Allen 'Al' Stanton (November 23, 1924 – March 11, 2015)[1] was an American music executive and record producer best known for his production work for The Byrds on their third album, Fifth Dimension (1966).
"[5] Other Kapp artists produced by Stanton included Johnny Cymbal, who had a #16 hit on the Billboard pop chart in 1963, "Mr. Bass Man."
Stanton moved to Los Angeles in 1964 to head the West Coast A&R department of Columbia Records, joining a staff that included Edward Kleban, Terry Melcher, and Bruce Johnston.
[8] In December 1965, the Byrds entered RCA Studios in Los Angeles to record two new songs, "Eight Miles High" and "Why."
The re-recorded "Eight Miles High" (with "Why" as the B-side) was released as a single in March 1966, reaching #14 on the Billboard pop chart.
[8] Despite praise for the pioneering psychedelic sound of "Eight Miles High," Stanton's production work on the Fifth Dimension album has been criticized as uneven.
[9] Byrds bassist Chris Hillman later recalled, "All I remember is Allen Stanton would be over – with his shirt and tie, sleeves rolled up – reading the newspaper.
[8] For A&M he produced releases by Jimmie Rodgers, including his albums Child of Clay (1967) and Windmills of Your Mind (1969).