British duo: Bugatti and Musker... anyone?

[Mr.Ree]

Bugatti and Musker? They've written some wonderful, crackling songs, but there's precious little about them (that I can find, anyway) on Wikipedia. It appears even the mighty Giorgio Moroder enjoyed their songs enough to cover some. I'm probably just not looking in the right place.....

[Shamir]

Bugatti and Musker? They've written some wonderful, crackling songs, but there's precious little about them (that I can find, anyway) on Wikipedia. It appears even the mighty Giorgio Moroder enjoyed their songs enough to cover some. I'm probably just not looking in the right place.....

They also recorded under the name The Dukes and wrote ~"Fate" for Chaka Khan which was sampled by Stardust "Music sounds better" amongst countless other songs.. Here's a brief biog from an old Billboard mag...


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."

... Meanwhile, Bugatti, Musker's collaborator, had gone to live in France. Musker moved to Los Angeles for 10 years, where he worked with Arif Mardin and Quincy Jones, among others. After 10 years Musker decided it was time to return to the U.K.

[SandraDee]

'Mystery Girl' by the Dukes (aka Bugatti & Musker) is one of my all-time fave tracks! I'd love to get it on CD but they seem to be expensive Japanese ones usually.

[Zef]

Quite liked 'Thank you for the party' by the Dukes which was also covered by Sister Sledge.

[Mr.Ree]

They also recorded under the name The Dukes and wrote ~"Fate" for Chaka Khan which was sampled by Stardust "Music sounds better" amongst countless other songs.. Here's a brief biog from an old Billboard mag...


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."

... Meanwhile, Bugatti, Musker's collaborator, had gone to live in France. Musker moved to Los Angeles for 10 years, where he worked with Arif Mardin and Quincy Jones, among others. After 10 years Musker decided it was time to return to the U.K.

thanks to all of you for the info. Sure would be nice if some enterprising record company would release a compilation of their songs, but I won't hold my breath waiting. I'd make my own but I have a feeling that record by the Dukes is a bit tricky to find. Meanwhile, check out Patti Austin's WONDERFUL rendition of their composition "Every Home Should Have One".

[boogyjuice]

The first time i heard Frank Musker's voice was on the track "Eagle and the Condor" of Rodney Franklin's 1986-album "The Two of Us"

Like Sandra mentioned, "Mystery Girl" is an awesome track :



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.



- Label : Wea , USA
- Release Year : 1982
- Reissued CD : June 23, 1999, Warner Music, Japan (WPCR-10435)
- Producer : Arif Mardin

Musicians :
- Drums: Ted McKenna, Jeff Porcaro, John Robinson
- Bass: Will Lee, Abe Laboriel
- Guitars: Steve Lukather, David Williams, Paul Jackson, Carlos Rios
- Keyboards: Robbie Buchanan, Richard Tee, Bob Christian, Pete Cannarozzi
- Horns: Larry Williams, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Rober Mintzer, Roger Rosenberg, Keith O'quinn, Earl Gardner, Lawrence Feldman
- Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa, Steve Foreman
- Backing Vocals: Hamish Stuart, Mark Stevens, Will Lee, Marc Levy, Robin Beck, Mary Gaglia

Tracks :
1 - Mystery Girl
2 - Survivor
3 - Thank You For The Party
4 - Memories
5 - Excitement Of The New
6 - Love Dance
7 - Soul Mates
8 - So Much In Love
9 - Fate
10 - Nite Music

BUGATTI & MUSKER on Adult Contemporary Music In Japan

Dominic Bugatti & Frank Musker contributions @ Discogs