 Barratt started working at Abbey Road studios in 1960 for Norman Newell as an "office boy" at the age of 22, as Newell found Barratt to be particularly polite during their previous interactions.During the following years, he worked with a number of the studio's most famous personnel, including Norrie Paramor and Tim Rice, and worked with a number of well-known artists, including Vince Hill, producing his cover version of the song "Edelweiss"; Max Boyce and The Wurzels, including their 1976 UK number one single "Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)".In 1985, Barratt started Grasmere Records, a label specialising in brass band and organ music.