Rock's Backpages Library Rock's Backpages

Alan Smith

Alan Smith
1970s NME editor Alan Smith, along with his assistant editor Nick Logan, was given the challenge of turning around the fortunes of the music weekly and to overtake the market leader of the time, Melody Maker. Under Smith's editorship, writers of the underground press, such as Charles Shaar Murray and Nick Kent, were recruited in order to change the writing style of the paper. As Smith's time as editor came to an end, NME was outselling all of its competitors.

List of articles in the library by artist

Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk: Acker Bilk; Kenny Ball: Alan Smith Goes Sailing With Two Of Britain's Top Disc Stars

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, NME, August 1962

Acker's Happy With His Vocal Success ...

Beatles, The: Beatles Almost Threw 'Please Please Me' Away

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, March 1963

THE BEATLES opened a copy of the NME and gazed proudly at the Charts when 'Please Please Me' hit the top recently. It was a ...

Beatles, The: John Lennon: 'A Subconscious Urge To Get Above People'

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, July 1966

Beatle Dreams by Alan Smith ...

Beatles, The: Newcomers To The Charts: Liverpool's Beatles Wrote Their Own Hit

Profile by Alan Smith, NME, October 1962

MAKING THEIR NME Chart debut with 'Love Me Do' this week are the Beatles, a vocal-instrumental group who hail from Liverpool, the birthplace of such ...

Beatles, The: Paul McCartney: 'I Get Caught Out In Street In Underwear!'

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, July 1966

Beatle Dreams by Alan Smith ...

Beatles, The: The Beatles: Let It Be (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, NME, May 1970

NEW LP SHOWS THEY COULDN'T CARE LESSHave Beatles sold out? asks NME's Alan Smith ...

Beatles, The: The Beatles: John Lennon Slams The Critics

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, August 1965

JOHN LENNON shouted for food, then turned to me in the vast, near-deserted auditorium of Blackpool's ABC theatre. In two hours he and the rest ...

Beatles, The: The Beatles: My Broken Tooth — by Paul McCartney

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, June 1966

I HAVE interviewed Paul McCartney travelling in a car at speed. Battling up a crowded flight of stairs. In a smoky billiards room. On the ...

Beatles, The: Throat Sweets Keep Us Going Say Beatles!

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, April 1963

A NEVER-ENDING supply of throat sweets is one of the secrets behind the continued success of the Beatles, who come crashing into the NME Chart ...

Beatles, The: You've Pleased-Pleased Us Say The Beatles

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, February 1963

THINGS ARE beginning to move for the Beatles, the r-and-b styled British group which crashed back into the NME Chart this week at No. 17. ...

Beatles, The, Mike Berry, Brook Brothers, The, Joe Brown, Cliff Richard, Shadows, The, Tornados, The: Cliff Richard, The Beatles, The Tornados, Joe Brown et al: NME Poll Winners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, NME, April 1963

MIKE BERRY burst into the second half to the throbbing beat of 'La Bamba'. Close on its heels came his current release 'My Little Baby' ...

Beatles, The, Paul McCartney: Close-Up on Paul McCartney, a Beatle

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, August 1963

I WENT roof-climbing with the Beatles – up a rickety wooden ladder, over drainpipes, and past the huge chimney-pots of London's plush Washington Hotel. The ...

Beatles, The, Moody Blues, The: The Beatles, The Moody Blues: Odeon, Glasgow

Live Review by Alan Smith, NME, December 1965

Beatles terrific... and rest of bill ...

Bob and Marcia: 'Why Marry? Our Way's Okay' says Bob Smiling While Marcia Frowns

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, March 1970

Reggae stars in London ...

Pat Boone: Why I Became A Beatnik

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, NME, March 1962

PAT BOONE fans who saw last week's NME pictures of him at the Royal Film show won't see him looking so clean-cut in his latest ...

Glen Campbell – Former Beach Boy and Elvis Guitarist!

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, June 1970

IT MAY NOT be generally known that Glen Campbell is a former member of the Beach Boys... that he was once a brilliant session guitarist ...

Cliff Richard, Helen Shapiro, Shadows, The: First It Was Mrs. Kenny Ball, Now Norrie Paramor's Wife Picks A Hit For Her Hubby

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, April 1962

PUZZLING, isn't it, that no one has thought of an award for the wives of hit parade stars — to be presented when they inspire ...

Dave and Ansell Collins: 'Double Barrel' — An Attempt To Create a Different Sound Say Dave and Ansell

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, May 1971

NME's Alan Smith endeavours to interview this week's chart toppers ...

Crosby Stills and Nash: Crosby Stills & Nash: Splitting Holly Graham Forms Group That Isn't

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, December 1968

TO THE MOSCOW Road, London W.2., where Mr. Graham Nash had news and views and also the company of Mr. David Crosby and Mr. Stephen ...

Crystals, The, Phil Spector: The Crystals: New to the Charts — Six Girls With Two Names!

Profile by Alan Smith, NME, December 1962

SO VAST is the American disc scene that quite often an artist or group can get high into the charts without anybody here knowing much ...

Equals, The: 'Black Skins' Could Be Equals' Biggest In The States

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, February 1971

LEADER-SONGWRITER Eddie Grant lives and breathes the Equals, whose fat, pumping 'Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys' single is at No. 19 in this week's NME ...

Equals, The: Equals Stunned By No. 3 Hit

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, June 1968

EVEN THE Equals can't believe an old half-forgotten track like 'Baby Come Back' could have boosted them from nowhere right up into the big money-earning ...

Everly Brothers, The: Phil And Don Everly Put Up A Fight

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, NME, June 1963

NOBODY could say the fortunes of the Everly Brothers have been at their highest just lately, but the boys are determined to put up a ...

Foundations, The : Alan Smith Finds Foundations An Unusual 'Bunch'

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, February 1968

THE BEATLES had it. So did Gerry "Engelbert Humperdinck" Dorsey, the Four Tops and Tom Jones. I'm talking about faith — an artist's faith in ...

Four Tops, The: NME Chart News Woke Up The Four Tops In Record Time!

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, October 1966

THE PHONE rang eleven times in Room 3055 at New York's Hilton Hotel before Lawrence Payton roused himself from his slumbers and dragged it towards ...

Connie Francis: Connie Will Rock For Britain!

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, August 1962

THERE'LL BE no more weepie-weepie songs from Connie Francis once her current hit 'Vacation' leaves the charts... for Connie is to record special future releases ...

Judy Garland: Judy Cried At Herself

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, NME, March 1963

"BRITAIN IS A home from home to me," said Judy Garland recently. "I remember my career was at a low ebb back in 1950 and ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Gerry And The Pacemakers Reveal Their Success Secret: 'We Let Go!'

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, April 1963

"UND JETZT," said Gerry (of the Pacemakers), "ein wünsche für..." The rest of his announcement was drowned by a burst of good-natured jeering from the ...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: New to the Charts: Gerry, Pacemakers from Beatle-land!

Profile by Alan Smith, NME, March 1963

CRASHING into the NME Chart this week comes another beat name from Beatle-land, Liverpool's Gerry and the Pacemakers. Gerry is featured vocalist on 'How Do ...

Lesley Gore: The Singing Rebel

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, June 1963

IT'S THE BEATLES' favourite disc of the moment and it's sung by a 17-year-old American girl who had a genteel upbringing in the sedate neighbourhood ...

George Harrison: All Things Must Pass (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, NME, December 1970

Loads of talent, and yet... ...

John Leyton Phones Alan Smith From Munich To Say: Filming In Germany Is Dangerous

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, July 1962

(But It Could Make Me A Star In America) ...

Eden Kane, Cliff Richard, Shadows, The: Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Eden Kane: Our Friends The Stars Charity Concert, London

Live Review by Alan Smith, NME, May 1962

NEW SHADOW MAKES LONDON DEBUT ...

Billy J. Kramer: Singing Was Forced On To Me!

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, May 1963

BILLY J. KRAMER sat back in his manager's London office and looked thoughtful as the bubbles settled on top of his cup of hot tea. ...

Billy J. Kramer, Beatles, The: Billy J. Kramer Adds To Liverpool Chart Invasion!

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, May 1963

FIRST THE BEATLES, then Gerry and the Pacemakers. Now a new Liverpool name, Billy J. Kramer, looks set to take the NME Chart by storm ...

John Lennon: Imagine (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, NME, September 1971

JOHN SINGS LONG TRACK ABOUT PAUL ...

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Beatles, The, George Harrison: The Beatles: It's Open Warfare

Report by Alan Smith, NME, March 1971

Why Beatles ended in a sordid mudbath.It isn't coincidence that these solo singles have just been released, says Alan Smith ...

John Lennon, Yoko Ono: John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Doing The Rounds For Publicity

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, July 1971

He knows it, I know it – the next Lennon album is the greatest says Alan Smith ...

Ketty Lester: New to the Charts: Ketty Lester Sang 'As Herself' To Notch Hit

Profile by Alan Smith, NME, April 1962

A SUDDEN decision to sing "in my own style" has brought instant success for chart newcomer Ketty Lester, whose 'Love Letters' stands at No. 27. ...

Little Eva: Alan Smith Says 'Welcome, Little Eva'

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, February 1963

THE GIRL who put a new twist into the twist – Little Eva – arrives in London today (Friday) for her first tour of Britain. ...

George Martin, Beatles, The: The Beatles: Ringo Played Cards As Others Sang 'Paperback'!

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, June 1966

...reveals GEORGE MARTIN, the Beatles' recording manager, in an interview with Alan Smith. ...

Paul McCartney: Paul And Linda McCartney: Ram (Apple)

Review by Alan Smith, NME, May 1971

Alan Smith assesses the McCartney Ram album and sums up with... PAUL, WHAT A MESS YOU'VE MADE OF IT! ...

McCoys, The: The McCoys: McCoys Are America's Wildest Group

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, NME, September 1965

...says ALAN SMITH ...

Rick Nelson: Ricky Nelson: Now Ricky's Name Change Is Official!

Profile and Interview by Alan Smith, NME, April 1962

'YOUNG WORLD' is probably the last disc by Ricky Nelson you'll see in the NME Charts – but don't panic. At 21 Ricky has no ...

Anthony Newley: I'm Worried About My Discs: I Still Need Hits admits Tony Newley

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, July 1962

ANTHONY NEWLEY smoothed out a crease in the trousers of his tuxedo suit, sipped from a large mug of Shepperton film studio tea and looked ...

Yoko Ono, John Lennon, Paul McCartney: At Home With The Lennons, Part 2

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, August 1971

In which
 John burns down the Beatles 'cause he loves 'em ...

Elvis Presley: Paradise Hawaiian Style

Film/DVD Review by Alan Smith, NME, July 1966

Presley's usual (Hawaiian) style ...

Elvis Presley: Elvis, Usually Surrounded By Girls, Is Now Encircled By Controversy

Report by Alan Smith, NME, July 1966

SOME Of Elvis' staunchest British fans want to boil me in oil again. Another suggests I lower myself into a spin-dryer and turn it on. ...

Procol Harum: I Knew Procol Would Be A Success

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, July 1967

says KEITH REID the man who created the group – to ALAN SMITH ...

Otis Redding: Otis New Hit His Greatest Tribute

Comment by Alan Smith, NME, March 1968

DURING HIS all-too-brief lifetime, Otis Redding was respected by the world of music — and virtually ignored in his own home town of Macon, Georgia. ...

Searchers, The: The Searchers: Searchers Paid £40 To Make LP

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, July 1963

THE SEARCHERS might not be in the NME Top Ten this week – making an amazing jump from No. 24 to No. 5! – if ...

Tommy Steele, Tornados, The: Alan Smith On Film Sets With The Tornados and Tommy Steele

Report and Interview by Alan Smith, NME, February 1963

A HAUNTING theme-tune echoed across the stage of a dingy London theatre on Tuesday morning, as film cameras turned on that "Globetrotting" hit group, the ...

Andy Williams Explains Why He Didn't Do A Palladium TV

Interview by Alan Smith, NME, May 1963

ANDY WILLIAMS settled back into a deep armchair at London's Dorchester Hotel. "I couldn't appear on Sunday Night At The Palladium," he said, "because of ...

back to LIBRARY

COPYRIGHT NOTICE