There is a fascinating documentary, from a few decades ago now I guess, which focuses on the bands songwriting and recording. He would typically take himself away somewhere and sit in bars and cafes and watch people for lyrical inspiration. They would then have a band meeting about where to go...
Whilst he most likely made a very healthy income from Housemartins and especially The Beautiful South it was the Greatest Hits compilation Carry On Up The Charts which catapulted him into the big league. It was a huge seller, far outstipping anything else he'd ever done. It's 7 times platinum in...