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Hey! Producers fans. It has been too long since I updated this site! A lot has happened in the last year. When I published this site in January 1997, I had only the debut album. Now I have all 3 albums and some to spare. Take a stab at my contest and you could win the Producers LP of your choice. The first time I listened through You Make the Heat (which I found locally in February 1997) I thought side one was nothing like The Producers. Since then, I now count Sheila, Breakaway, YMTH, Merrygoround, and Chinatown among my favorite Producers tunes. Run for your Life (which I just got before Christmas 1997) is taknig longer to grow on me. At this point I only like RFYL and Tightrope. 

The first 2 albums are all about dating and dreaming. It seemed like they were reading my mind and putting it to music. They are so great! The tunes are heavy on guitar with excellent drum riffs and lyrics. RFYL departs from their typical style leaning more on keyboards. Although Wayne made for a great show his keyboards played a lesser role in the hot first 2 LPs. On the third, the keyboards are good, but not what I'm looking for from the Producers. I wonder what the unreleased fourth album is like? (For some time I believed it was released in 1984 - because of the way the audities article was written. I have since been convinced that it was recorded in early 1989.) 

I'm a fan! 

My brother turned me on to The Producers during the summer of 1982 (I spent most of this year thinking it was 1981) in New Orleans while I was visiting him for the summer. We liked them so much that we went to see them play when they came to New Orleans on tour that summer. It was a small gig (somewhere on the West Bank) since they really only had one hit and I don't think it was getting airplay nationally. They were excellent live. Their stage performance was as energetic as their album, which made them a blast to see. The keyboardist, Wayne, was playing a keyboard that hung around his neck like a guitar (this was the first time I had seen one.) 

It is difficult to pick a favorite song from a band that I thoroughly love. I used to listen to the entire album (The Producers) every day or two for a couple months. I like Life of Crime because of the crime theme. I like What's He Got and I Love Lucy because I can identify with them. There have been too many women I wanted to go out with that just looked right through me like Sheila. Mostly I like the Producers because of the guitar riffs and the fact they have so much energy in their music - there is not a single slow song on the album. 

These were my thoughts right after I got YMTH: "She Sheila is the best on the album. The style and energy isn't the same as their debut. (I don't think they said 'HEY!' the entire album. It was a trademark on their first.)" 

Discography 

The Producers (1981)

You Make the Heat (1982)	Run for Your Life (1985)

Singles 

I am not sure of all the singles the Producers released. If anyone has the singles below (or others) I would like to know what songs they are and what the labels say. 

What She Does To Me / Here's to You (6/13/81 debut: Reached #61 on Billboard hot 100. Spent 6 weeks on the chart.) Portrait #12-02092 

What's He Got / Boys Say When/Girls Say Why (1981) Portrait #24-02445 

She Sheila (1982) Portrait #37-03255 

Depending on You (12") (1985) Marathon #? 

Videos 

I understand that the Producers were very popular on MTV in the early years (1981/1982). They even did the MTV New Year's eve party on December 31,1982. Fans have given me descriptions of each of these videos (some descriptions conflict). Thanks to Clive Young, I have a copy of the What's He Got video! 

What's He Got 

Certain Kinda Girl 

She Sheila 

The Second annual MTV New Year's Eve Rock and Roll Ball on December 31,1982. They did 9 songs plus, big bonus, Auld Lang Sine! (don't hold me to that spelling!) There were 3 other bands on the show: A Flock of Seaguls, Duran Duran, and Jack Mack and The Heart Attack. (Jack Mack and the Heart Attack!!?? - I don't have a clue what they did.) The New Year's Eve Balls were 4 hour shows where each band had one hour. They did them by time zone with the each band starting on the half-hour (I suppose). This way each band was able to ring in the new year for a different time zone. The Producers did the Mountain time zone - which would have put them on from 1:30 to 2:30 am on 1/1/83. The show was broadcast from New York City. 

Here's the set list: 

1. You Make The Heat (Kyle on lead vox wearing what looks like the checked shirt Wayne was wearing in the photos I have on the 'Shows' page - with a big bow tie.) 
2. Merry Go Round (Van on lead vox) 
3. Back to Basics (Kyle) 
4. She Sheila (Van) They said Sheila was a friend of theirs. Shot similar to the MTV video only Wayne was sweating heavily - they got a workout. 
5. Auld Lang Sine (don't hold me to that spelling) 
6. Breakaway (Van) 
7. Dear John (Kyle now wearing a straw fedora) 
8. I Love Lucy (Van) Finally they get to the debut album material. This is where Wayne shows off his dancing maneuvers. 
9. What's He Got (Kyle and Van) 
10. Who Do You Think You Are (Kyle) 

Producers on CD 

None of the Producers albums are on CD, although the Audities article says that there has been talk of releasing the first album on CD. Sony has a web page where you can submit requests for reissues on CD. Stop by their site and ask for your favorite Producers album on CD (select Reissue Request in the subject pull-down). (Only the debut and You Make the Heat are Sony's. They can't do anything about Run for Your Life.) 

But the Producers are on CD on 3 separate Sony compilations! 

• Don't Touch My 45's includes the single "What's He Got" (released in 1994). 
• Go For The Greed includes the single "What She Does to Me" (released in 1996). 
• A new comp Fizz Pop Modern Rock Volume 1 includes the single "What's He Got" also. It was released 10/21/97 on Sony's Epic/Legacy label #652542. You should be able to order the Fizz Pop Vol 2. Fizz Pop also has Adam Ant, Romantics, Joan Jett, and Rockpile among others. (Thanks to Luis P. for pointing out this compilation.)

I recently learned that the first 2 comps were released in the mid 90's, so I decided to look through the 'various' bins at the local book/cd shop and I found Don't Touch My 45's! You may get lucky, too. 

Other 

The Producers have done at least 2 other projects which some of you fans may have heard at one time or another. One is a promotion for Miller Beer in the early 80s. One of their songs (the drum riffs from Chinatown, I'm told) was used for the music in a Miller ad. In addition, Miller made an album called 'Miller Music' (a compilation) which had the Producers doing a new song: 'Run Back'. The album was on the RCA Special Products label number DPL 1-0726. 

The Band 

Visit the band page for more detail. 

• Wayne Famous - Keyboards, Vocals 
• Van Temple - Guitar, Vocals 
• Kyle Henderson - Lead Vocal, Bass (Joined the band in Jan. 1980, left in 1984, returned in 1991) 
• Bryan Holmes - Drums, Vocal 
• Tim Smith - Bass (Joined the band in 1984, left in 1991.) 

Visit the Producers Links page for more juicy info and interviews.