Heinz & Joe Meek - The Heinz Sessions, Vol. 1: Joe Meek's Tea Chest Tapes (2022) Hi-Res

The second release from Joe Meek’s legendary tea chest tapes! Previously unheard versions, outtakes and demos! All in superb, previously unheard clarity, taken directly from joe meek’s own tape archive. Tape work and mastering by Martin Nicholls and Alan Wilson.

Having been part of The Tornados (and their smash hit ‘Telstar’), Heinz was quickly singled out for solo stardom by Joe Meek, whose eye he had caught. Tailored by Meek in the classic pop impresario tradition, usually with material written expressly for him, Heinz and his remarkable bouffant blond hairstyle set out to take the world by storm in 1963, just as Beatlemania changed the rules entirely.

Cherry Red present selected highlights from the many hours of recording Joe Meek dedicated to his protégé between 1963 and 1966, including the hit single ‘Just Like Eddie’ and classic album tracks, alongside the unreleased ‘Voices In The Wind’.

Featuring early takes, guide tracks and guitar sessions, Side One provides a fascinating insight into the hard work Meek was prepared to invest in his pet project.

Side Two, on the other hand, takes the listener back to the beginning of the process, with three of Joe Meek’s home demos and a Dave Adams guide track, all of which were later re-recorded by Heinz.

Hand-picked for their unprecedented degree of insight into Meek’s working processes and his relationship with Heinz, and presented with track-by-track notes from ‘Thunderbolt’ magazine’s Rob Bradford, The Heinz Sessions Vol 1 is a must-hear for fans of Meek and Heinz, British pop historians and enthusiasts, and anybody with an interest in the evolution of recording techniques and the mysterious alchemy that goes on behind those studio doors.