British record producer Tony Clarke died this past Monday at age 68. Best known for his work with the Moody Blues during their most prolific and popular period, Clarke was assigned to the Moodies at a time where it was widely perceived in industry circles that the group was on it’s last legs.
Instead, the partnership beared immediate fruit beginning with “Days Of Future Passed” and the FM rock staple, “Nights In White Satin”. Clarke was largely responsible for pointing the band in the orchestral direction although he curiously had no formal music training either.
However, his broad vision and ability to maximize the usage of then newer instruments such as the Mellotron immediately caught on with the progressive leanings of the day. His chart accomplishments with The Moody Blues include 3 UK #1 albums, 8 consecutive top 25 LP’s in both the US and UK, and 7 top 40 singles on both sides of the Atlantic. His highest overall 45 was “Question” which reached #2 in the UK. In the US, it was “Nights In White Satin” that achieved the same chart position.
The partnership was so successful it resulted in the creation of The Moody Blues own label, Threshold Records where Clarke became essentially a top staff employee of the band. Although the lion’s share of his total output was with The Moodies, he had also produced works for other artists such as Clannad and Rick Wakeman.
I LOVE RICK WAKEMAN! I used to listen to Journey to the Center of the Earth, over and over. I felt soooo cool, like I had discovered a new continent or something!
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