One of the greatest producers of music to ever grace our planet turns 80 today.
Ted Templeman is a name that, if you don’t know it, you should. Every classic Doobie Brothers song, China Grove, Long Train Runnin’, Listen to the Music, Rockin’ down the Highway, Jesus Is Just Alright, Without You, Takin’ It to the Streets, What a Fool Believes, Black Water: produced by Ted. All those classic Van Halen songs, Running with the Devil, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love, Ice Cream Man, Dance the Night Away, Beautiful Girls, And the Cradle Will Rock, Everybody Wants Some, Unchained, Jump, Panama, I’ll Wait: produced by Ted. The classic first Montrose album: produced by Ted. The great Tupelo Honey album by Van Morrison (must have liked artists named Van) and two of my favorite Little Feat albums, Sailin’ Shoes and Time Loves a Hero: produced by Ted.
Finally, we might never have heard the astonishing Eruption instrumental from EVH if not for Ted. Eddie was messing around warming up one day after Ted had been brought in to mold the young band and Ted said, “What’s that?!?” Eddie said it was just something he warmed up with. Ted said, “Roll tape,” and we have him to thank for it. The guy had an amazing ear and eye (he signed Van Halen to Warner Brothers) for talent.
I have him to thank for two of the best concerts I’ve seen that, coincidentally, also occurred on October 24, albeit six years apart. On October 24, 1975, I saw The Outlaws and Frampton open for the Doobie Brothers and on October 24, 1981, I saw Van Halen open for the Stones. It’s only rock and roll but I love it.
