On the Misadventures in Music podcast, hosted by Ian Prowse and Mick Ord, Clive Langer takes us on a journey from his art-school days in Liverpool to collaborating with some of the biggest names in music—Madness, Elvis Costello, David Bowie, Morrissey, and more. Check out the highlights below and make sure you catch the full episode for the complete deep dive!
Deaf School Days: “The Coolest Circus in Town”
Before Clive Langer was co-writing classics like “Shipbuilding” or producing chart-toppers with Madness, he formed the art-rock collective Deaf School in 1970s Liverpool. For a time, Liverpool felt a bit “black and white” to the Hampstead-born Langer, so he and his bandmates splashed colour across the scene with theatrical performances and genre-bending songs.
“We weren’t ashamed to mix up all the different genres and put them in a melting pot,” Langer explains. Deaf School grew a passionate local following, caught the attention of major labels, and ultimately signed with Warner Brothers. Though punk’s explosion made them seem out of step with a new, rawer scene, Deaf School’s theatrical flair left its permanent mark—and Langer was just getting started.
Finding His Feet in Production
When Deaf School wound down, Langer shifted seamlessly from being in the spotlight to sitting behind the mixing desk, partnering with engineer Alan Winstanley. Together, they helped shape the distinctive, effervescent sound of the late 70s and 80s.
- Madness – Langer and Winstanley produced the band’s early releases—including that inescapably catchy signature hit, “Our House”—and helped define their playful, piano-driven sound.
- Teardrop Explodes – A bit of studio wizardry turned “Treason” into a cult classic, then “Reward” rocketed the Liverpool post-punk scene into mainstream charts.
- Dexys Midnight Runners – Yes, that unstoppable earworm “Come On Eileen” also bears Langer’s production fingerprints, though he admits sometimes a producer’s best move is to step back and let a band’s energy speak for itself.
The Political Masterpiece: “Shipbuilding”
Perhaps the jewel in Clive Langer’s songwriting crown is “Shipbuilding,” immortalized by Robert Wyatt and Elvis Costello. Originally dreaming of writing something on par with “Strange Fruit,” Langer meticulously pieced the haunting melody together over months. Then Elvis Costello delivered a piercing anti-war lyric—perfectly suited to Wyatt’s fragile, emotive voice.
“He called me from Australia and said, ‘I’ve written the best lyrics I’ve ever done,’” Langer recalls. “I said, well, it’s the best tune I’ve ever written.”
Set against the backdrop of the Falklands War, “Shipbuilding” questions the price of newfound jobs in British shipyards—if it comes at the cost of lives abroad. It remains one of the most incisive protest songs of its era.
Brushes with Bowie, Jagger, and Morrissey
When director Julien Temple tapped Langer to work on the Absolute Beginners soundtrack, it sparked a creative partnership with David Bowie. Suddenly Langer found himself co-producing “Dancing in the Street” for the Live Aid era with Bowie and Mick Jagger—and even skiing with Bowie and Iggy Pop in Switzerland!
On David Bowie:
“He liked me because I was ‘normal,’” Langer laughs. Yet Bowie clearly valued Langer’s musical ear—Langer says Bowie often cited “Shipbuilding” as a favourite.
On Morrissey, a year-and-a-half in a secluded residential studio, weaving orchestral flourishes into the album Kill Uncle, taught Langer the art of shaping music around a distinctive voice.
“He’d come down for a few hours, then disappear back to his room. We’d craft away, and he’d come back to see if it fit.” It was a producer’s dream: total freedom to create vignettes for Morrissey’s singular lyrics.
The Clang Group: New Music, Same Fire
Even at 70, Clive Langer’s creative spark hasn’t dimmed. His latest project, The Clang Group, is a tight-knit outfit channeling everything from Syd Barrett to Robert Wyatt. Their new single, “Page One,” appears on their upcoming album New Clang, due out in February.
“For me, it’s just something I do,” Langer says. “I still want to improve. I’ve got more free time now, so it occupies my thoughts. I still feel I could be a lot better.”
That unrelenting drive to explore, experiment, and just keep going is exactly why Langer remains one of the unsung heroes of British pop’s golden eras. And if you ask him, he’s only getting warmed up.
Listen Now
Hear the full story from Clive Langer himself, his rock’n’roll art-college days, the inside scoop on working with Bowie and Jagger, how “Shipbuilding” nearly brought him to tears, and why he’s as hungry to create now as ever. Tune into the Misadventures in Music podcast with Ian Prowse & Mick Ord for a captivating chat that every music lover needs to hear.
