history of music production exam 2

Joe Meek

• April 5, 1929 - February 3, 1967

• English record producer, musician, sound engineer, and songwriter

• known for space age pop music

• operated from his home studio at 304 Holloway Road, Islington, a three floor flat about a leather-goods store

• Telestar by the Tornados and produced by Meek, was the first by a British band to reach #1 on US charts

Daphne Oram

• December 31, 2005 - January 5, 2003

• British composer and electronic musician

• first British composer and to produce electronic sound and was a pioneer of musique conrete

• cofounder of BBC Radiophonic Workshop

Delia Derbyshire

• May 5, 1937 - July 3, 2001

• English musician and composer of electronic music

• worked at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop during the 1960s

• She electronically arranged the theme music for Doctor Who

Phil Spector

• December 26, 1939 - January 16, 2021

• American record producer musician and songwritter

• developed the Wall of Sound, a music production formula he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock n roll

• His first band was The Teddy Bears (1957-1960) formed in Los Angeles

“He’s A Rebel”

• Producer: Phil Spector

• Lead vocals: Darlene Love and Edna Wright

• Backing vocals: Edna Wright, Fanita James, Garcia Nitzche, Gloria James, Jean King, and Bobby Sheen

• released August 1962 and was #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100

• The Crystals were on the tour at the time he wanted to record this song, so he had a group called the Blossoms record it but credited the Crystals

“Be My Baby” by the Ronnettes

• Producer: Phil Spector

• Written by Jeff Barry, Elle Greenwich, and Phil Spector

• Recorded at Gold Star on July 5, 1963 and released August 1963

• #2 on US Billboard Hot 100

“Instant Karma!” by John Lennon

• Producer: Phil Spector

• one of the fastest released songs in pop music history, arriving in UK record stores just 10 days after it was written

• Tagline for its advertisement was “Ritten, Recorded, Remixed 27th Jan. 1970”

• John Lennon claimed he “wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we’re putting it out for dinner”

• Released on Feb. 6 and credited to the Plastic Ono Band

• released in America on Feb. 20 and retitled “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)”

• Spector remixed it for the US release without John Lennon’s knowledge

“My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison

• from “All Things Must Pass”

• Released in the US on Nov. 23, 1970

• Producers: George Harrison and Phil Spector

• reached #1 on US Billboard Hot 100

Brian Wilson

• born June 20, 1942

• Beach Boys!

“Surfer Girl” by the Beach Boys

• Was recorded June 12, 1963 at United Western Recorders and released July 22, 1963

• Brian Wilson was the only credited songwriter

• He was also the producer

• This song and “Little Deuce Coupe” are the first songs he has been the producer credited

“California Girls” by the Beach Boys

Brian Wilson was inspired to write it during his first time taking LSD

“Caroline No” by the Beach Boys

• written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher

• on “Pet Sounds”

“Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys

• Recorded Feb. 17 - Sept. 21, 1966

• Released October 10, 1966

• Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love

• #1 on US Billboard Hot 100

• over 90 hours of tape was consumed in sessions with the total cost of production estimated to be $50,000

Abbey Road

formerly called EMI recording studios

George Martin

• January 3, 1926 - March 8, 2016

• Worked with the Beatles, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, and Bernard Cribbins

• Also recorded novelty and comedy records

• He produced 30 #1 hit singles in the UK and 23 #1 US hits

Norman Smith

• February 22, 1923 - March 3, 2008

• engineer on all of the Beatles recordings until Fall of 1965 (last album “Rubber Soul”)

• became a producer at EMI after working with the Beatles

• John Lennon nicknamed him “Normal”

Geoff Emerick

• December 5, 1946 - October 2, 2018

• Audio engineer and record producer

• worked with the Beatles on “Revolver” and “Sgt. Pepper’s…” and “Abbey Road”

Automatic Double Track

invented by Ken Townsend for the Beatles during Spring 1966

Norman Smith and Pink Floyd

• produced their 1st album “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” in 1967

• Recorded in studio 3 while the Beatles were recording studio 2

Ken Scott

• Worked with the Beatles as an engineer

• Later was a producer for David Bowie

Motown

• Founded by Berry Gordy

• Started in Detroit, Michigan

“Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong

• produced by Berry Gordy

• released by Aug. 1959

• Written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford

• First hit for Motown

• recorded as a single for the Tamla label and distributed it on Chess Records

Smokey Robinson

“I would come to the South in the early days of Motown and the audiences would be segregated. Then they started to get the Motown music and we would go back and the audiences were integrated and the kids were dancing together and holding hands.”

“Fingertips Pt.2” by Stevie Wonder

• written by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby

• Recorded live at the Regal Theater, Chicago (1962)

• released May 21, 1963

• Producer: Berry Gordy

• Drummer: Marvin Gaye

• US Billboard Hot 100 #1

Russ Terrana

Motown recording engineer who recorded/ mixed down 89 US #1 hits

TONTO

• the original new timbral orchestra

• used by Stevie Wonder for his album

Quincy Jones

• Born March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois

• American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, and film and television producer

• at 14 met 16 year old Ray Charles after watching him play at the Black Elks Club

• "Sanford & Son Theme (Streetbeater)” on his 1972 album “You’ve Got It Bad Girl”

• “Thriller” by Michael Jackson produced by Jones, sold 65 million copies and became the highest selling album of all time

“Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys

produced by Nick Venet

“Lucifer Sam” by Pink Floyd

produced by Norman Smith

“A Rose For Emily” by the Zombies

produced by the Zombies

“Life on Mars” by David Bowie

produced by Ken Scott and David Bowie

“Reet Petite” by Jackie Wilson

produced by Dick Jacobs

“Shop Around” by the Miracles

produced by Berry Gordy

“Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes

produced by Holland and Dozier

“My Guy” by Mary Wells

produced by Smokey Robinson

“Where Did Our Love Go?” by the Sumpremes

produced by Holland and Dozier

“The Tears Of A Clown” by Smokey and the Miracles

Cosby and Robinson

“ABC” by the Jackson 5

produced by the Corporation

“What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

produced by Marvin Gaye

“Superstition” by Stevie Wonder

produced by Wonder, Cecil, and Margouleff

“The Ray” by Ray Charles

produced by Ertegun and Wexler

“In Cold Blood” by Quincy Jones

produced by Neely Plumb