Glyn Johns

Glyn Thomas Johns (born 15 February 1942)^[1] is an English musician, recording engineer and record producer.^[2]

Biography

Early history

Johns was born in Epsom, Surrey. He is the father of Ethan Johns, the older brother of Andy Johns, and uncle of Will Johns. Ethan has worked with Ryan Adams, Paul McCartney, Laura Marling, Ray LaMontagne and Kings of Leon, while Andy has worked with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, either on his own or under the tutelage of Eddie Kramer.

Career in recording

Johns has worked with such artists as Family, Helen Watson, Fairport Convention, Humble Pie, and many others.^[3]

In the 1960s, while associated with the UK rock band The Presidents, Johns began working as a recording studio engineer at IBC Studios in Portland Place, London and was able to take the band in during weekends and try his skills at production and recording. The presidents was his first true production work and in 1969, Johns was called upon to rescue the troublesome Get Back sessions for The Beatles.^[4] Johns compiled several versions of the album, which were all rejected by the band, before the project was eventually turned over to producer Phil Spector. Spector's version became the released album, which was retitled Let It Be which Glyn called "a load of garbage." (see his new autobiography for page# / citation.)

In 1971, he recorded and mixed The Who's Who's Next. His influence on The Faces' 1972 album A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse, which he co-produced with the band, can be gauged from the message that follows the credits: 'Thank you Glyn, you made all the difference'. Johns produced the first two albums by the Eagles. Though they were successful, the band--especially Glenn Frey--clashed with Johns over the direction of their sound. After recording two songs for their third album (including their first #1 single "Best of My Love"), they dismissed Johns and returned to California to finish the album. Johns' output slowed down in the mid 1980s, although he undertook work with Midnight Oil, Nanci Griffith, and Belly.^[5]

Johns also produced the 1977 popular hit Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.

In 2011, after a couple of decades spent largely away from production, Johns worked with Ryan Adams on his album, Ashes & Fire.^[6] In February 2012, Johns began work on the Band of Horses album, Mirage Rock.^[7] In a nod to Johns' work with the Faces, the credits contain the note: "Thanks to difference, you made all the Glyn."

Approach to recording

Johns developed a unique approach to the recording of drums, known as the "Glyn Johns Method", by rarely using more than two or three microphones, keeping usually two overhead, but in an unusual overhead arrangement, as to achieve natural perspective. The key to the method is to keep both overhead mics equidistant from the center of the snare. This method has been used often in professional recording to this day.^[8]

Autobiography

Johns has written a book about his life titled Sound Man published by Blue Rider Press on 13 November 2014.^[9][10]

Legacy

On 14 April 2012, Johns was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, honoured for musical excellence.^[11] Among his awards: the coveted SOTE.

Produced albums

• Steve Miller Band – Children of the Future, 1968
• Steve Miller Band – Sailor, 1968
• Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin, 1969
• Family – Family Entertainment, 1969
• Steve Miller Band – Brave New World, 1969
• Steve Miller Band – Your Saving Grace, 1969
• Humble Pie – Humble Pie, 1970
• The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert, 1970 "Produced by The Rolling Stones and Glyn Johns"
• The Who – Who's Next, 1971 "Produced by The Who. Associate producer / Glyn Johns"
• Faces – A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse, 1971
• Boz Scaggs – Moments, 1971
• Humble Pie – Rock On, 1971
• Boz Scaggs – Boz Scaggs & Band, 1971
• Eagles – Eagles, 1972
• The Ozark Mountain Daredevils – The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, 1973
• Eagles – Desperado, 1973
• Gallagher & Lyle – The Last Cowboy, 1974
• Georgie Fame – Georgie Fame, 1974
• Andy Fairweather Low – La Booga Rooga, 1975
• The Who – The Who By Numbers, 1975
• Fairport Convention – Rising for the Moon, 1975
• Ron Wood & Ronnie Lane – Mahoney's Last Stand, 1976
• Joan Armatrading – Joan Armatrading, 1976
• Andy Fairweather Low – Be Bop 'N' Holla, 1976
• Eric Clapton – Slowhand – 1977
• Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane – Rough Mix, 1977
• Joan Armatrading – Show Some Emotion, 1977
• The Who – Who Are You, 1978
• Joan Armatrading – To the Limit, 1978
• White Mansions – 1978
• Eric Clapton – Backless, 1978
• Marc Benno – Lost in Austin, 1979
• Midnight Oil – Place Without a Postcard, 1981
• Nine Below Zero – Don't Point Your Finger, 1981
• The Clash – Combat Rock, 1982
• The Who – It's Hard, 1982
• Joan Armatrading – Track Record, 1983
• Bob Dylan – Real Live, 1984
• Téléphone – Un Autre Monde, 1984
• New Model Army – The Ghost of Cain, 1986
• John Hiatt – Slow Turning, 1988
• Stevie Nicks – Street Angel (uncredited), 1994
• Crosby, Stills & Nash – After The Storm, (1994)
• Belly – King (1995)
• Joe Satriani – Joe Satriani, 1995
• Linda Ronstadt – We Ran, 1998
• Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire, 2011
• Band of Horses – Mirage Rock, 2012
• The Staves – Dead & Born & Grown, 2012

References