You, Me and An Album

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Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer, synthesizer programmer, studio owner, film producer and author Robert Margouleff stops by YMAAA to introduce Al to David Sanborn’s 1982 album As We Speak—an album that he produced. Robert talks about how he came to produce the saxophonist’s album and why the album had the novelty of two tracks with vocals by Michael Sembello. Robert and Al covered a wide range of topics, from how drum machines changed the nature of recorded music from the ‘80s forward to the demise of fade-outs to the drawbacks of noise-canceling headphones to the use of AI in music. Robert also discussed his recently-released memoir Shaping Sounds: Stevie Wonder, DEVO, The Synth Revolution and My Life Behind the Music, and he delved into his work with Stevie Wonder (along with his production and engineering partner Malcolm Cecil) during the early- and mid-‘70s.

Robert’s website (which links to sites where you can buy his book) and socials:
https://www.margouleff.com/
Instagram: @robertmargouleff
Facebook: @robert_margouleff

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 
To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.
Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum.
1:41 Robert’s introduction
3:05 Robert talks about the archive of songs that provided tracks for Stevie Wonder’s albums from Music of My Mind to Fulfillingness’ First Finale
6:08 Robert delves into his first foray into digital recording for As We Speak
8:37 Robert points out the novelty of having tracks with vocals on a David Sanborn album
10:13 Robert and Al talk about some of the unquestioned conventions of album-making
12:31 Robert makes the case against noise-canceling headphones (and for cursive handwriting)
15:28 Robert mourns the loss of rubato and “objective listening” in recorded music
19:07 Robert explains why he wanted to record As We Speak as live as possible
20:19 Robert talks about how he came to produce As We Speak
22:48 Robert recalls the recording process for the album
27:08 Robert and Al talk about Michael Sembello’s contributions to As We Speak and why the album didn’t break him out
31:31 Robert talks about the impact of cocaine and drum machines on ‘80s music (plus an aside on crating dogs)
38:13 Robert pinpoints what makes Taylor Swift’s live performances powerful
39:18 Robert explains why he does not fear the use of AI in music
46:03 Robert shares his final thoughts on As We Speak and some observations about recording drums and percussion
51:55 Al sums up his reaction to listening to As We Speak
52:41 Robert explains why Music of My Mind has a joyous, human feel
1:01:16 Al cites one part of Robert’s book that made a big impression on him

Outro music is from “Boogie On Reggae Woman” by Stevie Wonder.

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Seattle-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Robert Deeble joins Al to get him acquainted with Florist’s 2022 self-titled album. Robert talks about how he got introduced to the album and why he connected with it almost immediately. He also discusses the parallels between the album and some of his own music. Al notes some connections between Florist and Robert’s latest album The Space Between Us, and Robert talks about inspirations and meanings of two of the album’s tracks, “Forest From the Tree” and “Not on Your Team.”

As Robert mentioned, you can check out his music and learn more about his work on his website, robertdeeble.com, and on his Bandcamp page, robertdeeble.bandcamp.com. You can also follow Robert on Instagram at @rdeeble.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 
To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.
Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:32 Robert’s introduction
2:16 Florist are nearly as new to Robert as they are to Al
4:59 Robert talks about some of the artists who have been influential to his music
7:07 Robert revisits his first impressions of the album
10:12 Robert shares his appreciation for music appreciators
11:51 Al found the album’s pacing and sequencing interesting
15:35 Robert talks about connections he’s discovered between his album’s and Florist’s
20:38 One similarity between Robert’s music and Florist’s was particularly notable
26:34 Robert explains what he likes about Florist’s sound and approach
29:05 Robert talks about Emily Sprague as a lyricist
31:15 Robert and Al discuss the healing quality of Florist
36:39 Robert talks about the album’s dreamlike quality
38:06 Al picks out the one track that stood out for him
40:00 Robert makes note of Sprague’s affinity for synths
43:12 Robert and Al sum up their reactions to Florist
44:15 Robert talks about the origins of his song “Forest From the Tree”
47:42 Robert reveals the conceptual layers of “Not on Your Team”
57:50 Robert talks about his upcoming plans

Outro music is from “Orphan Song” by Robert Deeble.
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Grace Bennett and Jade Alcantara of the Brooklyn-based band Sub*T introduce Al to Plumtree’s 1997 album Predicts the Future (or, as it is alternatively known, Plumtree Predicts the Future). Grace and Jade talk about why the album is an important one for both of them and the influence it has had on their own music. They also discuss favorite tracks from the album and the phenomenon that grew out of the song “Scott Pilgrim.” Grace and Jade talk about the evolution of their friendship and how that led to the formation of Sub*T, and they delve into their recently-released debut album, How My Own Voice Sounds.
Here’s where you can learn more about Sub*T…
@subtrules on Instagram and YouTube
https://www.subtrules.com/
https://subtrules.substack.com/

For information on the June 6 show at AS220 in Providence, go here: https://as220.org/calendar/guppy-subt-stupid-robots.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 
To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.
Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:39 Introducing Jade and Grace
2:17 Al barely knew what Scott Pilgrim was
3:11 Al had some confusion over the album’s name
4:16 Grace explains why they chose to talk about Predicts the Future
5:17 Grace and Jade talk about their early impressions of Plumtree
9:18 Jade and Grace point out the features of the album they find so appealing
14:20 Jade shares some interesting details about Plumtree’s members
16:38 Grace, Jade and Al talk about some of their favorite tracks from the album
21:20 Jade and Grace discuss how Plumtree’s sound progressed
24:50 Jade brings up some more of her favorite tracks
26:11 Grace and Jade talk about the album’s middle section
27:56 Jade and Grace discuss the phenomenon of “Scott Pilgrim”
36:31 Grace explains the origins of the album title, How My Own Voice Sounds
39:39 Grace reveals how she came up with the title for “Imaginal Cells”
41:33 Grace and Jade discuss how they determine vocal roles on their songs
46:55 Grace and Jade talk about how they became a band
54:14 What’s next for Sub*T?

Outro music is from “Mirror Image” by Sub*T.
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This episode was first published in February 2026 on the You, Me and An Album Bonus Tracks Patreon.
Joe Adragna (The Junior League) and Mary Beth Melchior join me for this episode to discuss the Monkees’ film Head, as well as its soundtrack, both released in 1968. We talk about our impressions of the movie, what we liked about the songs from the soundtrack and the ways in which the film and songs were and weren’t a departure for the group. We also discuss why the film, the soundtrack and the Monkees in general have not received more acclaim.’
Joe talks about his new album The Moon Neither Noticed Nor Ignored (out Feb. 6), and Mary Beth delves into her YouTube poetry channel OnThePath88.
0:00 Re-introducing Joe and Mary Beth
1:43 Joe encouraged Mary Beth and Al to watch the Head movie
2:55 Mary Beth explains why she hadn’t yet watched Head
6:10 Joe talks about when he first saw the movie
7:47 Joe and Mary Beth talk about the different way that the Monkees were presented in the film, as opposed to the TV series
14:12 The darkness of the Monkees' new image came more from the story than from the music itself
16:19 Mary Beth talks about the use of “Daddy’s Song” in the film and compares it to “Cuddly Toy”
21:33 Joe and Mary Beth discuss how topical Head was (and still is)
26:44 Joe explains how the movie came together and the degree to which the Monkees were involved
31:56 Joe and Mary Beth talk about how the film exposes the ways the Monkees were trapped in their TV series personas
39:02 Head was a difficult film to market
41:40 Joe relates an encounter he had with Peter Tork regarding the movie
44:18 Can the soundtrack be experienced as separate and distinct from the movie?
46:43 Joe recalls a live performance of “Porpoise Song” that he saw
47:55 Mary Beth ponders the strangeness of being a Monkee after the band’s heyday
48:58 Joe and Mary Beth celebrate the catalog of songs written by the Monkees themselves
54:47 Mary Beth and Joe discuss how Mickey Dolenz continues to build on the Monkees’ legacy
56:31 Is there a scenario where the Monkees could have continued the direction signaled by Head?
59:16 Al is more motivated now to explore more of the Monkees’ discography
1:00:42 Contrary to public perception, the Monkees were real musicians
1:02:20 Could there be another Monkees episode in the future?
1:03:19 Joe talks about his new album The Moon Neither Noticed Nor Ignored
1:06:53 Mary Beth shares the latest developments on her YouTube poetry channel, OnThePath88
Outro music is from “Forget Forget Me Nots” by The Junior League.
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Manchester-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Jesca Hoop joins Al to introduce him to Joni Mitchell’s 1972 album For the Roses. Jesca talks about how she first discovered For the Roses as well as the earlier albums in Mitchell’s catalog after having minimal exposure to popular artists during much of her childhood. She explains why she connects with this album and why it’s a notable part of Mitchell’s discography. Jesca also discusses her new album Long Wave Home and delves into her experience as the album’s sole producer.

You can find Jesca online in each of the following places:
https://www.jescahoop.co.uk/
@jescahoopster on Instagram
@JescaHoopMusic on Facebook
@JescaHoop on YouTube

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 
To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.
Al has put a pause on publishing new Bonus Tracks episodes, but you can listen to the past ones at the You, Me and An Album Patreon for $1/month. Just go to https://www.patreon.com/youmealbum.

1:28 Jesca’s introduction
2:21 Jesca explains why she chose to talk about For the Roses
5:26 Jesca shares how she first encountered For the Roses and some of the other albums in Mitchell's catalog
8:29 Jesca talks about Mitchell’s progression from her earliest albums to For the Roses
11:49 Jesca explains why the album resonated for her during a lonely period of her life
14:34 Jesca singles out the first track that she felt a connection to
17:03 Jesca identifies a key element that separates Mitchell from many other musicians and songwriters
18:59 Jesca talks about the adventurousness of Mitchell’s poetry on For the Roses
21:35 Jesca discusses the artistry behind Mitchell’s arrangements and pacing
25:53 Did Mitchell make better singles on Court and Spark than on For the Roses?
29:02 Jesca explains why she listened to For the Roses a lot while on tour with Mark Knopfler
32:07 Jesca and Al contrast “For the Roses” with “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire”
38:44 Jesca notes the recent Record Store Day reissue of For the Roses
39:53 Jesca talks about being the sole producer of Long Wave Home
45:48 Jesca explains some of her lyrical choices for “Designer Citizen”
51:48 Jesca discusses the comforting feel of “Long Wave Home”
55:15 Jesca talks about upcoming plans for The Songs of Joni Mitchell and her solo tour

Outro music is from “Big Storm” by Jesca Hoop.
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