the whole thing just kind of fell together. It was the quickest written song ever. It was really cool.
And you got these big power chords going on that have so much feel as the song begins.
Yeah, BAM BAMMMMM! [sings chord sequence]! Yes, when we started doing that in the rehearsal room, we could have played it all day. That's also a good sign; play the chorus all day, and you know you're onto something nice.
Did that inspire you to just go with the vocal? I mean, you kind of let loose, especially towards the end.
Yes. Okay, so, you know, I grew up listening to my parents' records. My parents loved James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Reading, Little Richard; the guys that really gave it something, and I always aspire to sort of be kind of like that. I just love that, giving your all, which is what I think soul is about.
In the studio version of the song you sing; "I told you once, I told you three times, I told you five times"; were you all feeding off each other to make that work, as it sounds pretty improvised?
Well, it was because we were lucky enough that we actually toured that song before we actually recorded it. It was a live track before it was a studio track. So we got into that because, the reason why I wrote it is because I wanted a song that I could mess around with at the end, like James Brown does and stuff. So that was an integral part of the track by the time we got to the studio.
Speaking of killer guitar players, you've been working with Mike Rutherford for a number of years; what's that been like?
I feel like I went to school in some ways. You know, he's a lovely guy, and he has a way of working that is so interesting to me. I've learned so much from working with him because it's different from how I maybe approach things. I mean, we do some things the same, and so it's been an honour. It's been an honour. I just got the phone call, and next thing I knew, we together for like, what, twenty years or something.
What's happening for you going forward?
We've got loads of gigs coming. I'm going out later in the year opening for Level 42, and it's like the whole of the UK. We're doing Ireland, Southern, Northern Ireland, we're doing the whole thing, the whole shebang! It's going to be a long tour, but amazing. I know next year I might be doing some stuff, working with Jools Holland and doing my own tours. It's been a busy year so far, but the next year's going to be even more busy.
For all things Roachford, visit his official site.
I am amazing. Nice and warm.
I was just watching you on stage, and if you told us once, you told us 21 times!
I did, I did. I like to make the point heard!
We've got to get straight on there and talk about 'Cuddly Toy', as you seem to have a lot of fun playing it.
Still! Isn't that mad? I've been playing it for like, thirty odd years, and still really enjoy it. That's a sign of, I guess, a good song, where you can keep playing it and still discover something new in it and have fun with it and groove it, you know? It's kind of groovy, so it's fun to play it.
It's one of those songs what has a perfect intro; you've got power chords with the chorus effect on it, and it's very identifiable. Was that a conscious decision?
I think the whole thing came together kind of just by osmosis. That guitar line, I think the guitarist at the time, my guitarist, Hawi Gondwe, threw it on top of it, and I went; "that works. Let's go!", and the whole thing just kind of fell together. It was the quickest written song ever. It was really cool.
And you got these big power chords going on that have so much feel as the song begins.
Yeah, BAM BAMMMMM! [sings chord sequence]! Yes, when we started doing that in the rehearsal room, we could have played it all day. That's also a good sign; play the chorus all day, and you know you're onto something nice.
Did that inspire you to just go with the vocal? I mean, you kind of let loose, especially towards the end.
Yes. Okay, so, you know, I grew up listening to my parents' records. My parents loved James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Reading, Little Richard; the guys that really gave it something, and I always aspire to sort of be kind of like that. I just love that, giving your all, which is what I think soul is about.
In the studio version of the song you sing; "I told you once, I told you three times, I told you five times"; were you all feeding off each other to make that work, as it sounds pretty improvised?
Well, it was because we were lucky enough that we actually toured that song before we actually recorded it. It was a live track before it was a studio track. So we got into that because, the reason why I wrote it is because I wanted a song that I could mess around with at the end, like James Brown does and stuff. So that was an integral part of the track by the time we got to the studio.
Speaking of killer guitar players, you've been working with Mike Rutherford for a number of years; what's that been like?
I feel like I went to school in some ways. You know, he's a lovely guy, and he has a way of working that is so interesting to me. I've learned so much from working with him because it's different from how I maybe approach things. I mean, we do some things the same, and so it's been an honour. It's been an honour. I just got the phone call, and next thing I knew, we together for like, what, twenty years or something.
What's happening for you going forward?
We've got loads of gigs coming. I'm going out later in the year opening for Level 42, and it's like the whole of the UK. We're doing Ireland, Southern, Northern Ireland, we're doing the whole thing, the whole shebang! It's going to be a long tour, but amazing. I know next year I might be doing some stuff, working with Jools Holland and doing my own tours. It's been a busy year so far, but the next year's going to be even more busy.
For all things Roachford, visit his official site.
RSS Feed