Andrew Terry is his full, and correct, name and the one that always appears on song writing credits. As an arranger, the name ‘Mike Terry’ frequently appears, which is misleading because ‘Mike’ is not his real name. The derivation of the nickname ‘Mike’ has an interesting history.

            “I’ve always been called ‘Mike’, way back from when I was a teenager, but where it comes from I’ve got no idea! Everyone stills calls me by that name, including my wife.”

            Having worked, at one time or another, with the lion’s share of the musicians and artists recording during that era, his assessment of their relative talents makes interesting reading.

            “Tony Hestor was one of the most talented guys I ever met. He was a genius. He would write three or four songs …a day! He had a way with words, and with melodies that was like on a Burt Bacharach level. I took some of his work out to California to Russ Reagan who was the president of Uni Records at the time. Russ didn’t really hear Tony’s work that I was trying to get through. But he did eventually get a break. He deserved all the credit he got.”

            George Clinton was a close friend and working partner during their time together at Golden World. “He’s very creative. Anything you see on him it’s because it’s something he’s thought of. He’s a master at that. He’s very intelligent. He’s always been like that.”

            On the subject of vocalists, his opinions are fascinating. “The best male vocalist I ever worked with was Eddie Holland. Man, that guy could sing. And Garland Green had a beautiful voice too. Of the females, I think Belita Woods does it. Barbara Lewis is close but Belita, she could really blow.”

            His involvement with Belita Woods in 1969 featured a rare contribution on piano on her beautiful ‘My magic corner’ and he arranged the song too. Of all the songs he worked on, J.J. Barnes ‘Baby please come back home’ is his favourite. “The musicians were in the studio waiting for my arrangements. I was writing the charts out while they were waiting. Don Davis came round to my house and I slammed the door in his face. I finally finished them and gave them to him. It was worth it. That is a beautiful song.”

music: "Baby Please Come Back Home" - JJ Barnes (Groovesville 1006a)

Continued