Pip Williams
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Philip (Pip) Williams, (born October 7, 1947) is a record producer, arranger and guitarist, best known for producing albums for Status Quo and The Moody Blues.
Born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, Williams became inspired to play the guitar after listening to records by The Shadows and Buddy Holly. He started his musical career as guitarist for The Fantastics and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. Progressing from performer to session player in the early 1970s under the patronage of Sweet producer Phil Wainman, he became one of the most in-demand session guitarists of the era, playing on early hit records for The Sweet including "Funny, Funny", "Co-Co", "Poppa Joe" and "Little Willy", and on The Walker Brothers's hit "No Regrets".
He moved into production in the late 1970s; his work for Graham Bonnett attracted the attention of Status Quo, who hired him to produce their album Rockin' All Over the World, the title track later becoming one of the best known rock anthems of all time. He would produce a further 9 albums for the group, the most recent being their 2007 album In Search Of The Fourth Chord. He is also known for producing The Moody Blues albums Long Distance Voyager and The Present, the former being a United States album chart-topper. In 1984 he produced I Should Have Known Better for Jim Diamond, which topped the UK Singles Chart. Other collaborators include Shirley Bassey, Richard O'Brien, Dr. Feelgood, Barclay James Harvest, Geordie (featuring future AC/DC singer Brian Johnson), and Uriah Heep. He also produced and co-wrote a number of tracks on The Sweet's 1980 album "Water's Edge" and worked with their singer Brian Connolly on a number of his solo efforts.
Some of his most creative work has come out of his ability as an arranger. From the sublime string arrangements for the Moody Blues and Colin Blunstone to the near parody oriental ostinato patterns on Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting", his concern has always been to adorn and illuminate the artists' work, rather than to create a recognisable Pip Williams style. Other collaborators in this field include Barbara Dickson, Ringo Starr, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and The Kinks. His most recent work in this field has been with Finnish symphonic metal group Nightwish, having composed orchestral arrangements for their 2004 album Once, and its 2007 follow up Dark Passion Play. He also has recorded, produced and mixed a live reunion album for the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. He is currently a course leader teaching music technology at Thames Valley University, Ealing. He now lives in Slough, Berkshire and has two children, Samantha (born 1971) and Joe (born 1984).
