Joe Meek (1929-1967) was an incredibly imaginative and progressive independ… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Meek (1929-1967) was an incredibly imaginative and progressive independent record producer and songwriter. Despite being tone-deaf and not being able to play a musical instrument or write notation, Meek displayed a remarkable facility for writing and producing successful commercial recordings. In writing songs he was reliant on musicians such as Dave Adams, Geoff Goddard or Charles Blackwell to transcribe melodies and chord-progressions from his "demos". He worked on 245 singles, of which 45 were major hits (top fifty or better).
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.
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.
Walk with Me My Angel
Joe Meek Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Joe Meek:
All My Loving Close your eyes and I'll kiss you Tomorrow I'll miss you Rem…
Blue Blue Heartache Our guardian star lost all his glow The day that…
Cumberland Gap Cumberland gap, Cumberland gap Fifteen miles on the Cumberl…
Don't You Rock Me Daddy-0 Me and my daddy was coming into town (Sail away lady…
Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O Me and my daddy was coming into town (Sail away lady…
Don't you think it's time Hey, hey, baby Where'd you think you're runnin' to Hey, he…
Garden of Eden When you walk in the garden In the garden of Eden With…
I I hear a new world I hear a new world…
I Hear a New World I hear a new world I hear a new world…
Johnny Remember Me When the mist's a-rising And the rain is falling And…
Magic Star "Telstar Telstar Listen to me..." Magic star above Sen…
Mr. Blue Our guardian star lost all his glow The day that…
My Oh My! Close your eyes and I'll kiss you Tomorrow I'll miss you Rem…
Please Stay If I got on my knees and I pleaded with…
Sugaree I got a letter from my baby She said she's comin'…
The Garden of Eden When you walk in the garden In the garden of Eden With…
Walkin' With My Angel Ain't no guy in town Who would ever try to put…
What do you want to make those eyes at me for What do ya wanna make those eyes at me for…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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SmarkySmarkz
He was my Granddad. Miss him lots. =) Really nice to find his music here on Youtube!! RIP.
99tosign99
Came out late 1961 - one of Joe Meek’s “sounds like it was made in the bathroom” songs. Emotionally brilliant! I love the echo that Joe Meek got in his backings, heard in this and the likes of John Leyton’s “Johnny Remember Me”
Muswell
That famous voice echo that only Joe Meek could achieve in a small sitting room.
Jim Clapperton
One of my all time favorites. Fantastic. A superb voice. Takes me back to my school days in Haywards Heath / Beckworth
Viv Cole
Fantastic song, so well sung. I thought so too in 1962.
Craig Collis
Reached number 39?!!! I guess that shows the quality of music in that era. This pisses all over any of todays number ones. Beautiful song.
Valerie Macdougall
Worked with Don on American bases in Germany in early '60's . Fantastic voice and performer and a lovely lovely man.
John Robertson
wow great info..did he want to be a singer back then..i picked this up at a second hand shop in the early 70s..and then went on to look for more of don's and joe's music..the rest is history..i would love more of your memories of the late great Don
John Robertson
amazing sound..rgm was so far ahead of his time
Nostalgic Memories
Absolute genius track.