Radio Heart: 1987 to 1994 - a history

In this episode of Electric Friends, I tell the full story of Radio Heart — Gary Numan's strangest detour, and the closest he ever came to being a pop star for hire.

With Numa Records struggling at the end of 1986, Gary accepted an offer to sing on 'Radio Heart', a bright pop single written by Hugh Nicholson — and to his own surprise found himself back on the Radio 1 playlist and in the Top 40. We trace the whole saga: the Nicholson brothers, the singles 'Radio Heart', 'London Times' and 'All Across The Nation', the Numan-penned B-sides 'River', 'Rumour' and 'Mistasax' (and how 'River' quietly announced his soundtrack ambitions), Elton John's blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo on the Radio Heart album, the album's withdrawal, and the 1994 finale 'Like A Refugee (I Won't Cry)' with Italian robot marching band Dadadang — the single Radio 1 wouldn't play, even while making Gary 'God of the Day'.

Joining me is Steve Thorpe, compiler and sleeve-note writer of the new deluxe 2CD collection Radio Heart featuring Gary Numan: All Across The Nation – A Collection (Edsel Records, out 7th August 2026). Steve reveals how the original Roundhouse master tapes were rediscovered, the two previously unreleased tracks found on them, how Tessa Niles's uncredited backing vocals were finally confirmed — and tells one of the all-time great "meeting Gary" stories, involving an unanswered front door and a voice shouting "Spooky!"

Plus, in Gary's own words: excerpts from his autobiography (R)evolution on the money that felt like "a lifeline to a drowning man", the arguments with his dad, and why he refused to sell his soul completely.

And at the end of the show, your verdicts on the Radio Heart era — the defenders, the executioners, and "Gary's Tin Machine".

All Across The Nation – A Collection is available to pre-order now from Amazon, Rough Trade, Proper Music, Burning Shed and all the usual outlets.