Michael Philip Batt LVO (born 6 February 1949) is a British songwriter, musician, producer, director, conductor and former Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry. He is best known for creating The Wombles pop act, writing the chart-topping "Bright Eyes", and discovering Katie Melua. He has conducted many of the world's great orchestras, including the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony and Stuttgart Philharmonic in both classical and pop recordings and performances.

Early life and career

Born in Southampton, Batt attended Peter Symonds School, Winchester. His blog refers to his role as cadet Company Sergeant Major at the school .

Batt began his career in pop music at the age of eighteen when he answered an advertisement placed by Ray Williams in the New Musical Express on behalf of Liberty Records; Elton John and Bernie Taupin answered the same advert. Batt initially signed as a songwriter and artist to Liberty, but soon became head of A&R for the label. He signed and produced Tony (TS) McPhee's The Groundhogs and produced their first album, "Scratching The Surface". In 1969 he took over production duties from Noel Walker on McKenna Mendelson Mainline's first release, Stink. Walker and Batt were credited on the album only as "Liberty Staff". He produced and played piano on [Hapshash and the Coloured Coat]'s second album 'Western Flier'. Also in 1969, Batt released as producer/artist a Liberty single, his cover version of The Beatles' "Your Mother Should Know".

"Überlin" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M.. It was released as the second single from their fifteenth and final studio album Collapse into Now on January 25, 2011.

The song's music video was directed by Sam Taylor-Wood and stars her fiancé, actor Aaron Johnson.

Formats and track listings

Charts

References

External links

Berlin is a 2009 documentary series co-developed by the BBC and the Open University. Written and presented by Matt Frei, the series has three 60-minute episodes, each dealing with a different aspect of the history of Germany's capital city.

Episodes

Episode 1 – "Dangerous Ideas"

Using the life and posthumous legacy of Frederick the Great as its central theme, this episode covers some of the most notable political, social and cultural movements to emerge within Berlin over the past two centuries.

Episode 2 – "Ruined Visions"

From the advent of the former Berliner Stadtschloss to the Palast der Republik which for a time took its place, from the creation of the Bauakademie to that of the Olympic Stadium, and from the rise of the Fernsehturm to the rejuvenation of the Reichstag, this episode looks at the varied periods of construction, destruction and renewal seen in the architecture of the city of Berlin.

Episode 3 – "Ich bin ein Berliner"

Turning to look at the legacy which history has placed upon the people of Berlin – and that which Berliners themselves have offered in turn – this episode charts the tumultuous eras which the city has endured, for good or ill, through the course of the 19th and 20th centuries.

This is a list of notable people with the surname Berlin.