Tony Hatch

Although Tony Hatch had success in various segments of the entertainment industry from the '60s onwards, he'll be best remembered for his work as a producer and songwriter for several British pop and rock stars in the '60s. As a staff producer at Pye Records, Hatch worked with the Searchers, Petula Clark, his wife, Jackie Trent and on several early singles by David Bowie. Hatch's productions boasted a clean and well-arranged sound that, particularly on his collaborations with Petula Clark, displayed some traces of mainstream pop and Broadway. His most significant role in straight British rock music was as producer during the Searchers' 1963-66 commercial prime, a span which saw them ring up all of their big hits. He left his biggest imprint, however, by producing and often writing the big international hits by Petula Clark in the mid-'60s, including "Downtown," "My Love," "I Know a Place," "Don't Sleep in the Subway," and "A Sign of the Times,." These had enough mod swing to sell to a rock audience, but also enough showbizzy horns and theatrical-type piano to bring in older listeners.
Hatch also had a fair amount of success with Jackie Trent, a singer-songwriter who somewhat recalled Petula Clark and hit number one with "Where Are You Now (My Love)." Moody balladeer Scott Walker also had a British hit with Hatch-Trent's "Joanna." Hatch recorded a few duets with Trent and made some instrumental recordings under his own name, which gathered some belated hipness when they were included on some CD compilations geared toward the lounge revival crowd. During the '70s, he and Trent wrote a couple of musicals and some television music, including the theme song to "Neighbors." ~ Richie Unterberger