Multi-instrumentalist Trevor Horn has singled out his work on Yes’ 1983 album ‘90125’ as the high point of his career as a producer. The musician, whose credits include Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s groundbreaking ‘Welcome To The Pleasure Dome’, as well as his own Buggles ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’, also pinpointed his work with R&B singer Seal, as notable.
Trevor was speaking to eonmusic at the Progressive Music Awards, which were held in London on Thursday night (1st September), when he made the revelation. Taking place at the prestigious Globe Theatre, the musician was on hand to collect ‘The Outer Limits’ award.
Other attendees included Jon Anderson, who was given the ‘Prog God’ accolade, The Police’s Andy Summers, who was named the ‘Guiding Light’ and founding Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips, who lifted the ‘Storm Thorgerson Grand Design’ award.
Chatting exclusively to eonmusic at the event, Horn was full of praise for fellow honouree Anderson, with whom he had worked on the multi-million selling ‘90125’. Said Trevor: “I‘ve always been a fan of Jon, and I think he’s got the best voice by far. I never, ever thought I was anywhere near as good as him". He continued: "It was an experience of a lifetime”.
Going on to talk about the process of recording '90125', which opened up a whole new era for the progressive rock giants , Horn said that it had not been an easy album to work on: “It wasn’t without its problems, put it that way”, he confessed.
However the producer was full of praise for the finished work, singling out mega-hit single ‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart’ for particular praise. Said the CBE holder: “I still think ‘Only’s one of the best tracks I ever did. But I think the album as a whole is a really good record, and I could point to loads of things and go - that’s brilliant!”
Summing up his experience making the disc - which has to date sold over three million copies in the U.S. alone, Trevor was emphatic: “When I look back on it, it was one of the better experiences of my life”, he offered, before adding: “I think you’d be pushed to find anything that I’ve done that’s better than ‘90125’, or Seal’s first two albums”.
Earlier in the evening, Horn had collected the 'The Outer Limits' award, for his work with Buggles. 'The Outer Limits' is given to artists who lurk on the outer limits of traditional prog, but celebrates that their creative output is most definitely progressive, although not necessarily in the traditional sense of the style.
Now in its fifth year, the Progressive Music Awards honour those from the specialist music world. The brainchild of those behind Prog magazine, the awards celebrate and support the best in the genre both, from both classic and upcoming artists.
Read eonmusic’s full interview full with Trevor Horn HERE.