Producer
Producer
Here is a list of tracks produced or co-produced by Richard Niles. Many of the tracks are also written and arranged by him. Styles range from pop to soul to orchestral to latin to rock to jazz. Enjoy!
Laurence Juber “Standard Time” album
Co-Producer: Laurence Juber (1978)
When Laurence was guitarist for Wings, Paul McCartney asked him to record some songs from the MPL catalogue. We had a lot of fun in Air Studios, London with this de-rangement of Harry Warren’s timeless classic, and Laurence’s incredible solo!
Pat Metheny Group
“American Garage” album
Co-Producer: Pat Metheny (1979)
In 1979, I saw the Pat Metheny Group play at the Santa Monica Civic in LA. Backstage, Pat said they were recording their first album without Manfred Eicher as their producer. Pat had already booked Longview Farm to record, but asked if I would co-produce, since I’d been producing records in London. I found a great engineer, Kent Nebergall, and we recorded and mixed these amazing tunes in a week. It was his most commercially successful album to date, and an artistic joy working with four masters.
Showstoppers '81
“The (Disco) Sound of Music” single
Co-Producer: Jeff Calvert (1981)
Disco music was still big. I knew a brilliant studio singer, Sharon Campbell, who could do a perfect imitation of Julie Andrews. I arranged it for a stellar studio band and orchestra. I hired jazz phenomenon Chris Hunter to do the sax solos. Also featured was Sarah Brightman who sang the duet on “I am Sixteen Going on Seventeen with the wonderful Nick Curtis.
Richard Niles Quintet “1981” album (1981)
My first guitar album, featuring Chris Hunter (sx), Peter Van Hooke (dr), Dill Katz (fretless bass), Mitch Dalton (gtr). I wrote this tune while producing Pat Metheny’s “American Garage” album. Recorded at Red Bus Studios, engineered by the great Steve Taylor.
Claire Hammil “24 Hours From Tulsa” album (1982)
A completely over-the-top 80s version of the classic Gene Pitney hit. Claire was great. Fun fun fun!
Morrissey-Mullen
“It’s About Time” album (1983)
Jim Mullen is one of the greatest jazz guitarists, and Dick Morrissey’s saxophone always makes me feel better about life. When Jim asked me to do this, and write some tunes for the album, I was so happy and we had SO much fun with a brilliant band including Joe Hubbard (bs), Jess Bailey (keys), Neal Wilkinson (dr) and Tessa Niles (vox).
The Warriors
“Behind the Mask” album
Co-producer: 'Bluey' Maunick (1983)
Jim Mullen is one of the greatest jazz guitarists, and Dick Morrissey’s saxophone always makes me feel better about life. When Jim asked me to do this, and write some tunes for the album, I was so happy and we had SO much fun with a brilliant band including Joe Hubbard (bs), Jess Bailey (keys), Neal Wilkinson (dr) and Tessa Niles (vox).
Hubbard Cubbard
“Hubbard’s Cubbard” album (1983)
Joe Hubbard is a serious and fun musical friend, an astounding bass player and a phenomenal teacher. He asked me to produce this amazing band - Jess Bailey (keys), Neal Wilkinson (dr), Guy Barker (tpt), and Chris Hunter (sx). My composition proves that all jazz is not “faster and higher” and that great musicians can play ballads with passion.
Dusty Springfield
“Sometimes Like Butterflies” album (1985)
Written by Donna Summer and Bruce Roberts, Springfield was approached by Peter Stringfellow, owner of the glitzy Hippodrome Club in London to record a single. Dusty had to be convinced to do it but turned in a sensitive performance. I was fortunate to spend many afternoons at her apartment, rehearsing and talking about music. I’ve been lucky to work with many of my musical heroes, but the time I spent with Dusty was deeply moving
Hubbard Cubbard
“Nip It In The Bud” album (1985)
Another fun track I wrote and Produced for Joe Hubbard’s band, this time a satirical take on rap/disco. A rap by a psychiatrist is a Shrink Rap. Mitch Dalton, top session guitarist, and one of the funniest people I know did the rap. I sung “It’s a shrink rap!” like a demented patient. Guy Barker on trumpet and great solos by Chris White (ten sx), Mitch Dalton, and Neal Wilkinson. Another great mix by Steve Taylor.
Perri
“Prove to Me” soundtrack
Co-Producer: Raymond Jones (1988)
I got a call from the late, great Raymond Jones (keyboards for Chic, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Talking Heads etc.) to co-produce and arrange a song he had written for the soundtrack of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”. He had a heavy schedule,couldn’t do everything himself, and he liked my work. I produced the track at Eden Studios in London, and he put the Perri sisters vocals on it in New York.
Clive Griffin
“Step By Step” album (1989)
It’s a longer story, but Clive Griffin walked into a session to do lead and backing vocals on a track for a signed artist who couldn’t sing! I asked him to come to my studio and write some songs and we didn’t stop until the album was finished. We were signed to Phonogram in two weeks, thanks to manager Jamie Spencer. I had to include 3 tracks, ballad, gospel, and pop. “Be There” features vocals from James Ingram, Phil Perry and Vesta Williams. They LOVED Clive’s voice! Not only is Clive “one of the best soul singers to ever come out of Britain” (Eric Clapton), but he is one of the nicest humans you could ever spend time with.
Bandzilla
“Blue Movies” album (1989)
I got a call from Ruby Wax, an American comedian, part of the ‘Alt Comedy’ scene of the late 80s. She had been given her own late-night series and she wanted a band, like Johnny Carson. We recorded the album, more or less live, with drummer Neal Wilkinson playing an electronic kit, because this was a modern, 80s big band. The players were the finest young studio and jazz cats including Guy Barker, Andy Pask, and Peter-John Vetesse. We did the 10 weeks, and the contract stipulated we were to have our own feature in each show, and a plug for our album in the credits of each show. We got the feature, but never got the plug.
The unique album featured my compositions, and two arrangements of hits I had arranged – “Slave To the Rhythm” (Grace Jones) and “Breakout” (Swing Out Sister).
Silje
“Tell Me Where You're Going” album (1990)
Norwegian singer Silje Nergaard walked up to Pat Metheny at a concert and said she had written a song she wanted to record with him as a duet. Listening to the song, he said it was a little too ‘pop’ for him, but he’d do it if she could get me to produce it, as I had both pop and jazz experience. The album was signed to EMI and was top 40 in the UK and this version, a duet with Pat Metheny was #1 in Japan. I went on to produce, arrange and co-write three albums for Silje.
Silje & Morten Harkett
“Where You Are” single (1990)
What fun this was to record with the charming and wonderful Morten Harkett (of AHA).
Pet Shop Boys
“Overture to Performance” single
Co-producer: Pet Shop Boys (1991)
Neil Tennant called me to a dance studio in London where he was rehearsing for a tour of a show to be called “Performance”, devised by David Alden and designer David Fielding. He said they wanted a big orchestral Hollywood-style overture, about eight minutes long. I was excited to write for twenty dancers dressed as animals (and rather attractive root vegetables) performing in surrealist sets.
I conducted eighty-five musicians through a medley of unusual versions of “It’s A Sin”, “Being Boring”, “Let’s Make Lots Of Money”, “So Hard”, “Suburbia”, “What Have I Done To Deserve This”, “How Do You Expect To Be Taken Seriously” and “West End Girls” - each song performed in a different Hollywood-related style.
When I was invited to see the concert, a single spotlight focused on a red velvet couch—for the entire eight and a half minutes of the “Overture.” No dancers. I was confused, but Tennant explained, “It’s the beginning of the show. People are talking. We wanted them to settle down and listen to the music. The spotlight on the couch gets their interest, as if something’s about to happen. It shuts them up. By the end, something HAS happened. They’ve settled down and listened to this great music!”
I conducted eighty-five musicians through a medley of unusual versions of “It’s A Sin”, “Being Boring”, “Let’s Make Lots Of Money”, “So Hard”, “Suburbia”, “What Have I Done To Deserve This”, “How Do You Expect To Be Taken Seriously” and “West End Girls” - each song performed in a different Hollywood-related style.
When I was invited to see the concert, a single spotlight focused on a red velvet couch—for the entire eight and a half minutes of the “Overture.” No dancers. I was confused, but Tennant explained, “It’s the beginning of the show. People are talking. We wanted them to settle down and listen to the music. The spotlight on the couch gets their interest, as if something’s about to happen. It shuts them up. By the end, something HAS happened. They’ve settled down and listened to this great music!”
Valeriya
“The Taiga Symphony” album
Co-producer, Co-writer:
Alexandr Shulgin (1992)
Multi-award winning singer Valeriya was married to Russian producer/songwriter Alexandr Shulgin. He asked me to write lyrics to an album project called The Taiga Symphony, meant to launch Valeriya’s career. My brief was to tell the story of a young girl leaving Russia and returning. I wrote a more detailed story for the lyrics about a trip to New York City. Because Valeriya’s English was limited, and I was experienced at producing vocals, I spent a week in the studio producing her vocals and harmonies. I must say this was very hard work, but she was very hard working - and a very fine vocalist!
I have become very skilled in getting non-English speaking natives to sing in English!
I have become very skilled in getting non-English speaking natives to sing in English!
Silje
“Cow on the Highway” album (1991)
From Silje’s third album, she sang me a new, country-ish song at the piano. As usual, she sang nonsense ‘temp’ lyrics, any words that sounded good in the mouth. I said, “I really like that chorus, ‘I wanna be a cow on the highway!’ She said, “No, I’m singing ‘CAR on the highway!” But I liked the image of the simple, sweet, placid cow, standing in the middle of the rushing traffic. We went very country, with superb guitar work from Nils Einor Vinjor.
Osny Melo
“End of the Line” album (1992)
Osny Melo is a fantastic Brazilian musician – multi-instrumentalist, singer, and creative force. He became successful in Japan. I wrote this song with Billy Livsey and produced it in London. I played the classical guitar solo. All the elements were there – the song, the artist, the musicians, the studio – and the budget!!!
The Michael Ruff Band
“The Michael Ruff Band” album (1992)
Michael Ruff is one of the greatest musicians on earth. A singer, songwriter, keyboard player who has worked with Bonnie Raitt, Ricky Lee Jones and Chaka Khan. I produced this album in Denmark for his phenomenal band. The stellar vocals for this stunning song are by Nadia DeLeye, Leslie Smith, and Michael. The whole album is a musical miracle.
Mayumi
“The Art of Romance” album (1992)
Mayumi was a successful Japanese pop songwriter. She hired Jerry Hey and Larry Williams to produce songs in Los Angeles, and she hired me to produce songs in London.
I wrote English language lyrics, and also enlisted other lyricists like Neville Farmer and Pat Kane. I got singers Silje, Pat Kane (from Hue & Cry), and Richard Darbyshire (from Living In a Box).
A great budget gave me the best players and studios. Hits & Happiness!
Richard Darbyshire was the frontman from the hit group Living in a Box, and one of the most gifted singer songwriters I have ever known.
I wrote English language lyrics, and also enlisted other lyricists like Neville Farmer and Pat Kane. I got singers Silje, Pat Kane (from Hue & Cry), and Richard Darbyshire (from Living In a Box).
A great budget gave me the best players and studios. Hits & Happiness!
Richard Darbyshire was the frontman from the hit group Living in a Box, and one of the most gifted singer songwriters I have ever known.
Hue & Cry
“Showtime” album (1993)
I arranged the first single for this fabulous Scottish duo and worked with Pat on many jazz gigs with BANDZILLA. I enjoyed producing their album “Showtime” with great musicians. We co-wrote “Just Say You Love Me”, and Pat’s voice on a ballad is a wonderful thing! It features lovely acoustic guitar from Laurence Juber, and my string orchestra led by Gavyn Wright. And “Wrong Question Right Answer” features Laurence again on this deeply funky groove!
Pet Shop Boys with BANDZILLA singles Co-producer: Pet Shop Boys (1995)
produced a few tracks for Neil Tennant to sing with my jazz orchestra, Bandzilla. The first two listed are Noel Coward songs, but not included in the PSB Coward tribute ‘20th Century Blues”.
“If Love Were All” features Gerard Presencer on trumpet.
“Tall Thin Men” was deliberately written in a 1920s style.
“Can You Forgive Her” was a PSB song (one of my favorites). Neil asked me to do a Vegas-y, swing version of it and I obliged happily. It features a truly masterful alto sax solo from Nigel Hitchcock. It was always fun to work with PSB, and these tracks were even FUNNER!
“Can You Forgive Her” was a PSB song (one of my favorites). Neil asked me to do a Vegas-y, swing version of it and I obliged happily. It features a truly masterful alto sax solo from Nigel Hitchcock. It was always fun to work with PSB, and these tracks were even FUNNER!
Pet Shop Boys “Somewhere” single (1997)
This was a truly great record, and I was very grateful that PSB loved my arrangement enough to do a purely orchestral mix. One of the great artistic sadnesses experienced by arrangers is that so much of their work is lost in the mix. Here is just the orchestra and Neil. In the studio, he asked me to write a bluesy Gershwin-like ending. I scribbled out a line, photocopied it and handed it out to the strings. I asked the great trombone virtuoso Mark Nightingale to improvise over it in plunger mute.
Richard Niles “Santa Rita” album (1999)
When I finally decided to do a guitar album, I wanted it to reflect everything I loved about music. I played guitars and programmed synths, like the ‘strings on this track! And I had a band full of friends like Danny Gottlieb (drums) and Mark Egan (bass) - rhythm section of the original Pat Metheny Group. Chris Hunter played sax, and Nelson Rangell played flute & piccolo. Hamish Stewart (Average White Band) performed a song we wrote about Muhammed Ali. And the wonderful Kate St. John played oboe on the track “Dessert Suite”.
Richard Niles “Club Deranged” album (2000)
My next album featured Michael Ruff, Danny Gottlieb, Mark Egan, Tony Walters, Steve Hamilton, Nick Beggs, Nigel Hitchcock… so many more. Enjoy Kid Creole without Coconuts!!!
Katherine Gang “Laughing at Lonely” album (2006)
I did a lot of work with jazz singer Katherine Gang at this period. She liked what she called my “schism & blues songs”, and she wanted to do a whole album of them! Budget demanded few musicians, and I knew we could do it with just one – the mega talented pianist Clive Dunstall. Here’s a rather Monk influenced song about someone who wants a blue organ.
Richard.
Younee “True To You” album
(2009)
South Korean pianist and songwriter Younee had performed on a EBS TV show with Bob James. Bob recommended me as a producer/composer/arranger. She had been promoted by the Korean music industry first as a virtuoso classical child prodigy, and then as a pop singer. But Younee wanted to do something more adult, along the lines of Steely Dan or Michael McDonald. How wonderful it was to be writing for a pianist who could play literally anything!
We wrote an album of songs and recorded it with a stellar band, including Gary Husband (dr), Richard Cottle (keys), and Rob Rickenberg (bass). The mind-blowing brass section you hear on the title track was Derek Watkins (tpt), Nigel Hitchcock (sxs), and Mark Nightingale (tbn)! We toured the UK playing venues such as Pizza Express Jazz Club, the 606club, The Vortex, and Pizza On the Park. We also performed on Claire Martin’s “Jazz line Up” on BBC Radio 3.
Our song “Home to You” reached Top 40 in the US charts and won the Song of the Year award from Music Aid. Younee has achieved many firsts for a Korean artist; a rejection of musical restriction, the release of an English language western album, and a successful single in the USA.
Elly’s Band album
(2010)
Eilidh Forster is a fab singer/songwriter who had a great band. I don’t often get the chance to produce bands, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I thought this Joni Mitchell song would suit her voice, and it did! Great band, great people, and great fun!
Paul McCartney “Blue Sway” single
Co-producer: Paul McCartney (2011)
I got a call from my friend and musical contactor Graeme Perkins. “How would you like to work with Paul McCartney?” I said “Yes!” before he’d finished saying “McCartney”.
Paul had a great number of solo tracks, some songs for films, and some Wings tracks for a project. Because they were unfinished tracks, he called the project Cold Cuts, He asked me to step in as producer/arranger to finish them for him. He said that he had been looking for someone with the arranging and orchestration skills he had relied on with George Martin. But Martin was busy and suggested McCartney find someone else. Paul had recently been working with Trevor Horn, and loved “Slave to the Rhythm”. When Paul asked about me, Trevor said, “Oh yeah. Richard’s great. Mad, but great!”
We worked for the next six months, often in his windmill studio in Rye, Sussex. This is the only one of the 16 tracks we worked on that I know was released – on “McCartney II”. Once again, I used my string section led by Gavyn Wright, and booked Paul’s favorite sax player, Dick Morrisey. I was thinking of the Henry Mancini track “Slow Hot Wind” when I wrote the harmonized counter-melody. But the track was still quite empty, and based on the title, I wrote a lot of blues licks, thinking of the string section as a big Stratocaster!
Paul had a great number of solo tracks, some songs for films, and some Wings tracks for a project. Because they were unfinished tracks, he called the project Cold Cuts, He asked me to step in as producer/arranger to finish them for him. He said that he had been looking for someone with the arranging and orchestration skills he had relied on with George Martin. But Martin was busy and suggested McCartney find someone else. Paul had recently been working with Trevor Horn, and loved “Slave to the Rhythm”. When Paul asked about me, Trevor said, “Oh yeah. Richard’s great. Mad, but great!”
We worked for the next six months, often in his windmill studio in Rye, Sussex. This is the only one of the 16 tracks we worked on that I know was released – on “McCartney II”. Once again, I used my string section led by Gavyn Wright, and booked Paul’s favorite sax player, Dick Morrisey. I was thinking of the Henry Mancini track “Slow Hot Wind” when I wrote the harmonized counter-melody. But the track was still quite empty, and based on the title, I wrote a lot of blues licks, thinking of the string section as a big Stratocaster!
Bandzilla ft. Elaine Gibbs
“Last Vegas” single (2013)
The movie “Last Vegas” with (Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas) had finished post-production. My manager at the time, Gerry Pass told me the producer wanted a theme song for the end of the movie. But they needed it quick, because the movie was edited and had an imminent release date. I wrote the song in a day, and we recorded it with the great gospel singer Elaine Gibbs, me on guitars and bass, brilliant Bob Malone on piano, and the rockin’ Greg Rom on drums.
We turned it around, with the video (!) in a week. But by the time it was finished, the producer had changed his mind! That’s Hollywood for you!
We turned it around, with the video (!) in a week. But by the time it was finished, the producer had changed his mind! That’s Hollywood for you!
Bandzilla
“Bandzilla Rises!!!” album
ft. Randy Brecker, Leo Sayer
Co-producer: John Thirkell (2016)
It only took 26 years to make the 2nd Bandzilla album. Well, big bands are expensive!
It became possible with the kindness of my co-producer John Thirkell, who had played with Bandzilla since the beginning and played trumpet on almost every session I worked on. Nigel Hitchcock played all the saxes, except for Tini Thomsen who played Baritone. Mark Nightingale played all the trombones.
The featured singers here are astounding – Kim Chandler, Randy Brecker, Julia Sokolowska, Daisy Chute, Leo Sayer, Baskerville Jones, Lamont Dozier Jr., Paola Vera, and myself! Here are two tracks, but this is one impossible album!!!
It became possible with the kindness of my co-producer John Thirkell, who had played with Bandzilla since the beginning and played trumpet on almost every session I worked on. Nigel Hitchcock played all the saxes, except for Tini Thomsen who played Baritone. Mark Nightingale played all the trombones.
The featured singers here are astounding – Kim Chandler, Randy Brecker, Julia Sokolowska, Daisy Chute, Leo Sayer, Baskerville Jones, Lamont Dozier Jr., Paola Vera, and myself! Here are two tracks, but this is one impossible album!!!
Alexander Niles
“Alex Plays Alex” album
ft. Claire Martin, Blake Aaron,
Martin Taylor
(2019)
At seventeen, my son Alexander Niles released his first album “ALEX PLAYS ALEX”. An actor who has worked with Francis Ford Coppola, Alex has played professionally since he was 12.
The album features guest performances from acclaimed jazz artists Martin Taylor, Danny Gottlieb, Nigel Hitchcock, Ian Palmer, Laurence Cottle, Blake Aaron, John Thirkell, and Claire Martin. File under ‘proud dad’ but, as Grammy-winner Danny Gottlieb said, “Alex is an amazing, special talent.”
The album features guest performances from acclaimed jazz artists Martin Taylor, Danny Gottlieb, Nigel Hitchcock, Ian Palmer, Laurence Cottle, Blake Aaron, John Thirkell, and Claire Martin. File under ‘proud dad’ but, as Grammy-winner Danny Gottlieb said, “Alex is an amazing, special talent.”
“Alex is a young musician with incredible potential.”
- 20x Grammy-winner Pat Metheny
“Alex’s playing is dynamic and inventive, and his compositions have depth and maturity.”
- Martin Taylor MBE
Richard Niles
“Niles Smiles” album
Co-producer: John Thirkell (2023)
Another amusement park of an album made possible with the help of co-producers John Thirkell, and Ian Palmer, aided by Mark Egan (bass), Steve Hamilton (piano), Snake Davis (saxes), Joey Sellars (tbn), and Kim Chandler’s vocal cords! I’m overjoyed with the compositions and the playing on this, so listen and laugh!
Richard Niles
“Adventures for Cello and Piano” album
ft. Dennis Karmazyn, Clive Dunstall, Ian Palmer, Mark Egan (2024)
A composer always has unfinished ideas. In my case, they were locked away in a computer folder. I’d look at them from time to time, and work on them if I had a moment. Then I got a call from a producer friend to write a duet for a classical cellist and piano player. They liked it and they asked for more. Then the cellist changed his mind, and I was left with all these pieces I’d worked really hard on.
A small German label offered to fund the project, and I was lucky to meet acclaimed L.A. cellist, Dennis Karmazyn who loved the music. I enlisted the most capable pianist I knew for this very demanding music, Clive Dunstall. He also knew my musical style very well and could easily switch from classical to jazz to calypso to funk.
I then got greedy and decided to do two tracks with bass and drums – a funky arrangement of “Debussy’s “Claire de Lune”, and a jazzy TV theme called “Only the Beginning”. And I got even luckier when drummer Ian Palmer and bassist Mark Egan agreed to do it!
Thanks to all the nice things people have said, and I hope it’s only the beginning!
I then got greedy and decided to do two tracks with bass and drums – a funky arrangement of “Debussy’s “Claire de Lune”, and a jazzy TV theme called “Only the Beginning”. And I got even luckier when drummer Ian Palmer and bassist Mark Egan agreed to do it!
Thanks to all the nice things people have said, and I hope it’s only the beginning!
Richard Niles YouTube Official Channel
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Richard is available to consider any production projects, but demands very high quality coffee.