He then began producing artists for Island Records (Grace Jones, Marianne Faithful, Robert Palmer, Joe Cocker) whilst doing mixing work for other labels (Talking Heads). Among the artists he produced in the 1980s are Joe Cocker, James Brown, the J. Geils Band, Thompson Twins, Foreigner, Duran Duran, Simply Red, Arcadia and Paul Haig. He was a mentor to engineer and producer Phil Thornalley (The Cure, Johnny Hates Jazz, Natalie Imbruglia).