{"title":"Artist: 50\/50","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAcclaimed archival label \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLight in the Attic (LITA) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eis pleased to present the work of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e50\/50\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: a wildly prolific and talented British duo finally poised to get their due—nearly half a century after their inception. Formed in the late ‘70s, 50\/50 was the studio project of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRichard Haines \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDavid Cowles\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose blend of irresistible synth-forward pop and classic ‘60s British songwriting, along with thoughtful, imaginative lyricism should have propelled them to the top of the charts. Instead, due to a variety of circumstances, they never received the promotion or attention they so richly deserved. Drawn from a trove of more than 150 recordings made between 1979 and 1985, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMemories Linger \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emarks \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e50\/50\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e’s first-ever studio album, introducing the duo through 12 captivating songs (9 of which are previously unreleased) like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Who Needs Money,” “Cry On My Shoulder,” “Facing the Storm,” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand the haunting title track, plus “Just Can’t Win” which was recently featured on FX’s TV show \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Shards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe story of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e50\/50\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is, at its core, about friendship—one forged in the late ‘70s between multi-instrumentalist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRichard Haines \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand vocalist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDavid Cowles \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eduring informal jam sessions at a studio in Reigate, Surrey. Aside from a love of ‘60s and ‘70s rock, the men shared a keen interest in the era’s evolving electronic instrumentation and the emerging sounds of synth-pop and new wave. By the turn of the ‘80s, they had settled into a comfortable songwriting partnership, calling themselves “50\/50.” The name, writes Charles Donovan, “worked on multiple levels, reflecting the democratic split of the songwriting partnership but also the friendship [and] its qualities of support.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile both men maintained successful careers—Cowles in real estate and Haines in AV—and were busy with their young families, they dedicated several nights a week to making music. “The sheer joy of Dave and I coming up with music in my studio was fantastic,” recalls Haines. Working with an array of synthesizers, including the Korg Micro-Preset and Korg Polysix, the duo—who operated solely as a studio outfit—settled on an irresistible sound. “You can hear the different threads of the pair’s diverse influences—from prog to rock, singer\/songwriter to synth-pop—coming together to form a singular and distinctive fabric,” notes Donovan. “David’s crisp, imaginative lyrics…[and] Richard’s intricate music—sometimes bright and uptempo, but just as often haunting and coolly mysterious—evokes an array of moods. It’s the perfect partnership.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith the encouragement of Genesis manager Tony Smith, 50\/50 persisted in their songwriting and in 1982 signed a publishing deal with Bocu Music (home to ABBA, Colin Blunstone, and Johnny Logan). There, the duo released a handful of singles, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Memories Linger” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eb\/w\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e ”Just Can’t Win” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(1982) and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Talk Too Much” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eb\/w \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“I Saw The Future” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(1983). But they repeatedly ran into creative differences with producers and often found themselves unsatisfied with the final masters. Despite positive feedback from industry heavyweights and the press—as well as several high-profile writing opportunities—50\/50 struggled to gain a foothold. By 1985, after a string of frustrating setbacks, the duo’s musical ambitions were somewhat thwarted, but their close friendship continued. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd yet an impressive catalog—more than 150 recordings—sat unheard for decades. In the years that followed, encouraged by their grown children, Haines and Cowles sought to regain control of their work. A 2024 article featuring 50\/50 in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecord Collector\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e soon caught the attention of U.S.-based writer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMike Sacks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who reached out to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLight In the Attic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efounder\/co-owner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMatt Sullivan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who was immediately taken with their music. Now, nearly a half-century after they began their venture, 50\/50 will finally release their debut album: a thoughtfully sequenced collection of 12 songs written over the course of their time together and produced exactly as they intended. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday, Haines runs a successful photo restoration business in East Sussex, while Cowles, now based on the Isle of Wight, is a retired hotelier. Thanks to the renewed attention around 50\/50, however, the longtime friends have returned to the studio together for the first time in decades. Even so, their memories of the group’s heyday remain among their most cherished.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Dave and I had something incredibly special going on,” says Haines. “Yes we worked hard up in my studio but above all we had the most fun, the biggest laughs and the best friendship which led to magic happening. Dave and I have always believed so strongly in the songs we created and are hugely proud of our body of work.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCowles adds, “Before I met Richard I was in a very dark place and I hate to think where I would be now if our paths hadn’t crossed. Much of our music was created during those difficult times. I believe that due to his kindness, friendship and, most of all, amazing musical ability, we have produced this stunning body of work. We are still sifting through ideas we recorded some 45 years ago with as much enthusiasm now as we had then. The only difference now is I can honestly say I’ve found a lifelong friend and soulmate.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"memories-linger","title":"Memories Linger","description":"\u003cp\u003e[[Release Detail]][[Release Description]]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable December 4, 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight in the Attic is thrilled to present the work of 50\/50: a wildly prolific and talented British duo finally poised to get their due—nearly half a century after their inception. Formed in the late ‘70s, 50\/50 was the studio project of Richard Haines and David Cowles, whose blend of irresistible synth-forward pop and classic ‘60s British songwriting, along with thoughtful, imaginative lyricism should have propelled them to the top of the charts. Instead, due to a variety of circumstances, they never received the promotion or attention they so richly deserved. Drawn from a trove of more than 150 recordings made between 1979 and 1985, \u003cem\u003eMemories Linger\u003c\/em\u003e marks 50\/50’s first-ever studio album, introducing the duo through 12 captivating songs (9 of which are previously unreleased) like “Who Needs Money,” “Cry On My Shoulder,” “Facing the Storm,” and the haunting title track. \u003cem\u003eMemories Linger\u003c\/em\u003e features a wealth of archival imagery and photos from Cowles’ and Haines’ personal collections, along with new liner notes by London-based broadcaster and writer Charles Donovan. The album was newly mastered by multi-Grammy nominated engineer John Baldwin. Designed by Darryl Norsen, the LP edition features a 12-page booklet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore on \u003cem\u003eMemories Linger\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story of 50\/50 is, at its core, about friendship—one forged in the late ‘70s between multi-instrumentalist Richard Haines and vocalist David Cowles during informal jam sessions at a studio in Reigate, Surrey. Aside from a love of ‘60s and ‘70s rock, the men shared a keen interest in the era’s evolving electronic instrumentation and the emerging sounds of synth-pop and new wave. By the turn of the ‘80s, they had settled into a comfortable songwriting partnership, calling themselves “50\/50.” The name, writes Charles Donovan, “worked on multiple levels, reflecting the democratic split of the songwriting partnership but also the friendship [and] its qualities of support.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile both men maintained successful careers—Cowles in real estate and Haines in AV—and were busy with their young families, they dedicated several nights a week to making music. “The sheer joy of Dave and I coming up with music in my studio was fantastic,” recalls Haines. Working with an array of synthesizers, including the Korg Micro-Preset and Korg Polysix, the duo—who operated solely as a studio outfit—settled on an irresistible sound. “You can hear the different threads of the pair’s diverse influences—from prog to rock, singer\/songwriter to synth-pop—coming together to form a singular and distinctive fabric,” notes Donovan. “David’s crisp, imaginative lyrics…[and] Richard’s intricate music—sometimes bright and uptempo, but just as often haunting and coolly mysterious—evokes an array of moods. It’s the perfect partnership.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the encouragement of Genesis manager Tony Smith, 50\/50 persisted in their songwriting and in 1982 signed a publishing deal with Bocu Music (home to ABBA, Colin Blunstone, and Johnny Logan). There, the duo released a handful of singles, including “Memories Linger” b\/w ”Just Can’t Win” (1982) and “Talk Too Much” b\/w “I Saw The Future” (1983). But they repeatedly ran into creative differences with producers and often found themselves unsatisfied with the final masters. Despite positive feedback from industry heavyweights and the press—as well as several high-profile writing opportunities—50\/50 struggled to gain a foothold. By 1985, after a string of frustrating setbacks, the duo’s musical ambitions were somewhat thwarted, but their close friendship continued.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd yet an impressive catalog—more than 150 recordings—sat unheard for decades. In the years that followed, encouraged by their grown children, Haines and Cowles sought to regain control of their work. A 2024 article featuring 50\/50 in Record Collector soon caught the attention of U.S.-based writer Mike Sacks, who reached out to Light In the Attic founder\/co-owner Matt Sullivan, who was immediately taken with their music. Now, nearly a half-century after they began their venture, 50\/50 will finally release their debut album: a thoughtfully sequenced collection of 12 songs written over the course of their time together and produced exactly as they intended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, Haines runs a successful photo restoration business in East Sussex, while Cowles, now based on the Isle of Wight, is a retired hotelier. Thanks to the renewed attention around 50\/50, however, the longtime friends have returned to the studio together for the first time in decades. Even so, their memories of the group’s heyday remain among their most cherished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Dave and I had something incredibly special going on,” says Haines. “Yes we worked hard up in my studio but above all we had the most fun, the biggest laughs and the best friendship which led to magic happening. Dave and I have always believed so strongly in the songs we created and are hugely proud of our body of work.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowles adds, “Before I met Richard I was in a very dark place and I hate to think where I would be now if our paths hadn’t crossed. Much of our music was created during those difficult times. I believe that due to his kindness, friendship and, most of all, amazing musical ability, we have produced this stunning body of work. We are still sifting through ideas we recorded some 45 years ago with as much enthusiasm now as we had then. The only difference now is I can honestly say I’ve found a lifelong friend and soulmate.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[[Selling Points]]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne of the best-kept secrets of the U.K.’s early synth-pop scene, 50\/50 recorded over 150 songs, nearly all of which have never been heard before. Until now.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eMemories Linger\u003c\/em\u003e marks the band’s first-ever studio album and features 12 tracks, recorded between 1981 and 1984\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeaturing 9 previously unreleased tracks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes 12-page booklet with unseen photos and liner notes by Charles Donovan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAudio newly mastered by multi-Grammy nominated engineer John Baldwin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrack “Just Can’t Win” just premiered on FX’s TV show \u003cem\u003eThe Shards\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVinyl pressed on limited edition Crystal Clear Color Wax at Optimal\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[[Catalog Number]]LITA 227[[Artist]]50\/50\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Light in the Attic","offers":[{"title":"Memories Linger \/ Album \/ LP Crystal Clear","offer_id":50445180109045,"sku":"LITA227-1-1","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/files\/826853122719.jpg?v=1790114736"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/collections\/lita227_artist_2900_x_825_v2.jpg?v=1790730493","url":"https:\/\/lightintheattic.net\/collections\/50-50.oembed","provider":"Light in the Attic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}