Laurie Latham

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Laurie Latham is a renowned British record producer having produced many classic albums and successful artists such as Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Echo And The Bunnymen, Paul Young, The Stranglers, Squeeze, Manfred Mann, Stereophonics and many others.

‘Laurie has always been very good on arrangements and song structures. The wonderful thing about him is that not only is he a producer who has the idea of how something should sound in his head, but he is also an expert engineer. He understands the technology of making a record, which a lot of producers don’t. Laurie is two in one. That’s why he is such a gem because he doesn’t have to convey his ideas to anyone; he can do it himself.’

Hugh Cornwell, ‘The Stranglers: Song by Song’

1973 Maximum Sound Studios, sees Laurie Latham as an 18 year old assistant learning tape editing and microphone techniques inbetween taking time out from the studio to attend a sound engineering course at Surrey University where George Martin gave some interesting lectures.

The early seventies saw Laurie begin to engineer late night reggae sessions including tracks for Jamaican star ALTON ELLIS and soon graduated to position of Chief Engineer working with many different artists as diverse as VIVIEN STANSHALL to JIMMY WEBB. Unique and memorable sessions for Laurie during this period were recording the music for the film ‘MONTY PYTHON & THE HOLY GRAIL’ and also again with the Python team recording ‘The Lumber Jack Song’ with George Harrison producing. By the mid seventies Laurie have developed a long working relationship with MANFRED MANN who helped him immensely with song structures and composition culminating in a successful period of work including the hit single ‘Blinded By The Light’ which reached number 1 in the USA.

After a brief spell working in the USA Laurie returned to the UK and with the legendary Blackhill Enterprises now as his management began work with IAN DURY recording the new national anthem ‘Sex And Drugs And Rock’n’Roll’ and then the production of the classic album ‘New Boots and Panties’ which remained in the chart for over two years. Other productions included the singles ‘What A Waste’, and ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ which went to number 1 in the UK in 1979.

Production work continued with the artist ANTHONY MOORE for the esoteric album ‘Flying Doesn’t Help’ which featured JIMMY PAGE on guitar. Rave reviews followed with Richard Williams of ‘Melody Maker’ declaring it ‘the finest release since the Velvet Underground’s 1st album’.

In 1983 Laurie produced for PAUL YOUNG the multi million selling album ‘No Parlez’ reaching number 1 in the UK and many other territories. The record featured hit singles ‘Love of the Common People’ and ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat’ which also reached number 1 in the UK. This was followed by the equally successful ‘Secret of Association’ album which included the number 1 USA single ‘Every Time You Go Away’. The year ended as runner up to Quincy Jones (‘Thriller’) in the Music Week Awards for best producer and was also a nominee in the first ever televised BRIT Awards Ceremony. The 80’s continued producing hit records for ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN ‘Bring on the Dancing Horses’ and ‘The Grey Album’; SQUEEZE’s ‘Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti’; THE STRANGLERS ‘Aural Sculpture’ with the hit single ‘Skin Deep’. THE POLICE who had reunited to make a sequel version of ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’. THE CHRISTIANS first album which topped the charts and became the biggest selling album by a debut artist for Island Records. The 90’s started with Laurie producing THE CHRISTIANS follow up album ‘Color’ recorded in the Channel Islands with STEVE FERRONE and MANU KATCHE sharing drum and percussion duties. This album went straight in the charts at number 1. Production work for EMI followed with the guitar band DIESEL PARK WEST; their LP ‘Decency’ was recorded in Brussels on a vintage Neve console and entered the UK charts on its release.

The mid nineties saw Laurie setting up base at Helicon Mountain Studios where he collaborated with JOOLS HOLLAND in the launching of the independent record label ‘Beautiful Records’. Also at this time Laurie assisted CHER with her writing and produced three tracks. In 1995 Laurie was hired to re-master the entire back catalogue of Tamla Motown Hits. Production work on RIK WRIGHT’s (Pink Floyd) solo album ‘Broken China’ featuring SINEAD O'CONNOR and DAVID GILMOUR. Co-wrote and produced the theme tune for the TV film ‘Starburst’ with MARTIN CLUNES, NEIL MORRISEY and JOOLS HOLLAND.

At London’s AIR studios Laurie was re-united with IAN DURY to finish and mix highly acclaimed album ‘Mr. Love Pants.’ Further work continued with Ian producing tracks at Rak Studios London for his new album ‘Ten More Turnips From The Tip’. Sadly Ian passed away before the record’s completion. However Laurie finished production of the record with ROBBIE WILLIAMS contributing vocals to the final song Ian had written.

In 2000 Laurie produced tracks for PAUL MCCARTNEY, ROBBIE WILLIAMS, SINEAD O'CONNOR, CERYS MATHEWS and GRANT NICOLAS from FEEDER for the record ‘Brand New Boots and Panties’, a remake of the classic 1977 album in memory of Ian with proceeds going to the charity Cancer Backup. The year continued with Laurie producing multi platinum record ‘JOOLS HOLLAND’s Small World Big Band’ album featuring artists: STING, GEORGE HARRISON, PAUL WELLER, SAM BROWN, JOE STRUMMER, DR. JOHN, RUBY TURNER, DAVID GILMOUR, MICA PARIS, Graham "SUGGS" MacPherson, ERIC BIBB, MARK KNOPFLER, VAN MORRISON, CHRIS DIFFORD, JOHN CALE, STEVE WINWOOD, MARK ALMOND, MICK HUCKNALL, PAUL CARRACK, TAJ MAHAL, JAMIROQUAI.

Laurie then produced the equally successful ‘Jools Holland and More Friends’ album featuring: SAM BROWN, NORAH JONES, EDWIN STARR, BRYAN FERRY, DIONNE WARWICK, TOM JONES, CHRISSIE HYNDE, THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, HUEY (FUN LOVIN CRIMINALS), BADLY DRAWN BOY, RAY DAVIES, ROBERT PLANT, JEFF BECK, RUBY TURNER, MARIANNE FAITHFULL, GUY BARKER, BEVERLY KNIGHT, GEORGE BENSON, JIMMY CLIFF, BONO.

In 2001 Laurie produced the STEREOPHONICS hit single ‘Handbags and Gladrags’ which reached number 4 in the UK single charts and it was then included on the re-released version of their album ’Just Enough Education to Perform’ helping it achieve the number 1 position.

Another successful guest album for JOOLS HOLLAND followed. The album ‘jack O The Green’ featured artists: BUDDY GUY, TERRI WALKER, SMOKEY ROBINSON, DAVID GRAY, SOLOMON BURKE, ERIC CLAPTON, SHANE MCGOWEN, STEVE EARLE, SAM BROWN, NICK CAVE, PAUL RODGERS, THE SUGARBABES, RINGO STARR, RUBY TURNER, PRINCE BUSTER, ELIZA CARTHY, MICHAEL MCDONALD, CANDY DULFER, KIRSTY MACCOLL, PETER GABRIEL, SUGGS, RONNIE WOOD and LITTLE JIMMY SCOTT.

Laurie also produced an album ‘TOM JONES & JOOLS HOLLAND' for Warner Brothers, further production work included the single ‘Cry’ for the artist KEALER which received positive reviews and much radio airplay also an album and the single ‘How Ever Did It Come To This ‘ by the band EASYWORLD.

Recently Laurie produced ten tracks for the recently released solo album by RAY DAVIES (of the KINKS).

2006 - Laurie has completed the next album in Jools Holland series of guest albums, entitled 'Moving Out To The Country', which features a collaboration with KT TUNSTALL, DR. JOHN, BOB GELDOF, LULU, INDIA ARIE, SOLOMAN BURKE, MARK ALMOND, amongst others.