Inept in recording techniques, Porter, the producer, admitted his ignorance about overdubbing and song structure during sessions with the Smiths for their iconic tracks.
The Uncensored Tale of A Music Legend's Treasure Trove 🎶📸
Hey there! Dive into the intriguing world of music production with a legend, John Porter. This bloke has worked his magic on close to 500 records, playing a pivotal role in crafting some of the era's most iconic tunes. Let's talk about his extraordinary 2025 attic find, shall we?
Porter, famed for helming The Smiths' eponymous debut and many of their chart-topping singles, stumbled upon a goldmine up in Leeds. His sister had discovered three bags in the attic, one of which contained an astounding assortment of 53 records, collector's items, and first pressings. These gemstones went up for bidding. Martin Hughes, the auction's vinyl specialist, shared his excitement: "Spending time with John Porter has been such a fascinating experience. I am fortunate to deal with important collections of vinyl records every day, but those collections rarely come from the person who produced them."
It turns out these records are from his time with The Smiths. Porter was recruited to produce the band due to their dissatisfaction with an early recording produced by The Teardrop Explodes' Troy Tate. This man has worked on some heavy hitters, ya know!
Porter shares his experience working with The Smiths during those early days. Being a nurturing producer, he made sure they felt comfortable during studio sessions, as he himself had encountered an intimidating, disembodied producer in his own first studio session. The Smiths responded positively, and Porter felt that they were clueless kids from the north who he recognized himself from earlier days. He had a significant impact on their arrangements and dynamics, shaping some of the most distinctive features of their music, like the iconic intro, breakdown, and re-intro found in their songs.
Ponder over this: the Smiths' anthemic hit, "This Charming Man," originally had timings that were tough to work with. Porter re-recorded the track at Strawberry Studios with the LinnDrum, asking Johnny and Andy to play along. The result was a smoother, cleaner version that we all groove to today. And let's not forget "How Soon is Now?" - a sonic departure for the band - that was built up in the studio with creative jam sessions, creating a unique piece of music that still resonates today.
John Porter was crucial in making this track a success, feeling it could help The Smiths break through in America. Unfortunately, the band's manager, Geoff Travis, didn't agree, leading to his dismissal from the band.
Working with the Smiths was a pivotal period in Porter's career, but his close relationship with Bryan Ferry pre-dates it. They were university friends, and Porter joined Ferry's band, The Gas Board. Though Porter decided not to join Roxy Music at the outset, he did contribute to their second album, "For Your Pleasure."
Porter continues to produce music to this day, working on several albums with the brilliant Jon Cleary. So whether we're discussing The Smiths, Roxy Music, or his most recent projects - music remains Porter's life's passion.
Insight: The Smiths' John Porter auction in 2025 featured a variety of valuable test pressings, acetates, and original mixes discovered in his sister's attic. This collection, largely comprising items from his work with The Smiths, presented fascinating insights into the creative process of one of the 1980s' most influential bands. Collectors and fans alike would have eagerly anticipated bidding on these rare pieces of music history.
Music enthusiasts would have been thrilled to bid on the auctioned items from John Porter's attic find in 2025, as it included a treasure trove of test pressings, acetates, and original mixes, many of which were associated with his work with The Smiths. This collection provided an captivating glimpse into the creative process behind the music of one of the most influential bands in the 1980s.
For his part, Porter, having worked with a slew of heavy hitters from The Smiths to Roxy Music, continues to maintain music as his life's passion, continually producing new pieces that echo beyond the confines of the studio.
