March 6, 2008 16:52

The Beatles and Pink Floyd studio cohort dies

Norman Smith was 85 when he passed away

Photo Gallery: The Beatles
Photo: Pa Photos

Norman Smith, who was an engineer for every Beatles recording session from 1962 to 1965 and went on to produce Pink Floyd's first three albums, has died at the age of 85.

Under the name Hurricane Smith, he also enjoyed hit singles in his own right in the early 1970s.

Smith began working for EMI in 1959, and in the absence of producer George Martin was in charge of The Beatles' first session at Abbey Road on June 6, 1962.

Smith worked alongside Martin as engineer on every Beatles' single and album up to and including 'Rubber Soul' in 1965, earning the affectionate nickname 'Norman Normal' from John Lennon.

Promoted by EMI to a producer in 1966, he signed Pink Floyd and produced the albums 'Piper At The Gates of Dawn' (1967) and 'A Saucerful of Secrets' (1968), plus one disc of the double LP 'Ummagumma', although he admitted that he did not understand psychedelia and found it "difficult" to work with Syd Barrett.

As Hurricane Smith he went on to taste Top Ten success with the singles 'Don't Let It Die' (1971) and 'Oh Babe What Would You Say' (1972).

Born in north London on February 22 1923, he died on March 3.