Lou Reizner produced Rod Stewart's first two solo albums, the orchestral version of The Who's rock opera Tommy, and Rick Wakeman's Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
12 Facts About Lou Reizner
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Lou Reizner was a keen talent spotter, and moved to England in 1966 where he produced Big Jim Sullivan.
3.
Lou Reizner gave the Greek Rock band Aphrodite's Child their name.
4.
Lou Reizner signed and produced The Eyes of Blue, introducing them to Quincy Jones and collaborated with them on the soundtrack of the film The Toy Grabbers.
5.
Lou Reizner arranged for the Eyes to score the music to, and appear in, the film "Connecting Rooms", and used them as a backing band, when, having signed Buzzy Linhart, he produced his album Buzzy in 1968.
6.
Lou Reizner signed Smile and was executive producer on their 1969 recordings, although, other than a US single "Earth" they were not released until 1998, long after his death.
7.
Lou Reizner signed Van der Graaf Generator to Mercury Records in 1968, and arranged a US contract for David Bowie.
8.
Lou Reizner even co-wrote, sang on and produced two tracks for the film The Italian Job, which were issued as a single in 1969.
9.
Lou Reizner then conceived and produced the orchestral version of The Who's rock opera Tommy.
10.
Whilst still producing hard rock bands such as Three Man Army, Lou Reizner continued his symphonic rock work, with Rick Wakeman's concept album Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
11.
Lou Reizner went on to produce the music to the 1977 film Black Joy featuring Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin, The Drifters and The O'Jays.
12.
Lou Reizner was still working prolifically, when he died of colon cancer, in June 1977.