Talk:Mike Batt

"Bright Eyes" criticized for being "trite and overly sentimental"?
"Arguably his most famous success is Watership Down (including music and lyrics to Art Garfunkel's international number one single, "Bright Eyes", which won "Best Film Song or Music" one of his five Ivor Novello Awards. Criticized for being trite and overly sentimental, the song remains a radio favourite."

Unless someone can cite a source for this statement, I think it needs to be editted out, as it seems to be more of an opinion. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.103.220.104 (talk) 18:46, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

Hi. I'm sure someone else will edit this or pick this up properly, but Mike Batt's two most famous things he did are The Wombles (which is covered in this article) and the other is the music for Watership Down by Richard Adams, most famously the song "Bright Eyes" sung by Art Garfunkel. I'm sure someone will create and format something properly for this?

Also, IMDB says his birth date is 2nd Feb 1950 not 6th Feb 1949. I don't know which is right, but it might need checking to make sure the Wikipedia one is correct?

If someone is rewriting this article, feel free to contact me at gavin_orr@yahoo.com if you want any further info. Cheers! G
 * I see the Discog bio gives his birthdate as February 06, 1950; the mystery continues... However I have taken their view of his full name. Carbonix (talk) 01:05, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

As I recall, the theme to the original "Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings" was written by a Mike Batt. I've always wondered if it's this Mike Batt.

IMDB backs me up on the name at least... NB: It was! (M Batt comment)



- rAS

Rewrite needed
I stumbled upon this article and oh wow does it ever need a rewrite. I have never heard of this guy before, so I don't feel qualified to do a full rewrite. Please, though, someone who knows something about this man fix it. Be bolder than me! Goyston talk, contribs, play 02:39, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

This article has missed an important album (that is, curiously enough, missing from Mike Batt's own website - from whence much of this original post was referenced, as noted) called "Six Days in Berlin." It is a concept album, never released on CD (as far as I know), but only on vinyl. It was released in 1981.

No mention of Caravans ? I'd argue a glaring omission. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jatrius (talk • contribs) 12:55, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

I'd agree with the above, there does need to be a re-write, there are plenty of details of the life of this fascinating man that are barely, if at all mentioned, and ought to be expanded on if possible. —Preceding unsigned comment added by NinjaPlonker (talk • contribs) 06:57, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Page edited to include synth player Pam Ferris from the 2008 tour. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sacchuras (talk • contribs) 00:25, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

I've edited to page to include an Infobox and photograph. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Engastrimuthos (talk • contribs) 02:10, 6 July 2008 (UTC)

NOTE FROM MIKE BATT (THE SUBJECT OF THE ARTICLE) : HOW CAN SOMEBODY WHO HAS SELF-ADMITTEDLY "NEVER HEARD OF (ME) THIS GUY BEFORE" DEMAND THAT THE ARTCLE BE REWRITTEN?

I HAVE RECENTLY CHECKED IT FOR "SUBJECTIVE" ENTRIES WHICH "DO NOT IMPART REAL INFORMATION" AND CAN"T FIND ANY. RECENTLY SOMEONE HAS GONE THROUGH ADDING "CITATION NEEDED" ALMOST EVERYWHERE_ EVEN SEEMINGLY QUESTIONING THE EXISTENCE OF MY RECENT BOOK "THE CHRONICLES OF DON'T BE SO RIDICULOUS VALLEY" _ AFTER I GAVE THE DATE < PUBLISHER> TITLE AND ISBN NUMBER. IS THERE ANY WAY TO POLICE THIS CARPET_BLITZING OF A PAGE WITH "CITATION NEEDED" TAGS EVEN WHEN THERE ARE INDEED CITATIONS GIVEN> LASTLY (FOR NOW) WHY IS THE CLAIM OF AN ALBUM BEING RELEASED ON SONY RECORDS ON A CERTAIN DATE EVEN QUESTIONED? THE OBVIOUS CITATION IS TO SAY" MUSIC WEEK LISTINGS AND SONY CATALOGUE RECORDS"- IE IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. IT SEEMS SUCH A WASTE OF TIME. I AM NOT BEING AGGRESSIVE HERE _ I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY THE SITE HAS BEEN BLITZED BY THESE "CITATION NEEDED TAGS" (AND WHO ADDED THEM) IN THE LAST MONTH. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7F:DC3B:E500:4D49:F641:C1AA:3D8F (talk) 11:56, 21 March 2020 (UTC)

Why are the wombles?
Not mentioned as being novelty, dress up, children's telly characters group in the article? It seems as though the pr from this guy wants to hush hush things...hmmm... 91.132.224.196 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 08:38, 28 February 2009 (UTC).

MIKE BATT COMMENT: NOT AT ALL. THIS COMMENT MAKES ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT MOTIVE. ISN"T IT "WIKI PRINCIPLE" NOT TO MAKE SUBJECTIVE JUDGEMENTS? WHY "GUESS" THAT "THIS GUY"S PR" PEOPLE WANT TO PLAY DOWN THE WOMBLES AND "HUSH HUSH" THINGS? THEY ARE A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE AND I"M PROUD OF THEM AND THEIR NOVELTY CHARACTERISTICS. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7F:DC3B:E500:4D49:F641:C1AA:3D8F (talk) 12:04, 21 March 2020 (UTC)

Involvement with Steeleye Span
The article would benefit from more detail about this period in MB's career. It's currently implied that this collaboration was a huge success, and it did produce the chart single All Around My Hat, but most Steeleye Span fans felt that the shift to shallow, poppy material was a betrayal of Steeleye's roots and did huge damage to their reputation. I get the impression that the band felt deeply embarrassed by this period subsequently and have been trying to live it down ever since. Some reference to this would add balance to what is currently a MB hagiography. --Ef80 (talk) 18:52, 26 April 2010 (UTC)  M Batt response - My answer to this is that your assertion is not true. Steeleye rejoiced in their big hit and deliberately chose me to produce them because they liked the Wombles' records. They did have an eye for a gimmick - (their previous album had Peter Sellars playing banjo). If you asked them today they would be full of good memories about our time together working on TWO albums (why would they have hired me again if they hadnt enjoyed the experience?) Mike Batt

John Cage copyright publicity stunt
Why did a story that had gone as true for a full eight years flatly get deleted? It's an interesting episode from his life. The story should have been updated, not deleted! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2276621.stm http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-11964995 --2003:DE:2744:D17:41BD:A3A9:369C:E31B (talk) 17:51, 13 February 2018 (UTC)

MIKE BATT RESPONSE: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS POINT. THE JOHN CAGE INCIDENT SHOULD BE NOTED. I DID NOT REMOVE IT. I WOULD HAPPILY CONTRIBUTE BUT I FEEL PEOPLE ARE SUSPICIOUS IF THE SUBJECT IS TOO ACTIVE ON THE PAGE. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7F:DC3B:E500:4D49:F641:C1AA:3D8F (talk) 12:00, 21 March 2020 (UTC)