Album review: CLASSIC ARCHIVES – Hurricane Smith

Angel Air [Release date 12.11.20]

We could ask you to name the RAF Glider pilot who later had a number one hit single on the US Billboard Top Forty. But you know the answer, of course you do.

Norman ‘Hurricane’ Smith’s intitial career in music recording largely flew under the radar (see wot I did there?). He was the engineer on the first Beatles’ albums, up to “Rubber Soul” (1965), only relinquishing that role when he stepped up into producing. From one great band to another… he produced Pink Floyd’s first four, groundbreaking albums. On their own admission, they learned to use the recording studio “to realise their own artistic vision” under Smith’s instruction.

And so, as a mega successful studio engineer and producer, what do you do next? Become a mega successful recording artist in your own right, of course. But first, you write a song for John Lennon. You play it to Mickie Most for an opinion, and he says ‘love it, record it yourself’. He did. ‘Don’t Let It Die’ reached the No2 spot on the UK charts in 1971, and was probably one of the first pop hits to take ecological awareness as its lyrical theme. (Winning him an Ivor Novello award).

Smith’s gravelly, expressive vocals and the sheer pop optimism of his second single, ‘Babe, What Would You Say’ propelled it up the US and the UK charts, peaking at No1 and No3 respectively.

He continued recording throught the seventies and eighties. This compilation captures another half dozen or more Smith songs with seriously sinuously melodies that didn’t quite make it, plus a few well selected covers. Inevitably, music fashions change, and sales fell away. Consequently, he focused on touring England’s cabaret circuit, where he was hugely popular.

A year before his death, in 2008, aged 84, Smith published his memoirs, “John Lennon called me Normal” (his studio nickname). Around the same time, his son Nicholas recorded a taped “interview” with his father, setting the record straight on many of the questions and memories of Norman ‘Hurricane’ Smith and his numerous fans.

That fascinating interview, of this talented, but modest man takes up the last 5 of the 20 tracks on this “Classic Archive” release… which in itself is a small but worth celebrating piece of 20th and 21st century pop history. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)