John Ratcliff (producer)

John Ratcliff (13 September 1954) is an English record producer and musician. He originally, discovered, supported and recorded the Norwegian synth-pop group a-Ha.[1] Between 1983 and 1985 he rented a flat in Dartmouth Road, Sydenham for the band to live in as it was 200 yards from his recording studio called Rendezvous. Sometimes the band members would take a 75 yard shortcut across the adjacent warehouse roof to get into the studio.[2]

John Ratcliff
Background information
Born (1954-09-13) 13 September 1954
OriginEngland
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • musician
  • composer
  • arranger
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • columnist
Instrument(s)
  • vocals
  • keyboards
  • guitar
Years active1973-present
LabelsEMI Music Publishing

Over that two year period the band recorded nearly forty songs, many of which ended up on their next three albums. The most notable of these being a demo of Take On Me which embodied the distinctive a-ha sound that would later propel the band to worldwide success.[3]

Terry Slater


Eventually he got the band to sign a management deal with his and Terry Slater's management company,[4] giving Pål, Morten and Mags a 25% share each of the profits. This arrangement was quickly superseded when Slater signed them to a publishing deal with ATV.

He is noted for re-producing 8 of the 10 tracks on a-Ha's debut album Hunting High And Low in 1985 at Eel Pie Studios near Richmond-upon-Thames. The most notable track being their worldwide hit "Take On Me".

Ratcliff has also worked with Dexy's Midnight Runners.

He is currently the musical director, a composer and performer with the Macedonian Arts Council.

Producer

All chart placings refer to UK Singles Chart and UK Albums Chart only unless indicated otherwise.

Singles:

Albums:

References
  1. "In John Ratcliff's own words, how he met, recorded and supported a-Ha". 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  2. "A-Ha 'Take On Me'". Sound On Sound. March 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  3. "A-Ha 'Take On Me' Demo from Ratcliff sessions halfway down the article". thequietus.com. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. "T.J. Management Limited on Companies House website". Retrieved 25 October 2022.
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