Episode 213: Counting Down Bill Szymczky

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William Szymczyk was born in Muskegon, Michigan on February 13, 1943. Szymczyk’s future career as a producer had its origin in the U.S. Navy where he took a course in radio and TV production. When a staff producer position opened up at ABC Records, he took it and after hearing B. B. King, Bill decided he had to produce an album by the blues master.
After a shaky start in California, due to a Los Angeles earthquake, he decided to move to Colorado and start a label with Larry Ray. During this time he began working with Joe Walsh, J. Geils, and other bands. Eventually, Bill went on to produce albums by Jay Ferguson of Spirit and Joe Joe Gun, The Eagles, Edgar Winter, Wishbone Ash, Elvin Bishop, Santana, and others. Bill officially retired in 1990, though he re-emerged in the mid 2,000s to work on a limited amount of albums and has over 675 records on his discography. (Thanks to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame for the resource material)
10 Arlo Guthrie - 1968 Won`t Be Long,
09 B. B. King - 1970 Hummingbird,
08 The Mamas and The Papas - 1971 Creeque Alley,
07 J. Geils Band - 1971 The Usual Place,
06 Edgar Winter Group -1972 Free Ride,
05 Rick Derringer- 1973 Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,
04 Elvin Bishop - 1975 Struttin' My Stuff,
03 Who - 1980 You Better You Bet,
02 California Raisins (Buddy Miles vox) - 1988 Silent Night,
01 Al Kooper (Bill Szymczyk -credited with background vocals) - 1988 Snowblind
An extra tune as usual: Michael Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Johnny Winter - It's My Own Fault (2003 remix from the Fillmore West Album)