Stephen Street

For the American politician, seeSteve Street.

Stephen Brian Street(born 29 March 1960 inHackney,London) is an English record producer best known for his work withthe Smiths,the CranberriesandBlur.Street collaborated withMorrisseyon his debut albumViva Hatefollowing the split of the Smiths.

Stephen Street
Birth name	Stephen Brian Street
Born	(1960-03-29)29 March 1960 Hackney,London, England
Genres	Pop indie rock
Occupation	Record producer
Years active	1980–present
Website	www.stephenstreet.audio

More recently he has worked withKaiser Chiefs,Babyshamblesandthe Courteeners.

For a time, he was managed byGail Colson's company Gailforce Management.

In February 2020, Street received the award for Outstanding Contribution to UK Music at theMusic Producer's Guild Awards.

Career

Early career

Street began his musical career in the late 1970s playing in various bands around London. He played bass in thenew waveska/pop group,Bim,with futureNeneh Cherry/Massive AttackproducerCameron McVey.The band were featured in theListen to Londondocumentary film. Street started atIsland Records' Fallout Shelter Studio in 1982 firstly as an "in-house assistant" and then as an "in-house engineer".

The Smiths and Morrissey (1984–1989)

One of Street's first jobs as in-house engineer was for a session forthe Smiths's "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"and commented in aHitQuartersinterview, "I'd seen them just shortly beforehand onTop of the Popsdoing "This Charming Man",and like most other people around that time who were into music I was really excited by them."Although Street didn't work on the subsequent recording "William, It Was Really Nothing",he was asked to engineer their next album,Meat Is Murder,with Morrissey and Marr producing for the first time.

During this time, he engineered forreggaeartists includingBlack UhuruandLinton Kwesi Johnson,and forjùjú musicianKing Sunny Adé.He helped produce and mix several tracks onStephen Duffy's first two albums:The Ups and the Downsin 1985 andBecause We Love Youin 1986. Twelve years later, he worked with Duffy on his 1998 albumI Love My Friends.

Street continued to work with the Smiths, working as an engineer on their albumThe Queen Is Deadbefore assuming a producer role forStrangeways, Here We Come,their final album.

After the Smiths broke up, Street was producer and co-songwriter for Morrissey's debut solo albumViva Hate,which reached No. 1, spawning two top 10 hits in the UK. Street andVini Reilly,guitarist onViva Hate,had a dispute over songwriting credits. Reilly claimed to have written the majority of the tracks on the album, which Street dismissed, claiming that he wrote the music for all of the tracks on the album and that Reilly had no part to play in that.Street was credited as producer, songwriter, guitarist and bass guitarist on the album. Street went on to co-write and produce two further singles for Morrissey which appeared onBona Dragbefore the singer ended their association, apparently due to disputes regarding royalty payments and alleged conversations between Street andJohnny Rogan,author of controversial Morrissey texts.

Blur (1990–1997; 2015) and Graham Coxon (2003–2009)

After hearing "She's So High",Blur's first single, Street contacted their manager. Soon after he produced their second single "There's No Other Way",although he did not produce the album as a whole. Street produced Blur's next four albums:Modern Life Is Rubbish,Parklife,The Great EscapeandBlur.

FollowingGraham Coxon's departure from Blur, Street produced the guitarist's next albumHappiness in Magazines,released May 2004, plus follow-up albumsLove Travels at Illegal Speedsin March 2006 andThe Spinning Topin May 2009.

Street produced Blur's 2015 albumThe Magic Whip,their first since the band's reformation with Coxon.

The Cranberries (1992–1994; 2001–2002; 2011–2019)

In 1992, Street started working with Irish bandthe Cranberrieson their debut albumEverybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?.The album turned out to be a huge success in the US. In 1994, Street worked with the band again on their second albumNo Need to Argue.Following two albums with different producers, the band worked with Street again on their 2001 albumWake Up and Smell the Coffeeand the two extra tracks that were recorded for their 2002 best of albumStars:"Stars" and "New New York".

After the Cranberries went on hiatus in 2003, guitaristNoel Hoganbegan working on solo work then called Mono Band. Street worked with Hogan in producing the album of the same name released in 2005.

Street also produced the Cranberries' sixth studio albumRoses,released in 2012.He also produced their final albumIn the End,released in 2019.

Kaiser Chiefs and the Ordinary Boys (2004–2007)

Street producedEmployment,the debut album byKaiser Chiefs,after hearing one of their early demos and contacted the band about producing them.At one point, Street brought Blur guitaristGraham Coxoninto the studio to rev his moped for a sound effect. This can be heard on the track "Saturday Night". Street produced the band's second albumYours Truly, Angry Mob.Street also produced the first two albums for ska-influenced indie bandthe Ordinary Boys:Over the Counter Culturein 2004 andBrassboundin 2005.

Babyshambles (2007–present) and Peter Doherty (2008–present)

Street producedShotter's Nation,the second album byPete Doherty's bandBabyshambles.The recording of the album was said to have been a hard process, due to Street's lack of co-operation with Pete Doherty. Street later commented that "Pete wasn't in a very good state for the first couple of weeks of making the record for the reasons that people know about. It was a bit worrying to be honest with you. There were a couple of times I had to fire warning shots across his bow, say 'Listen, you've got to sort yourself out here because if you don't I can't work with you'. I felt like I was going to let down the rest of the band if I walked away from things." Street went on to produce the band's third albumSequel to the Prequel.

Street produced Doherty's solo albumGrace/Wastelands(2009).

Other work

In 1988, Street, along with journalist Jerry Smith, set up the Foundation Label. The label was home to artists includingBradfordand Sp!n. However, the label wasn't a commercial success and folded in 1991.

In 1989, Street produced and engineered "The Black Swan" bythe Triffids.Street produced the 1990Danielle DaxalbumBlast the Human Flower,released onSire Records,along with a subsequent remix EP.

Street worked withthe Darling Budson their third and fourth albumsCrawdaddy(1990) andErotica(1992).

He producedthe Caretaker Race's albumHangover Squarein 1990. The band, formed by ex-Loftguitarist Andy Strickland and roving drummer Dave Mew, had recorded a number of singles previously, some produced by John Parrish. ForHangover Square,the band added a number of new tracks, including "Man Overboard" and "2 Steel Rings", both released as singles.

Street worked withLloyd Colein 1995,producedShed Seven's 1998 albumLet It Rideand worked withNew Order.He also produced several tracks on theLongpigssecond albumMobile Homein 1999.

In 2001–2002, Street worked from Jacobs Studios in Farnham, Surrey to produceWood/Water,the Promise Ring's final album, released byANTI-in 2002.Street also co-producedA New MorningbySuede,released in September 2002.

Street producedThe Magic Treehouse,the debut album fromOoberman,andTired of Hanging Around,the second album bythe Zutons,released in the UK in April 2006.

Street produced the next album byFeeder,released in 2008. Street co-produced the tracks "Save Us"and" Burn the Bridges "from the band'sThe Singlesalbum with lead singerGrant Nicholas.An exclusive mix of this track, done entirely by Street, was available from iTunes upon release.

Street worked withalternativepost-punkbandWhite Lieswhen they were known as Fear of Flying, producing "Routemaster" and "Three's a Crowd".

Manchester indie bandthe Courteenersapproached Street and after hearing demos he offered to produce their album. The album was recorded in London over a six-week stretch and was namedSt. Jude.The album reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, but was subject to mixed reviews.

In August 2010, Street produced the debut EP for Dublin-based band the Vagabonds.

Discography

Productions

• Stephen Duffy-The Ups and Downs(1985)
• The Mighty Lemon Drops-Happy Head(1986)
• The Smiths-Strangeways, Here We Come(1987)
• Morrissey-Viva Hate(1988)
• Sandie Shaw-Hello Angel(1988)
• The Triffids-The Black Swan(1989)
• Danielle Dax-Blast the Human Flower(1990)
• The Darling Buds-Crawdaddy(1990)
• The Real People-The Real People(1991)
• Blur-Leisure(1991)
• The Psychedelic Furs-World Outside(1991)
• The Darling Buds -Erotica(1992)
• Thousand Yard Stare (band)-Hands On(1992)
• Blur -Modern Life Is Rubbish(1993)
• The Cranberries-Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?(1993)
• Thousand Yard Stare (band)-Mappamundi(1993)
• Blur -Parklife(1994)
• The Cranberries -No Need to Argue(1994)
• The Pretenders -Last of the Independents(1994)
• Blur -The Great Escape(1995)
• The Pretenders -The Isle of View(1995)
• Catatonia-Way Beyond Blue(1996)
• Sleeper-The It Girl(1996)
• Blur -Blur(1997)
• Sleeper -Pleased to Meet You(1997)
• Shed Seven-Let It Ride(1998)
• Longpigs-Mobile Home(1999)
• Ooberman-The Magic Treehouse(1999)
• The Pretenders -¡Viva El Amor!(1999)
• Tiger-Rosaria(1999)
• The Webb Brothers-Maroon(2000)
• The Cranberries -Wake Up and Smell the Coffee(2001)
• Idlewild-The Remote Part(2002)
• The Promise Ring-Wood/Water(2002)
• Suede-A New Morning(2002)
• Mower-People Are Cruel(2003)
• Graham Coxon-Happiness in Magazines(2004)
• The Ordinary Boys-Over the Counter Culture(2004)
• Kaiser Chiefs-Employment(2005)
• New Order-Waiting for the Sirens' Call(2005)
• The Ordinary Boys -Brassbound(2005)
• Graham Coxon -Love Travels at Illegal Speeds(2006)
• The Zutons-Tired of Hanging Around(2006)
• Babyshambles-Shotter's Nation(2007)
• Kaiser Chiefs -Yours Truly, Angry Mob(2007)
• The Maccabees-Colour It In(2007)
• The Courteeners-St. Jude(2008)
• Mystery Jets-Twenty One(2008)
• The Pigeon Detectives-Emergency(2008)
• Graham Coxon -The Spinning Top(2009)
• Kid British-It Was This or Football(2009)
• Pete Doherty-Grace/Wastelands(2009)
• The Subways-Money and Celebrity(2011)
• Viva Brother-Famous First Words(2011)
• The Cranberries -Roses(2012)
• Madness-Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da(2012)
• New Order -Lost Sirens(2013)
• Babyshambles -Sequel to the Prequel(2013)
• Blur -The Magic Whip(2015)
• Sleeper -The Modern Age(2019)
• Steve Mason -About the Light(2019)
• The Cranberries -In the End(2019)
• The Pretenders-Hate for Sale(2020)
• She's In Parties - "Puppet Show" (2024)

Songwriting credits with Morrissey

• "Alsatian Cousin", "Little Man, What Now?", "Everyday Is Like Sunday","Bengali In Platforms "," Angel, Angel Down We Go Together "," Late Night, Maudlin Street ","Suedehead","Break Up The Family "," The Ordinary Boys "," I Don't Mind If You Forget Me "," Dial-a-Cliché "and" Margaret On The Guillotine "fromViva Hate– "Treat Me Like a Human Being" (only on remastered version).
• "Interesting Drug","Will Never Marry "," Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference ","The Last of the Famous International Playboys","Ouija Board, Ouija Board","Hairdresser on Fire "," Lucky Lisp "and" Disappointed "fromBona Drag– "Happy Lovers At Last United", "Lifeguard On Duty", "Please Help the Cause Against Loneliness" and "The Bed Took Fire" (only on 2010 re-release).
• "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name", "Oh Well, I'll Never Learn", "Sister, I'm A Poet", "Michael's Bones", "Journalists Who Lie" and "Safe, Warm Lancashire Home" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
• "I Don't Want Us To Finish" is an unreleased track.

External links

• Official website
• Stephen Streetdiscography atDiscogs
• Stephen Street Video Interview
• Interview, HitQuarters Sep 2005
• Stephen Street interview 2011: Part 1
• Stephen Street interview 2011: Part 2