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This addition to Ace’s Producer Series salutes the work of a man who sang, wrote and/or produced some of the greatest rock and soul music of the 1960s - Bert Berns.
During what was a relatively short career, tragically ended by a heart attack on New Year’s Eve 1967, Berns created the original versions of such perennials as ‘Twist And Shout’, ‘Hang On Sloopy’, ‘Piece Of My Heart’, ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, ‘Here Comes The Night’ and numerous other Hall Of Fame hits. He nurtured the early solo career of Van Morrison and was quick to recognise the potential in a young Neil Diamond. Almost alone among the great New York record men, he also spent time in the UK in the early 60s, and produced many important local acts, Lulu and Morrison’s band Them to name just two.
Bert packed more into a career that barely spanned 8 years than most writer-producers do in twice or thrice that time. So many important records bear the Berns imprint in some way that it’s not possible to fit the best of them on just one CD. This first volume covers 1960-64 and a second volume, planned for release in January 2009, will tell the rest of Bert’s fascinating musical story.
“Twist And Shout” is released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Bert’s untimely death. Both volumes have been prepared in co-operation with Bert’s widow Ilene and his children Brett and Cassie. The Berns children are also making a film about their father’s life and work, which will hopefully come out to coincide with the release of these two projects.
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