November 28th, 2024 § Comments Off on Bits & Bobs Vol. 1 § permalink
An album of song demos written and recorded by John Jones at ESP Studios, Hollywood Dell, Hammerwood, AIR Studios and Toronto Sound Studios between 1976 and 1988.
For many years I have been a fan and a student of the Beatles and all who sailed their ship. But, there was one person on the team I knew little about – Norman Smith, the musician, engineer, producer, recording artist and the 6th Beatle!
Norman Smith
Norman recorded the Beatles from the very beginning through the Rubber Soul album. At the end of 1965 George Martin founded A.I.R. with his EMI producing partners and Norman was promoted to producer and took over the Parlophone label from George.
Norman signed Pink Floyd in 1967 and produced and engineered three of their first four albums, including Ummagumma, and then in 1971 went on to have a #1 hit in America as recording artist Hurricane Smith!
When I was in London a few years ago recording Joey Niceforo and the Steve Sidwell orchestra in Studio One at Abbey Road with Steve Price, I met Richard Hale, longtime engineer at E.M.I. Studios. I’ll save Richard’s story for another day, but suffice to say that he regaled me with tales of Norman Smith, and lent me a copy of Norman’s “auto biography” – John Lennon Called Me Normal.
Norman was in the glider division of the Royal Air Force in the last year of World War II. Fortunately for him he was never deployed and ended up spending a couple of years in a jazz band playing on the roof top of a hotel in Venice, Italy.
But, the best part for me is finally seeing the man himself, and he is fantastic, and definitely the missing link in all the stories of the greatest band of the 1960’s!
An interview with Beatles engineer and Pink Floyd producer/engineer Norman Smith
August 26th, 2019 § Comments Off on An Especial Pint With jj frazz II § permalink
A few weeks back I decided to put together a 15 minute “podcast” of various demo recordings that I have produced over the years. I have had the luxury of recording everyday since my parents bought me a Sony Sound-On-Sound real-to-reel tape recorder in the 1970’s, so I have recorded hundreds of songs in my life. Quantity over quality!
This week’s A Pint With jjfrazz II is a flock of covers, special to me, but not ready for prime time. Here are they in all their one take demo goodness.
April 25th, 2019 § Comments Off on Steve Ferrone’s Birthday Bash! § permalink
What an amazing time we had in old Pasadena thanks to Jason and Alan and Becky and everyone who helped to get so many great friends from all over the world together to celebrate Stephen’s 60th birthday.
Steve and the Band
The list of friends who came to play included Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, David Pack, Brian Auger, Alex Ligertwood, Benmont Tench, David Garfield, Malik Pointer, Steve Postell, Danny Halperin, Tim Scott and many others.
Brian Auger and John Jones
Songs included Josie and the Biggest Part of Me and some very serious funk!
David Pack, Nathan, Steve & the band
I managed to commandeer the piano in the sitting room for the gentle after hours show. After a few Beatles and Beach Boys numbers we floated back to earth. Happy Birthday Steve!
Becky and Steve
Steve Ferrone and John Jones at NAMM Los Angeles circa 1998
February 20th, 2018 § Comments Off on Winner Takes it All – Joey Niceforo § permalink
Enjoy this first song and video from Joey’s new album that I co-produced in Canada and in London at Abbey Road Studios. Steve Sidwell wrote the brilliant arrangements and conducts the orchestra. I was standing fifteen feet away, in awe!
January 17th, 2018 § Comments Off on Never Let Us Go – Jones & Dwyer § permalink
This is my song, “Never Let Us Go”. It was re-mixed with my brother, guest artist and “Loop-Meister” Mark Dwyer, in 1992, in Hammerwood, East Sussex.
Mark and I created many of the loops that were used on Duran Duran’s Wedding album. I loved going to the club on Saturday night after an afternoon tweaking at the farm!
Here is the long lost episode of the BBC’s “Science in Action” program from 1987. In this segment we discuss the Fairlight CMI Series III in Studio 5 at AIR Studios Oxford Street, and I show how to sample using a Casio sampler.
We sold the Series III to J. J. Jeczalik of the Art of Noise a few weeks after taping…
