John Wood (music producer)

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John Wood is an English sound engineer and producer, best known for his work with Nick Drake, the Incredible String Band, Pink Floyd, Nico, and Squeeze.

Wood began his career as an editor at Decca Records, working on their classical catalogue. In 1966, he met Joe Boyd, who employed him as chief engineer at Sound Techniques studio. The two formed a partnership, whereby Wood tended to the record's sound, while Boyd looked after its musical direction. However, Wood, well know for his forthright approach, often gave his openion on musical direction. According to Boyd: "professional session musicians regarded the pair of us with curiosity: the normal deference of engineer towards producer didn't seem to apply. He would give a withering sneer...I would tell him just do it and not give me any shit. If my resolve melted in the face of his contempt, it probably wasn't such a good idea in the first place."[1]

Wood engineered all three of Nick Drake's albums, and was one of the few people the notoriously withdrawn singer trusted.[2] According to Drake's biographer Trevor Dann "He and Nick hit it off immediately, Woody the perfectionist soundman, Nick the perfectionist musician."[3]

Wood currently lives in Scotland, where he runs a guesthouse with his wife Pam, and remains in demand as an engineer.[3]

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[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Boyd (2006), p. 205
  2. ^ Boyd (2008), p. 205
  3. ^ a b Dann (2006), p 58