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22 featureexaminer
2019 Peter Asher
14th,
August Jonathan Bowen Sits Down To Chat To The Legendary Singer And Producer
| By Jonathan Bowen
EXAMINER Ithe legendary singer and pro-
recently had the pleasure of sit-
ting down and chatting with
ducer Peter Asher before his
IRISH upcoming tour of Australia with
AlbertLee.
Peter thank you for mak-
ing the time to talk with me
and welcome back to
Australia.
It’s my pleasure. It has been
a while since I was last in
Australia, I think the last time I
was here I was running Sony
Music and was working with
Silverchair and Tina Arena.
Does it surprise you that
there is still a demand from
people to hear the music that
you sang with Gordan almost
50 years ago?
Yes, I am surprised, it is nice
that people still remember the
music that I did with Gordan. write them it was good to be to my apartment was able, however we had to record his teacher at school that the
One question I used to get able to choose them. “Something in the way she his parts of the song in a differ- two of you would be ironical-
asked back in the day which moves.” It just blew me away. I ent location which back then ly linked together.
was the same question The You are famously known was surprised no one else had was difficult, not so difficult It is a pleasant coincidence
Beatles was asked constantly as the A&R man with the snapped him up already! these days. that it happened that way, I
was ‘how long do you see your Beatles record company Linda sang it beautifully but don’t believe in fate and I don’t
career lasting?’ Given a career Apple records and who signed Do you feel some sort of funny enough she prefers the compare myself to George,
in music was only supposed to James Taylor to the label, pride or vindication about version done by the mouse in George was incredible.
last 2 years or so, I am grateful what was it that you saw in that the fact you found James the movie.
that I have been able to make a James at the time that gave Taylor and take pride in just Given you were at the fore-
career and a living from music. you that feeling he may be how successful he became? I met with Mike Nesmith a front of great music, do you
something special? Yes, I do unequivocally. I couple of months ago and he see anything today other than
Yourself and Gordan expe- Finding James Taylor had mean Mickie Most heard him said that song writing and Ed Sherrin that can compete
rienced success at a period of nothing to do with Apple, it and passed him up. Mickie had producing is like tapping into with the quality of song writ-
time when music was at its was a coincidence that I was a great ear for talent, but he something spiritual, you can’t ing and production that
creative best, looking back at working there at the time. may have been looking for quite rush or push the occurred during the 60s, 70s
that period do you wish you James was introduced to me more of a pop singer. process, it is something that and 80s?
had written more music your- by a mutual friend we had at evolves and with patients Absolutely yes! Someone
self or collaborated with other the time. James had an immedi- Linda Ronstadt was anoth- something special might like Billie Eilish is a real talent. I
song writers of the time such ate impact on me. It wasn’t just er artist you had huge success come of it. Do you agree with also like Alessia Cara she is a
as Cat Stevens? one thing that struck me about with as a producer, my his thoughts? really good writer and very
Well Cat Stevens didn’t col- him. He was charming, shy and favorite song you produced Well that is one view, then smart. I like Charles Dereeper
laborate with other song writ- mysterious. for her was a hit she did with there is the Carol King way new album even though all the
ers, I was his manager while he You must remember he had James Ingram called “some- which is of course you can push rap fans think it is crap, so it
was in America during the 70s. a serious drug dependency at where out there.” What was it. If someone needs a song by makes me like it even more.
but to answer your questions, the time but musically he was it like to work with her dur- noon for the Shiralles well, you Miguel is another amazing tal-
yes, I wish we had written brilliant. His guitar playing was ing that period of time when go up to your little room in the ent; I think he is a real genius.
more songs and I wish I had extraordinary. The precision he she was at the peak of her Brill Building and you deliver it. I talk to a lot of people who
written all the hits but Gordan played with was something I success? Some song writers say songs think that modern music isn’t
and myself were not as good had never seen before. It was Yes, that song was written come through them and they as good as the music they grew
songwriters as the writers who clear to me he been influenced by James Horner, Barry Mann are just a vehicle for it. I don’t up with. I think the they forget
were allowing us to record their by classical guitar and guitarist and Cynthia Weil. It was a great agree with that way of thinking. that the music of the 60s was
songs. like Julian Segovin. song and Steven Spielberg I believe that songwriters who riddled with plenty of crap
Given Gordan had recorded James had a rich baritone he asked Linda to do it. believe that are not giving songs we just choose not to
songs written by Paul singing voice was more likened It was very complicated themselves enough credit. remember them.
McCartney, Del Shannon and to a Sam Cooke or Ray Charles process because I did a version
Carol King one of the skills I than a traditional folk singer. with Peabo Bryson and Linda You sit alongside George Peter thanks for taking the
had looking back over my The songs he wrote were originally because Quincy Jones Martin as one of the greatest time out to chat to me. Good
career was the ability to choose extraordinary. The first song he said that James couldn’t do it. producers of all time, is it fate Luck to Albert and yourself for
great songs. So, if I couldn’t sang for me when he came over James then became avail- given that your mother was the tour ahead. C