Available December 4, 2026
Light 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, Memories Linger 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. Memories Linger 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.
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The 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.”
While 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.”
With 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.
And 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.
Today, 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.
“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.”
Cowles 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.”
