He pioneered studio tools such as multiple over-dubbing on one- and two-track machines, close miking, direct input of bass-guitars, the compressor, and effects like echo and reverb, as well as sampling. Unlike other producers, his search was for the "right sound" rather than for a catchy musical tune, and throughout his brief career he single-mindedly followed his quest to create a unique "sonic signature" for every record he produced.
At a time when many studio engineers were still wearing white coats and assiduously trying to maintain clarity and fidelity, Meek, the maverick, was producing everything on the three floors of his home studio and was never afraid to distort or manipulate the sound if it created the effect he was seeking. For the song "Johnny Remember Me" he placed the violins on the stairs, the drummer almost in the bathroom, and the brass section on a different floor entirely.
Meek was one of the first producers to grasp and fully exploit the possibilities of the modern recording studio. His innovative techniques -- physically separating instruments, treating instruments and voices with echo and reverb, processing the sound through his fabled home-made electronic devices, the combining of separately-recorded performances and segments into a painstakingly constructed composite recording -- comprised a major breakthrough in sound production. Up to that time, the standard technique for recordings, regardless of musical genre, was to record all the performers in one studio playing together in real time as the music was cut live to tape all at once. Joe Meek's recording techniques (as well as the recording techniques of Les Paul) did much to further the art of record production as we know it today.
Besides his idiosyncratic music production, many of Meek's character eccentricities continue to capture the imagination of people today. Although never properly diagnosed, it is believed today by many that Meek suffered from bipolar disorder type one (some even suggest further that he was paranoid-schizophrenic). Meek was obsessed with outer space, the occult and the idea of "the other side". He would set up tape machines in graveyards in a vain attempt to record voices from beyond the grave, in one instance capturing the meows of a cat he claimed was speaking in human tones, asking for help. In particular, he had an obsession with Buddy Holly (claiming the late American rocker had communicated with him in dreams). His professional efforts were often hindered by his paranoia (Meek was known to tear up his walls as he was convinced that Decca Records would put hidden microphones behind his wallpaper in order to steal his ideas), drug use, and attacks of sudden rage and depression.
Meek's homosexuality (illegal in the UK at the time) also put him under pressure during his career. He had been charged with "importuning for immoral purposes" in 1963 and was consequently subjected to blackmail. In January of 1967, police in Tattingstone, Suffolk, discovered a suitcase containing the mutilated body of Bernard Oliver, an alleged rent boy who had previously associated with Meek. According to some accounts, Meek became concerned that he would be involved in the murder investigation when the Metropolitan police stated that they would be interviewing all known homosexuals in the city. On February 3rd, 1967, the eighth anniversary of Buddy Holly's death, Meek killed his landlady Violet Shenton and then himself with a single barreled shotgun that he had confiscated from his protegé, former The Tornados' bassist and solo star Heinz Burt. Joe Meek was 37 at the time of his death.
Magic Star
Joe Meek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Telstar
Listen to me..."
Magic star above
Send a message to my love
Tell her that I'll wait patiently
Sad and so lonely
Swift and graceful as a dove way up above
Magic star up high dancing through the sky
Please tell her that "My heart cries for you,"
Please say that one day
I'll hear her voice say
That I'm her one and only boy
Oooh...
As the stars light up the sky
And I kneel and pray
Guide the footsteps
Safe and sound
Back home again to stay
Magic star above
Send a message to my love
Tell her that I'll wait patiently
Sad and so lonely
Dreaming of her only
Swift and graceful as a dove way up above
Aaaaah...
The lyrics of Joe Meek's song "Magic Star" describe a lover's longing for his beloved who is far away from him. The "magic star" in the sky represents a chance for him to connect with her and send her a message. The singer speaks to the telstar, hoping that it will somehow reach his lover with the message that he loves her and is waiting for her patiently. He pictures her as swift and graceful as a dove, and the telstar as a magical presence that can guide his message to her. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and sadness, as the singer is unable to be with his loved one, but also a sense of hope that somehow his message will reach her.
Line by Line Meaning
Magic star above
The shining star in the sky
Send a message to my love
Convey my message to my beloved
Tell her that I'll wait patiently
Assure my beloved that I'll wait patiently for her
Sad and so lonely
I feel sad and lonely without my beloved
Dreaming of her only
I can only dream of her and no one else
Swift and graceful as a dove way up above
My beloved is as swift and graceful as a dove high up in the sky
Magic star up high dancing through the sky
The shining star dancing through the sky
Please tell her that 'My heart cries for you,'
Let my beloved know that my heart is crying out for her
Please say that one day
Requesting the star to tell my beloved that one day
I'll hear her voice say
I'll listen to her voice saying
That I'm her one and only boy
That I'm the only boy for her
As the stars light up the sky
The stars illuminating the sky
And I kneel and pray
As I kneel down to pray
Guide the footsteps
Guide the path
Safe and sound
Ensure safety and protection
Back home again to stay
Return back home to stay permanently
Aaaaah...
A sound expressing deep longing and feeling
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@donamac5604
I remember there being lyrics to Telstar. I thought I must have dreamed them up, but NO, here they are in this version called Magic Star, I LOVE IT!
@adrinathegreat3095
An American female vocalist also did this as the instrumental had been a massive hit in the USA as well.
But like kennys version it didn't get anywhere.
Not uncommon back then to add words to instrumental hits and also have answer songs to hits as well
@aranyaofficial7082
This song came to my mind last year in the month of December... When I was touring in Pune, Maharashtra.... Under the open night sky filled with stars.....
This area where we were staying is on the outskirts of the city .... In the midst of the hills ...
So had got a beautiful view of the starry night sky there .. and that reminded me of this song....
@prismvideo2029
I like to watch "The Thunderbirds" when I listen to this....😆😆😆
@Vic-mv8iz
Ahh I remember this vocal of Telsral when i was 16 I loved it and the record booths a lifetime ago now
@jameshynes5297
something very haunting to this, I can listen to this over and over and still feel chills
@BroWCarey
Me too!
@chrisvieveen7664
Guess that would be because Joe Meek experimented wirh speeding his recordings up, giving the music an extra dynamic and a strange, haunted feel. He dit it all the time.
@lizprice7913
I believe its joe singing
@ianfranks7182
@@lizprice7913 Joe meek's singing voice was like a foghorn in a storm,in other words he had no singing voice