Glyn Johns is one of three behind-the-scenes talents inducted into the 2012 class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (the first was Tom Dowd, covered earlier this week).
The English Johns has worked with some of the most famous artists of all time, including the Mount Rushmore of British rock acts: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks. Sub in Led Zeppelin for one of those if you’d like.
He also put his stamp on the work of legendary American artists such as Bob Dylan, The Band, and the Eagles.
Johns was at the controls as engineer of Abbey Road and Let It Be (you can see him in the great Get Back documentary from a couple of years ago), and played the same role on just about every Rolling Stones album.
He produced the first three Eagles albums, which feature my favorite songs by the band (including today’s SOTD, ‘Desperado,’ and ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’).
All of that work showcases his preference for capturing a loose, live, organic sound in the studio. In his autobiography, he wrote “I have never lost the value of musicians interacting with one another as they play… When a musician overdubs his or her part onto an existing track, this ceases to be a two-way interaction.”
It’s a philosophy that shines through in the great work he touched, and one that paved his way to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Well, I’m running down the road tryin’ to loosen my load
I’ve got seven women on my mind
Four that wanna own me, two that wanna stone me
One says she’s a friend of mine
[Chorus]
Take it easy, take it easy
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
Don’t even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand and take it easy
[Verse 2]
Well, I’m a standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
And such a fine sight to see
It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford
Slowin’ down to take a look at me
[Chorus]
Come on, baby, don’t say maybe
I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me
We may lose, and we may win
Though we will never be here again
So open up, I’m climbin’ in
So take it easy
[Verse 3]
Well, I’m running down the road trying to loosen my load
Got a world of trouble on my mind
Lookin’ for a lover who won’t blow my cover
She’s so hard to find
[Chorus]
Take it easy, take it easy
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy
Come on baby, don’t say maybe
I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me
[Outro]
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
Oh, we got it easy
We oughta take it easy
Meet Me In Montauk 
That’s an impressive resume!
I need to find and read his autobiography. I love that he valued “capturing a loose, live, organic sound in the studio.” In this era of programmed/sampled/synthetic music-making (and looking ahead to the weird future being bbrought to us by AI enthusiasts), we can certainly use a strong reminder about “the value of musicians interacting with one another as they play.” Thanks for another great blog post to start my day.