On The Passing of Jim Gaines

Huey: When we signed with Chrysalis Records in 1979, Bill Schnee produced our first record. It flopped, despite what I continue to think were some good songs. For our second effort, we auditioned a handful of “hot, up-and-coming” producers, including a guy who was anything but hot or up-and-coming, Jim Gaines. Jim came up in the Stax system, engineered with Steve Cropper and others, and had a southern way about him which was welcome and turned out to be important for our creativity. He lived in Oregon and repaired windshields (a new epoxy system!). I convinced him to quit the windshields and make records with us. He at once demystified the recording process and legitimized our endeavors. After all, he’d engineered Steve Miller’s albums Fly Like An Eagle and Book of Dreams. He encouraged us to experiment and find our way. We fell in love with Jim, and revere him to this day. He was genuine. He was an integral part of our Sports record and so much more. He and our band made wonderful art together. I’m saddened today, but I want the world to know that Jim Gaines was a great talent, a great friend, and he made the world a better place.