Norman Smith (record producer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Norman Smith
Background information
Also known as	Hurricane Smith
Born	(1923-02-22)22 February 1923 Edmonton, Middlesex, England
Died	3 March 2008(2008-03-03) (aged 85) East Sussex, England
Genres	Jazz
Occupations	Record producer recording engineer singer musician
Instruments	Piano drums trumpet vocals
Years active	1959−2007

Norman Smith (born February 22, 1923 – died March 3, 2008) was a talented English musician, record producer, and sound engineer. In the 1960s, he worked on many famous recordings. He was the engineer for almost all of the Beatles' studio songs until 1965. He also produced three albums for the band Pink Floyd, including their very first one, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Later, Norman Smith became a successful singer himself, using the name Hurricane Smith. He had a big hit song called "Oh Babe, What Would You Say" in 1972.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Norman Smith was born in Edmonton, a part of London, England. During World War II, he was a glider pilot for the RAF. After the war, he started playing music. He played drums and piano in several trad jazz bands. When his attempts to become a jazz trumpeter or a session musician didn't work out, he joined EMI in 1959. He started there as an apprentice sound engineer.

Working with Famous Bands

Norman Smith became a very important sound engineer. He worked on nearly all of the Beatles' studio recordings at EMI until late 1965. The last Beatles album he engineered was Rubber Soul. He helped create the sound for almost 100 Beatles songs! The Beatles even gave him a nickname, "Normal," because he was always so friendly and calm.

After working with the Beatles, EMI promoted him from engineer to producer. In 1967, he started working with Pink Floyd. He produced their first three albums: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, A Saucerful of Secrets, and Ummagumma. During the recording of the song "Remember a Day", Pink Floyd's drummer, Nick Mason, was having trouble with a drum part. Norman Smith knew exactly how it should sound, so he played the drums himself for that song! In 1968, he also produced S. F. Sorrow for the band Pretty Things. This album was one of the first "concept albums" in rock music, where all the songs tell a story.

Becoming Hurricane Smith

In 1971, Norman Smith decided to try singing and recording his own music. He used the stage name Hurricane Smith. His first big hit was "Don't Let It Die", which reached No. 2 in the UK. He had written this song hoping John Lennon would record it. But when he played it for another producer, Mickie Most, Mickie told him to release it himself!

In 1972, he had an even bigger hit with "Oh Babe, What Would You Say". This song was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. It reached No. 1 in the US on the Cash Box chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, it reached No. 4. His first album also included a cover version of Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Who Was It?", which was another hit.

Hurricane Smith released a few more songs, like "My Mother Was Her Name" (1972) and "Beautiful Day, Beautiful Night" (1973). He also recorded an instrumental song called "Theme From an Unmade Silent Movie." A radio presenter named Tony Butler used this song as his theme music. Fans of the Aston Villa F.C. football team also love this tune. They often hear it played at their stadium, Villa Park, before matches and during half-time.

In 2004, Norman Smith released a new CD called From Me to You. It had new versions of his hit songs. The CD booklet even included messages from Sir Paul McCartney and members of Pink Floyd.

His Memoir

Norman Smith wrote a book about his life called John Lennon Called Me Normal. It was released in 2007. The book shares new facts and pictures from his time with the Beatles and Pink Floyd at Abbey Road Studios. It also talks about his experiences as an RAF glider pilot during the war.

Death

Norman Smith passed away in March 2008 in East Sussex, England. He was 85 years old.

Singles discography

See also

In Spanish: Norman Smith para niños

• List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States