Most record collectors and music lovers of the baby boom generation fondly remember some of the top forty hits created by such innovative producers like Phil Spector, Bob Crewe and Eddie Kramer during the 1960s. Another major talent also emerged in England during this time period who took a unique, hands-on approach to producing records – Joe Meek. With an arsenal of sound effects and recording devices he kept secret from everyone, Meek had a meteoric rise and fall between 1961 through 1967 but is still famous today for “Telstar,” performed by The Tornadoes. It was a monster hit in the U.K. and became the number one single in the U.S. on Billboard’s top 40 chart during the week of December 22, 1962. As a producer, Meek was not a one-hit wonder and had other best-selling singles such as “Johnny Remember Me,” a ghost ballad performed by actor turned pop star John Leyton, and “Have I the Right?” by the Honeycombs. Unfortunately, personal problems, poor financial management and competition with major labels contributed to his downfall (he committed suicide in February 1967). But a fascinating window into his life and career was produced for the Arena documentary series for the BBC in 1991 entitled The Very Strange Story of the Legendary Joe Meek.