Roger Béchirian


Roger Béchirian is an English engineer and record producer. Béchirian was a key player in the British new wave scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, best known for his work with Nick Lowe, Lene Lovich, Paul Carrack, Elvis Costello, The Undertones, Dave Edmunds, The Monkees, the Flamin' Groovies, and Squeeze. He was also a member of the pseudonymous new wave group Blanket of Secrecy, which issued one album in 1982. More recently, Béchirian has worked with the Trashcan Sinatras and Bell X1.

Life and career

He became renowned for his mixing work for Stiff Records, which paved the way for his first co-produced hit, Lene Lovich's "Lucky Number". He is widely credited for moulding the sound of some of that period’s hitmakers including Elvis Costello, The Undertones, and Squeeze.
Building on his early successes Béchirian spent his time working between the UK and the US, developing and producing new and established artists for major and independent label releases. By the beginning of the new millennium he added management to his skill set. He discovered and developed Tom McRae signing him to db/BMG/Arista Records, whose emergence led to a Q Award and nominations for a Mercury Prize, and a Brit Award. At the same time he managed Irish four-piece Bell X1, signing them to Island/Universal in London, garnering four Choice Music Prize 'Irish Album of the Year' nominations and producing their multi-platinum album, Flock.

Discography overview

Note: engineered, mixed, co-produced, produced
Elvis Costello: e-m-cp-p
albums:My Aim Is True This Years ModelArmed ForcesGet Happy!!Trust
singles:
Squeeze: e-m-p
albums:East Side Story
singles:
The Undertones: e-m-p
albums:The UndertonesHypnotisedPositive Touch
singles:
Nick Lowe: e-m-cp-p
albums:Jesus of CoolNick the KnifeThe Abominable Showman
singles:
Graham Parker: e-m
albums:Howlin' WindHeat TreatmentStick to Me
Twist: e-m-cp
albums:This Is Your Life
singles:
  • "This Is Your Life"
  • "Ads"
The Rumour: e-m-cp
albums:Frogs Sprouts Clogs and Krauts
singles:
  • "Emotional Traffic"
  • "Frozen Years"
  • "Tired of Waiting"
The Jam: e
Lene Lovich: e-m-p
albums:StatelessFlex
singles:
Wang Chung: e-m-p
albums:Huang Chung
singles:
  • "Hold Back the Tears"
  • "China"
  • "Ti Na Na"
Carlene Carter: e-m-p-cp
albums:Carlene CarterC'est C BonBlue Nun
singles:
  • "When You Comin' Back"
  • "Too Many Teardrops"
  • "Love Like A Glove"
  • "Meant It for a Minute"
Dave Edmunds: e-m
albums:Tracks on Wax 4Repeat When Necessary
singles:
The Trash Can Sinatras: e-m-p
albums:Cake
singles:
Bell X1: m-p
albums:Music in MouthFlockBlue Lights on the Runway
singles:
  • "Man on Mir"
  • "White Water Song"
  • "Tongue"
  • "Snakes and Snakes"
  • "Alphabet Soup"
  • "Eve, the Apple of My Eye"
  • "Next to You"
  • "Bigger Than Me"
  • "Flame"
  • "Rocky Took a Lover"
  • "The Great Defector"-m
  • "The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella"-m
Tom McRae: cp-m
albums:Tom McRae
singles:
  • "You Cut Her Hair"
  • "Walking to Hawaii" rm
Flamin' Groovies: e-m-cpJumpin' in the Night
The Attractions: e-m-pMad About the Wrong Boy
The Shakin' Pyramids: e-m-pCelts and Cobras
The Monkees: e-m-pPool It!
The dB's: e-m-p
  • "Judy"
Tony Koklin: e-m-p
  • Time Chaser
Robert Ellis Orrall: e-m-p
  • Special Pain
  • Walking Thru Landmines
Rockpile: e-mPile Of Rocks
The Photos: e-m-pThe Photos
Siouxsie and the Banshees: e-m
  • "New Skin"
Blanket of Secrecy: e-m-pEars Have Walls
The Passion Puppets: e-m-p
  • "Like Dust"
Dirty Looks: e-mDirty Looks
The Pretenders: e-m
Stewart Agnew Band: e-m-pStewart Agnew
Bear Driver: cp
  • "Wolves"
e and ae: