Eric -- What a fantastic story! Best thing I've read all day. I've always seen Wilson's name on all those records you mentioned, but this is the first time I've ever learned anything about him. This is definitely a story you should develop at length and sell. Is that Wilson giggling wildly at the beginning of "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream," after they blow the first take? I bet it is. I always loved that moment on the record -- so perfectly spontaneous.

Thanks Rodney, I really appreciate it, especially coming from you. I have always thought the Wilson story would make a great book, or at least a long article - it touches on so many important themes, players, and music. I'm very pleased to hear you say that too.

Fine story Eric. I knew him and he was eveything you said he was -- particularly charismatic and brilliant. You definitely should do a Wilson book.

thanks Marty, that's very encouraging. I'll have to talk to you about him!

Thanks for the article, man. Great to finally know something about the guy behind the name on the back of all those great albums.

Great piece on Wilson, a figure I've long felt to have been severely overlooked and underestimated by the lords of Rock History. I agree that the article should be expanded, although would caution Eric to check some of his music history facts before he does (e.g., Louis Firbank; contemporaneity of VU's recordings vis-a-vis Mothers').

Thanks Phil, every source I have seen says Lou Reed was born Louis Firbank so I;m pretty sure about that, and the Velvets recorded from '66-'70 and the Mothers released their first in '66 and recorded steadily from there, so they were definitely contemporaneous.

Very cool article, Eric. One or two things: in my recent [and first] book, "The Velvet Underground and Nico" [Continuum, 2004], I found and interviewed Norman Dolph, who co-produced [with Warhol] the V.U.'s New York sessions for that LP-- they finished it, but were unable to sell it via Dolph's Columbia connections. Then they went with Tom Wilson, having been impressed earlier by his offer of true creative freedom once he made his move to MGM/Verve, and re-did the four songs you mention in LA.

One thing to recall is that they also did a 5th number with Wilson, back in NY, when he decided they needed a single: "Sunday Morning", which was supposed to be sung by Nico [by Wilson's request - he felt her voice was more saleable], but which Reed sings on the record, as he insisted on doing it himself once they got into the studio to do it.

Second, the "shoe salesman" was none other than Norman Dolph, who was at that time a Columbia Sales exec, the other hands-on producer beside Wilson, and a very cool guy who has gotten short shrift over the years. Dolph was brought in by Warhol and it was Norman who set up the sessions at Scepter Studios and found John Licata, the engineer in NY. He was never, ever a shoe salesman. But he was the cat who put up half the money to do the NY stuff, Warhol and mgr. Paul Morrissey put up the rest - around $700. It seems that Cale was either being purposefully sardonic in his description of Dolph, or perhaps it was just a product of the hard drinking he used to do, and may have done at the time of that statement [and doesn't do any more]. All this and more [plus some old, contradictory issues] is cleared up in my book, on Continuum Publishing's 33-1/3 Series, available at amazon.com, borders, fine music and book stores, thru me [if you want it signed] or thru the publisher.

One last thing: during my phone interview, Dolph -- obviously a very together individual -- was self-effacing and objective. Having been even less appreciated and less remembered than Tom Wilson for his role in this seminal LP [to my knowledge mine is the first lengthy interview with Dolph to ever result in a significant portion reaching the printed page], Norman joked at one point :" By the way, Joe, if you run into Cale, tell him to give you his foot size, and I'll send him a fucking pair of shoes". There's a sport for you!

Eric, great article. I worked for Tom's recording studio in 1975. He was a beautiful man with great vision. Yes, that is him laughing at the beginning of Bob Dylan's 115th Dream. He told me Bob liked recording with Tom because he would come in run the songs down on acoustic guitar and leave. Tom would overdub the band later. At a Christmas party at his home we talked about music and he asked me if I was into jazz. I said no (it would be years before I discovered Coltrane), and he reluctantly changed the subject. Now I wish I had found it earlier. His insights into the music I now love would have been invaluable. My clearest memory of Tom is leaping down the stairs of the studio from his office to the front door to check out a fine chick he spied walking down the street. He is missed often.

thanks so much Rick, great to hear from you, it is hard to find people who actually knew Tom these days

Has anyone tried to interview Wilson's family?

Wilson also produced Harumi, Ill Wind,
The Last Ritual and Fraternity Of Man.
Why isn't he in the Rock n' Roll H.O.F.?

I completely agree with you Tamara - perhaps his early death has made him out of sight out of mind. He was involved with a great deal of jazz as well, a fascinating figure.

Whoa... dropped back by and suddenly there's all sorts of action here ... excuse my earlier verbosity! Looks like there's a movement afoot for you to do a Wilson book ... I was astonished the more i learned about the man, and I truly envy those who knew him. Yeah, why ISN'T he in the R&R Hall of Fame? I add my vote to Marty Thau's: time is ripe for a full-on Wilson bio ... you should go for it! [then again, why isn't there a marty thau bio? Red Star records changed my world!]

Great article, I just want to say that this article should really be a springboard for a book. Tom Wilson's achievements are truly massive, and with the exception of a NY times article in the early 70's and various small paragraphs in books (33 and a 1/3 being one of them) Wilson is absent from publication, and really rock history. I recently wrote a paper about Wilson for a course on the history of producers, but the amount of research and digging that had to be done to even come up with a small portion of useable information was way beyond what i had imagined looking at the albums he had produced. If i have one critique of the article is the lack of sonic critique, he was a masterful pioneer of stereo techniques like on white light/white heat the song Lady Godiva, John cale sings most of the song before Reed bumbles in a non tonal vocal and the bounce back and forth to my knowledge nothing like this had been tried before. For someone who has recieved huge praise in the early career of Jon Landau (when writing for the now defunct music magazine crawdaddy), i was suprised no more was written about Wilson.

I'm planning a series of 10 30-minute radio programmes about record producers for BBC Radio 2 called Invisible Visionaries. One of them will celebrate Tom Wilson. Like the rest of you here, I've always felt him to be a great but overlooked figure, and did my best to honour him in my book, The Sound of the City (Da Capo, 1995). But I didn't know very much about him.

I found this site in the course of searching for more information and insights, and send a thousand thanks to Eric for the original piece and everyone else for filling in some of the blanks.

Two questions, though - Eric makes a reference at the beginning of his piece to Tom's work at the start of his career with Savoy Records, and towards the end of it with another Eric, the former former Animal from Newcastle. Can anyone add more, such as which artists did Tom work with at Savoy, and is there anything to say about his work with Eric Burdon?

Good article.

My father and Tom were in the same class at Harvard B school.

Tom and Beverly were my "foster parents" when they, well, Beverly, were living on Mt. Pleasant Street in Cambridge in the mid-sixties.

It's a real long story, but it started when Beverly came down to Christiansted, St. Croix. Beverly dragged me to the local music store, grabbed a copy of the 45 'Judy in Disguise', the LP's 'Animalism' & 'Satanic Majesty's Request', and said "You're coming with me."

I was twelve.

Hey T! Hey Darien! Where are you?

I liked the article! I knew Beverly in Cambridge in the late 60s and would love to know where T and Darien are.

sorry I am so late to respond! Charlie, an honor to hear from you - loved The Sound of the City!

For his stint with Savoy I have Bill Barron, Booker Ervin, Barbara Long, Perry Robinson, Johnny Rae, Sun Ra.

He did many of the Animals absolute classics: The Animalization , Winds of Change, Eric Is Here, and The Twain Shall Meet albums.

Thanks for checking in Doug and Paul, please let me know if you find anyone or anymore info!

Hey Eric,

Can't believe it's taken me all this time to do a search for Tom....His son is my best friend, has been since 1970.

I knew Tom very well...one of the most amazing and dynamic people I've ever met.

If you'd like to get in touch with me so you can reach his son (also dynamic and interesting) send me an e mail and I'll tell you how to reach him. Especially if you want to do a book or more history on him.

Take Care,

Jim

Hey Folks, This is Tom's son, T.Wilson. I just had this article forwarded to me by a friend and would love get in touch with anyone interested hearing from me or my sister Darien.
Especially Doug Rathbun and Paul Payson...
I'm alive and well and hiding in the TV Biz in Northern California. My sister Darien is living down in Southern California.
Hope all is well with everyone, and thanks so much for all the kind words about my dad. They truly are heart-warming, and I must confess a bit overwhelming...
Take care, T.

Hi Eric, I was thrilled to receive this article..I was Tom's assistant at Columbia and at MGM from 1964 thru 1968.
I have the fondest memories of Tom, he had the best laugh, he was so smart and had a great sense of humor and I just thought he was wonderful. I was at so many of the recording sessions during those years..it was so exciting for a young woman from Brooklyn. I have never forgotten him and think of him often. I could go on and on...but I'll give someone else a chance...I'm in touch with his son and am planning to meet him next week as a matter of fact.

Hey Eric,

There is no doubt that Tom Wilson should be in the R & R Hall of Fame...it's really ludicrous. Looks like you're getting a ground well of support. As people find out and spread the word I'm sure you can help make it happen.

I know his son and daughter will have some memorabilia and I would certainly hope that Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel and others would like to get involved.

Let's make it happen.

Jim

so very exciting to hear from Tom, Jim and Phyllis. I am postiive Charlie (comment 16) would be thrilled to hear from you guys for his BBC radio bio.

I have zero doubt that Tom should be in the Rock Hall, and his fascinating story should be much better known. Certainly I think a book makes sense, or perhaps better still a documentary. How much video footage is available? That would make a huge difference. YOu certainly have plenty of big names involved in the story!

An old bandmate of mine ( "The Novae Police" ) was in "The Last Ritual". He was their guitarist. His name is Joe Gabriel, but he had some a/k/a 's ,like P.McQuade. Anyway, if anyone can point me in the direction of finding him again, that would be great !

Tom was my lifetime best friend, and I gave the eulogy at his memorial service. Phyllis,,, I spoke ewith T last evening and asked that he give you my contact info. Some years ago I made an effort to get Tom into the R&R Hall of Fame. I am a bit PO'ed by some of Tom's contempories lack of interest, and sensed some jealousy. T and I will be making another effort.

I am so happy to see this. Frustrating to me that he is mentioned so seldom. I have often wished that he could have worked with me on my albums. Count me in any demonstrations that are needed to get Tom a Hall induction.

Johnny indovina

I knew Tom for the last year of his life....funny, today I passed Avenida del sol and thought of him...I looked up to find the house but couldn't spot it...probably gone by now, so much building in Coldwater....I was on a job in New York and was to call him from the airport when I arrived, but left message after message and got no answer. Finally I left my number...and sure enough, I got a call from
Cara de Menil, who told me the sad news. Tom had already suffered a heart attack and had no intention of living life as an invalid....This was not someone who would ever 'take it easy'.....
Lost track of Cara some time ago....T....might you be in touch with her? Katie

FANTASTIC article, Eric! I hope that you'll do the book eventually :) The only error I could find was pointed out earlier in the thread: Lou Reed was, in fact, born Lewis Alan Reed(see Bockris, "Transformer", 1995). He has occasionally gone on record as saying that his real last name is "Firbank", but this is actually an oblique reference to the English author Ronald Firbank, one of Reed's favorite writers.
I've been listening to a lot of Dylan, VU, and Simon & Garfunkel lately, and I'm amazed that there is so little information available on the obviously brilliant producer of all those classic records. Do us all a favor and write the Tom Wilson bio!

Eric: I'm glad this article got a second wind--I also was familiar with Wilson's name but not his background. Thanks for filling in the gaps.
---Gordon

thanks Jonathan and Gordon, it has been deeply gratifying to find I am no theonly one out there who thinks Tom deserves a much more prominent role in our cultural history. And with all the contacts who have come forth, I am much more optimistic about being able to do a real bio at some point.

Thanks again to everyone!

I remember when I was in Jr. High the New York Times Magazine did a feature on Tom Wilson... I'm sure that's available, if not on-line...

Thanks for this - it's better than Ritchie Unterburger's profile which otherwise dominates the available info on Wilson.

Let me add my voice to those urging a BOOK - or at least a made for TV movie ...

Hi! I am Tom's daughter, Darien Wilson. I am also trying to gather the ridiculous amount of money and energy they demand in order to get my Dad a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bon Jovi? Adam Sandler? C'Mon!!!! That is so sad that they are honered and good ol' Tom Wilson is but a memory. If anybody wants to pledge, I will generously donate and get in touch with Richo to give us his excellent Bio to submit with a check for $15,000.00 They only award one posthumous "star" a year, so I am sure this will not be an easy feat.
You all are fantastic for keeping his spirit alive...THANK YOU!
Darien Wilson

Darien, I'm writing a book on rock and roll, and am (and always have been) interested in your father. I'd love to speak with you (or anyone else who knew him) about him, if you're willing and have the time. You can email me at moistworks at gmail.com. Eric, lovely stuff - all these folks are right; you should do a book!

Eric,

Been out of the states and noticed T and Darien lurking about. # 17, 21 & 33.

I can't seem to find them using the usual suspects. Can you give me a clue?

Doug Rathbun
[Personal contact info deleted]

Hi, and Thank you for the wonderful article.
I have known the Wilsons in Cambridge, in 1965-67. I lived with the Wilsons: Beverly, Darien and T. and continued to see Tom when later I lived in New York. I am amazed that I could not find out about you guys, earlier. I searched for you in Cambridge many times, and never new Tom passed away so soon, too soon ... Tom was such a cool guy, and his influence in the NYC music scene, was fantastic then, how could he be forgotten? Yes a book about him should be written. If T. or Darien or Beberly can send me a short note, I would appreciate. I hope you're all fine.

Dear Darien It's me ... Emily,

Was listening to Simon & G this am and thought I would look up your Dad online ... sure enough there was a photo with Dylan, then you and T. e-mailing on this ... I'll call Ginny ... I've wanted to get to you since you came to visit Peabody that one time ... Em

Fantastic piece! I am a big fan of this man's work. Thanks for writing this most informative article.

Rick wrote : Eric, great article. I worked for Tom's recording studio in 1975. He was a beautiful man with great vision. Yes, that is him laughing at the beginning of Bob Dylan's 115th Dream. He told me Bob liked recording with Tom because he would come in run the songs down on acoustic guitar and leave. Tom would overdub the band later.

This is not true. The Dylan tracks were recorded live in the studio (Dylan & band playing together, as the tape rolled). Listen to any outtake as proof.
The only exception was 4 tracks that Wilson o/d backing musicians on, December 1964, and never issued.

After communicating with Eric Olsen and Al Kooper as well as a number of my own colleagues, I've decided to start work on a full fledged bio on Tom Wilson. Rather amazed no one has done one by now, to be honest. I very much look forward to communicating with many of you who knew and worked with this fascinating cat. This is obviously a story worth telling. Anyone who'd like to get in touch in advance, feel free: srprazak(at)aol(dot)com

Steven Prazak
Atlanta

OMG I had no idea Tom Wilson was so instrumental in launching Zappa's career. I've been a Zappa fan all my life and never bothered to look at the production credits of his first recordings. Not sure if George Duke was in the band that early. Wonder if he knew Tom Wilson? If so, he'd probably be a great guy to contact.

I know of Mr. Wilson's work through "The Last Ritual" - one of his lesser-known psychedelic projects for Lumumba Productions. Recording and remix engineer: Jack "Super Baby" Adams. Advice printed on the rear album cover: "Achtung! IS VERY HEAVY MUSIC. PLAY LOUDLY AS POSSIBLE. YES!" And it actually does sound better the louder you play it. Interestingly, the music was quite dynamic. During the quiet interludes it's just dripping with an awesomely wet reverb that sets an incredibly sensual "mood". You can sometimes find a copy of this in a record shop on Bleeker Street, NYC. Actually, I sometimes see it online for $30. Wonder if anyone from that project ever got any royalties?

The production was top notch, using only the best NY session musicians. My Dad played Bass Trombone in that band. A few years earlier he had graduated from Berklee in Boston with some greats...Gary Burton, Steve Marcus, Sadao Watanabe, Graham Collier, et. al. He took "The Last Ritual" gig thinking it would be financially beneficial. I know it certainly wasn't his musical forte. I remember he dragged our whole family to a club (The Circus?) for a rare afternoon appearance. I was around eight years old - it made a life-lasting impression. It was so LOUD! The women were so HOT and the energy was so ELECTRIC - it was sensory overload for a pre-pubescent kid. Looking back I probably inhaled a lot of second hand funny stuff that day; though I'm sure my parents would never have brought us if they'd had any clue that kind of stuff would be happening right in the club. Dad still shudders at the mention of that band. Says he could never hear himself playing because it was too loud; but of course as a kid I really dug it and I played the record over and over again (to his chagrin).

Another great NYC horn player in that band was Sharon Moe. She played French Horn and I think she sang some of the ooh la la la's. She is still a very well respected NYC "Classical" horn player. Someone mentioned the guitar player, Gabriel, in an earlier post. Anyone know if he's still alive? He had an awesome sound that was cutting-edge late 60's! If anyone wants more scoop on this project, email me and I'll see if I can pick Dad's brain for any more details. He's getting old now and I haven't talked to him about this stuff in years but he's still amazingly lucent at times.

To S. Salvatori - -
I am the "someone" who posted earlier about Gabriel, guitarist of The Last Ritual. I too, saw them at the Electric Circus in about 1968,only I believe I saw them at night. Incredibly, the 2 other then-unknown groups on the bill were Alice Cooper and Sha Na Na ! ( sorry if this is getting a little OT )The sax player was Kenny Lehman, who I knew from Juilliard, and who went on to a successful Disco-producing career.
Dead or alive ? This is the kind of speculation Gabe would LOVE, and let's hope it's the latter.
If you need to contact me, I'm in the book ( phone or Union. )

Tom Wilson is the greatest unsung hero of rock & roll. He invented folk rock. Before Wilson and his work with Dylan and Simon & Garfunkle, rock & roll was bubblegum. It didn't say anything. Wilson realized before anyone else that rock could have a message. His work with Dylan preceded The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" when Lennon & McCartney began to write serious lyrics and their music took an adventurous turn. Tom Wilson is as important as Sam Phillips and Sir George Martin in the development of rock as a cultural force. The music industry could use someone like him in these times when mediocrity and crass stupidity is celebrated on MTV.

Wilson's work with the Velvet Underground also puts him at the conception of punk.

RE: JIM BOURGET

Your last post was on October 5, 2005 but apparently you were in a car accident, which resulted in a fatality, in Nigeria in October 2001. I was told that you had no family. Please contact me, a fellow Bourget, to verify some things. You may contact me at my URL or just by posting another message.

Tom was the man ..Met and know his daughter Darien who is a character if there ever was one.. I think thay should do a movie about his life and it would be cool.I told my wife about 20 years ago a movie about Ray Charles would be good and they did it...Anyways I never knew just how influential he was with other bands besides Velvet Underground......He was groundbreaking and great...A star ?Give him a street!

Wow! How beautiful to find this tribute!

I was just listening to Nico's fabulous "Chelsea Girl". I've always loved the chamber folk production by Tom Wilson, which has influenced so many folk recordings since. And I was amused to discover that Nico wanted a full rock band instead with no strings or flute. Seems that Tom Wilson just ignored her, another wise decision from a master producer!

Someone should really do a film about him. It's not often that record producers are celebrated, but Tom was in a pivotal position straddling 60s avantgarde and mainstream pop.

For me, a black man into folk, rock & punk, he is mos def a true black role model.

& so sweet to see his friends & family commenting here too!

I've wondered for over 25 years why nobody seemed to care about Tom Wilson. Glad to see I was wrong, hopefully someone will finally write a book about him.
The VU's Banana lp, the Soft Machine's 1st lp, Like a Rolling Stone, and probably the most successful 'remix' ever - Simon & Garfunkel's Sound of Silence... That alone should get the man's name etched in stone somewhere as one of the most important producer of the last 50 years.

Listen to the Dolph's acetate to realize how sensitive TW was in handling the VU. For that record alone, he is for me one of the all-time greats.

I was just thinking of the Last Ritual and have that album in my collection. I need to convert it to a cd before I lose it.

Mr. Salvatori,

Would like as much info as you can muster about the Last Ritual.
I bought this lp when it first came out in'69 and have played it regularly ever since, i posted it on my blog awhile ago, so if anyone wants to hear it, head over to Redtelephone66

i also have the Chelsea Biege lp that included most members of The Last Ritual. speaking of Tom Wilson's productions, does anyone know what ever became of Harumi? that was another fantastic record!!!