Tim Friese-Greene
Encyclopedia
Timothy Alan Friese-Greene is an English
musician and producer
. From 1983 to their breakup in 1992, he worked with the band Talk Talk
. He currently releases solo albums under the name "Heligoland".
's The Golden Age of Wireless
(1982) which included the "She Blinded Me with Science" single and Blue Zoo
's Two By Two
(1983). He produced and played keyboards on the Praying Mantis
album Time Tells No Lies (1981). He produced a number of songs for the pure-pop act Tight Fit
, the single "The Lion Sleeps Tonight
" in early 1982 (No.1 for three weeks in the UK charts) and its follow-up "Fantasy Island" (reached No.5), and also produced and wrote most of the accompanying album
. Later in 1982 he produced "Dragonfly", a single by The Nolans
.
, The Colour of Spring
, Spirit of Eden
and Laughing Stock. He was only an occasional player on Talk Talk's live tours, and did not wish to appear in the band's promotional photo sessions or music videos.
He produced The Great War of Words (1990) by Brian Kennedy
. He also produced Catherine Wheel
's Ferment
(1992), and played keyboards on subsequent releases by the band.
His latest album, 10 Sketches For Piano Trio, was released under his own name.
In February 2010 he announced on his website that the recording of a new album had to be suspended due to severe tinnitus
. However, a subsequent posting in December revealed that work on another album was underway without the use of headphones.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
musician and 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...
. From 1983 to their breakup in 1992, he worked with the band Talk Talk
Talk Talk
Talk Talk were an English musical group, active from 1981 to 1991. The group had a string of international hit singles including "Today", "Talk Talk", "It's My Life", "Such a Shame", "Dum Dum Girl", "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World"....
. He currently releases solo albums under the name "Heligoland".
Producer
Friese-Greene co-produced the second release of Thomas DolbyThomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
's The Golden Age of Wireless
The Golden Age of Wireless
The Golden Age of Wireless is a 1982 album by Synthpop pioneer Thomas Dolby. The album is notable for containing the pop hit "She Blinded Me with Science" in its later resequencings...
(1982) which included the "She Blinded Me with Science" single and Blue Zoo
Blue Zoo
Blue Zoo were a British new wave band, operating between 1980 and 1985.-Career:Formed in 1980, their original band name was Modern Jazz, and they released a single "In My Sleep " in that year....
's Two By Two
Two By Two (album)
Two by Two was Blue Zoo's 1983 album and featured their October 1982 UK hit "Cry Boy Cry".The album was produced by Talk Talk's Tim Friese-Greene.-Track listing:# "Cry Boy Cry"# "John's Lost"# "Far Cry"...
(1983). He produced and played keyboards on the Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis (band)
Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
album Time Tells No Lies (1981). He produced a number of songs for the pure-pop act Tight Fit
Tight Fit
Tight Fit are a British pop group who had a number of hits in the early 1980s, including a UK No.1 with their cover version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1982...
, the single "The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight", also known as "Wimoweh" and originally as "Mbube", is a song recorded by Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. It was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers,...
" in early 1982 (No.1 for three weeks in the UK charts) and its follow-up "Fantasy Island" (reached No.5), and also produced and wrote most of the accompanying album
Tight Fit (album)
Tight Fit is a 1982 album by the British pop group Tight Fit.The album featured the No.1 single "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as well as the top five hit "Fantasy Island". Tracks "Secret Heart" and "I'm Undecided" were released as singles also, but achieved less success. The album itself peaked at a...
. Later in 1982 he produced "Dragonfly", a single by The Nolans
The Nolans
The Nolans are an Anglo-Irish all-female band consisting of a group of sisters. The group, best known for their song "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", gained prominence as guest performers on numerous television shows in the United Kingdom...
.
Work with Talk Talk
Friese-Greene produced, co-wrote, and performed on four of Talk Talk's albums between 1984 and 1991: It's My LifeIt's My Life (album)
-Personnel:*Mark Hollis - vocals*Lee Harris - drums *Paul Webb - bass guitar*Tim Friese-Greene - keyboards*Ian Curnow - keyboards*Phil Ramocon - piano*Robbie McIntosh - guitar*Morris Pert - percussion*Henry Lowther - trumpet*James Marsh - cover art-Charts:...
, The Colour of Spring
The Colour of Spring
-Personnel:* Mark Hollis - Organ, Keyboards, Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Melodica, Mellotron* Lee Harris - Percussion, Drums* Paul Webb - Bass, vocals, backing vocals* Tim Friese-Greene - producer, Piano, keyboards, Mellotron, Kurzweil synthesizer...
, Spirit of Eden
Spirit of Eden
Spirit of Eden was the fourth album by the English band Talk Talk. The songs were written by Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene, and performed by numerous musicians using a diverse combination of instruments. In 2008, Alan McGee of the Guardian wrote: "Spirit of Eden has not dated; it's remarkable...
and Laughing Stock. He was only an occasional player on Talk Talk's live tours, and did not wish to appear in the band's promotional photo sessions or music videos.
He produced The Great War of Words (1990) by Brian Kennedy
Brian Kennedy (singer)
Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter and author, known for his ballads, and has represented Ireland at Eurovision 2006. He is the younger brother of musician Bap Kennedy.-Personal life:...
. He also produced Catherine Wheel
Catherine Wheel
Catherine Wheel were a four-piece alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.-Biography:...
's Ferment
Ferment (album)
Ferment is the first full-length album by the English alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, released in 1992 . Four songs had previously appeared on independently released 12" EPs, and were re-recorded for inclusion on the album...
(1992), and played keyboards on subsequent releases by the band.
After Talk Talk
As Heligoland, Friese-Greene has released an EP and two full-length albums. For Heligoland, he writes most of the music himself and plays most of the instruments.His latest album, 10 Sketches For Piano Trio, was released under his own name.
In February 2010 he announced on his website that the recording of a new album had to be suspended due to severe tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus |ringing]]") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period , ear...
. However, a subsequent posting in December revealed that work on another album was underway without the use of headphones.
Heligoland
- Creosote & Tar (1997, EP)
- Heligoland (2000)
- Pitcher, Flask & Foxy Moxie (2006)
With Talk Talk
- It's My Life (1984)
- The Colour of Spring (1986)
- Spirit of Eden (1988)
- Laughing Stock (1991)
As a producer (incomplete)
- Shades In Bed by The RecordsThe RecordsThe Records were an English power pop band in the late 1970s. Allmusic notes that they are often referred to as the "British Big Star". They are best remembered for the hit single and cult favourite "Starry Eyes".-History:...
(1979, co-produced) - Under InfluenceUnder InfluenceUnder Influence was the only album of New Wave band Zones, released by Arista Records in mid-1979. The album contained multi-genred songs, being very far from the early punkier stuff, like the case of 7" single "Stuck with You"...
by ZonesZones (band)Zones was a British punk and power pop band founded in 1977, after the end of PVC2 and the Midge Ure's membership demise. PVC2 was conformed by Ure on guitar, Russell Webb on bass, Billy McIsaac on keyboards and Kenny Hyslop on drums...
(1979) - Time Tells No Lies by Praying MantisPraying Mantis (band)Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
(1981) - The Golden Age of Wireless by Thomas DolbyThomas DolbyThomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
(1982, second release, co-produced) - Tight Fit by Tight FitTight FitTight Fit are a British pop group who had a number of hits in the early 1980s, including a UK No.1 with their cover version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1982...
(1982) - "Dragonfly" by The NolansThe NolansThe Nolans are an Anglo-Irish all-female band consisting of a group of sisters. The group, best known for their song "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", gained prominence as guest performers on numerous television shows in the United Kingdom...
(1982, single) - Two By Two by Blue ZooBlue ZooBlue Zoo were a British new wave band, operating between 1980 and 1985.-Career:Formed in 1980, their original band name was Modern Jazz, and they released a single "In My Sleep " in that year....
(1983) - It's My Life by Talk Talk (1984)
- The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk (1986)
- Spirit of Eden by Talk Talk (1988)
- The Great War of Words by Brian KennedyBrian Kennedy (singer)Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter and author, known for his ballads, and has represented Ireland at Eurovision 2006. He is the younger brother of musician Bap Kennedy.-Personal life:...
(1990) - "Sweetness And Light" by LushLush (band)Lush were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1987 and disbanded in 1998. They were one of the first bands to attract the "shoegazing" label...
(1990, EP) - Laughing Stock by Talk Talk (1991)
- Ferment by Catherine WheelCatherine WheelCatherine Wheel were a four-piece alternative rock band from Great Yarmouth, England. The band was active from 1990 to 2000, experiencing fluctuating levels of commercial success, and embarking on many lengthy tours.-Biography:...
(1992)