Lou Reizner
Encyclopedia
Lou Reizner was a record producer, A&R
executive and head of Mercury Records
European operations. As a producer, he is perhaps best known for Rod Stewart
's first two solo albums, for the orchestral version of The Who
's rock opera
Tommy, and Rick Wakeman
's Journey to the Centre of the Earth
. As an A&R executive, he signed Van der Graaf Generator and arranged a US deal for David Bowie
. He had one child, Claudia Collingbourne.
and recorded a 7-track EP of classic cowboy songs entitled 'Chante Cow-Boy' for the French label Le Chant Du Monde, before going to work for Mercury Records.
He produced Dick Campbell
’s debut album Dick Campbell Sings Where Its At in 1965, using Mike Bloomfield
and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
, who had previously backed Bob Dylan
, to give a Dylanesque sound. Reizner was a keen talent spotter, and moved to England in 1966 where he produced Big Jim Sullivan
. He gave the Greek Rock band Aphrodite's Child their name. He signed and produced The Eyes of Blue, introducing them to Quincy Jones
and collaborated with them on the soundtrack of the film "The Toy Grabbers" (released in the US as "Mother"). He also arranged for the Eyes to score the music to, and appear in, the film "Connecting Rooms", and used them as a backing band, when, having signed Buzzy Linhart
, he produced his album Buzzy in 1968. The same year, he produced the Buddy Miles Express
debut album Expressway to Your Skull.
In October 1968 he signed Rod Stewart
to his first solo contract and produced his first two albums An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
(called The Rod Stewart Album in the US) and Gasoline Alley
. He signed Smile
(a precursor to Queen
) and was executive producer on their 1969 recordings, although, other than a US single "Earth" they were not released until 1998, long after his death. He also signed Van der Graaf Generator
to Mercury Records in 1968, and arranged a US contract for David Bowie
. He even co-wrote, sang on and produced two tracks for the film The Italian Job
(another Quincy Jones film), which were issued as a single in 1969. In 1970 he signed Strawberry Dust and co-produced their album Women and Children First with John Weathers
, renaming the band Ancient Grease for the album release. The album and band failed but the band later evolved into Racing Cars
.
Reizner’s output was extremely varied. In 1971 he produced Brazilian Tropicalismo
artist Caetano Veloso
's third self-titled album (his 1971 album
or A Little More Blue); Third of a Lifetime by hard rock band Three Man Army
; Wishful Thinking’s album Hiroshima and its title song "Hiroshima
," . (which became a hit for Sandra in Germany in 1990), and Dave Morgan
's solo album Morgan.
’s rock opera
Tommy. Tommy was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra
with the English Chamber Choir, conducted by David Measham
and arranged by Will Malone
. The album was launched at a live performance on 9 December 1972 at the Rainbow Theatre, London, with The LSO, The ECC, The Who and an all star cast. This, "the orchestrated ‘Tommy’ was to be Lou’s crowning achievement".
The double album was issued in a lavish box set, with a full colour booklet including the story, the lyrics and illustrations of the cast in character, "which was at the time the most elaborate album package yet created", and which won the Best Album Package Grammy in 1974
.
Whilst still producing hard rock bands such as Three Man Army, Reizner also continued his symphonic rock
work, with Rick Wakeman
's concept album
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
. Issued in 1974, this also featured the LSO and the ECC, conducted by Measham and arranged by Malone.
a 1976 film comprising 20th Century Fox
World War II
newsreels, set to Beatles songs, re-recorded by current artists such as The Bee Gees, Rod Stewart
, Status Quo and Peter Gabriel
. Although the film fared badly, the soundtrack album charted in the UK and US. The album included Elton John
's version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
", which had been issued in 1974, and Rod Stewart’s version of "Get Back
" which became a UK hit single. The film also includes a Will Malone
& Reizner cover of "You Never Give Me Your Money
".
Reizner went on to produce the music to the 1977 film Black Joy
featuring Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin
, The Drifters
and The O'Jays
. He was still working prolifically, when he died of colon cancer, in June 1977.
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
executive and head of Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
European operations. As a producer, he is perhaps best known for Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
's first two solo albums, for the orchestral version of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
Tommy, and Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
's Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Journey to the Centre of the Earth (album)
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is the second album from the English keyboardist and composer Rick Wakeman, released through A&M Records in May 1974. The album is a live recording from his second of two sold-out concerts on 18 January 1974 at the Royal Festival Hall in London...
. As an A&R executive, he signed Van der Graaf Generator and arranged a US deal for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. He had one child, Claudia Collingbourne.
Early career
Born in Chicago, Reizner started off as a singerand recorded a 7-track EP of classic cowboy songs entitled 'Chante Cow-Boy' for the French label Le Chant Du Monde, before going to work for Mercury Records.
He produced Dick Campbell
Dick Campbell (singer-songwriter)
Richard S. "Dick" Campbell , was a US folk rock singer-songwriter and film producer. He is best known for his 1966 album Dick Campbell Sings Where It’s At, rated as "the sole masterpiece of the fake-Dylan field"...
’s debut album Dick Campbell Sings Where Its At in 1965, using Mike Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield
Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70...
and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield was an American blues vocalist and harmonica player, who founded the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the early 1960s and performed at the original Woodstock Festival...
, who had previously backed Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, to give a Dylanesque sound. Reizner was a keen talent spotter, and moved to England in 1966 where he produced Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan is an English musician, whose career started in 1959. He is best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sullivan was one of the most "in-demand" studio musicians in the UK, and performed in more than one thousand charting singles over his career...
. He gave the Greek Rock band Aphrodite's Child their name. He signed and produced The Eyes of Blue, introducing them to Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
and collaborated with them on the soundtrack of the film "The Toy Grabbers" (released in the US as "Mother"). He also arranged for the Eyes to score the music to, and appear in, the film "Connecting Rooms", and used them as a backing band, when, having signed Buzzy Linhart
Buzzy Linhart
Buzzy Linhart is an American rock performer and musician.Born William Linhart in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he began honing his craft playing percussion for symphony at the age of seven, switching to vibraphone at ten...
, he produced his album Buzzy in 1968. The same year, he produced the Buddy Miles Express
Buddy Miles
George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.-Early life:George Allen Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on...
debut album Expressway to Your Skull.
In October 1968 he signed Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
to his first solo contract and produced his first two albums An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down was the debut album by Rod Stewart, released on February 1970 on Vertigo Records...
(called The Rod Stewart Album in the US) and Gasoline Alley
Gasoline Alley
Gasoline Alley is a comic strip created by Frank King and currently distributed by Tribune Media Services. First published November 24, 1918, it is the second longest running comic strip in the US and has received critical accolades for its influential innovations...
. He signed Smile
Smile (band)
Smile were a London-based blues rock band best known as the predecessor to renowned rock band Queen. The band was formed in 1968 by Brian May, who was to become Queen's guitarist. The group included Tim Staffell as singer and bassist, and, later, drummer Roger Taylor, who also went on to play for...
(a precursor to Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
) and was executive producer on their 1969 recordings, although, other than a US single "Earth" they were not released until 1998, long after his death. He also signed Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
to Mercury Records in 1968, and arranged a US contract for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. He even co-wrote, sang on and produced two tracks for the film The Italian Job
The Italian Job
The Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as an institution in the United Kingdom....
(another Quincy Jones film), which were issued as a single in 1969. In 1970 he signed Strawberry Dust and co-produced their album Women and Children First with John Weathers
John Weathers
John Patrick 'Pugwash' Weathers is a drummer, best known for playing with the innovative progressive rock band Gentle Giant.-Early life:...
, renaming the band Ancient Grease for the album release. The album and band failed but the band later evolved into Racing Cars
Racing Cars
Racing Cars are a Welsh pop band, formed in the Rhondda Valley, Wales in 1973.-Career:They were signed to one of the biggest British record labels of the time, Chrysalis Records. Racing Cars's debut album yielded their only hit single with "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"...
.
Reizner’s output was extremely varied. In 1971 he produced Brazilian Tropicalismo
Tropicalismo
Tropicália, also known as Tropicalismo, is a Brazilian art movement that arose in the late 1960s and encompassed theatre, poetry, and music, among other forms. Tropicália was influenced by poesia concreta , a genre of Brazilian avant-garde poetry embodied in the works of Augusto de Campos, Haroldo...
artist Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso , better known as Caetano Veloso, is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo which encompassed theatre, poetry and music in the 1960s,...
's third self-titled album (his 1971 album
Caetano Veloso (1971 album)
Caetano Veloso is the third self-titled album by Caetano Veloso. It was recorded in England, when the artist was in an exile imposed by the Brazilian government of the time for being subversive...
or A Little More Blue); Third of a Lifetime by hard rock band Three Man Army
Three Man Army
Three Man Army was a British hard rock band active in the first half of the 1970s.-History:The group was formed by Adrian Gurvitz and Paul Gurvitz, formerly of The Gun. Following the band's dissolution, Adrian played with Buddy Miles and Paul played with Parrish & Gurvitz, then reunited as Three...
; Wishful Thinking’s album Hiroshima and its title song "Hiroshima
Hiroshima (song)
"Hiroshima" is a pop song written by David Morgan and first recorded by Wishful Thinking in 1969. In 1978 their single entered the German Top 20 with peak at #8 and stayed there for several months....
," . (which became a hit for Sandra in Germany in 1990), and Dave Morgan
Dave Morgan (musician)
David 'Dave' Morgan is an English songwriter and musician.-Career:He was a member of well-regarded Birmingham 60's group The Uglys with Steve Gibbons between 1967 and 1969, where Morgan was the bassist and vocalist...
's solo album Morgan.
Symphonic rock
He then conceived and produced the orchestral version of The WhoThe Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
’s rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
Tommy. Tommy was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
with the English Chamber Choir, conducted by David Measham
David Measham
David Michael Lucian Measham was a British-Australian conductor and violinist. Measham was born in Nottingham, England, to a musical family. His father, Lester, had trained as an opera singer and his mother, Joan, was a pianist. He began violin studies at age 7, and first conducted at age 13...
and arranged by Will Malone
Will Malone
Will Malone is a British music producer, who has worked with artists including Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Todd Rundgren, The Verve, Massive Attack and Italian rocker Gianna Nannini. In 1976, Malone & Lou Reizner covered a Beatles song, "You Never Give Me Your Money", for the evanescent musical...
. The album was launched at a live performance on 9 December 1972 at the Rainbow Theatre, London, with The LSO, The ECC, The Who and an all star cast. This, "the orchestrated ‘Tommy’ was to be Lou’s crowning achievement".
The double album was issued in a lavish box set, with a full colour booklet including the story, the lyrics and illustrations of the cast in character, "which was at the time the most elaborate album package yet created", and which won the Best Album Package Grammy in 1974
Grammy Awards of 1974
The 16th Grammy Awards were held March 2, 1974, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1973.- Award winners :* Record of the Year...
.
Whilst still producing hard rock bands such as Three Man Army, Reizner also continued his symphonic rock
Symphonic rock
Symphonic rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock. Since early in progressive rock's history, the term has been used sometimes to distinguish more classically influenced progressive rock from the more psychedelic and experimental forms of progressive rock....
work, with Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
's concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Journey to the Centre of the Earth (album)
Journey to the Centre of the Earth is the second album from the English keyboardist and composer Rick Wakeman, released through A&M Records in May 1974. The album is a live recording from his second of two sold-out concerts on 18 January 1974 at the Royal Festival Hall in London...
. Issued in 1974, this also featured the LSO and the ECC, conducted by Measham and arranged by Malone.
Film soundtracks
The success of these extravagant productions, encouraged him to work on the soundtrack to All This and World War IIAll This and World War II
All This and World War II is a 1976 musical documentary that juxtaposes Beatles songs, performed by a number of musicians, with World War II newsreel footage and 20th Century Fox films from the 1940s...
a 1976 film comprising 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
newsreels, set to Beatles songs, re-recorded by current artists such as The Bee Gees, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, Status Quo and Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. Although the film fared badly, the soundtrack album charted in the UK and US. The album included Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, for The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...
", which had been issued in 1974, and Rod Stewart’s version of "Get Back
Get Back
"Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
" which became a UK hit single. The film also includes a Will Malone
Will Malone
Will Malone is a British music producer, who has worked with artists including Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Todd Rundgren, The Verve, Massive Attack and Italian rocker Gianna Nannini. In 1976, Malone & Lou Reizner covered a Beatles song, "You Never Give Me Your Money", for the evanescent musical...
& Reizner cover of "You Never Give Me Your Money
You Never Give Me Your Money
"You Never Give Me Your Money" is a song by The Beatles that opens the climactic medley on side two of the album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney and is credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Structure:...
".
Reizner went on to produce the music to the 1977 film Black Joy
Black Joy (1977 film)
Black Joy is a British film released in 1977, directed by Anthony Simmons. The story of an immigrant country boy in Brixton, London, it has been described as the UK's only example of a "Blaxploitation" movie, a genre more familiar in the United States. It was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film...
featuring Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
and The O'Jays
The O'Jays
The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1963 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert , Walter Williams , William Powell , Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005...
. He was still working prolifically, when he died of colon cancer, in June 1977.