Reid Whitelaw

Wikipedia

Reid Whitelaw
Born
Reid Smith Whitelaw

(1945-10-17)17 October 1945
Died23 June 2020(2020-06-23) (aged 74)
OccupationsSongwriter, record producer, music industry executive

Reid Whitelaw (17 October 1945 – 23 June 2020) was an American songwriter and music producer. He was mainly active in the 1960s and 1970s, composing, arranging and producing multiple hits.

Background

Reid Whitelaw was born on 17 October 1945.[1]

Whitelaw was once a deejay in Trenton New Jersey. He was also an executive assistant to Murray the K's production firm,[2] and later headed his own production company, Reid Whitelaw Productions.[3] He also founded the Brookside Records label.[4] He was also a partner in Whitelaw and Carl Productions, a company he formed with Billy Carl.[5]

Career

1960s

Reid Whitelaw and Billy Carl wrote "(We'll Meet in The) Yellow Forest" which was recorded by Jay & The Americans. It was a hit, peaking at No. 93 on the Cash Box Top 100 for the week of 19 August 1967.[6][7] It also got to No. 81 on the Record World 100 Top Pops chart for the week of 26 August.[8][9]

It was reported in the 9 November 1968 issue of Record World that Super K Productions, the composition / production entity had taken on Reid Whitelaw and Billy Carl. They debuted with the song, "Goody, Goody Gumdrops" which became a hit for the 1910 Fruitgum Company. They had also just completed an album for the group which also called Goody Goody Gumdrops.[10]

Whitelaw and Carl wrote the songs "Wham! Bam! Ala Cazam" and "Lucy Brown". They also produced and arranged the recordings which were released on single, Date 2–1643. It was credited to The Tricks.[11]

Feeling the need to move away from bubblegum music, Reid Whitelaw and Billy Carl went in another direction. They produced the record "Mind Reader" for the vocal and instrumental group, Eefrom Zeefrom Mixture. This was an assignment for Avco Embassy, which was announced by Hugo and Luigi in the 1 November 1969 issue of Record World.[12] The record had a good review in the 19 November issue of Record World where it was a Four-Star Pick.[13]

By Late November 1969, the project that Whitelaw and Billy Carl were working on, Year One by The Golden Gate had been released. It had a positive review in the 22 November issue of Record World where the potential to lure in teens was noted.[14] It charted, making its debut in the Record World LP's Coming Up chart for the week of 27 December 1969,[15][16] and peaked at No. 29 for the week of 17 January 1970.[17][18][19]

1970s

"Diane", a single from the Golden Gate Year One album was released in 1970.[20] It got to No. 105 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart,[21][22] No. 4 in the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart,[23][24] and No. 97 on the Record World 100 Top Pops chart.[25][26]

According to the 9 June 1973 issue of Record World, Roulette Records president Joe Kolsky announced that producers Whitelaw and Norman Bergen had entered into a long-term agreement with the label. The first single release under the agreement was "Baby You Belong to Me" by The Magic Touch.[27] The record was one of the Hits of the Week and reviewed in the 9 June 1973 issue of Record World. It was positive with the production work of Bergen and Whitelaw being referred to as referred to as tasteful. A comparison was made to the group, the Stylistics, and Top 40 / R&B potential was also noted.[28] In its second charting week on the Record World R&B Singles chart, it was at No. 72.[29] It also got to No. 82 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[30][31]

Working with Don Oriolo and Mark Barkan, Whitelaw composed the song "Hot on the Heels of Love". [32] It was recorded by Winchester, a five-piece rock group. The session was produced by Oriolo, Whitelaw and Bergen.[33] It made the Record World 101 - 150 Singles chart, staying active for five weeks, peaking at No. 107 for the week of 3 February.[34][35][36] It later attracted interest on the Northern Soul scene, and is included on the Golden Age of Northern Soul compilation.[37]

Whitelaw and Norman Bergen wrote "Helplessly" which was recorded by The Moment of Truth which was released on the Roulette label. It was a national hit, making it to No. 74 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 3 on the Dance chart in 1975.[38][39]

Whitelaw and Norman Bergen produced "When You're Young and in Love" for Ralph Carter which he recorded in 1975.[40] It was a hit, making it to No. 37 on the R&B chart.[citation needed]

Whitelaw and Bergen wrote "Extra, Extra (Read All About It)" for Ralph Carter. It was a hit for him in 1976, making it to No. 12 on the US Dance chart and No. 59 on the US R&B chart. It also peaked at No. 59 in the UK.[41]

Working with Norman Bergen, he wrote "Nightime Fantasy" which was recorded by Vicki Sue Robinson. It was a hit in 1979, making it to No. 102 on the main chart and No. 21 on the Dance chart.[42] Also that year, another Bergen Whitelaw composition "Love Is Just a Heartbeat Away" was a hit for Gloria Gaynor, which peaked at No. 81 on the Dance chart.[43]

Death

Reid Whitelaw died on 23 June 2020.[44]

References

  1. Dignity Memorial - OBITUARY, Reid Smith Whitelaw October 17, 1945 – June 23, 2020
  2. Record World, November 1, 1969 - Page 36 Whitelaw & Carl Finish 1st Prod. For Avco Embassy
  3. Focus on Film, March 2010 - Page 2 OCAL MUSIC COMPANY REPRESENTS SONGS IN NEW FEATURE FILMS
  4. Jazz Man Records - Tapestry - Big Stone Wall (Around Your Heart) - Brookside - 7", Details
  5. Billboard, August 9, 1969 - Page 4 AF Inks Deal With Whitelaw & Carl Prod.
  6. Cash Box, August 19, 1967 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 August 19, 1967, 93, (WE'LL MEET IN THE) YELLOW FOREST, 8/12 97, 8/5 _
  7. Cash Box, August 26, 1967 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 August 26, 1967, 100, (WE'LL MEET IN THE) YELLOW FOREST, 8/19 93, 8/12 97
  8. Record World, August 26, 1967 - Page 23 100 TOP POPS, This Wk. Aug. 26 81, Last Wk. Aug. 19 85, (WE'LL MEET IN THE) YELLOW FOREST Jay & Americans-U.A. 50196, Wks. on Chart 2
  9. Record World, September 2, 1967 - Page 23 100 TOP POPS, This Wk. Sept. 2 84, Last Wk. Aug. 26 81, (WE'LL MEET IN THE) YELLOW FOREST, Jay & Americans-U.A. 50196, Wks. on Chart 3
  10. Record World, November 9, 1968 - Page 30 Carl, Whitelaw To Super K
  11. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Tricks, Wham! Bam! Ala Cazam
  12. Record World, November 1, 1969 - Page 36 Whitelaw & Carl Finish 1st Prod. For Avco Embassy
  13. Record World, November 19, 1969 - Page 10 RECORD WORLD SINGLE REVIEWS, FOUR STAR ★★★★ PICKS, ★★★★, THE EEFROM ZEEFROM MIXTURE- Avco Embassy 4510. MIND READER (Avemb/Magic Fleet, BMI)
  14. Record World, November 22, 1969 - Page 14 record world PICK HITS Album Reviews, YEAR ONE THE GOLDEN GATE- Audio Fidelity- AFSD 6230.
  15. Record World, December 20, 1969 - Page 41 record world LP's Coming Up
  16. Record World, December 27, 1969 - Page 54 record world LP's Coming Up, 37. YEAR ONE, Golden Gates-Audio Fidelity 6230
  17. Record World, January 10, 1970 - Page 27 record world LP's Coming Up, 31. YEAR ONE, Golden Gates-Audio Fidelity 6230
  18. Record World, January 17, 1970 - Page 29 record world LP's Coming Up, 29. YEAR ONE, Golden Gates-Audio Fidelity 6230
  19. Record World, January 31, 1970 - Page 43 record world LP's Coming Up
  20. Record World, February 14, 1970 - Page 8 record world Single Reviews FOUR STAR ★★★★ PICKS, GOLDEN GATE -Audio Fidelity 161. DIANE (Magic Fleet /Bates, BMI MAKE YOUR OWN SWEET MUSIC
  21. Billboard, March 7, 1970 - Page 76 BUBBLING UNDER THE HOT 100
  22. Billboard, March 14, 1970 - Page 62 BUBBLING UNDER THE HOT 100, 105. DIANE
  23. Cash Box, March 7, 1970 - Page 14 Cash Box Looking Ahead, 10 DIANE Magic Fleet/Bates — BMI) The Golden Gate (Audio Fidelity 161)
  24. Cash Box, March 14, 1970 - Page 14 Cash Box Looking Ahead, 4 DIANE Magic Fleet/Bates — BMI) The Golden Gate (Audio Fidelity 161)
  25. Record World, March 21, 1970 - Page 29 100 Top Pops Week of March 21, 1970 This Wk. Mar 21 97, Last Wk. Mar 14 98 DIANE, Wks. on Chart 3
  26. Record World, March 28, 1970 - Page 49 100 Top Pops Week of March 28, 1970 This Wk. Mar 28 99, Last Wk. Mar 21 97 DIANE, Wks. on Chart 4
  27. Record World, June 9, 1973 - Page 12 Roulette Deal With Whitelaw/Bergen
  28. Record World, June 3, 1973 - Page 1 (front cover) HITS OF THE WEEK, THE MAGIC TOUCH, "BABY YOU BELONG TO ME"
  29. Record World, August 18, 1973 - Page 34 THE R&B SINGLES CHART, AUG. 18 72, AUG. 11 72 BABY YOU BELONG TO ME
  30. Billboard, August 18, 1973 - Page 30 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 82, Last Week 83, Weeks on Chart 5, BABY YOU BELONG TO ME
  31. Billboard, August 25, 1973 - Page 20 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 85. Last Week 82, Weeks on Chart 6, BABY YOU BELONG TO ME
  32. Catalog of Copyright Entries Third series, By Library of Congress. Copyright Office · 1973 - HOT ON THE HEELS OF LOVE; w & m Don Oriolo, Mark Barkan & Reid S. Whitelaw. 2 p. © Valando Music, Inc.; 17Oct72; EU365939
  33. Cash Box, December 2, 1972 - Page 10 'HOT SHOTS'
  34. Record World, January 6, 1973 - Page 22 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150 JANUARY 6, 1973, THIS WK. 140, LAST WK. 143 HOT ON THE HEELS OF LOVE WINCHESTER-Metromedia 264
  35. Record World, February 3, 1973 - Page 30 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150 FEBRUARY 3, 1972, THIS WK. 131, LAST WK. 107 HOT ON THE HEELS OF LOVE WINCHESTER-Metromedia 264
  36. Record World, February 10, 1972 - Page 38 101 THE SINGLES CHART 150 FEBRUARY 10, 1973, THIS WK. 107, LAST WK. 108 HOT ON THE HEELS OF LOVE WINCHESTER-Metromedia 264
  37. Amazon.de - The Golden Age of Northern Soul, Titles, Disc 1 8 Hot on the heels - Winchester
  38. Billboard, May 10, 1975 - Page 28 Billboard Hot Soul Singles, This Week 74, Last Week 78, Weeks on Chart 7, HELPLESSLY - Moment Of Truth
  39. MusicVF.com - Helplessly: The Moment of Truth
  40. Record World, July 5, 1975 - Page 1 HITS OF THE WEEK, RALPH CARTER, ‘ WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE”
  41. MusicVF.com - Extra, Extra (Read All About It) : Ralph Carter
  42. MusicVF.com - Nightime Fantasy : Vicki Sue Robinson
  43. MusicVF.com - Love Is Just a Heartbeat Away : Gloria Gaynor
  44. Dignity Memorial - OBITUARY, Reid Smith Whitelaw October 17, 1945 – June 23, 2020