Sandy Roberton
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Sandy Roberton | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alexander William Roberton |
| Born | 7 July 1942 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 25 July 2022 (aged 80) London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, businessman |
| Website | worldsend |
Alexander William Roberton (7 July 1942 – 25 July 2022), known professionally as Sandy Roberton, was a British record producer and businessman.
Early years
[edit]Roberton was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 7 July 1942. At the age of six, he emigrated with his parents to Africa,[1] where his father, Robert, worked as a tractor technician in the British government's post-war Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme in East Africa. Roberton spent his early years in Tanganyika and Kenya, where he became involved in the local music scene. As a teenager, Roberton performed in the band Les Hombres.[2][3]
Career
[edit] | This section may incorporate text from a large language model. (July 2025) |
Early career (1963–1967)
[edit]In 1963, Roberton moved to London to pursue a career in music. He worked day jobs at Olivetti and C&A.[4] He performed at the King's Head pub in Soho with schoolmate Rick Tykiff, and the duo signed with producer Tom Springfield (brother of Dusty Springfield) and released singles like "Half as Much" (1965) on Decca and Mercury.[5] Later tracks were arranged by songwriter Les Reed.[6]
After Tykiff's departure, Roberton released solo covers under aliases. in 1966, he released a cover of "Solitary Man" by Neil Diamond under the alias Sandy on Columbia;[7] the following year, he released a cover of "Mama, You Been on My Mind" by Bob Dylan, titled "Baby You've Been on My Mind," under the alias Lucien Alexander on Polydor, backed by Fleur de Lys.[8]
Music publishing (1967–1968)
[edit]Roberton managed the London office of Chess Records' publishing arms: Arc Music, founded by Leonard and Phil Chess and later owned by BMG,[9] Regent Music, which published artists like Bo Diddley and Howlin' Wolf,[10] and Jewel Music, which was acquired by Primary Wave in 2022.[11]
He also represented Bill Lowery's catalog including artists Joe South and Tommy Roe. Roberton secured covers like Georgie Fame's "Sitting in the Park" (UK No. 12, 1966)[12] and Little Walter's "It Ain't Right" for John Mayall's Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966).[13]
Blue Horizon and production (1968–1976)
[edit]Roberton joined Mike Vernon's Blue Horizon label and co-founded the publishing companies Goodie Two Shoes Music and Uncle Doris Music.[14] He produced two singles by the Chocolate Watch Band (which featured singer-songwriter Gary Osborne) in 1967,[15] early albums by Steeleye Span, including Hark! The Village Wait, from 1970 to 1971,[16] and Shirley Collins's 1971 album No Roses, which was nominated for Melody Maker's "Folk Album of the Year."[17]
September Productions (1968–1976)
[edit]In 1968, Roberton founded September Productions Ltd. Under it, he managed: The Liverpool Scene from 1968 to 1970, producing their debut album with John Peel and touring with Led Zeppelin;[18] Plainsong from 1971 to 1972, producing their debut album In Search of Amelia Earhart;[19] and solo works by Iain Matthews and Andy Roberts.[20]
Rockburgh Records (1977–1981)
[edit]In 1977, Roberton launched Rockburgh Records. The label released Iain Matthews's 1978 album, Stealin' Home, which included the US hit "Shake It" (No. 13)[21] and music by various other artists, such as Wilko Johnson and Allan Talyor.[22]
Worlds End Management (1980s–2022)
[edit]In the 1980s, Roberton shifted to managing producers, founding Worlds End Management. His final production credit was for John Martyn's 1982 album, Well Kept Secret.[23]
Personal life
[edit]Roberton married Dinah (née Cullen), his former personal assistant at music publishers Chappell & Co, in December 1968. They had two children, Christian and Nicola.[24] Roberton died from cancer in London on 25 July 2022, aged 80.
References
[edit]- ^ Well Kept Secrets - Sandy Roberton's UK Folk Treasure Trove, Dave Thompson, Goldmine, 14 November 2013
- ^ Fred Dellar, Sound International, June 1978, p48
- ^ Roberton, Sandy (June 1978). "Interview with Fred Dellar". Sound International.
- ^ Clayton, Ian (2022). In Search Of Plainsong. Route Publishing. p. 81.
- ^ "Rick and Sandy". Discogs.
- ^ "The Great Artist Tom Jones". Les Reed Official Site.
- ^ "Sandy – Solitary Man". Discogs.
- ^ "Lucien Alexander – Baby You've Been On My Mind". Discogs.
- ^ "BMG buys control of Chess Records publishing company Arc". Music Business Worldwide. 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Gene Goodman". Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- ^ "Primary Wave Purchases Catalogs of Regent and Jewel Music". Digital Music News. 1 March 2022.
- ^ "Sitting in the Park". Official Charts.
- ^ "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton". Discogs.
- ^ Clayton, Ian (2022). In Search Of Plainsong. Route Publishing. p. 82.
- ^ "The Chocolate Watch Band". Discogs.
- ^ "Hark! The Village Wait". Discogs.
- ^ Heylin, Clinton. What We Did Instead Of Holidays. Route Publishing. pp. 181, 192.
- ^ "Royal Albert Hall Performance Archive". Royal Albert Hall.
- ^ Murray, Charles Shaar (28 October 1972). "Album Review". New Musical Express.
- ^ "Andy Roberts – Home Grown". Discogs.
- ^ "Ian Matthews Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Rockburgh Records". Discogs.
- ^ "Well Kept Secret". Discogs.
- ^ "Billboard" Business News, 29 July 2022.
External links
[edit]Recommended reading
[edit]- Ian Clayton: In Search Of Plainsong, Route Publishing, 2022; ISBN 978-1901927-87-0
- Iain Matthews with Ian Clayton: Thro' My Eyes: A Memoir, Route Publishing, 2018; ISBN 978-1901927-75-7
- Clinton Heylin: What We Did Instead Of Holidays: A History Of Fairport Convention And Its Extended Folk-Rock Family. Route Publishing, 2018; ISBN 978-1901927-73-3