Old Music Wednesday
Hiya gang, and welcome to “old” music Wednesday. Just a quick Happy Birthday acknowledgement to
Norman Smith - born February 22nd, 1923 - sadly, he passed in March
of 2008. Why? “Normal” Norman was a producer and engineer at EMI responsible
for engineering The Beatles through Rubber Soul (about 100 Beatle songs
in all). It was John who coined the nickname “normal” for Smith’s laidback
nature. At the end of the Help sessions, The Beatles recorded a demo of
one of Smith’s songs that remains unreleased - replaced at the last minute by “Act
Naturally,” because Ringo needed a track.
Smith
went on to produce a new group called Pink Floyd - during the sessions for A
Saucer Full of Secrets - Floyd’s 2nd album drummer Nick Mason
could not find the right part, but Smith knew what he wanted and played drums
on the track himself.
In the early 70’s Smith decided to try his hand at a solo
career. Under the name “Hurricane”
Smith, he had a #2 Uk hit with “Don’t Let It Die.” Then he hit worldwide, with the 1972 earworm “Oh
Babe, What Would You Say?” -written by his wife Eileen. The song will hit #3 in
the U.S. and regardless of how it stuck in your head, it was in there (and
still is). Any song with the line "just
to walk with you along the Milky Way” deserves accolades in my book. Happy
Birthday Hurricane, or Normal, or Mr. Smith, whichever you prefer.
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