In 1978, Bob got started in production through a friend who managed Carlene Carter, co-producing her first album (with guitarist Brinsley Schwarz). In 1979, Stiff Records boss Dave Robinson, who had managed Bob on and off throughout the seventies, offered Stiff artist Jona Lewie for Bob to produce. This partnership spawned a Christmas, 1980 No.2 position in the British singles chart, a top seller in twelve countries and a perennial Christmas favorite to this day.
This started several years of producing the wild and the eccentric, and, from 1984 - 86, with production partner Colin Fairley and new manager Jake Riviera, more top twenty singles (and even a re-released number one in the U.K. in 1993). In 1988, Bob found new manager Pete Hawkins and became the sixth producer of The La's. Although he never got the chance to finish his production of their album, his version of "There She Goes" was the one that got into the Billboard top fifty and has been featured in several movies.
Throughout the eighties, Bob continued to play on many studio sessions (see photo of Bob with Japanese rock singer Motoharu Sano), and in 1991 produced tracks for Katrina and the Waves and Helen Watson. In 1992 he moved to New Orleans in Louisiana, USA.
Bob with (from left) Brinsley Schwarz, Pete Thomas and Motoharu Sano, Air London roof, 1987