The Producers
Terry Brown - Part One
photo credit - americansongwriter.com
The producers are the folks behind the desk, of course.
But they are so much more.
Keeper of the creative vision. Project manager. Life coach. Musical director. Player. Songwriter. Engineer. Talent wrangler. Cajoler of performances.
Each has their own strengths, their ‘secret sauce’.
And without them, a lot of records would suck.
Born in Watford, England in 1947, Terry Brown is a prolific engineer and producer who is mainly known for his work with Rush.
Trained in the UK, his early engineering work included The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and Donovan. Along with his friend Doug Riley, Brown moved to Toronto in 1969 and opened Toronto Sound Studios.
Brown’s style combined the ability to balance each instrument in the mix, effectiveness with textures on many styles of music, and, of course his work with Rush’s Neil Peart to develop his powerful recorded drum sound.
Projects in the 70s included both engineering and production, alongside acts such as Max Webster, Klaatu, and legendary Calgary band Stampeders.
Stampeders - Sweet City Woman | peaked #1 in 1971
Before we get into Brown’s 80s projects, let’s talk about Rush…
The nine-album run from 1975’s ‘Fly By Night’ to 1982’s ‘Signals’ is likely Brown’s most notable work. The band we know today is perhaps not in the same stratosphere without this partnership. ‘Broon’ oversaw the evolution from the trio’s prog roots through to a more accessible and radio-friendly sound.
As such, Part Three of this series will deal with this incredible collaboration.
Meanwhile, we’ve already talked more 70s music than an 80s writer should, so let’s take a look at the other CanCon acts that benefitted with Terry at the desk.
B.B. Gabor - Nyet Nyet Soviet [Soviet Jewellery] | peaked #54, 1980
B.B. Gabor is a one-hit wonder, I’m afraid - though the Hungarian born as Gabor Hegedus in 1948 was one of a kind. Ten year old me loved this whenever it came on the radio. Early critical acclaim did not pan out - and despite releasing a follow-up LP in ‘81, no more music would arrive. Sadly, we lost Gabor to suicide in 1990.
Toronto - Silver Screen | did not chart
While the album charted well, Toronto’s second album was a bust on the singles front. The record itself sounded great, but maybe the songs weren’t there?
Third album ‘Get It On Credit’ would be produced by Steve Smith [former Muscle Shoals Sound engineer] and was the band’s high-water mark.
Tictoc - Twenty Questions | peaked #27, 1983
Not long after leaving the Rush fold, due in part to his not liking the band’s evolving direction - Brown produced this techno nugget from Tictoc.
The brainchild of Tevan Kaplan - the handsome vocalist and drummer scene here - the band were one and done after their label Dallcorte Records ran out of cash.
The Drivers - Tears On Your Anorak | peaked #31, 1983
The Drivers are not CanCon, but this act is a thread to be pulled in the Broon sweater. Label mates of Tictoc, they met the same fate when Dallcorte folded.
But the relationship between Brown and Nick Van Eede - seen here on guitar - would bear fruit in a few years.
Great little power pop tune, though!
Rough Trade - Sexual Outlaw | peaked #92, 1984
‘O Tempora! O Mores!’ was the final studio album for Toronto’s Rough Trade. The two singles stalled in the nineties on the singles chart and while the band continued to tour for a while, things stalled from this point on.
I like the reggae vibe of this one, proving that Brown can be a steady hand on styles of all kinds.
Hope you enjoyed this and will join me for Part Two in the coming weeks. I’ll be featuring artists that collaborated with TB in the back half of the 80s - including Eye Eye, Blue Rodeo, Roman Grey and Cutting Crew.
I was noticing the same thing you say below with Pe - that Terry didn't like Rush's more synth, new-wave direction, and then worked with bands that would be considered that! But I think it was much more than not liking Rush's musical direction. I didn't know any of the artists you feature here! I don't know if that says anything about how little the producer matters in terms of success. I imagine the vast majority don't even know who the producer is for most records. Cool project, and I look forward to part 2!
Finally catching up with some reading! Tina and I both knew The Stampeders track and she knew the Tictoc song. Although she knew it was Rough Trade, she didn’t know the song. Some fun tracks on this one Ken!!