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Re: Shel Talmy



I had the pleasure of interviewing the man a number of years ago while living
in Los Angeles (as he was then) for an LA rock fanzine.  He was very cordial,
very open to any question (the interview did not just cover the Who period of
his career) and had some great stories to tell as well.

Besides the Who and the Kinks, Talmy also produced records by the Creation
(an essential band for any Who fan to get into - their guitarist Eddie
Phillips was actually asked to join the Who at one time - he also originated
the bowing of guitars before Jimmy Page did - this was - in a later version -
also Ron Wood's first band) and Australia's Easybeats (another essential band
for Who fans to get into).  Talmy definitely had a LOT to do with their sound
as to how upfront it was, how good the drums sounded (especially for the Who,
where on later records they sounded like crap) and overall feel.  Talmy could
also do lighter stuff as shown by his work with Chad & Jeremy.  I got my
first UK Who LP, first German Creation LP, first US Kinks LP and first US
Easybeats LP all signed by Shel.

If they do a redo of the first LP (and the "real" first LP - all of the R & B
covers they recorded for what was to be the first album and then an LP of Who
originals)  I'd say let Shel do it.  He is nearly blind but those ears still
work fine - he produced the best sounding Who LP until they did "Who's Next"
- - that is good enough for me.

Greg Biggs