Roy Halee--Ace Engineer's career / Lovin' Spoonful

Roy Halee--Ace Engineer

The other day I did a needle-drop of BS&T 3 and was amazed all over again at the quality of Halee's engineering. So I got curious. I know he engineered the best BS&T albums, and Simon and Garfunkel, but what other albums come to mind, O Forum? And where can I find out more information about RH? Anyone have any anecdotes? Anyone know how he got such a wonderful Fender bass sound on the BS&T records?

 

Gardo,

I do know that he was the Engineer for "Summer In The City" by the Lovin' Spoonful.

Bob

 

Steve,

I am recalling this from the liner notes of the Ace comp. "Chartbusters Vol. # 2" where Ace interviewed Halee (as I recall) and he talked about how they acheived the unique drum sound by placing a microphone in the stairwell at Columbia's studios...

Bob

 

Thanks, Steve!

Have you ever met or worked with Roy? I'm sure he doesn't talk too much about his techniques , but I'd love to know something about how he records. Now that I know he's a trumpeter, it's easier to see how he'd pay close attention to horns--but he's so good with the whole combo, top to bottom. Great sense of space and clarity, but everything gels, too. Quite remarkable.

I'm eager to hear the MFSL SACD of BS&T 3. Not my favorite of the 2-3-4 series, but a fine album nonetheless, and it sounds terrific.

 

Nice. Thanks, Bob (and for the extra bit from the Ace comp, too).

 

Roy Halee also did Mark-Almond's "To The Heart" and Jon Mark's solo record "Songs For A Friend", Also did Willie Nile's first album and Edie Brickell's "Picture Perfect Morning".

 

Roy also was the guy who put Hal Blaine in a hallway next to the studio elevators for 'The Boxer". Know those drum hits after Paul sings "By The Light"........WHACK. Thats the hallway echo you hear on there.

Hal tells a funny story that when they were recording that, some guy got off the elevator right in Front of Hal just as he was going "Whack" and the guy almost had a heart attack he thought it was a gunshot!!!

 

Re: Roy Halee--Ace Engineer

Wow, I didn't know he did those. Those are some fantastic-sounding records indeed. I wonder if there's a comprehensive Halee discography somewhere on the Web ...

 

Several years ago there was a two-part interview with Mr. Halee in the "absolute sound" with Michael Fremer as I recall. He did mention working with the Lovin' Spoonful. Back in those days a lot of production work went uncredited in the album liner notes. I'll have to dig out my copies & re-read the interview.

 

Cool--never noticed this before. While I was at the CD shelves, I picked up The Notorious Byrd Brothers--he's co-credited there too, with Don Thompson.

Very interesting! I'd like to see a Halee discography too. I'd also love to see that two-parter in The Absolute Sound.

 

Didn't he engineer some of Billy Joel's albums?

 

Just found a lovely interview with Mr. Halee here:

http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_roy_halee/

I also discovered that Halee did NOT engineer the first Chicago album. Fred Catero did, but since he worked with Halee on the second BS&T album I'm sure there's a family resemblance at work.

 

Some Roy Halee-engineered LPs:

The Simon & Garfunkel releases...

Simon & Garfunkel "Bookends"
Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Simon & Garfunkel "Concert In Central Park"

The Paul Simon solo releases...

Paul Simon "Paul Simon"
Paul Simon "There Goes Rhymin' Simon"
Paul Simon "Hearts And Bones"
Paul Simon "Graceland"
Paul Simon "Rhythm Of The Saints"
Paul Simon "Songs From The Capeman"

The Art Garfunkel solo releases...

Art Garfunkel "Angel Clare"
Art Garfunkel "Scissors Cut"

And...

Bloomfield, Kooper & Stills "Super Session"
Moby Grape "Moby Grape '69"
Shel Silverstein "Freakin' At The Freakers Ball"
Illinois Speed Press "Illinois Speed Press"

Quite a few good titles!


__________
AC

 

Hey, Catero also engineered Santana's 1969 debut. Those are two awfully good titles for the resume!


__________
AC

 

Summer In The City? What's bad about it?

 

I think Steve's referring to The Boxer here.

 

Nah, he's talking about "Summer In The City" in reference to Bob's remark about it being recorded at Columbia. The mention of an elevator for both is making it a bit confusing, though.


__________
AC

 

Also the first Blood, Sweat and Tears album: Child Is Father To the Man.

 

Gardo, A SACD of BS&T 3? Is this out now? I would love to hear this.
I have the Columbia CD and I'm not happy with the sound...
Once again Legacy re-issued the first 2 and then stopped.

Where did you pick yours up at?

Thanks,
Joe

 

It's an upcoming MFSL SACD. Not out yet.