John Wood (music producer)
Encyclopedia
John Wood is an English sound engineer and producer, best known for his work with Fairport Convention
, John Martyn
, Cat Stevens
, Sandy Denny
, Nick Drake
, the Incredible String Band
, Pink Floyd
, Nico
and Squeeze.
recording studios Wood honed his skills at London based Levy Sound and Oriole studios before he and Geoff Frost opened Sound Techniques during the winter of 1964. The studios were housed within a converted dairy in Old Church Street
, Chelsea and soon went on to become one of the country's first independent professional music recording studios. In 1966, he met Joe Boyd
, who worked with him closely. The two formed a partnership, whereby Wood tended to the record's sound, while Boyd looked after its musical direction. However, Wood, well known for his forthright approach, often gave his opinion on musical direction. According to Boyd: "professional session musicians regarded the pair of us with curiosity: the normal deference of engineer towards producer didn't seem to apply. He would give a withering sneer...I would tell him just do it and not give me any shit. If my resolve melted in the face of his contempt, it probably wasn't such a good idea in the first place."
Wood engineered all three of Nick Drake's albums, and was one of the few people the notoriously withdrawn singer trusted. According to Drake's biographer Trevor Dann "He and Nick hit it off immediately, Woody the perfectionist soundman, Nick the perfectionist musician."
He currently lives in Scotland, with his longtime partner Pam, and remains in the business as an engineer and producer.
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
, John Martyn
John Martyn
John Martyn, OBE , born Iain David McGeachy, was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a forty-year career he released twenty studio albums, working with artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour...
, Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
, Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
, Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
, the Incredible String Band
Incredible String Band
The Incredible String Band were a psychedelic folk band formed in Scotland in 1966. The band built a considerable following, especially within British counterculture, before splitting up in 1974...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Nico
Nico
Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
and Squeeze.
Career
After first working for DeccaDecca Studios
Decca Studios was a recording facility in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, North London, England.Famously, The Beatles failed their audition with Decca Records at the location on 1 January 1962, and subsequently signed with Parlophone instead....
recording studios Wood honed his skills at London based Levy Sound and Oriole studios before he and Geoff Frost opened Sound Techniques during the winter of 1964. The studios were housed within a converted dairy in Old Church Street
Old Church Street
Old Church Street is a street in London, England in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.It runs from Chelsea Embankment to Fulham Road, crossing Kings Road. The section to the north of Kings Road is sometimes called Upper Old Church Street. At the Chelsea Embankment end is Chelsea Old...
, Chelsea and soon went on to become one of the country's first independent professional music recording studios. In 1966, he met Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
, who worked with him closely. The two formed a partnership, whereby Wood tended to the record's sound, while Boyd looked after its musical direction. However, Wood, well known for his forthright approach, often gave his opinion on musical direction. According to Boyd: "professional session musicians regarded the pair of us with curiosity: the normal deference of engineer towards producer didn't seem to apply. He would give a withering sneer...I would tell him just do it and not give me any shit. If my resolve melted in the face of his contempt, it probably wasn't such a good idea in the first place."
Wood engineered all three of Nick Drake's albums, and was one of the few people the notoriously withdrawn singer trusted. According to Drake's biographer Trevor Dann "He and Nick hit it off immediately, Woody the perfectionist soundman, Nick the perfectionist musician."
He currently lives in Scotland, with his longtime partner Pam, and remains in the business as an engineer and producer.
Sources
- Boyd, JoeJoe BoydJoe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
(2006). White Bicycles – Making Music in the 1960s, Serpent's Tail. ISBN 1-85242-910-0 - Dann, Trevor (2006). Darker Than the Deepest Sea: The Search for Nick Drake, Da Capo Press. London. 2006. ISBN 0-306-81520-6