Quick Facts
Biography
Harry Maslin is an American record producer and sound engineer.
In the mid-1970s he engineered No. 1 hits for Barry Manilow ("Mandy"), and Dionne Warwick & The Spinners ("Then Came You"). As a producer his chart hits include David Bowie's "Fame" (US #1) in 1975, and seven singles in the Top 5 for Air Supply from 1980–82, including "The One That You Love" (US #1).
Career
Born in Philadelphia, Maslin was a live sound engineer at the Electric Factory in the 1960s. He later became a studio engineer at Manhattan's Regent Sound. He later moved to The Hit Factory and in 1974-75 engineered successful recordings by James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, and Dionne Warwick & The Spinners, among others. Hits he worked on included the album Barry Manilow II (US #9), and its US #1 single "Mandy"; Warwick & The Spinners' 1974 single "Then Came You" (US #1) (produced by Thom Bell), plus Carly Simon's Hotcakes album (US #3), and her single "Mockingbird" (US #5).
From August to December 1974 David Bowie recorded his new Philly soul-inspired album at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound and New York's Record Plant. Producer Tony Visconti returned to London to mix the tapes, but then Bowie took an opportunity to collaborate with John Lennon. Bowie called Maslin and asked the young engineer to produce. In January 1975 at Electric Lady studios Maslin oversaw the recording of "Fame" with Lennon on guest vocals, as well as a cover of Lennon's own song "Across the Universe". These sessions completed the hit album Young Americans. This album reached UK #2, US #9, and the single "Fame" was US #1.
Bowie asked Maslin to produce his next album, Station to Station, in Los Angeles. The album was a critical and commercial success, charting at US #3 and UK #5.
Maslin moved to California and became a full-time producer. He worked with Eric Carmen, the Bay City Rollers, and Melissa Manchester. He produced seven singles for Air Supply that reached Top 5 in the US between 1980-82 including the US #1 "The One That You Love". He opened a studio, Image Recording, and since the mid-'80s has moved out of the producer's seat and into the manager's office.
Personal life
Maslin is married to Emmy award winning songwriter and producer Michèle Vice-Maslin.
Selective discography
As producer
Singles
- 1975: "Young Americans" - David Bowie (US #28, UK #18)
- 1975: "Fame" - David Bowie (US #1, UK #17)
- 1975: "Golden Years" - David Bowie (US #10, UK #8)
- 1976: "TVC15" - David Bowie (US #65, UK #33)
- 1977: "It's a Game" - Bay City Rollers (UK #16)
- 1977: "You Made Me Believe in Magic" - Bay City Rollers (US #10, UK #34)
- 1977: "The Way I Feel Tonight" - Bay City Rollers (US #24)
- 1978: "Don't Cry Out Loud" - Melissa Manchester (US #10)
- 1980: "It Hurts Too Much - Eric Carmen (US #75)
- 1980: "Lost in Love" - Air Supply (US #3)
- 1980: "All Out Of Love" - Air Supply (US #2, UK #11)
- 1980: "Every Woman in the World" - Air Supply (US #5)
- 1981: "The One That You Love" - Air Supply (US #1)
- 1981: "Here I Am" - Air Supply (US #5)
- 1982: "Sweet Dreams" - Air Supply (US #5)
- 1982: "Even The Nights Are Better" - Air Supply (US #5)
Albums
- 1975: Young Americans - David Bowie (US #9, UK#2)
- 1976: Station to Station - David Bowie (US #3, UK #5)
- 1976: Earl Slick Band - Earl Slick Band
- 1977: It's a Game - Bay City Rollers (US #23, UK #16)
- 1978: Strangers in the Wind - Bay City Rollers (US #129)
- 1978: Don't Cry Out Loud - Melissa Manchester (US #33)
- 1980: Lost in Love - Air Supply (US #22)
- 1981: The One That You Love - Air Supply (US #10)
- 1982: Now and Forever - Air Supply (US #25)