In this episode of Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by Tony Hazzard, a legendary songwriter from the '60s. Tony grew up in Liverpool in post-war Britain. His earliest exposer to music include listening to war time records such as "Run Rabbit Run" but it was rock and rollers like Buddy Holly that captured Tony the most early on. Tony started writing songs while at  Durham University. One of his early works was a song called "You Won't Be Leaving". This song would break Tony into the music world when it was recorded as a single by Hermin's Hermits in 1966. After this song however for the next year Tony went through writers block. It was not until he wrote "Ha Ha Said The Clown", a hit for Manfred Mann in 1967, that his writers block was gone for good. Other hits that would follow for Tony would be Listen to Me as recorded by the Hollies and Fox on the Run as recorded by Manfred Mann.  

More recently in 2021 Tony released his Selected Lyricsbook featuring lyrics throughout his long time in music. In 2022 Tony's latest album came out, Demonstration, an album that features remixed versions of his songs from his first solo album Tony hazard sings Tony hazard. 

Jack Zoomed Tony to discuss his early musical beginnings, the war time records he heard in his early childhood, hearing early rock and roll records on Radio Luxembourg, his early songwriting at Durham University, how he came to be a professional songwriter, the writing of his first hit "You Won't be Leaving", how he overcame his writers block with "Ha Ha Said the Clown", the lyrical brilliance of "Fox on The Run", his work with The Hollies, his book "selected Lyrics" and his recent album Demonstration. 

"I had a hit with 'You Won't Be Leaving' with Herman's Hermits and then I couldn't write anything for a year...I remember going to a meeting...I think I played three songs and he (Gerry Bron - song publisher) didn't like any of them so I stood up and said 'theres no point in playing the fourth', he said 'no, play it' and it was "Ha Ha Said The Clown" and a big grin came on his face and said its a hit" - Tony Hazzard on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about his hit song Ha Ha Said The Clown

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes

The website for Vinyl Vibes. 

If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you. 

.

In this episode of Vinyl Vibes Jack is joined by <a href="https://tonyhazzard.com">Tony Hazzard</a>, a legendary songwriter from the '60s. Tony grew up in Liverpool in post-war Britain. His earliest exposer to music include listening to war time records such as "Run Rabbit Run" but it was rock and rollers like Buddy Holly that captured Tony the most early on. Tony started writing songs while at  Durham University. One of his early works was a song called "You Won't Be Leaving". This song would break Tony into the music world when it was recorded as a single by Hermin's Hermits in 1966. After this song however for the next year Tony went through writers block. It was not until he wrote "Ha Ha Said The Clown", a hit for Manfred Mann in 1967, that his writers block was gone for good. Other hits that would follow for Tony would be Listen to Me as recorded by the Hollies and Fox on the Run as recorded by Manfred Mann.  
More recently in 2021 Tony released his <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Selected-Lyrics-Tony-Hazzard-ebook/dp/B093TGTVKJ">Selected Lyrics</a> book featuring lyrics throughout his long time in music. In 2022 Tony's latest album came out, <a href="https://tonyhazzarduk.bandcamp.com/album/demonstration">Demonstration</a>, an album that features remixed versions of his songs from his first solo album Tony hazard sings Tony hazard. 
Jack Zoomed Tony to discuss his early musical beginnings, the war time records he heard in his early childhood, hearing early rock and roll records on Radio Luxembourg, his early songwriting at Durham University, how he came to be a professional songwriter, the writing of his first hit "You Won't be Leaving", how he overcame his writers block with "Ha Ha Said the Clown", the lyrical brilliance of "Fox on The Run", his work with The Hollies, his book "selected Lyrics" and his recent album Demonstration. 
"I had a hit with 'You Won't Be Leaving' with Herman's Hermits and then I couldn't write anything for a year...I remember going to a meeting...I think I played three songs and he (Gerry Bron - song publisher) didn't like any of them so I stood up and said 'theres no point in playing the fourth', he said 'no, play it' and it was "Ha Ha Said The Clown" and a big grin came on his face and said its a hit" - Tony Hazzard on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about his hit song Ha Ha Said The Clown
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins
To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes/">https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes</a>
The <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">website for Vinyl Vibes</a>. 
If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you. 
.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Vinyl Vibes

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.

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