Roy Thomas Baker, Producer for Queen, Journey, Dead at 78
Roy Thomas Baker, Legendary Queen, Cars & Journey Producer, Dead at 78
Roy Thomas Baker, the legendary English record producer known for his work with bands like the Cars, Journey and Queen, has died at the age of 78. Baker died on April 12 at his home in Lake Havasu City, AZ, according to his publicist.
According to the press release, Baker’s family only recently revealed the producer’s passing. As of Wednesday, no cause of death was given.
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Born in London, Baker’s music career began as a teenager, working at Decca Studios by 14. He later worked at Trident Studios as an engineer for famed Elton John producer Gus Dudgeon and David Bowie producer Tony Visconti. As an engineer, he worked on massive hits such as Free‘s All Right Now and T. Rex‘s Bang a Gong (Get It On).
Baker formed a close relationship with Queen during the band’s earlier years, producing much of their 1973 debut album, Queen, along with 1974’s Queen II, 1975’s Night at the Opera and 1978’s Jazz. He produced Queen’s biggest hit, Bohemian Rhapsody.
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At the end of the 1970s, Baker was working with the Cars on their first two albums; 1978’s The Cars and 1979’s Candy-O. He also produced Journey’s first two albums with Steve Perry; 1978’s Infinity and 1979’s Evolution.
In the 1980s he continued working with the Cars and started producing for Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Mötley Crüe and Ozzy Osbourne. He’d later be promoted to Elektra Records‘ A&R department, where he’d help sign acts like Metallica to the label. His last production credit is on Yes‘ 2014 album, Heaven & Earth.
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Baker’s Notable Discography
As an engineer:
- Free – Fire and Water (1970)
- T. Rex – T. Rex (1970)
- Nazareth – Nazareth (1971)
- T. Rex – Electric Warrior (1971)
As a producer:
- Nazareth – Exercises (1972)
- Queen – Queen (1973)
- Queen – Queen II (1974)
- Queen – Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
- Queen – Night at the Opera (1975)
- Pilot – Morin Heights (1976)
- The Cars – The Cars (1978)
- Journey – Infinity (1978)
- Queen – Jazz (1978)
- The Cars – Candy-O (1979)
- Foreigner – Head Games (1979)
- Journey – Evolution (1979)
- Alice Cooper – Flush the Fashion (1980)
- The Cars – Panorama (1980)
- The Cars – Shake It Up (1981)
- Cheap Trick – One on One (1982)
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High: Music from the Motion Picture (1982)
- Heavy Metal: Music from the Motion Picture (1982)
- Mötley Crüe – Too Fast for Love [Elektra Remix] (1982)
- Slade – You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)
- Ozzy Osbourne – No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
- The Stranglers – 10 (1989)
- Wayne’s World: Music from the Motion Picture (1992)
- The Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist (2007)
- Transformers: The Album (2007)
- Yes – Heaven & Earth (2014)
