After six albums of self-produced material Stephen Cummings has recorded with a producer for the first time since his days with The Sports. Steve Kilbey of The Church took the reins on Stephen's latest album Falling Swinger, producing a sensuous, laidback collection full of Cummings trademark emotional style.

Steve Cummings is a regular favourite with the critics since turning solo in the mid eighties after fronting The Sports, who had such memorable hits as "Don't Throw Stones" and "Who Listens To The Radio". He has since had a string of successful albums and the odd hit single like "Backstabbers" and "Hell (You Put Me Through)". The Buzz spoke to Steve to find out what he's up to now.

How happy are you with the new album?

Oh y'know, happy as I can be. Happy as Larry!!

How long did it take to complete?

I recorded it in about three weeks with Steve Kilbey in a little house in Surrey Hills. He was great and we had good fun. Being in a house, we didn't have to worry about studio time and big bucks ticking away so we could just relax.

Will you be touring the album extensively?

I've already done quite a bit of touring, but yeah, I'm gonna be doing some more.

Will you be playing any old Sports songs in the set?

No I don't generally. Y'know if I'm totally at one with the universe sometimes I might just do it for the hell of it, but generally I don't.

Do people still yell for them?

Sometimes they do. They learn that one of the essences of life is disappointment.

What's the story with the book you've been working on?

It's a manual for life. No I'm only joking. It's just a regular old-fashioned kind of novel. See I'm planning for the future. When I'm an old invalid, instead of gardening or y'know whatever, I'll be able to potter away and do this.

Has a single been released off the album yet?

Yeah, there's one single called "September 13," which is named because it's Steve Kilbey's and my birthday. We share the same birthday. That's the only song on the record written by Steve.

How did you go co-writing after years of writing by yourself?

Yeah well, I wrote a few songs with the other people who play with me Shane O'Mara and Bill McDonald and also Chris Abrahams, the pianist from Sydney and I did some others by myself. I kind of enjoy working with different people now all the time, they keep the whole thing fresh for me.

What are the plans for the future?

Um...kind of more of the same, hopefully I'll get to make another record - do that...hopefully I can trick someone into putting this book out, and I've kinda-like started on another book as well. So just hopefully I'll be able to have a dual career, keep doing music and maybe do a few books or, y'know, a few travel stories wouldn't be bad, just a mixture of all those kind of things which is really what I do.

Have you commenced writing material for the next album?

I'm just sort of working on songs all the time, jotting things down and making little tapes, I just got into the habit of doing it now. I'm always doing stuff.