Legendary record producer & manager Peter Asher
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This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross. One of the successful British invasion bands of the 60s was the duo Peter and Gordon. Peter is my guest Peter Asher, who later became a famous record producer. The first record Peter and Gordon released became a number one hit in England and the U.S. That song, A World Without Love, was written by Paul McCartney for the Beatles, but John Lennon didn't like it, so Paul put it away until Peter asked to record it. Paul had been living in the Asher family home where Peter, his sisters, and his parents lived. We'll hear why a little later. It's a great story. So here's A World Without Love from 1964.
Please lock me away And don't allow the day Here inside where I hide With my loneliness I don't care what they say I won't stay in a world without love Birds sing out a tune And rain clouds hide the moon I'm okay Here I'll stay With my loneliness I don't care what they say I won't stay in a world without love I wait, and in a while, I will see my true love smile. She may come, I know not when. When she does, I lose. So baby, until then, lock me away.
Peter and Gordon went on to have other hits, including Nobody I Know, I Don't Want to See You Again, and I Go to Pieces. After the duo split up, in 1968, Peter became the first A&R man at the Beatles' new Apple record label.
What was Peter Asher's reaction to 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'?
The first person he signed was James Taylor, who had never recorded before. Peter didn't stay long at Apple. He moved to L.A., produced and managed Taylor, and helped turn him into a star. He introduced Taylor to Carole King and launched King's performing career. He produced and managed Linda Ronstadt. Other artists he produced over the years include Randy Newman, Cher, Neil Diamond, Morrissey, Diana Ross, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, Barbara Streisand, Robin Williams, and Steve Martin. Wow, that's really a phenomenal list. Pete Asher is part of other important moments in music history. Peter co-owned the gallery where John first met Yoko while her work was on exhibit there. Peter was unintentionally responsible for Mick Jagger meeting Marianne Faithfull, which began their romance.
In addition to the many Grammys his artists won, he won three producing Grammys and in 1977 was on the cover of Rolling Stone. A new documentary chronicles Peter Asher's life. It's called Peter Asher Everywhere Man. It's playing in select theaters around the country. Peter Asher, welcome to Fresh Air. I really like this documentary. You've had such an interesting life. So let's start with World Without Love. Did Paul ever explain why John rejected it?
No.
I think it was the lyrics. First of all, I don't think it's quite true to say that Paul wrote it for the Beatles. I think he wrote it pre-Beatles, actually. Oh, that's right.
You say he wrote it when he was 16.
He was like 16 or something like that, which is extraordinary. And I think what John didn't like about it was the lyrics.
How did Peter Asher's family influence his music career?
He thought, please lock me away was an absurd line to put in a song. And so he would actually say to Paul, okay, I will lock you away. The song's over.
So it's copyrighted to Lennon McCartney.
Everything was.
Yes, I know. And Paul told me one of the times I interviewed him that he regrets having the Beatles songs that Paul or John wrote independently credited to both of them, especially because even if Paul wrote a song himself, the credit started with Lennon, Lennon McCartney.
I'm not as sure I agree with Paul about that. I think it was something particularly charming and emphasized the closeness of their relationship that they agreed to credit everything to the two of them. And I think that was actually a very fair division of credit and saved them any arguments.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–2:22
2
What was Peter Asher's reaction to 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'?
2:22–4:03
3
How did Peter Asher's family influence his music career?
4:03–10:26
4
How did Peter Asher discover James Taylor?
10:26–10:46
5
What was the significance of Peter Asher's role at Apple Records?
10:46–13:33
6
What stories does Peter Asher share about his time with the Beatles?
13:33–13:48
7
What challenges did James Taylor face during his career?
13:48–18:31
8
What impact did Peter Asher have on Linda Ronstadt's career?
18:31–50:04
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from Fresh Air
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