James Attlee talked to top producer ALAN SHACKLOCK about everything from studio battles with Meatloaf to the questionable ethics of chart hyping by zealous evangelicals.

"Well yes, but only if he's made a decent record", is surely the only reasonable reply. The thinking seems to be that if a Christian can get into the charts and mention Jesus, droves will repent and revival will break out. Tell that to George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers - it certainly sounds easier than preaching five times a day and riding the length and breadth of Britain and America in all weathers on horseback. What did Alan think of the hype scandal?

"It's dangerous, because you can go round to all the churches and say 'come on' - I wish I could do it to all my records! But it's dangerous because it is hype and you don't want to get on the back of that. What you really want is a situation where everyone sees the cause, sees the record is going to be the theme tune for the march and then say 'look I'll buy it anyway because we know it's going to charity. It'll help somebody out, and we know by buying one it's going to put Graham on TV, because that would be nice - it would raise the profile a bit."

Don't you think that in the long run records by Christian artists simply have to cut it alongside the competition as records?

"The Christian market in this country is working on such a shoestring that it's tough for them to get good quality sounds - they're up against state-of-the-art studios like this one. Artists like Graham can afford a little more because they're selling some records, but the majority of Christian artists are working on such a low level of studio that it's tough for them to get into the state-of-the-art stuff. I wanted that record to sound like 1990, hence the drum machine - as opposed to the demo he'd given me which was acoustic, much more of a Fairport Convention effort. I felt it was okay but I really needed to raise it. I wish there could be a much higher level of work.

"I hope to work with Heartbeat - we've been talking with Ray and I've been down to see them and I'm hoping we can get some music done this year. That's exciting news - and we can worship God in our endeavours. I think Sue's great; she's a really good singer. I'd like to work with Graham again." Alan cups his hands to his mouth as if to shout - "I need the work, Graham!"

As readers of the interview in issue 2 will know, I first met Alan before I was a Christian, working in the music business. Alan witnessed to me, and I have nothing but admiration for the way he conducted himself. Years later looking back I sometimes wondered how he coped. Does he find it hard holding down a producer's job in the pop world that the tabloids so delight in telling us is one of corruption, drugs and sleaze? (Sounds like a job in popular journalism.)

"I think in any walk of life the morals aren't going to be great. If you look into business, peoples lives - peoples lives are shattered at times...I think there have been signs along the way, you being one of them, that have confirmed for me that God wants me in it. The singer of a band called Beltane Fire, his name is Clint Bradley, gave his heart to the Lord through me. He came to our church a couple of times, and came to our house. I've seen certain things happen - I don't know whether I'm in it because of that or because its part of my character to make music. I'm very pleased to be making a living from music - it's tough these days."

What reservations does he have about the kind of material he works with?

"I look at the lyrics first - I think I've got to make sure its right for me to do it lyrically - and I often talk to the artist about why they write things down which also gives me a chance to tell them my beliefs. I sat down with Kirk Brandon from Spear Of Destiny and talked to him - but I don't think there's anything there that is dangerously bad. I went to a seminar - Dave Fellingham gave a terrific seminar on music coming from God. All music comes from God but the devil corrupts it and can corrupt it.

"I was pleased to hear that Dave's children are now censoring their own records - they're listening and saying 'Dad I don't think I want to listen to this.' I hope my two will do that. My young one Jesse's already given his heart to the Lord - he's seven - and he's a drummer. If you ever need a drummer James, he's your lad! "I hope I'm in there as salt and light, I really do - I think God's shown me that I am - here and there. I think people have looked in on themselves a couple of times and seen right and wrong. I'm trying to think of something profound to say about this but I can't really - I just feel right where I am, I don't think I could feel more right. I'm pleased to have done what I've done, I'm sure it's been for a purpose."