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'''Bill{{Short Leader''' was an American-description|English recording engineer and(born producer.1929)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

Bill Leader was born in New York in the late 1920s, of British parents. His parents returned to the UK while he was still young. In the 1960's he lived in Camden. In 1969, together with his wife he set up two record labels, [[Leader Records|Leader]] and [[Trailer Records|Trailer]]. The Leader label was intended for recordings like those made by Alan Lomax, with extensive academic liner notes. The Trailer label was the revival scene. A recent compilation of Trailer tracks is "Never The Same - Leave-Taking From the British Folk Revival 1970 - 1977", in which some biographical details are given. He produced records for [[Topic Records|Topic]] and [[Transatlantic Records|Transatlantic]], before setting up his own labels. He is particularly associated with the British folk music revival of the 1960s and 1970s, producing records by [[Davey Graham]], [[Bert Jansch]], [[John Renbourn]] and others.

{{Infobox person

The early days of recording folk artists in England were characterised by low budgets and improvised technology. John Renbourn described the early recordings of himself and Bert Jansch, in which Leader proceeded by "setting up the tape machine in the sink and having us play in the broom cupboard".

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1929|12|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = [[New Jersey]], United States

| nationality = United Kingdom

| occupation = [[Recording engineer]]<br>[[Record Producer]]

| years_active = Late 1950s–2013

| employer = [[Topic Records]]<br>[[Transatlantic Records]]

}}

'''Bill Leader''' (born 26 December 1929) is an English recording engineer and [[record producer]]. He is particularly associated with the British [[folk music]] revival of the 1960s and 1970s, producing records by [[Paddy Tunney]], [[Davey Graham]], [[Bert Jansch]], [[John Renbourn]], [[Frank Harte]] and many others.<ref name="BLdiscogs">{{cite web

In later years, Leader went on to become a professor in the Audio Department at [[Salford University]].

|url = https://www.discogs.com/artist/424420-Bill-Leader?limit=500&page=1

|title = ''Bill Leader Discography''

|website = discogs.com

|accessdate= 13 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="BLdyversemusic">{{cite web

|url = http://www.dyversemusic.com/2013/01/bill-leader-discography.html

|title = ''Bill Leader Discography''

|website = dyversemusic.com

|accessdate= 13 May 2016}}</ref>

==Biography==

Leader was born in [[New Jersey]], [[United States of America]], of British parents. His parents returned to the UK while he was still young and he was brought up in [[Dagenham]], [[Mottingham]] and [[Shipley, West Yorkshire|Shipley]]. Even as a child, he wanted to be a recording engineer and he moved back to London in 1955 to work in a film library at the Polish Embassy, with the intention of working in the film industry.<ref>Colin Harper, Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival, Bloomsbury, 2006. {{ISBN|0-7475-8725-6}}. p.114</ref> He began working for [[Topic Records]] and particularly recorded some of the Irish folk musicians who were in London in the late 1950s, as well as releasing a [[Rambling Jack Elliott]] record for Topic. To supplement the meagre income from his recording work, he took a job in Collett's record shop (specialising in folk, blues and jazz records) in [[Oxford Street]], London. Through his work in the shop, he met [[Nathan Joseph]] who had set up [[Transatlantic Records]] and, from 1962, began working with him, part-time, as a producer.<ref>Colin Harper, ''Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival'', Bloomsbury, 2006. {{ISBN|0-7475-8725-6}}. p.115</ref>

The early days of recording folk artists in England were characterised by low budgets and improvised technology. In the 1960s, Leader lived in Camden and, using a semi-professional Revox tape recorder, recorded a number of artists in his own flat, sound-proofing the room with blankets and egg boxes.<ref>Colin Harper, ''Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival'', Bloomsbury, 2006. {{ISBN|0-7475-8725-6}}. p.146</ref> John Renbourn described the early recordings of himself and Bert Jansch, in which Leader proceeded by "setting up the tape machine in the sink and having us play in the broom cupboard".<ref>Sleeve notes from ''The Definitive Transatlantic Collection''.</ref>

In 1969, together with his second wife, Helen, he set up two record labels: [[Leader Records (UK)|Leader]] and Trailer Records. The Leader label was intended for recordings like those made by [[Alan Lomax]], with extensive academic liner notes. The Trailer label was focused on the revival scene. A recent compilation of Trailer tracks is ''Never The Same – Leave-Taking From the British Folk Revival 1970–1977'', in which some biographical details are given.

Leader was in charge of the Audio Department at the [[University of Salford]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 2009, the accompanying book to the Topic Records 70 year anniversary boxed set ''[[Three Score and Ten]]'' provides Leader's biography.<ref name = "Three Score and Ten Accompanying Book">{{Cite web|url=https://www.topicrecords.co.uk/category/three-score-ten/|title=THREE SCORE & TEN – Topic Records|website=Topicrecords.co.uk|accessdate=14 August 2020}}</ref>{{rp|14}} The book lists classic albums, including some engineered or produced by Leader such as ''Her Mantle So Green'' (with Ewan MacColl),<ref name = "Three Score and Ten Accompanying Book" />{{rp|16}} ''[[The Iron Muse]]''<ref name = "Three Score and Ten Accompanying Book" />{{rp|14}} and ''Frost And Fire'' (both with A.L. Lloyd), and ''Paddy In The Smoke''.<ref name = "Three Score and Ten Accompanying Book" />{{rp|38}}

Leader was honoured with a "Good Tradition" award, for his contributions to continuing the tradition of folk music, at the 2012 [[BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards]] at The Lowry theatre in Salford on 8 February 2012.<ref name="BLGT2012">{{cite web

|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16954049

|title = BBC News Entertainment & Arts 8th Feb 2012

|website =Bbc.co.uk

|accessdate= 13 May 2016}}</ref>

==Discography==

* ''[[Woody Guthrie's Blues]]'' (1955) – Rambling Jack Elliott<ref name="RJEWGB">{{cite book

===Credited as producer===

| last = Reineke

*''3/4 A.D.'' (1962) &ndash; [[Alexis Korner]] & [[Davey Graham]]

| first = Hank

*''Bert Jansch'' (1965) &ndash; [[Bert Jansch]]

| year = 2010

*''Jack Orion'' (1966) &ndash; [[Bert Jansch]]

| title = Ramblin' Jack Elliott: The Never-Ending Highway

*''The watersons'' (1966) &ndash; [[The Watersons]]

| ___location = Lanham, Maryland

*''The Young Tradition'' (1966) &ndash; [[The Young Tradition]]

| publisher = Scarecrow Press

*''So Cheerfully Round'' (1967) &ndash; [[The Young Tradition]]

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iciAYIIRG5YC&pg=PA66&dq=Ramblin+Jack+Elliott+Woody+Guthrie's+Blues+Bill+Leader+October+1955#q=Ramblin%20Jack%20Elliott%20Woody%20Guthrie's%20Blues%20Bill%20Leader%20October%201955

*''Morning Stands On Tiptoe: (1967) [[ Dave and Toni Arthur]]

| isbn= 978-0810-87256-1}}</ref>{{rp|65–66}}

"''Mason's Apron'' (1967) &ndash; [[The Dubliners]]

* ''Her Mantle So Green - Irish Street Songs And Fiddle Tunes'' (1965) – [[Margaret Barry]] & [[Michael Gorman (musician)|Michael Gorman]]. [Note: Recorded By – Bill Leader in 1955-1957 (tracks: A1, A3, A6, B1, B3 to B6), Ewan MacColl in 1965 (tracks: A2, A4, A5, B2)]

*''Mainly Norfolk'' (1968) &ndash; [[Peter Bellamy]]

*''MattJohn McGinnGibbon's Disc'' (19681957) &ndash;– [[MattJohn McGinn]]Gibbon

*''Peggy Seeger'' (1957) – [[Peggy Seeger]]

*''Humble Beginnings: The Complete Transatlantic Recordings, 1969-74'' &ndash; [[Billy Connolly]]

* ''Nancy Whiskey Sings'' (1957) – [[Nancy Whiskey]]<ref name="NWSings">{{cite web

*''Humblebums'' (1969) &ndash; [[Humblebums]]

|url = https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/nancywhiskey.html

*''Fair England’s Shore'' (1969) &ndash; [[Peter Bellamy]]

|title = ''Nancy Whiskey Sings''

*''The Lark In the Morning'' (1969) [[Dave and Toni Arthur with Barry Dransfield]]

|website =Mainlynorfolk.info

*''Young Hunting'' (1970) &ndash; [[Tony Rose]]

|accessdate= 13 May 2016}}</ref>

*''Cruel Sister'' (1970) &ndash; [[Pentangle]]

*''Hearken3/4 to the Witches RuneA.D.'' (19701962) – [[DaveAlexis andKorner]] Toni& [[Davey ArthurGraham]]

*''[[The Iron Muse|The Iron Muse (A Panorama of Industrial Folk Songs)]]'' (1963) – compiled by [[A. L. Lloyd]] with [[Anne Briggs]], Bob Davenport, [[Ray Fisher (singer)|Ray Fisher]], [[Louis Killen]], [[Matt McGinn (Scottish songwriter)|Matt McGinn]] and The Celebrated Working Man's Band

*''New Humblebums'' (1970) &ndash; [[Humblebums]]

*''Mr.Bert FoxJansch'' (19701965) &ndash;– [[Mr.Bert FoxJansch]]

*''ReflectionA Wild Bees Nest'' (19711965) &ndash;– [[PentanglePaddy Tunney]]

*''Jack Orion'' (1966) – Bert Jansch

*''He Came From the Mountains'' &ndash; Bob & Carole Pegg

*''RosemaryThe LaneIrish Edge'' (19711965) &ndash;– [[BertPaddy JanschTunney]]

*''TirThe Na NogWatersons'' (19711966) &ndash;– [[Tír na nÓg (band)|Tír naThe nÓgWatersons]]

*''TearThe andYoung a SmileTradition'' (19721966) &ndash;– [[TírThe naYoung nÓg (band)|Tír na nÓgTradition]]

*''Ireland Her Own'' (1965) – [[Paddy Tunney]] and Arthur Kearney, with Joe Tunney and Frank Kelly

*''Prosperous'' (1972) &ndash; [[Christy Moore]]

*''ASo LancashireCheerfully LadRound'' (19721967) &ndash;– [[MikeThe Harding]]Young Tradition

*''BrightMorning PhoebusStands On Tiptoe'' (19721967) &ndash; [[MikeDave and LalToni WatersonArthur]]

*''No MoreMason's ForeverApron'' (19721967) &ndash;– [[DickThe GaughanDubliners]]

*''TheMainly Boys of the LoughNorfolk'' (19731968) &ndash;– [[ThePeter Boys of the LoughBellamy]]

*''Matt McGinn'' (1968) – [[Matt McGinn (Scottish songwriter)|Matt McGinn]]

*''Tell It Like It Was'' (1975) &ndash; [[Peter Bellamy]]

*''Humble Beginnings: The Complete Transatlantic Recordings, 1969–74'' – [[Billy Connolly]]

*''The Barrack Room Ballads of Rudyard Kipling'' (1976) &ndash; [[Peter Bellamy]]

*''KistThe O'GoldHumblebums'' (19771969) &ndash;– [[DickThe GaughanHumblebums]]

*''TheFair Noah's ArkEngland’s TrapShore'' (19771969) &ndash;– [[NicPeter Jones]]Bellamy

*''The Lark In the Morning'' (1969) Dave and Toni Arthur with [[Barry Dransfield]]

*''Gerry Rafferty'' (1978) &ndash; [[Gerry Rafferty]]

*''Young Hunting'' (1970) – Tony Rose

*''From The Devil To A Stranger '' (1978) [[Nic Jones]]

*''Cruel Sister'' (1970) – [[Pentangle (band)|Pentangle]]

*''[[Hearken to the Witches Rune]]'' (1970) Dave and Toni Arthur

*''New Humblebums'' (1970) – [[The Humblebums]]

*''Mr. Fox'' (1970) – [[Mr. Fox]]

*''Reflection'' (1971) – Pentangle

*''He Came From the Mountains'' – Bob & Carole Pegg

*''Rosemary Lane'' (1971) – Bert Jansch

*''Tir Na Nóg'' (1971) – [[Tír na nÓg (band)|Tír na nÓg]]

*''Tear and a Smile'' (1972) – Tír na nÓg

*''Prosperous'' (1972) – [[Christy Moore]]

*''A Lancashire Lad'' (1972) – [[Mike Harding]]

*''Bright Phoebus'' (1972) – [[The Watersons|Mike and Lal Waterson]]

*''No More Forever'' (1972) – [[Dick Gaughan]]

*''The Boys of the Lough'' (1973) – [[The Boys of the Lough]]

*''Swan Arcade'' (1973) – [[Swan Arcade]]

*''Tell It Like It Was'' (1975) – Peter Bellamy

*''The Barrack Room Ballads of Rudyard Kipling'' (1976) – Peter Bellamy

*''Kist O'Gold'' (1977) – Dick Gaughan

*''The Noah's Ark Trap'' (1977) – [[Nic Jones]]

*''Gerry Rafferty'' (1978) – [[Gerry Rafferty]]

*''From The Devil To A Stranger '' (1978) Nic Jones

*''Oddfellows''; The Oddfellows (2011)

*''Shreds''; Ian Reynolds (2012)

*''That Was Then This Is Now'' (2013) – [[Hunter Muskett]]

===Credited as engineer===

*''Jack Takes the Floor'' (1958) &ndash;– [[Ramblin' Jack Elliott]]

*''Chorus from the Gallows'' (1959) &ndash;– [[Ewan MacColl]]

*''Red Hot from Alex'' (1964) &ndash;– [[Alexis Korner]]

*''Bert and John'' (1966) &ndash;– [[Bert Jansch]] & [[John Renbourn]]

*''Another Monday'' (1967) &ndash;– [[John Renbourn]]

*''Sweet Primeroses'' (1967) &ndash;– [[Shirley Collins]]

*''Rags, Reels & Airs'' (1967) &ndash;– [[Dave Swarbrick]]

*''True Hearted Girl'' (1977) &ndash;– [[The Watersons]]

*''Her Mantle So Green'' &ndash;– [[Margaret Barry]] & [[Michael Gorman (musician)|Michael Gorman]]

===Other credits===

*''Across the Hills'' (1964) – [[Ian Campbell (folk artist)|Ian Campbell]] (credited as Supervisor)

*''Ramblin' Jack Elliott Lost Topic Tapes: Cowes Harbour 1957'' – Ramblin' Jack Elliott (credited as Assistant Engineer)

*''Ramblin' Jack Elliott Lost Topic Tapes: Isle of Wight 1957'' – Ramblin' Jack Elliott (credited as Assistant Engineer)

===Leader/Trailer labels listing===

[http://folkopedia.efdss.org/Leader_Records A full listing of titles on the Leader and Trailer labels] is in preparation on [http://folkopedia.efdss.org/ Folkopedia]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

*''Across the Hills'' (1964) &ndash; [[Ian Campbell (folk artist)|Ian Campbell]] (credited as Supervisor)

*''Ramblin' Jack Elliott Lost Topic Tapes: Cowes Harbour 1957'' &ndash; [[Ramblin' Jack Elliott]] (credited as Assistant Engineer)

*''Ramblin' Jack Elliott Lost Topic Tapes: Isle of Wight 1957'' &ndash; [[Ramblin' Jack Elliott]] (credited as Assistant Engineer)

{{music-producer-stub}}

==Bibliography==

[[Category:Record producers|Leader, Bill]]

Butler, Mike (2021) ''Sounding the Century: Bill Leader & Co.: Volume 1 – Glimpses of Far Off Things: 1855-1956'' {{ISBN|978-1800460768}}

[[Category:Academics of the University of Salford|Leader, Bill]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leader, Bill}}

[[Category:English record producers]]

[[Category:Academics of the University of Salford]]

[[Category:1929 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]