Richard Perry, one of the greatest record producers of the 1970s and 1980s, died on Tuesday, December 24 at the age of 82. Perry is almost as famous as contemporary producers such as Greg Kurstin, Finneas and Daniel Nigro. Like all previous artists.
No producer can guarantee a hit, then or now. but village voice In 1973, Perry said of Perry: “The rungs on the ladder of success seem tighter when Perry guides you.”
rolling stones In 1973, Perry was named Producer of the Year for his work with Carly Simon and Ringo Starr. At the time, the Grammys didn’t have a non-classical category for Producer of the Year, but Perry was nominated for Record of the Year in both 1973 (Nilson’s “Without You”) and 1974 (Simon’s “You’re So”). “).
The following year, the Grammys finally added a producer category. Perry was nominated for the award twice but did not win. He lost to Stevie Wonder in 1977 and Peter Asher in 1978 – of course he was a great producer too, but if Perry was It would be great to get that honor at some point.
In 1977, Perry’s demo work was included on a Grammy-nominated list, including Burton Cummings’ self-titled debut solo album (and its Top 10 hit “Stand Tall” ) and Manhattan Transfer’s third studio album, to come out of the closet. His 1978 sample work is of Diana Ross baby it’s meSimon’s “Nobody Does It Better” and Leo Thayer’s endless flight (as well as its hits “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” “When I Need You” and “How Much Love”) as well as Sayer’s “Thunder in My Heart,” the lead single from his follow-up studio album and Title song.
Perry tops the list advertising billboardThe year-end hitmaker looks back twice. He led in 1977 and again in 1984.
Perry has written more than 30 songs, all of which have reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.
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“Stand Up”, Burton Cummings (1977)
Hot 100 Peaks: No. 10
Lyricist: Burton Cummings
notes: The elegant power ballad was the former Guess Who frontman’s first and biggest solo hit.
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“I Only Have Eyes for You”, Art Garfunkel (1975)
Hot 100 Peaks: No. 18
Lyricist: Al Dubin, Harry Warren
notes: Perry was 17 when The Flamingos’ classic doo-wop version of the song hit No. 11 on the Hot 100 in 1959, but the song’s history can going back even further. The song was first released in 1934 by bandleaders Ben Selvin and Eddy Duchin. Garfunkel’s hypnotically perfect record is Perry’s valentine to the music of his youth (as is this list of mine).
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“How Much Love”, Leo Sayer (1977)
Hot 100 Peaks: No. 17
Lyricist: Barryman, Leo Thayer
notes: This upbeat, disco-influenced song is the follow-up to Sayer’s “When I Need You,” and it helps brighten the mood after a rather melancholic ballad. This is Sayer’s third top 20 single endless flight The album entered the top 10 of the Billboard 200 in June 1977. It definitely has that EJ spark.
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“Oh My My My”, Ringo Starr (1974)
Hot 100 Peaks: No. 5
Lyricist: Poncia, Ringo Starr
notes: This is the third consecutive top five appearance for “Hot 100.” Ringo Following “Photograph” and “You’re Sixteen,” the album launched an album at a time when having three top five hits from one album was rare. Martha Reeves and Meri Clayton sang backing vocals on the song. It was performed by Billy Preston (piano and organ) and Tom Scott (saxophone).
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“I’m so excited” Sister Pointer (1982-84)
Hot 100 Peaks: 30th in 1982; 9th in 1984
Lyricist: Trevor Lawrence; Anita, Joan, and Ruth Pointer
notes: This uplifting record “only” reached No. 30 when it was first released in 1982, but after a new remix was released in 1984, it finally earned the top ten spot it deserved.
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“Without You”, Nelson (1972)
Hot 100 Peaks: First place (four weeks)
Lyricist: Tom Evans, Peter Ham
notes: The power ballad is Perry’s longest-running single on the Hot 100 (although Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” stayed in the top 10 longer). “Without You” defeated the Carpenters’ “Hunting Each Other” and remained at the peak of second place. Mariah Carey took the song to number three on the charts in 1994.
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“No One Does It Better”, Carly Simon (1977)
Hot 100 Peaks: No. 2
Lyricist: Marvin Hamlisch, Carol Bayersager
notes: If it weren’t for Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life,” the longest-running No. 1 single of the 1970s, this sexy and sophisticated song would be a Perry-produced Simon’s second number one single. Instead, it had to spend three weeks at No. 2, behind a record whose massive success was a mystery then and now. Here’s a consolation prize: This song will always be at or near the top of almost everyone’s list of favorite James Bond songs.
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“Jump (For My Love)”, The Pointer Sisters (1984)
Hot 100 Peaks: third place
Lyricist: Steve Mitchell, Marty Sharon, Gary Cardina
notes: The catchy song earned the group a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. It later scored one of the smartest scenes in the movie true loveThe Prime Minister, played by Hugh Grant, dances to the beat. In early 1984, after Van Halen’s “Jump” became a No. 1 song on the Hot 100, the subtitle “For My Love” was added to the title.
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Barbra Streisand, “Stony End” (1971)
Hot 100 Peaks: No. 6
Lyricist: Laura Nyro
notes: When this record was released, Streisand was a superstar, but she was not a pop producer. It was her first top ten hit on the Hot 100 since 1964’s exquisite “People.” Richard Perry brought her this Laura Nyro song, launching a new phase in Streisand’s career. Kudos to Streisand for having the courage (and talent) to pull it off, and to Perry for pushing her in new directions. By the end of the decade, Streisand was one of the hottest female singers in contemporary pop music, along with Donna Summer and Linda Ronstadt.
Interesting facts: Peggy Lipton, a co-star on ABC’s Mod Teamwhich reached the Hot 100 in 1968 with this song.
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“You’re So Vain”, Carly Simon (1973)
Hot 100 Peaks: First place (three weeks)
Lyricist: Carly Simon
notes: It’s hard to believe that this record is already 52 years old. From the opening bass notes and murmur of “Son of a Gun” to Mick Jagger’s harmonies, it still sounds hot and fresh today. The record was a savage take on an unworthy lover, paving the way for other sluts like Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” and Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know.” Leveled the road. Janet Jackson included the song in her 2001 hit “Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You).” The long-standing mystery as to who the song’s subject was (most assume it was Warren Beatty) has grown tedious, but the record itself has been a sensation for centuries.
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