Mike Smith

From BeatlesWiki

Mike Smith was the Artist & Repertoire (A&R) manager for Decca Records in London, England who originally held a recording audition with the Beatles. Brian Epstein had become the Beatles manager when he asked a Liverpool writer and record reviewer for the Liverpool Echo newspaper to consider the Beatles to Decca Records. Tony Barrow, ('Disker' to his readers) called his contacts at Decca Records in London and informed them of the Beatles and their importance on Merseyside, Epstein being a successful businessman there.

Mike Smith came to Liverpool late in 1961 to personally hear the Beatles in a Cavern Club live performance. He liked what he heard well enough to offer to audition the band for Decca records after the New Year. And so it was, on the first of January 1962 the Beatles arrived at Decca Studios in West Hampstead with fifteen songs to perform for Smith. The repertoire included two original compositions, "Love Of The Loved" and "Hello Little Girl".

Mike Smith himself was eager to sign the Beatles to a recording contract upon the approval of his superiors at Decca. However, after a good listening by the powers that be, namely management represented by Dick Rowe, Recording Manager, Decca Records, London. His decision, one that would haunt his reputation for years to come is one of the great blunders in music history. To his credit, Dick Rowe did allow the music world to hear the work of his favorite of the day, 'Brian Poole and the Tremoloes'.

In a twist of fate, the Beatles would later recommend their new friends in London to Decca Records as a consolation - The Rolling Stones! - signing a Decca recording contract in 1963.