RNR Heaven Robert Iredale
We always hear about the stars, but what about the dedicated folks behind the scenes who had a big hand in making them a star.
One such person is the late Robert Iredale, from 1959 to 1975 Robert produced and engineered a near endless gallery of hits including the Bee Gees, Col Joye, Max Merritt, Ray Brown, Judy Stone, The Delltones and of course the King of Australian Rock and roll Johnny O’Keefe.
One of the rare film clips is JOK in a studio recording session with Robert in action at the Festival Studios in Harris St Pyrmont Sydney, it was used on Bandstand and Brian Henderson features as a surprise studio guest. The hit was the 1962 classic “Right Now.”
In 2014 Col Joye paid his personal tribute to Robert Iredale and some very interesting technical information that has never been aired before.
In his field Robert was quite innovative and had a funny laconic way about him. He made so many records for so many of us, Johnny O’Keefe/Digby Richards/Noelene Batley/Lucky Starr/the Dellies & a heap of others. He was the engineer at the control panel for us all at that time. They ALL came out when he was in charge of the Festival studios..We (the Joyboys) had a lot to do with him technically as we were trying all the time to match overseas sounds which were the technical benchmark at that time. We didn’t realise it was also in the production/arrangements and technical equipment. We worked together with Robert and he was always open to suggestions to improve all aspects of the recording sessions. We all wanted to beat the overseas acts, so it was a team effort.
I recall such a time when I suggested Robert make another 4 faders ( sound panel controls) to run in conjunction with the four we had on the AWA console.(This console was not blessed with any equalisation) With this change we could use one as the input from the other four channels so we were able to run 7 mics!
Then with MY new ubeaut ROLA 15 inch/ sec recorder we were able to record the backing tracks & over dub the vocals. Robert made new spindles to go on the capstan shaft of the Rola Reel to Reel recorder, so we could alter the speed of our tape echo, hence the production record on “Yes Sir that’s my baby.”
Then when I bought the Gibson and Fender Amps from Duane Eddy, who came out to tour Australia we pulled out the front end of the Fender & delivered it to Robert with the Question, “Can you wire this up as a front end to master from. After that, ALL Festival mastering was done through that set up.. We NEVER got it back!
I guess we’re all different & Robert certainly was. We NEVER shared any leisure time with him. He seemed to be a bit of a loner there. Don’t know if he’d married before, but he married Kay from Festival & had a child. He Died when his baby was only months old in, I think, it was 1975. Like John O’Keefe we didn’t know at that time about Bi polar or the Black Dog.
However, with Robert Iredale we did make music that has lasted, so I include Robert Iredale as being a major part of Australian music. Where have all the seasons gone?
Col Joye 2014
One of the interesting innovations was having the Joy Boys drummer Johnny Bogey play the old ribbon type writer instead of the drums on Cols 1959 hit “Oh Yeah Uh Uh.”
During his lifetime Johnny Bogey also would recall how he was stuck out in the stairwell of the Festival Building with his drum kit. Actually the effect was great as it was a built in echo chamber and saved space in the extremely cramped Festival Studio.
I recorded several recordings at Festival (none became gold awards) with Robert steering the sessions with The Joy Boys, New Notes and the Dee Jays. Then later with Max Merritt at the EMI 301 Studios Castlereagh St Sydney.
I was shocked at his passing in very unfortunate circumstances. Robert Iredale and I became very close over the years and at the time of his passing he was working with the Reg Grundy Production machine located in Miller St North Sydney.
Robert went to Rock and Roll Heaven in 1975. But let’s remember part of the musical legacy he left behind including this one.
Ray Brown and the Whispers got the magic production touch of Robert Iredale and their debut 1965 single “20 miles” it was a huge hit Nationally especially in Sydney.
Ken Sparkes
JBSN
