Trident Studios was a relatively new London studio, and that is where he went. One of his first projects there was to mix John Lennon’s “Give Peace A Chance” single. And although George Harrison and Phil Spector were credited as producers of George’s All Things Must Pass, Scott spent a great deal of time working with Harrison, as Spector was M.I.A.
As it turned out, Ken Scott’s first “official” job as a producer was the Hunky Dory album by David Bowie. From there things really took off. He continued working with Bowie, doing Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and Pinups. He would go on to work with Elton John, Supertramp, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Tubes, and Devo, among many others.
What makes the book so enjoyable are Ken Scott’s in-depth discussions of what went down in the studio during many of these sessions. This is no dry, techno-speak producer’s manual. It is most definitely written for music fans who might enjoy some little-known facts about these famous artists and albums.
One thing that wowed me a bit has to do with The Tubes. The Real Gone label has just issued their second and third albums on a single CD. They are Young and Rich and Now, respectively. In my review, I mentioned how superior I felt Young and Rich was, and never noticed that the producer was Mr. Ken Scott. In fact, he wrote technical notes which I completely ignored, but were a total hoax. He made up the name Kincade Instruments Low Level (KILL) amplifiers for one thing, and got letters from aspiring musicians looking for Kincade amps.
His most salient point answers a question I have long had, specifically “What happened to The Tubes?” In Ken’s opinion, they listened to their record company, and lost a lot of the edge they had shown to such great effect earlier. Unfortunately, he only worked with them on the Young and Rich album, which just happens to be my favorite Tubes album.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Speaking of the Tubes, I'll always remember someone's take on vocalist Fee Waybill's name: Sounds like an invoice a truck driver needs the warehouse manager to sign-off on upon delivery of goods.(or something like that)
Anyway, great review. I think I need to get this book.
2 - Greg Barbrick
Gordon - That's hilarious! I never thought of it, (being so enamored of his alter-ego Quay Lewd), but it is perfect.
I gotta say, Ken Scott's stories are really good, not "gossipy" (if that is a word), but very enlightening.
3 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
I forgot about 'Quay Lude.'And for some reason--though I can't remember the title of that big hit they had - snippets of the lyrics zip into my head: "have a herd of Winnebagos - we're giving them away!"; don't watch the food cook!"; and of course, "A Baby's arm holding an apple" (from a Tennessee Williams play, I think Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Anyway, check out Books promos after midnight...
4 - El Bicho
damn, that man has lived a charmed life. You fellas have ne hankering to hear "White Punks on Dope" really loud!