1982 Bugatti and Musker – The Dukes

The Dukes was produced by Arif Mardin, and recorded and mixed by Gary Skardina at The Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, California), Chelsea Sound and Atlantic Studios (New York), Maison Rouge, and Oddysey Studios (London)
Bugatti & Musker are known as the UK songwriter team for their smash hit such as “Modern Girl” performed by Sheena Easton in 1982. “Every Woman In The World” performed by Air Supply was ranked # 5 on US Single Chart in 1980. Patti Austin performed “Every Home Should Have One” in 1981 as the title track of her album. In 1981, Chaka Kahn performed “Fate” which was included on Bugatti & Musker’s own album afterwards. This is the only one commercial release album of this melody-maker team, one of the eternal masterpiece album. This is their one and only own album fully supported by Westcoast Musicians.

The story began back in the ’70s when Musker was writing with Dominic Bugatti, and [music publisher Johnny] Stirling, heading Pendulum Music at the time, signed them. The duo penned a string of hits including “My Simple Heart” and “A Woman In Love” for the Three Degrees; “Dancing With The Captain” and “Grandma’s Party,” recorded by Paul Nicholas; and “Modern Girl” by Sheena Easton, plus successful cuts by Chaka Khan and Bette Midler. “Every Woman In The World,” recorded by Air Supply, was their biggest American success with over 2 million plays logged by BMI.

Pendulum won the rating of top U.K. independent publisher during the early ’80s and had a co-publishing deal with Chappell Music, including use of the latter’s demo facilities.

“Those were stimulating days,” recalls Musker, a Cambridge University law graduate. “Chappell had four studios on the premises as well as a musical instrument store, and you could also get Chappell executive decisions on your songs the same day that you demoed them.”