Pete Day

Peter Day (born 1970) is an English recording/mixing engineer, record producer, and songwriter. Since the beginning of his musical career around 1987, he has been credited on numerous records from a diverse list of artists that includes Kylie,[1] Sybil,[2] Bananarama,[3] Lisa Scott-Lee,[4] Jason Donavon,[5] and Rick Astley.[6] He is also known for his audio engineering with songwriting/ production trio SAW ('Stock Aitken Waterman'). To date he is credited on 13 top ten hits; 6 of which reaching No. 1.[7]

Pete Day in his studio

He is a primary member of music production group/label Point4.[8]

He was born in 1970 in Merton, London, England, but brought up for the most part in Guildford, Surrey.

Early career (1987–2001)

Pete began his career at PWL (now PWE) Studios in February 1987[9] as a Tape Operator; where he honed his skills using analogue systems. This first step into the music industry saw him editing recordings from Kylie's first tour of Japan, and within three years he had become Stock Aitken and Waterman's chief engineer. Throughout the next 3 years, he was involved in the recording and production of a variety of chart-hitting records; as well as recording theme tunes children's TV shows WWF[10] and Power Rangers under the instruction of Simon Cowell[11] With the splitting of Mike Stock from Pete Waterman in 1993,[7] Peter helped set up Stock's new London studio in Southwark at 100 Union Street, SE1.[12] Pete then continued as his recording and mix engineer; accompanying such artists as Nicki French[13] and Robson & Jerome[14] in the studio. During this period he helped write and produce material for female vocalists Tatjana[15] and Suzann Rye,[16] as well as disco kings "Lovetrain".[17]

He spent some months at Unique recording studios in New York; after being asked by actor/ recording artist Idris Elba to remix tracks by hip hop group 'Dru Hill' and Sean 'P Diddy' Combs'. Elba suggested the production team adopt the name 'The London Boys' for the duration of the project, which they did. Pete disbanded with Mike Stock soon after.

The Academy of Contemporary Music, where Pete Day taught for a year

Subsequently, he re-emerged as one half of DysonDay[18] productions ltd in 1999– Phil Dyson, a former assistant/ keyboardist of Mike Stock studios, completing the duo. The team remixed tracks for Madasun, Faithless, Dido, and Rob Dougan[19] – including his club song, "Clubbed to Death", (which was later released under the Point4 banner). While getting DysonDay productions off the ground, he spent a year teaching studio recording techniques at the Academy of Contemporary Music, close to his home in Guildford.

Point4 (2001–present)

In 2001, he formed the songwriting/ production quartet Point4 with Phil Dyson, Paul (Bronze) Newton, and Daniel Sherman. They rapidly signed to BMG records as artists with their track 'The First Time',[20] then went on to remix for such artists as Lemar[21] and Atomic Kitten. Record producer Steve Lilywhite (who at the time was working as an A&R for Mercury records) signed ex 'Steps'[22] vocalist Lisa Scott Lee's songs 'Lately', 'Too Far Gone', and 'I'll Wait For you', from her debut album 'Never or now'.[23] Lilywhite eventually could not complete the album, as he joined Columbia Records in 2005, and became engrossed in other projects.[24] Under the alias '56K', Point4 recorded and produced vocalist Bejay Browne's cover of the Duran Duran song, "Save a Prayer", in 2002,[25] after signing to Edel Records[25] (additionally: ‘Gallo records' of South Africa,[8] 'Kontor Records', Germany, and Sony, Australia[8]).

In the same year, Point4 were signed by Steve Allen to WEA/ London Records under an ulterior name ('Stylus'[8] ) to create and release the single 'Thrill Me'- a track which featured vocals from female singer/ songwriter Jo Jeffries; of whom went on to co-write many songs with Point4.[26]

Lisa Scott Lee's songs "Lately" and "Too Far Gone", produced by Point4, numbered 6 and 11 (respectively) in the 2003 UK charts.[27]

In 2004 Day and Newton separated from Dyson and Sherman, but retained the name and company Point4- relocating to a new studio facility in Fulham.[28] Pete moved to Brixham, Devon, but Point4 remains an active sound engineering group- operating recording sessions between both their London and Devon-based studio facilities.

In 2005, they headed up the musical side of a promotional campaign for the popular Italian brewery, Peroni.[29] The production duo, this time opting for the name 'Red Tag', covered Air's 'Brakes On' in order for it to be played underneath such advertisements.

A year later in 2006, Dyson, Day, Jeffries, and fellow songwriter/ keyboardist Huw Williams signed to US-based dance label OM Records(33), and released their electronic club song 'I'll do you' under the new alias 'Rookiee'.[30] The track underwent some remixing- namely, by artists Andy Caldwell, Richard Dinsdale, and Vernon & Dacosta.[30]

As well as recently attaining his certified Pro Tools 'Expert' 310m qualification, Pete is a certified schools programme co-ordinator for Avid,[31] and teaches Music Technology at South Devon College. Along with fellow teacher and acoustician Dan Taylor, he also designed and built the recording studio at the Vantage Point site.[32]

He now teaches at dBs Music Plymouth.

Discography
Chart YearArtistTitleCreditOfficial UK Chart Position
1995Frank BrunoEye of the Tigerengineer
1995Nicki FrenchSecretsengineer
1995Ultimate KaosCasanovaengineer
1995Nicki FrenchDid You Really Ever Love Me?engineer
1995Nicki FrenchFor All We Knowengineer42
1995Nicki FrenchIs There Anybody Out There?engineer
1995Nicki FrenchNever in a Million Yearsengineer
1995Robson & JeromeUnchained Melody/ White Cliffs of Doverengineer1
1996DeuceNo Surrenderengineer29
1996Robson & JeromeWhat Becomes of the Broken Heartedengineer
1996Sally Ann MarshWindmills of Your Mindengineer
1996The Mike Flowers PopsDon't Cry for me Argentinaengineer
2003Kylie MinogueGreatest Hitsassistant engineer1
2004Kylie MinogueUltimate Kylieassistant engineer4
2005Kylie MinogueEnjoy Yourselfassistant engineer1
2006Jason DonovanGreatest Hitsengineer
2010Jason DonovanBetween the Linesengineer
2012Kylie MinogueThe Best of Kylie Minogueengineer
2012Samantha FoxJust One Nightengineer
2013BananaramaWOW!engineer

References
  1. Rhythm of Love (CD liner). Kylie Minogue. PWL records. 1990. pp. 4, 6, 8, 11.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Walk on By (CD pressing). Sybil. PWL Records. 1990. p. 1.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Lananeeneenoonoo (Vinyl sleeve). Bananarama. FFRR Records LTD. 1989. p. 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Lisa Scott-Lee – Never Or Now (CDr) at Discogs". discogs. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  5. "45cat – Jason Donovan – R.S.V.P/When I Get You Alone". 45cat. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  6. Hold Me in Your Arms (CD liner). Rick Astley. PWL Records. 1988. p. 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. The Hit Factory: The Stock Aitken and Waterman Story (Documentary). Event occurs at 1:35,44. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  8. "About Us". Point4 Music. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  9. Day, Peter (2014). "Peter Day LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  10. Wrestlemania: The Album (Media notes). Various Artists. All Boys Music/BMG Songs inc. 1999.CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. Newkey-Burden, Chas (10 October 2009). Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography. Michael O'Mara Books. p. Chapter 3. ISBN 9781843174455.
  12. "This Is The House". Mobius-news.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  13. Secrets (CD liner). Nicki French. Paradoxx Music. 1995. p. 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. Unchained Melody/White Cliffs of Dover (CD Liner). Robson & Jerome. BMG Records. 1995. p. 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. Santa Maria (Media notes). Tatjana. 1996.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. Because You Loved Me (CD Liner). Suzanne Rye. 1997.CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. "Love Train". Lovetrain.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  18. "DysonDay Productions Limited in London, Company House Webcheck". DueDil. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  19. BMG Dance Compilation No. 106 (CD Back Cover). Various Artists. BMG. 2002. p. 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. The First Time (CD). Point4. BMG. 2001.CS1 maint: others (link)
  21. Got Me Saying Ooh (Point4 Mixes) (CD (unreleased)). Lemar. BMG. 2001.CS1 maint: others (link)
  22. "Lisa – The Official Steps Website". Stepsofficial.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  23. "Generation STEPS – Lisa Scott Lee Discography". Gensteps.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  24. "U2 > Discography". U2.com. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  25. Save A Prayer (CD Liner). 56K feat. Bejay. EMI Music Ltd. 2003.CS1 maint: others (link)
  26. Jeffries, Jo. "Jo Jeffries – LinkedIn". Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  27. "Lisa Scott-Lee Official Charts". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  28. "Point4 – Studios". Point4music.com. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  29. "Peroni Italy". Thebank.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  30. "OM Records – I'll Do You". Om-records.com. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  31. "Avid – Find A Professional". Avid.com. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  32. "Recording Studio Opens". South Devon College. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
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