Sam Williams (record producer)
| Sam Williams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sam Williams |
| Born | Cornwall, England |
| Origin | Oxford, England |
| Genres | Britpop, pop, punk rock, rock |
| Occupation(s) | record producer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitars, bass guitar, drums, organs, saxophone, theremin |
| Labels | Parlophone, EMI Records, Shifty Disco, Fontana Records, PolyGram |
| Associated acts | Supergrass, Plan B, The Noisettes, Gaz Coombes, A Silent Film, The Animalhouse |
| Notable instruments | |
| Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes | |
Sam Williams, born Samuel Williams is an Ivor Novello award winning British record producer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the British band The Animalhouse with Mark Gardener, and for co-producing and co-writing with the 90's Britpop band, Supergrass.[1][2]
He is the younger brother of the BRIT Award and Grammy Award winning classical guitarist, John Williams.
Life and career
Born in Cornwall, England, Williams' early musical career began working as a studio assistant at Sawmills Studios on the banks of the River Fowey in Cornwall, England. In 1994, Williams discovered and became the original producer of the band Supergrass when he produced their debut album I Should Coco.[3][4][5]
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"Alright"
 24-second sample from Supergrass' "Alright". The song's opening verse. |
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I Should Coco was recorded in Cornwall and soley produced by Williams. Williams had been impressed by the band whilst scouting in Oxford. At the height of the Britpop era, the album became the band's and Williams' most successful release when it reached number one on the UK Albums Chart,[6] and subsequently gained platinum status, selling over a million copies worldwide and 500,000 in the UK.[7] The most successful single released from I Should Coco is "Alright", it peaked at number-two in the UK Singles Chart,[6] and gained silver status.[8]
I Should Coco went on to be nominated for the 1995 Mercury Prize, and won the prestigious Ivor Novello Award in 1995 for best album in the same year. It was the biggest selling debut album on Parlophone records since the Beatles.[9][10]
In 1998, Williams was signed to Fontana Records as the frontman of the band, The Mystics. The band were paid a large advance to produce the record, but their debut album was never released due to an internal dispute.[11]
Over the last 20 years, Williams has worked with several British artists including Supergrass, Plan B, The Noisettes, David Bowie, JJ Cale, Benson Taylor, Gaz Coombes, The Mystics, A Silent Film, and The Go Team.
Personal life
Williams was born and raised in Cornwall, England. His father, Lenonard Williams, founded the London Guitar School.[12] He currently resides in the University town of Oxford in the United Kingdom where he owns & runs Templesound Studios.[2]
Discography
- The Scene Between - The Go! Team (2015)
- Dear Bo Jackson - The Weeks (2013)
- Here Come the Bombs - Gaz Coombes (2012)
- Gutter Gaunt Gangster - The Weeks (2011)
- Pilgrims Progress - Kula Shaker (2010)
- Caught by the Fuzz - Supergrass (2009)
- The City That Sleeps - A Silent Film (2009)
- Strangefolk - Kula Shaker (2007)
- Strata Presents the End of the World - Strata (2007)
- As Far as the Eye Can See - People in Planes (2006)
- Who Needs Actions When You Got Words - Plan B (2006)
- Shout, Rattle and Roll - Big Joe Turner (2005)
- Under the Influence - Carl Barât (2005)
- Whatever: The '90s Pop and Culture Box (2005)
- Supergrass Is 10: The Best of 1994-2004 - Supergrass (2004)
- Why Don't You Do It for Me? - 22-20s (2004)
- Prison of Small Perceptions - Pseudo Heroes (2003)
- Ready to Receive - The Animalhouse (2000)
- Small - The Animalhouse (2000)
- Terror Firmer (2000)
- Fly the Flag - Down by Law (1999)
- In It for the Money - Supergrass (1997)
- Late in the Day Supergrass (1997)
- Richard III - Supergrass (1997)
- All Scratched Up! - Down by Law (1996)
- Alright - Supergrass (1996)
- Going Out - Supergrass (1996)
- I Should Coco - Supergrass (1996)[13]
- Lenny - Supergrass (1995)
- Mansize Rooster - Supergrass (1995)
See also
References
- ↑ "Producer helped Supergrass on road to success (From Oxford Mail)". Oxfordmail.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- 1 2 "Producer, Artist, Musician". Sam Williams Music. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- ↑ "NME Reviews - The Mystics". Nme.com. 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- ↑ "A Silent Film". Marsupial Management. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- ↑ "Covers of Songs Produced by Sam Williams". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19 ed.). HIT Entertainment. p. 541. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ "SUPERGRASS Second LP features a more mature sound". Dot Music. April 1997.
- ↑ "Alright cecrtified award". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
- ↑ "Billboard". Books.google.co.uk. 1996-07-13. p. 106. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- ↑ "Burns Guitars". Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- ↑ "I Rotator The Mystics". Rotator. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
- ↑ Paul Vernon Chester, Manouche Maestro: "Leonard Williams Guitarist – Journalist – Zoo Keeper and father of John Williams". Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ↑ "I Should Coco - Supergrass | Credits". AllMusic. 1995-07-18. Retrieved 2016-01-30.