Pip Williams: Difference between revisions
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'''Pip Williams''', (born '''Philip Williams''', 7 October 1947, [[Hillingdon]], [[Middlesex]]<ref name="Discogs">[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Pip+Williams Discogs.com]</ref>) is a [[record producer]], [[arrangement|arranger]] and [[guitarist]], best known for producing [[album]]s for [[Status Quo]] and [[The Moody Blues]]. |
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==Career== |
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Williams became inspired to play the [[guitar]] after listening to [[gramophone record|records]] by [[The Shadows]] and [[Buddy Holly]]. He started his musical career as guitarist for [[The Fantastics]] and [[Jimmy James (singer)|Jimmy James and the Vagabonds]]. Progressing from performer to [[session musician]] in the early 1970s under the patronage of [[Sweet (band)|Sweet]] producer [[Phil Wainman]], he became one of the most in-demand session guitarists of the era, playing on early [[hit record]]s for Sweet including "Funny Funny", "Co-Co", "Poppa Joe" and "Little Willy", and on [[The Walker Brothers]]' hit "[[No Regrets (Tom Rush song)|No Regrets]]".<ref name="Discogs"/> |
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He moved into production in the late 1970s; his work for [[Graham Bonnett]] attracted the attention of |
He moved into production in the late 1970s; his work for [[Graham Bonnett]] attracted the attention of Status Quo, who hired him to produce their [[album]], ''[[Rockin' All Over the World (album)|Rockin' All Over the World]]''. He would produce a further nine albums for the group, the most recent being their 2007 effort, ''[[In Search of the Fourth Chord]]''. He is also known for producing The Moody Blues albums ''[[Long Distance Voyager]]'' and ''[[The Present]]'', the former being a [[United States]] [[Billboard 200]] [[record chart|chart]] [[chart-topper|topper]]. In 1984 he produced "[[I Should Have Known Better (Jim Diamond song)|I Should Have Known Better]]" for [[Jim Diamond (Scottish musician)|Jim Diamond]], which topped the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Other collaborators include [[Shirley Bassey]], [[Richard O'Brien]], [[Dr. Feelgood (band)|Dr. Feelgood]], [[Barclay James Harvest]], [[Bucks Fizz (band)|Bucks Fizz]], [[Kevin Ayers]], [[Geordie (band)|Geordie]] and [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]] (''[[Sonic Origami]]'').<ref name="Discogs"/> He also produced and co-wrote a number of tracks on Sweet's 1980 album, ''[[Waters Edge]]'', and worked with their [[singing|singer]], [[Brian Connolly]], on a number of his [[solo (music)|solo]] efforts. |
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Some of his most creative work has come out of his ability as an arranger. From the |
Some of his most creative work has come out of his ability as an arranger.{{fact|date=January 2009}} From the [[String section|string]] arrangements for the Moody Blues and [[Colin Blunstone]], to the [[oriental]] [[ostinato]] patterns on [[Carl Douglas]]' "[[Kung Fu Fighting]]". Other collaborators in this field include [[Barbara Dickson]], [[Ringo Starr]], [[The Sensational Alex Harvey Band]] and [[The Kinks]].<ref name="Discogs"/> His most recent work in this field has been with the [[Finland|Finnish]] [[symphonic metal]] group [[Nightwish]], having [[composer|composed]] [[orchestra]]l arrangements for their 2004 album, ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'', and its 2007 follow up ''[[Dark Passion Play]]''. Williams also has [[sound recording and reproduction|recorded]], produced and [[remix|mixed]] a [[live album]] for the [[Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band]]. |
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Williams is currently a course leader teaching [[music technology]] at [[Thames Valley University]], [[Ealing]]. He now lives in [[Slough]], [[Berkshire]] and has two children, Samantha (born 1971) and Joe (born 1984). |
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==See also== |
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*[[Disco orchestration]] |
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*[[London College of Music]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/the-art-of-record-production-conference-london The Art of Record Production Conference, London @ Musictank.co.uk] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Pip}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Pip}} |
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[[Category:1947 births]] |
[[Category:1947 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:English record producers]] |
[[Category:English record producers]] |
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[[Category:Academics of Thames Valley University]] |
[[Category:Academics of Thames Valley University]] |
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[[Category:People from Hillingdon]] |
[[Category:People from Hillingdon]] |
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[[Category:English guitarists]] |
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[[it:Pip Williams]] |
[[it:Pip Williams]] |
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Revision as of 00:24, 2 January 2009
Pip Williams, (born Philip Williams, 7 October 1947, Hillingdon, Middlesex[1]) is a record producer, arranger and guitarist, best known for producing albums for Status Quo and The Moody Blues.
Career
Williams became inspired to play the guitar after listening to records by The Shadows and Buddy Holly. He started his musical career as guitarist for The Fantastics and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. Progressing from performer to session musician in the early 1970s under the patronage of Sweet producer Phil Wainman, he became one of the most in-demand session guitarists of the era, playing on early hit records for Sweet including "Funny Funny", "Co-Co", "Poppa Joe" and "Little Willy", and on The Walker Brothers' hit "No Regrets".[1]
He moved into production in the late 1970s; his work for Graham Bonnett attracted the attention of Status Quo, who hired him to produce their album, Rockin' All Over the World. He would produce a further nine albums for the group, the most recent being their 2007 effort, In Search of the Fourth Chord. He is also known for producing The Moody Blues albums Long Distance Voyager and The Present, the former being a United States Billboard 200 chart topper. In 1984 he produced "I Should Have Known Better" for Jim Diamond, which topped the UK Singles Chart. Other collaborators include Shirley Bassey, Richard O'Brien, Dr. Feelgood, Barclay James Harvest, Bucks Fizz, Kevin Ayers, Geordie and Uriah Heep (Sonic Origami).[1] He also produced and co-wrote a number of tracks on Sweet's 1980 album, Waters Edge, and worked with their singer, Brian Connolly, on a number of his solo efforts.
Some of his most creative work has come out of his ability as an arranger.[citation needed] From the string arrangements for the Moody Blues and Colin Blunstone, to the oriental ostinato patterns on Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting". Other collaborators in this field include Barbara Dickson, Ringo Starr, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and The Kinks.[1] His most recent work in this field has been with the Finnish symphonic metal group Nightwish, having composed orchestral arrangements for their 2004 album, Once, and its 2007 follow up Dark Passion Play. Williams also has recorded, produced and mixed a live album for the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
Williams is currently a course leader teaching music technology at Thames Valley University, Ealing. He now lives in Slough, Berkshire and has two children, Samantha (born 1971) and Joe (born 1984).
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Discogs.com