By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

I realise it doesn't really fit, but I noted in an article that British producer Mickey Most died the other day. Most was very influential part of the British invasion, working with people like the Animals, Lulu, and Donovan, and his passing is noted with sadness in this corner.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 03:17 pm:

Thanks for posting this doug. I met Mickey when he did a little producing at Motown. Can't remember the details of those sessions though. I think he was doing his own artist as I remember him paying for the sessions.

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 03:20 pm:

Hi Douglasm,
Mickey Most was also noted in all the earlier production credits contained in the works with Herman's Hermits.

Herman and the Hermits, ahh yes... three of their MGM record cuts I had always preferably fancied while listening to 'KEENER' radio in Detroit... way back in 1965, and in early 1966, and these were produced by Mickey Most just the same:

*** 1965 "Wonderful World"
*** 1965 "Just A Little Bit Better"
*** 1966 "Listen People"

Mickey Most, thank you for bringing together, sharing with us those *cherished* British acts you had produced for us as well, with your own brand of the 'British sound' we grew to love, all that you had produced in the 1960s-- Mickey RIP.

By Enery the Eighth, Er, Erik (64.228.108.111) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Mm, I'd rather associate him with the Animals than with 'Erman's Ermits!

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 03:43 pm:

Personal opinion.....
....I really liked the work he did with Donovan, helping to turn him from a Dylan clone to one of the better, more meaningful "light" rock artists of the late '60's. I don't remember if he did the stuff Donovan did with Jeff Beck (I suspect so), but if he didn't, he helped direct him that very innovative way.....

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 04:11 pm:

Mickie Most (real name Michael Hayes) was born in Aldershot in 1938, and his family moved to North London. Mickie became tenuously involved in the Skiffle scene, when he got a job working the Espresso machine at the famous 2-I's coffee bar. He then formed a duo - the Most Brothers - with Alex Murray, who toured with a young Cliff Richard, and recorded unsuccessfully for Decca. In 1959 he married a girl from South Africa, and decided to make her home country his own home after paying a visit. There, he formed a group - Mickie Most & the Playboys - and carved out a lucrative career covering US hits for the local market. After 11 consecutive South African numberone hits, he decided to return to the UK.

After initially failing as an artist on the growing London R&B scene, he turned to management and production. His first production - the Animals' "Baby Let Me Take You Home" was a top 20 hit, and its follow-up "House of The Rising Sun" gave him instant credibility as an independent producer. He transformed Manchester unknowns the Heartbeats into Herman's Hermits, and scored hits with the Nashville Teens and Jeff Beck. He also helped a young Rod Stewart along the way, and revived the flagging careers of Donovan and Lulu.

In the seventies, his RAK label had an enviable success rate with hits from acts like Hot Chocolate, Mud, Suzi Quatro and Smokie, as well as turning R&B veteran Alexis Korner into a pop star (with CCS). In 1973, RAK's success rate was unparalleled - out of 18 releases that year, 14 made the charts.

By Joe Moorehouse (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 04:37 pm:

He also produced Terry Reid's first two LPs, the second of which (alternately called Terry Reid and Move Over for Terry Reid) I think is one of the greatest Brit blues-rock LPs ever. He was controversial with some of the artists because he wanted a lot of control over them, but the results were often very impressive.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 10:01 pm:

I loved the work Mickie produced for Hot Chocolate. According to Errol Brown, it was Mickie who came up with the name of their hit "Every One's A Winner" after hearing a bunch of tracks the group submitted for a proposed album.

The Animals & Herman's Hermits' tunes are classics as well.

A talented man, gone too soon. May his spirit have a peaceful journey.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By BOBBABBITT (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 10:46 pm:

MICKEY WAS THE PRODUCER ON THE JEFF BECK SESSIONS AT MOTOWN.....BOB BABBITT

By Sly fan (63.207.60.140) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:07 pm:

Respect and Love to the great Mickie Most.

One Love.

By stephanie (64.63.221.70) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 09:02 pm:

Oh god!!!! He was one of the greatest producers ever!!! Thanks for letting us know,,
Stephanie

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 09:07 pm:

Babbitt,
He did something else besides Beck though. Do you remember? Beck was Motown's idea and that one was on the house, but I remember something else also. Or I'm trying to remember anyway.

By keithsally50@hotmail.com (217.137.89.52) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Earlier in the thread, Douglasm mentioned Lulu. Her version of `Shout` was great, a real rousing version. I saw her then in Ralph's Records in Manchester (UK) promoting it. I really rate `The Boat That I Row` too, the organ break is the bisso. I wonder how she would have faired at Tera Shirma or Motown? Keith

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

Keith...
....ain't gonna lie, I like Lulu. If you can find a copy, see what she does with Tim Rose's "Morning Dew". Beautiful reading of a great song.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 03:50 pm:

From the archives... Mickie Most didn't always get it right on the button. When Herman's Hermits recorded a Caribbean-flavoured song called "Bet Yer Life I Do" and were accused of jumping on the Reggae bandwagon, he answered saying, "Herman's Hermits will be around long after Reggae's been forgotten!"

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Saturday, June 07, 2003 - 11:34 pm:

Hey Douglasm,
I just noticed your last posting above, and yes... I was quickly reminded there once was actually a song by 'Keith' (of "98.6" fame) who had another 'pop' hit in 1967, and, no sh*t-- that was the title of the song then, and I "Ain't Gonna Lie" about that one....

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 04:25 am:

Sadly, another passing to report. Dave Rowberry, keyboard player with the Animals, died of a suspected heart attack at his home on Friday. Formely of the Mike Cotton sound, Dave joined the group when Alan Price left for a solo career. He was 62, and had suffered from heart problems for some time, but had been playing recently with a re-formed Animals line-up.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2970846.stm

PS - I tried to post this as a new thread but it wouldn't stick.

By Bob Olhsson (12.93.84.125) on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 01:14 pm:

Ralph, there was something else, one of the groups signed to Rare Earth if I remember correctly.