Jack Richardson (record producer)
Encyclopedia
Jack Richardson, CM
(23 July 1929 13 May 2011) was a Juno Award
-nominated Canadian record producer
and Order of Canada
recipient. He is perhaps best known for producing the biggest hit records from The Guess Who
from 1969 to 1975. He was an educator at Fanshawe College
in London, Ontario
in the Music Industry Arts
program, as well as at the Harris Institute for the Arts in Toronto, Ontario in the Producing and Engineering Program (PEP). The Juno Award
for "Producer of the Year
" has been named in Richardson's honour since 2002.
, Ontario
, and had early musical training playing in various school bands. By 1949 he was playing professionally in "The Westernaires" who had a regular radio program. In 1958 he was working as an account executive for McCann-Erickson, a firm that produced a regular television program and in the mid 1960s Richardson and three others from this firm decided to form their own production company, Nimbus 9. Initially, audio recording was only one aspect of Nimbus 9, which was formed to provide multi-media production to their clients. Within a brief period of time, however, audio recording became the single focus of operations.
In 1968, Richardson approached the Canadian branch of the Coca-Cola
company with an idea to produce and market a long-playing album through a type of bottle-cap reimbursement scheme. On one side of the release were The Guess Who
, and on the flip-side, a group from Ottawa, Ontario called The Staccatos (later to become the Five Man Electrical Band
). Both of these groups were already well known within Canada: The Guess Who were featured as the house band on the weekly CBC
TV show Let's Go and had ten top 40 hits in Canada between 1965 and 1967, while The Staccatos had reached the Canadian top 40 twice in that same period of time. The split album the two groups recorded, A Wild Pair, could only be obtained by sending ten Coca-Cola bottle cap liners and $1 (for shipping expenses) to Coca-Cola. Guess Who guitarist Randy Bachman
estimates that the album sold enough units to qualify for gold record status in Canada; however, no certification figures are available as the LP was not distributed through normal retail channels.
After the success of A Wild Pair, Richardson mortgaged
his own home to obtain funds to produce a full-length record with The Guess Who. He took the group to Phil Ramone
's A&R Recording studio in New York
, and produced the classic 1968 Wheatfield Soul
album, which spawned a massive international hit "These Eyes
".
Richardson and The Guess Who had many more hits in the next few years (including the US and Canadian #1 single "American Woman
"), and as Richardson's reputation as a producer grew, so did his list of famous clients. From the early 1970s on, Richardson produced some of the biggest selling records of the era: Alice Cooper
Love It to Death
, The Irish Rovers
' #1 hit "Wasn't That A Party", Bob Seger
's "Night Moves
", Badfinger
, Moxy
, Poco
, Max Webster
and many others. This was in addition to the hits he was producing for The Guess Who, who were for a time (1970) the best selling rock group in the world.
From 1984 to 86, Richardson was the music producer for the television show, "Party With The Rovers" (The Irish Rovers
) for Global TV in association with Ulster TV in Ireland.
Later, Richardson decided on another career change and became a Professor in the Music Industry Arts
(MIA) program at Fanshawe College
in London, Ontario
, until he retired from teaching in 2007.
The non-profit Jack Richardson Music Awards, started in 2005, are named in his honour and given to up-and-coming musical acts and artists from London in a variety of categories.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(23 July 1929 13 May 2011) was a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
-nominated Canadian record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
recipient. He is perhaps best known for producing the biggest hit records from The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
from 1969 to 1975. He was an educator at Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
in the Music Industry Arts
Music Industry Arts
The Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College was the first school of its kind in Canada, , to train young people for careers in the contemporary music industry...
program, as well as at the Harris Institute for the Arts in Toronto, Ontario in the Producing and Engineering Program (PEP). The Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for "Producer of the Year
Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award
The Juno Award for "Producer of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best record producer in Canada. It was renamed the "Jack Richardson Producer of the Year" award in 2003, after Jack Richardson who is a noted Canadian record producer.-Producer of the Year...
" has been named in Richardson's honour since 2002.
Biography
Richardson was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and had early musical training playing in various school bands. By 1949 he was playing professionally in "The Westernaires" who had a regular radio program. In 1958 he was working as an account executive for McCann-Erickson, a firm that produced a regular television program and in the mid 1960s Richardson and three others from this firm decided to form their own production company, Nimbus 9. Initially, audio recording was only one aspect of Nimbus 9, which was formed to provide multi-media production to their clients. Within a brief period of time, however, audio recording became the single focus of operations.
In 1968, Richardson approached the Canadian branch of the Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
company with an idea to produce and market a long-playing album through a type of bottle-cap reimbursement scheme. On one side of the release were The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
, and on the flip-side, a group from Ottawa, Ontario called The Staccatos (later to become the Five Man Electrical Band
Five Man Electrical Band
The Five Man Electrical Band was a rock group from Canada's capital city of Ottawa, best known for their 1971 hit single "Signs"....
). Both of these groups were already well known within Canada: The Guess Who were featured as the house band on the weekly CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
TV show Let's Go and had ten top 40 hits in Canada between 1965 and 1967, while The Staccatos had reached the Canadian top 40 twice in that same period of time. The split album the two groups recorded, A Wild Pair, could only be obtained by sending ten Coca-Cola bottle cap liners and $1 (for shipping expenses) to Coca-Cola. Guess Who guitarist Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
estimates that the album sold enough units to qualify for gold record status in Canada; however, no certification figures are available as the LP was not distributed through normal retail channels.
After the success of A Wild Pair, Richardson mortgaged
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
his own home to obtain funds to produce a full-length record with The Guess Who. He took the group to Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone is a South-African violinist, composer, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:As a young child in South Africa, Ramone was a musical prodigy, beginning to play the violin at age three and performing for Queen Elizabeth II at age ten...
's A&R Recording studio in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and produced the classic 1968 Wheatfield Soul
Wheatfield Soul
Wheatfield Soul is an album released in 1968 by Canadian rock band The Guess Who. "Lightfoot" is a tribute to fellow Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, while "Friends of Mine" is performed in the style of The Doors.-About the album:...
album, which spawned a massive international hit "These Eyes
These Eyes (song)
"These Eyes" is a 1968 song by the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. The song was co-written by the group's lead guitarist Randy Bachman and lead singer Burton Cummings and originally included on the band's 1968 album Wheatfield Soul. Bachman had the original piano chords with an original title of...
".
Richardson and The Guess Who had many more hits in the next few years (including the US and Canadian #1 single "American Woman
American Woman
American Woman is the seventh album by Canadian rock band The Guess Who, released in 1970. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts...
"), and as Richardson's reputation as a producer grew, so did his list of famous clients. From the early 1970s on, Richardson produced some of the biggest selling records of the era: Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
Love It to Death
Love It to Death
Rolling Stones John Mendelsohn found it favorable. He explained that it "represents at least a modest oasis in the desert of dreary blue-jeaned aloofness served up in concert by most American rock-and-rollers." However, referring to "Black Juju" he also stated that "the one bummer on this album is...
, The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers is a Canadian Irish folk group created in 1963 and named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover". The group is best known for their international television series, and renditions of traditional Irish drinking songs, as well as early hits, Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn",...
' #1 hit "Wasn't That A Party", Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
's "Night Moves
Night Moves (song)
"Night Moves" is a song written and performed by Bob Seger, from his 1976 album Night Moves. Released as a single in December 1976, it eventually reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart...
", Badfinger
Badfinger
Badfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
, Moxy
Moxy (band)
Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1974, from previous members of the rock group, Leigh Ashford — which included singer Douglas "Buzz" Shearman Earl Johnson , Bill Wade Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in...
, Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
, Max Webster
Max Webster
Max Webster was a Canadian rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s.-Career:The band was formed in 1973 in Toronto, Ontario and originally consisted of guitarist and vocalist Kim Mitchell, keyboardist Terry Watkinson, bassist Mike Tilka and drummer Paul Kersey. Mitchell and Pye Dubois would write the...
and many others. This was in addition to the hits he was producing for The Guess Who, who were for a time (1970) the best selling rock group in the world.
From 1984 to 86, Richardson was the music producer for the television show, "Party With The Rovers" (The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers is a Canadian Irish folk group created in 1963 and named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover". The group is best known for their international television series, and renditions of traditional Irish drinking songs, as well as early hits, Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn",...
) for Global TV in association with Ulster TV in Ireland.
Later, Richardson decided on another career change and became a Professor in the Music Industry Arts
Music Industry Arts
The Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College was the first school of its kind in Canada, , to train young people for careers in the contemporary music industry...
(MIA) program at Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, until he retired from teaching in 2007.
The non-profit Jack Richardson Music Awards, started in 2005, are named in his honour and given to up-and-coming musical acts and artists from London in a variety of categories.
Selected discography
Among Richardson's producer credits are the following:- The Guess WhoThe Guess WhoThe Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
- Wheatfield SoulWheatfield SoulWheatfield Soul is an album released in 1968 by Canadian rock band The Guess Who. "Lightfoot" is a tribute to fellow Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, while "Friends of Mine" is performed in the style of The Doors.-About the album:...
, Canned WheatCanned WheatCanned Wheat is an album released in 1969 by Canadian rock band The Guess Who. It peaked at #91 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts. Two of the band's hits were taken from the album: "Laughing" and "Undun"...
, American WomanAmerican WomanAmerican Woman is the seventh album by Canadian rock band The Guess Who, released in 1970. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts... - The Irish RoversThe Irish RoversThe Irish Rovers is a Canadian Irish folk group created in 1963 and named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover". The group is best known for their international television series, and renditions of traditional Irish drinking songs, as well as early hits, Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn",...
- Wasn't That A Party, Grandma Got Run Over by a ReindeerGrandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is a novelty Christmas song, which led to the creation of an animated movie with the same title.Written by Randy Brooks, the song was originally performed by the husband and wife duo of Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979... - Bob SegerBob SegerRobert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
- Night MovesNight Moves (song)"Night Moves" is a song written and performed by Bob Seger, from his 1976 album Night Moves. Released as a single in December 1976, it eventually reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart... - Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
- Love It to DeathLove It to DeathRolling Stones John Mendelsohn found it favorable. He explained that it "represents at least a modest oasis in the desert of dreary blue-jeaned aloofness served up in concert by most American rock-and-rollers." However, referring to "Black Juju" he also stated that "the one bummer on this album is...
(co-producer with Bob EzrinBob EzrinRobert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
), Muscle of LoveMuscle of LoveMuscle of Love is the seventh studio album by Alice Cooper, released in 1973. It is the final studio album recorded by the original Alice Cooper band, and is a concept album about teenage angst, life on the streets of New York City, and implied male prostitution.In place of the usual jacket, the...
(co-producer with Jack DouglasJack Douglas (record producer)Jack Douglas is an American record producer. He was born in New York City. Starting out as folk musician and performer, he worked on Robert Kennedy's senatorial campaign as a song-writer. Douglas then moved to England and joined a succession of bands before returning to New York to attend the...
) - Kim MitchellKim MitchellJoseph Kim Mitchell is a Canadian guitarist. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Max Webster before going on to lead a solo career. He is currently a radio show host for CILQ-FM in Toronto....
- Kim MitchellKim Mitchell (album)Kim Mitchell is the first solo album from Canadian singer and guitarist Kim Mitchell. Mitchell was the former lead singer and guitarist for Max Webster.-Track listing:# "Kids In Action"# "Miss Demeanor"# "Big Best Summer"# "Tennessee Water"...
(co-producer with Mitchell) - Max WebsterMax WebsterMax Webster was a Canadian rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s.-Career:The band was formed in 1973 in Toronto, Ontario and originally consisted of guitarist and vocalist Kim Mitchell, keyboardist Terry Watkinson, bassist Mike Tilka and drummer Paul Kersey. Mitchell and Pye Dubois would write the...
- Universal JuvenilesUniversal JuvenilesUniversal Juveniles was Max Webster's fifth and last album, released in 1980. The album features a guest appearance by friends and fellow Canadian rockers Rush on the song "Battle Scar".Certified Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association... - MoxyMoxy (band)Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1974, from previous members of the rock group, Leigh Ashford — which included singer Douglas "Buzz" Shearman Earl Johnson , Bill Wade Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in...
- Moxy IIMoxy II (album)Moxy II is the second studio album by the Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band Moxy, released in 1976. The album was recorded in Toronto, Canada at Sound Stage studio in April 1976 with Jack Douglas producing... - PocoPocoPoco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
- A Good Feelin' to Know & Crazy EyesCrazy EyesCrazy Eyes is the sixth album by the country rock band Poco. The album pays homage to Gram Parsons, as Richie Furay sings both the title track, which he wrote in honor of Parsons, and one of Parsons' own compositions, "Brass Buttons". The album was released just four days before Parsons' death on... - BadfingerBadfingerBadfinger were a British rock band consisting originally of Pete Ham, Ron Griffiths, Mike Gibbins and Tom Evans, active from 1968 to 1983, and evolving from The Iveys, formed by Ham, Griffiths and David "Dai" Jenkins in Swansea, Wales, in the early 1960s. Joey Molland joined the group in 1969,...
- Say No MoreSay No More (Badfinger album)Say No More is the last studio album recorded by Badfinger that contained new material. Issued in January 1981 on Radio Records, the LP was the second and last attempt by Tom Evans and Joey Molland to recapture Badfinger's earlier market success, which was lost after the death of band founder Pete... - SwordSwordA sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
- Sweet DreamsSweet Dreams (Sword album)Sweet Dreams is the second album by the Canadian heavy metal band Sword, released in 1988 by Aquarius Records.-Track listing:# "Sweet Dreams" – 5:08# "Trouble Is" – 3:33# "Land of the Brave" – 5:28# "Back Off" – 3:53# "Prepare to Die" – 2:58... - Daniel Joseph SchaferDaniel Joseph SchaferDaniel Joseph Schafer , known professionally as Dan Schafer, is an American country music and Christian singer, lead guitarist, songwriter, and actor, who has toured with Shania Twain, Barbara Mandrell, George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, T. Graham Brown, and played bass on the Grand Ole Opry for six years...
(Dan Schafer)- A Day Without You, Dear (RCA US & Canada single)http://timashley.tripod.com/1st_RCA_wCanada_promo.jpghttp://timashley.tripod.com/RCA_pic_sleeve.jpg - Tufano & Giammarese - Dennis TufanoDennis TufanoDennis Stanley Joseph Tufano is the original lead singer of the 1960s rock group The Buckinghams, and has been a solo performer since the early 1980s.-Biography:...
and Carl GiammareseCarl GiammareseCarl Giammarese is an American musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for The Buckinghams.-Early years:...
- The Tufano & Giammarese Band, Ode (1975)
