Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music (30 page)

After the preview, Carole beams.

“I love it!” she exclaims. “Please tell Peter how beautiful it is, and how much I love his voice,” she says.

“Would you like to tell him yourself? I’ve got his cell number right here—I can call him,” Phil ventures.

The call is placed. The conversation between King and Cincotti is warm and natural. “It’s
wonderful
, Peter,” she says. Phil sits quietly, watching like a proud papa.

After the respite, Carole listens to the playback of “Ton Nom.” As Phil explains how he’ll smooth out the edits, Carole nods affirmatively. “I trust you so much, Phil—I know that whatever you do will be fine.”

Those words say it all.

Everyone trusts Phil Ramone, and that trust is well placed. With Phil at the board, one knows that the music is in good hands.

What can I tell you about Phil Ramone that hasn’t been said?

That he isn’t simply a musician, a recording engineer, or the preeminent record producer of his time. Phil Ramone is a true Renaissance man.

He’s in tune with the arts, well versed in politics, and has a deep understanding of social issues. He can compare the coaching strategies of the Yankees and Mets, explain the history of French advertising art, and point out the merits of using rare sea salt instead of regular on your food—all in the same conversation.

Phil is also an inveterate thinker.

As the stories in this book amply demonstrate, Phil Ramone is one of the music industry’s great problem solvers; a person who would be as comfortable working in a think tank or science lab as in the recording studio. He studies people and situations like an efficiency expert, constantly devising ways to improve the way things work.

Then too, Phil handles every aspect of his personal and professional life with meticulous care—a quality that rings true in the plethora of great music he’s had a hand in creating. He’s organized, fastidious, and loathes unpreparedness.

But more important than any of these things is the human, altruistic side of Phil Ramone. Although his work often takes him from his family, he’s never really far—spiritually or emotionally. Genuine concern for others is one of Phil’s most endearing personal qualities.

So are modesty and humility.

Phil would never tell you that he was a child prodigy, or that he played a Royal Command Performance for the Queen when he was just ten years old. But I will.

He would never admit that he had a major role in helping Billy Joel craft some of his best-known songs, but I’ll tell you that, too. “Phil Ramone was as responsible for writing many of those songs as I was,” Billy told me at the start of our first conversation. “He helped me sort out my ideas and bring structure to them.”

Phil’s style is elegant and simple, his approach to life unpretentious.

The accolades of a lifetime spent at the forefront of American pop culture—the coveted Grammy Awards (fourteen and counting)—
aren’t prominently displayed in Phil’s home. Neither are the hundreds of photos of Phil with every major figure in the history of music, film, art, and politics. They’re there, of course: the Grammys are elegantly tucked into nooks in the library, the photos carefully filed away in the office. But these are places where few people get to roam.

My life has taken twists and turns; the road that led me to music and writing has been rather unconventional. Had I known as a teenager what I know today, I would have fulfilled my passion for the recording arts by calling Phil Ramone, and volunteering to sweep the floors at A&R.

Though I could kick myself for not doing so, I can honestly say that collaborating with him on this book was the next best thing. Thank you, Phil—for sticking to it and seeing this book through. Love you, man!

Charles L. Granata
Livingston, New Jersey
April 2007

I owe a special nod
to all of those in the A&R Recording Studios family who gave so much of themselves to the artists, musicians, and me, and who helped make A&R one of the greatest recording studios in the world: Roberta Ash, Laura Loncteaux Benn, “Reverend Bob,” Janet Boyd, Jim Boyer, Jacquie Buchanan, Diane “Foxy” Charlap, Sherry Day, Nick DeMinno, Laura Doty, Dolly Drum, Larry Franke, Don Fry, Carol Peters Gadd, Michelle Galfas, Muriel Gellis, Maria Hein, Patty Ido, Bradshaw Leigh, Jay Messina, Georgie Ofrel, Elliot Scheiner, Al Schmitt, Bob Schwartz, Michele Slater, Bernie Teitelbaum, Ken Topolsky, Art Ward, and Mary Wood.

And for those I’ll never forget: Jack Arnold, Milton Brooks, Tom Dowd, Ahmet and Neshui Ertegun, Arif Mardin, Bill Schwartau, and David Smith.

As in the making of a record, the creation of a memoir requires the assistance of many people. The authors are deeply indebted to the following friends, colleagues, and family members who generously offered us their time and talent during the preparation of this manuscript:

Jeff Abraham, Chuck Ainly, Steve Albin, C. Scott Amann, Dennis Arfa, Kerry Aylward, Karen and Russel Barling, John Barry, Barry Beckett, Tony Bennett, Danny Bennett, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Steve Berkowitz, Adam Block, James Bordino, Jim Boyer, Betsy and Frank Bresnick, Joshua Bresnick, Alan Bronstein, Hugh Brown, Buddy Cage, Greg Calbi, Gerard Campanella, Richie Cannata, Hank Cattaneo, Amedeo Ciminnisi, Jill Cooperman and Dylan Camche, Elvis Costello, Diana D’Angelo, Jill Dell’Abate, Didier C. Deutsch, Don DeVito, Liberty DeVitto, Laura Doty, Maureen Droney, Marty Ehrlichman, Michael Feinstein, Frank Filipetti, Robert Finkelstein, Larry Franke, Don Fry, Steve Friedman, Will Friedwald, Josh Getlin, Astrud Gilberto, Neil Gilles, Joann and Wayne Goldberg, Nathan “Sonny” Golden, Burton Goldstein, Joyce Gore, Adrienne & Guido Granata, John and Mary Beth
Granata, Randy Haecker, Roy Halee, Jane Hecht, George Helmy, Bob Irwin, Ted Jensen, Billy Joel, Elton John, Jeff Jones, Quincy Jones, John Kelly, Matthew Kelly, Carole King, Marc Kirkeby, Jamie Krents, Bradshaw Leigh, Karen Lemquist, Tommy LiPuma, Roosevelt Louis, Meaghan Lyons, George Massenburg, Andreas Meyer, Joel Moss, Liza Minnelli, Rob Mathes, Rob Mounsey, Dan Palmere, Charles Pignone, Darcy Proper, Felix Ramirez, Andrew, David, Lauren, and Walter Reinfeld, Clarke Rigsby, Mark Rupp, Philipe Saisse, Rob Santos, David Sarser, Elliot Scheiner, Eric Schilling, Al Schmitt, Wynn Schwartau, Walter Sear, Bernard Searle, Paul Simon, Nancy Sinatra, David Smith, Kip Smith, Jude Spatola, Rani, Mark, and Matt “Bean Dean” Steinberg, Barbra Streisand, Steve Sussman, Creed Taylor, Bob Waldmann, Sylvia Weiner, and Mark Wilder.

We are also indebted to Lisa Queen & Jonah Cardillo at Queen Literary; Will Schwalbe, Emily Gould, Zareen Jaffery, Karen Minster, and David Lott at Hyperion; Nancy Munoz, Lisa Perez, and Ananda Kritsky at Phil Ramone, Inc.; Nancy and Martin Reinfeld, and Lulu for the gift of their support, guidance, and assistance during the three years we spent writing this book.

We are especially grateful for the participation of Greg Brunswick, whose exceptional research skills added immeasurably to the final manuscript.

Special thanks to the family members who have always been there: Andi, Kelly, and Rick Freedman, Doreen Kerner, Rick, Elizabeth, and Seth Kerner, Joseph Ichiuji, Sue Ichiuji, Stacy and Julie Ichiuji, Doug and Melissa Ichiuji, Kim and Neil Uppal.

Most of all, we owe our love and gratitude to BJ, Karen, Matt, Simon, Ann, and Maxwell Ramone, and Barbara, Kate, and Alex Granata. Your love, patience, and understanding have truly made this endeavor possible!

Photo Research: Helen Ashford (Michael Ochs Archive), Hugh Brown, Richie Cannata, Alan Dahl, Sam Emerson, Larry Franke,
Charles L. Granata, Dina Greenberg (WireImage), KEG Productions, Inc., Ananda Kritsky, Glen Korman and Che Williams (Sony/BMG Photo Archive), Nancy Munoz, Lisa Perez, Clarke Rigsby, and Jan Press Photomedia.

Lyric permissions: Neil Gilles

RECORDING ENGINEER

All titles are for albums unless otherwise noted(*) indicates Coproducer or Producer credit in addition to engineering

1958

David “Fathead” Newman:
It’s Mister Fathead
(Atlantic)

1959

Billy Taylor:
Billy Taylor with Four Flutes
(Riverside)

1960

Buck Clayton:
Goin’ to Kansas City
(Riverside)

1961

John Coltrane:
Olé Coltrane
(Atlantic)

1962

Michel Legrand:
Plays Richard Rodgers
(Philips)

Quincy Jones:
Quincy Plays for Pussycats
(Mercury)

Quincy Jones:
Big Band Bossa Nova
(Mercury) David “Fathead” Newman:
Fathead Comes On
(Atlantic)

1963

Kai Winding:
Mondo Cane #2
(Verve)

Quincy Jones:
Plays Hip Hits
(Mercury)

Gil Evans:
The Individualism of Gil Evans
(Verve)

Stan Getz & Luiz Bonta:
Jazz Samba Encore!
(Verve)

Count Basie:
Lil’ Ol’ Groovemaker…Basie!
(Verve)

Antonio Carlos Jobim:
The Composer of Desafinado, Plays
(Verve)

Lesley Gore:
I’ll Cry If I Want To
(Mercury)

Stan Getz/João Gilberto:
Getz/Gilberto
(Verve)

Stan Getz:
Reflections
(Verve)

1964

Quincy Jones:
The Pawnbroker
(Soundtrack) (Mercury)

Quincy Jones:
Explores the Music of Henry Mancini
(Mercury)

Neal Hefti:
Li’l Darlin’
(20th Century)

Wes Montgomery:
Movin’ Wes
(Verve)

Lesley Gore: “You Don’t Own Me” (single) (Mercury)

Quincy Jones:
Golden Boy
(Mercury)

1965

Oscar Peterson Trio:
With Respect to Nat
(Limelight)

Quincy Jones:
Quincy’s Got a Brand New Bag
(Mercury)

Lesley Gore: “Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows” (single) (Mercury)

Broadway Cast Album:
I Had a Ball
(Decca)

1966

Joe Williams:
Presenting Joe Williams and the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra
(Solid State)

Jimmy McGriff:
Tribute to Count Basie
(Delta)

Manny Albam:
Brass on Fire
(Solid State)

Manny Albam:
The Soul of the City
(Solid State)*

Jimmy McGriff:
The Big Band
:
A Tribute to Basie
(Solid State)*

Jimmy McGriff:
Cherry
(Solid State)

Jimmy McGriff:
A Bag Full of Soul
(Solid State)

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis:
Presenting Thad Jones & Mel Lewis

(Solid State)

1967

Neil Diamond:
Just for You
(Bang)

Neil Diamond: “Solitary Man”/ “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” (Bang)

Dionne Warwick: “Alfie”/ “The Beginning of Loneliness” (Scepter)

Nelson Riddle:
Music for Wives & Lovers
(Solid State)

Frank Sinatra:
Frank Sinatra and the World We Knew
(Reprise)

Peter, Paul and Mary:
Album 1700
(Warner Bros.)

Peter, Paul and Mary: “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (Warner Bros.)

Janis Ian:
The Secret Life of J. Eddy Fink
(Verve Forecast)

Film Soundtrack:
Casino Royale
(Colgem)*

1968

Luiz Bonfá:
Bonfa
(Dot)

David “Fathead” Newman:
Bigger & Better
(Atlantic) Jimmy Smith:
Stay Loose…Jimmy Smith Sings Again
(Verve)

Barbra Streisand:
A Happening in Central Park
(TV broadcast) (Columbia)

Dionne Warwick: “(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls”/“I Say A Little Prayer” (Scepter)

Dionne Warwick: “Let Me Be Lonely” (Scepter)

Dionne Warwick: “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” (Scepter)

The 5th Dimension:
Stoned Soul Picnic
(Soul City)

Peter, Paul and Mary:
Late Again
(Warner Bros.)

Dionne Warwick:
Promises, Promises
(Scepter)

Film Soundtrack:
You Are What You Eat
(Columbia)*

1969

Procol Harum:
A Salty Dog
(A&M)

The Winter Consort:
Road
(A&M)

Broadway Cast Album:
Promises, Promises
(United Artists)*

B.B. King:
Live & Well
(ABC)

Film Soundtrack:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
(A&M)

Burt Bacharach:
Make It Easy on Yourself
(A&M)

Peter, Paul & Mary:
Peter, Paul & Mommy
(Warner Bros.)*

Film Soundtrack:
Midnight Cowboy
(United Artists)*

Film Soundtrack:
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
(United Artists)*

Louis Armstrong: “We Have All the Time in the World” (single) (Capitol)*

1970

Gordon Lightfoot:
Sit Down Young Stranger
(Reprise)

B.J. Thomas: “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” (single)(Scepter)

1971

Paul McCartney:
Ram
(Apple)

Quincy Jones:
Smackwater Jack
(A&M)*

Elton John:
11-17-70
(MCA)

Burt Bacharach:
Burt Bacharach
(A&M)

1972

Broadway Cast Album:
Pippin
(Motown)

James Taylor:
One Man Dog
(Warner Bros.)

Liza Minnelli:
Liza with a “Z”
(Columbia)

The Band:
Rock of Ag
es (Capitol)

Paul Simon:
Paul Simon
(Columbia)

1973

Alice Cooper:
Muscle of Love
(Warner Bros.)

Chuck Mangione:
Land of Make Believe
(Phonogram/Mercury)

Chicago:
Chicago VI
(Columbia)

Paul Simon:
There Goes Rhymin’ Simon
(Columbia)*

1974

Aretha Franklin:
Let Me Into Your Life
(Atlantic)

Duane Allman
: An Anthology, Volume II
(Capricorn)*

Paul Simon:
In Concert Live Rhymin’
(Warner Bros.)

Phoebe Snow:
Phoebe Snow
(Shelter/Capitol)*

Bob Dylan and the Band:
Before the Flood
(Asylum)

Burt Bacharach:
Greatest Hits
(A&M)*

1975

Broadway Cast Album:
The Wiz
(Atlantic)

Alice Cooper:
Welcome to My Nightmare
(Atlantic)

Stephanie Mills:
For the First Time
(Motown)*

Broadway Cast Album:
Chicago
(Arista)*

Simon & Garfunkel: “My Little Town” (single) (Columbia)*

Bob Dylan:
Blood on the Tracks
(Columbia)

Judy Collins:
Judith
(Elektra)

Paul Simon:
Still Crazy After All These Years
(Warner Bros.)*

1976

Barbra Streisand:
A Star Is Born
(Columbia)*

Barbra Streisand: “Evergreen” (single) (Columbia)*

Starland Vocal Band:
Starland Vocal Band
(Windsong)*

Starland Vocal Band: “Afternoon Delight” (single) (Windsong)*

Paul Anka: “The Times of Your Life”/“Water Runs Deep” (single)(United Artists)

David Sanborn:
David Sanborn
(Warner Bros.)*

1977

Paul Simon:
Greatest Hits, Etc.
(Columbia)*

1988

B.B. King:
The Electric B.B. “His Best”
(MCA)

1989

Gloria Estefan: “Here We Are”/“Cut Both Ways” (remixed) (Epic)

1991

Gloria Estefan:
Into the Light
(remixed) (Epic)

PRODUCER

1966

Harry Belafonte:
Calypso in Brass
(RCA Victor)

1977

Jimmy Carter:
The Presidential Inaugural Album
(Columbia)

Phoebe Snow:
Never Letting Go
(Columbia)

Kenny Loggins:
Celebrate Me Home
(Columbia)

Burt Bacharach:
Futures
(A&M)

Billy Joel:
The Stranger
(Columbia)

1978

Phoebe Snow:
Against the Grain
(Columbia)

Chicago:
Hot Streets
(Columbia)

Billy Joel:
52nd Street
(Columbia)

1979

Chicago:
Chicago XIII
(Columbia)

1980

Paul Simon:
One-Trick Pony
(Warner Bros.)

Billy Joel:
Glass Houses
(Columbia)

1981

Paul Simon:
On the Concert Stage
(video)

Billy Joel:
Songs in the Attic
(Columbia)

1982

Simon and Garfunkel:
The Concert in Central Park
(Warner Bros.)

Karen Kamon: “Da Doo Ron Ron”/“You Can Do Better Than That” (single) (Columbia)

Broadway Cast Album:
Little Shop of Horrors
(Geffen)

Billy Joel:
The Nylon Curtain
(Columbia)

1983

Barbra Streisand:
Yentl
(Columbia)

Barbra Streisand: “The Way He Makes Me Feel” (single) (Columbia)

Michael Sembello:
Bossa Nova Hotel
(Warner Bros.)

Billy Joel:
An Innocent Man
(Columbia)

Film Soundtrack:
Flashdance
(Casablanca)

Michael Sembello: “Maniac” (single) (Casablanca)

1984

Karen Kamon:
Heart of You
(CBS/Sony)

Film Soundtrack:
Ghostbusters
(Arista)

Julian Lennon:
Valotte
(Atlantic)

Karen Kamon:
Voices
(Atlantic)

1985

Paul McCartney: “Spies Like Us” (Capitol/Parlophone)

Film Soundtrack:
White Nights
(Atlantic)

Billy Joel:
Greatest Hits Volume 1 and Volume II
(Columbia)

1986

Julian Lennon:
The Secret Value of Daydreaming
(Atlantic)

Eddie Rabbitt:
Rabbitt Trax
(RCA)

Paul McCartney: “Only Love Remains” (single) (EMI)

Marilyn Martin: “Night Moves” (single) (Atlantic)

Billy Joel:
The Bridge
(Columbia)

1987

Paul McCartney: “Once Upon a Long Ago”/“Back on My Feet” (single) (EMI)

Broadway Cast Album:
Starlight Express
(MCA)

1988

Barbra Streisand: “Till I Loved You”/“All I Ask of You” (single) (Columbia)

Paul McCartney: “Figure of Eight” (single) (Parlophone)

1989

Film Soundtrack:
Goya
—
A Life in Song
(Columbia)

Cyndi Lauper: “A Night to Remember”/“I Don’t Want to Be Your Friend” (Columbia)

Karen Carpenter:
Lovelines
(A&M)

Paul McCartney: “P.S. I Love You”/“Love Me Do” (single) (EMI)

1990

Paul Simon:
The Rhythm of the Saints
(Warner Bros.)

1991

Billy Joel:
Leningrad
(video) (CBS/Sony Music Video)

1992

Sinéad O’Connor: “I Believe in You” (A&M)

Ringo Starr:
Time Takes Time
(Private Music)

Sinéad O’Connor:
Am I Not Your Girl?
(Chrysalis)

Liza Minnelli:
Live from Radio City Music Hall
(Sony Music)

1993

Gloria Estefan:
Christmas Through Your Eyes
(Epic)

Frank Sinatra:
Duets
(Capitol)

André Previn:
What Headphones?
(Angel)

1994

Sylvia McNair and André Previn:
Sure Thing
—

The Jerome Kern Songbook
(Polygram)

Frank Sinatra:
Duets II (
Capitol)

Diane Schuur & B.B. King:
Heart to Heart
(GRP)

Barry Manilow:
Singin’ with the Big Bands
(Arista)

Broadway Cast Album:
Passion
(Angel)

1995

Frank Sinatra:
Sinatra 80th Live in Concert
(Capitol)

1996

Pavarotti & Friends:
For War Child
(Decca/London)

Film Soundtrack:
Jingle All the Way
(TVT)

Brian Setzer Orchestra: “Honky Tonk” (Interscope)

André Previn:
Ballads
(Angel)

Broadway Cast Album:
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
(Angel)

Brian Setzer Orchestra:
Guitar Slinger
(Interscope)

Gerry Mulligan:
Legacy
(N2K Encoded Music)

Johnny Mathis:
All About Love
(Columbia)

Natalie Cole:
Stardust
(Elektra)

Broadway Cast Album:
Company
(Angel)

Broadway Cast Album:
Big: The Musical
(Universal)

Patricia Kaas:
Café Noir
(Sony Music)