Newell continued working as a producer into the 1980s, including on Shirley Bassey's hit album with the London Symphony Orchestra, entitled "I Am What I Am" (1984). He also wrote the English lyrics for the 1983 Julio Iglesias recording of "Hey" which featured in the album Julio. He also produced several cast recordings of West End musicals for First Night Records – "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers – Original London Cast" (1986), "Annie Get Your Gun – 1986 London Cast" (starring Suzi Quatro and Eric Flynn), "Kiss Me, Kate – 1987 Royal Shakespeare Company Cast" (starring Paul Jones, Nichola McAuliffe and Fiona Hendley), and "South Pacific – 1988 London Cast" (starring Gemma Craven and Emile Belcourt).