On That Note: Dead Set on Production

[cyclones500]

Welcome back to “On That Note,” CycloneFanatic’s gathering place for music listening & discussion, co-hosted by @MeanDean, @CycloneRulzzz and cyclones500.

For this segment, we explore notable music producers. Premise: Post some of your favorite tracks/albums/artists associated with a specific producer.

Basic parameters:

• Select one or two producers as a primary focus (especially on day 1), then post three or four song clips for each. It can involve multiple artists, or you can choose a specific artist/recording. (If you’re wondering, artists/bands with self-produced work does count).
• We’ll allow repeats of a producer already cited, but use different artists, songs or LPs.
• Allow some time for others to respond, either by augmenting producers mentioned or creating your own list. This isn’t a contest or a race. Our main goal is to explore producer-artist combos that have an impact for you and hear some of the music samples (and why, if you want to elaborate).

Citations/credits: This topic is inspired by a post from @BMWallace in “Friday OT: On An Island In The Sun” (by @Angie via @Farnsworth).

• In case you missed it, last week’s OTN: Chain of Fools

I'll get us going w/ a follow-up post.

 

[cyclones500]

Scott Litt produced six R.E.M. studio albums and some of the group's compilations. His first, “Document,” gave the band’s sound a punch as it was making transition from “independent” label I.R.S. to “major” with Warner Bros. Although producers of R.E.M.’s early output deserve separate credit, Litt added a solid pop sense without sacrificing core elements that gained popularity among alternative/college radio listeners. Production credit also includes other artists/records I admire, I’ll wait and revisit if it’s available.

Sampler:

 

[MuskieCy]

Gary Katz- produced ALL Steely Dan albums.

Tom Dowd- "Dowd worked as an engineer and producer from the 1940s until the beginning of the 21st century. While working for Atlantic Records, he lived in Westwood, NJ with his wife Jackie and his sons, Steven and Todd. He recorded albums by many artists including Eddie Money, Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Oak Arkansas, Derek and the Dominos, Rod Stewart, Wishbone Ash, New Model Army, Cream, Lulu, Chicago, the Allman Brothers Band, Joe Bonamassa, the J. Geils Band, Meat Loaf, Sonny & Cher, the Rascals, the Spinners, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Eagles, the Four Seasons, Kenny Loggins, James Gang, Dusty Springfield, Eddie Harris, Charles Mingus, Herbie Mann, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Ronnie Earl, Joe Castro and Primal Scream.[3] He was also an employee of Apex Studios in the 1950s.[4] Dowd received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements in February 2002.

Jimmy Miller- produced "Let it Bleed, "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main Street" for the Rolling Stones.

 

[MeanDean]

Shel Talmy

Bridged the gap between 'Rock and Roll' and 'Rock' (created the genre?) And then goes on to record one of the most respected and beloved pop songs in history (Waterloo Sunset)

He said he didn't lead or direct the groups, he sought to emphasize the aspects of the acts that he liked and that made them special.

 

[Gonzo]

Stephen Street, English music producer known for his work with The Smiths, Blur, The Cranberries... and played bass with Morrissey on 'Sister I'm a Poet.'

 

[MeanDean]

Gary Katz- produced ALL Steely Dan albums.

Tom Dowd- "Dowd worked as an engineer and producer from the 1940s until the beginning of the 21st century. While working for Atlantic Records, he lived in Westwood, NJ with his wife Jackie and his sons, Steven and Todd. He recorded albums by many artists including Eddie Money, Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Oak Arkansas, Derek and the Dominos, Rod Stewart, Wishbone Ash, New Model Army, Cream, Lulu, Chicago, the Allman Brothers Band, Joe Bonamassa, the J. Geils Band, Meat Loaf, Sonny & Cher, the Rascals, the Spinners, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Eagles, the Four Seasons, Kenny Loggins, James Gang, Dusty Springfield, Eddie Harris, Charles Mingus, Herbie Mann, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Ronnie Earl, Joe Castro and Primal Scream.[3] He was also an employee of Apex Studios in the 1950s.[4] Dowd received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements in February 2002.

Jimmy Miller- produced "Let it Bleed, "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main Street" for the Rolling Stones.

Was definitely considering Jimmy Miller.

Took the Stones in a completely different direction. Not to mention his work with Winwood/Traffic as well as Delaney and Bonnie & Friends.

 

[pourcyne]

The David Bowie produced:

 

[Cupped]

LOL I'm way out of my element here but bet we'll all learn something from this topic!? David Bowie wrote and gave the song All the Young Dudes to Mott the Hoople. All the Young Dudes was a turning point for the then-struggling British band. Mott the Hoople were on the verge of breaking up when Bowie stepped in and gave them the song. Bowie also produced the album, which took Mott "from potential has-beens to avatars of the glam rock movement".

I never saw Mott but saw Bowie 4 times and one show he did a cover of All the Young Dudes. I believe Bowie produced all of his own albums? He was a musical genius!






Hard to pick my favorite Bowie album but The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust is up there...





And Heros was a great album and tour...

 

[Cupped]

Oops!

 

[cyclones500]

He said he didn't lead or direct the groups, he sought to emphasize the aspects of the acts that he liked and that made them special.

That seems like a perfect essential ability/goal for a producer.

 

[pourcyne]

Oops!

No worries!!!!!!!

 

[pourcyne]

Bad Company produced their own début album in 1974...for weeks, I have been trying to place one of their songs!

 

[cyclones500]

No worries!!!!!!!

Looks like you & @Cupped were on the same page, nearly simultaneous. ... Demonstrates a universal impact of Bowie for this segment

 

[pourcyne]

Looks like you & @Cupped were on the same page, nearly simultaneous. ... Demonstrates a universal impact of Bowie for this segment

To tell you the truth, I wasn't planning to "play" this week - I almost never care who produces an album nor who directs a film - but stumbled upon this little-known (to me) fact and decided to cash in. ;-) Then, took advantage of the topic to publish "Bad Company". Thanks!

 

[pourcyne]

Here's a fun one: Giorgio Moroder who did the rock sound track for "Metropolis", produced Bowie's "Cat People".

Bowie won the Grammy for best male vocal (1982).

 

[CivEFootball]

Ross Robinson -

Gave you whole new genre of music

 

[Cupped]

To tell you the truth, I wasn't planning to "play" this week - I almost never care who produces an album nor who directs a film - but stumbled upon this little-known (to me) fact and decided to cash in. ;-) Then, took advantage of the topic to publish "Bad Company". Thanks!

I believe that Bad Company album was the first album released on the Swan Song label which was Led Zeppelin's label. Bad CO and Zep were both managed by Peter Grant and Paul Rogers and Jimmy Page formed The Firm in the mid 80s. Page produced The Firm's 2 albums and all of the Zeppelin material but don't think he produced any of Bad CO's albums? The Firm made some good music ...


Radioactive...






Morning After...





Someone to Love...




Satisfaction Guaranteed...

 

[cyclones500]

Rick Rubin (part 1)

To follow our guidelines, I’ll separate this into a couple of segments …. I’ll do early period first, additional later. (Anyone is free to cite others from Rubin, even if you get there before I do).

(edit, additional observation): A common element I notice with these tracks & others with Rubin's involvement ... balance of the heavy/crunchy/distortion with a sort of clean "pop" feel. A definition of instrumentation/vocals and no specific aspect "invades" the rest of it, or "fights for space".

From “Licensed to Ill” LP, co-produced with Beastie Boys - Rubin produced this track:




Song co-produced with Run-DMC (From “Raising Hell,” LP co-produced with Russell Simmons)




The Cult - "Electric" ... Rubin has production credit for full album.

 

[cycloner29]

Robert John "Mutt Lange. Was married to Shania Twain and produced her '97 album "Come on Over" which is the best-selling country music album, the best-selling studio album by a female act, the best-selling album of the 1990s, and the 9th best-selling album in the United States. He also produced a lot of rock albums for big name acts.

 

[MeanDean]

Nick Lowe was not only a huge force as a performer in Power Pop and the late 70's early 80's time period. He also produced some of the most iconic music of the era/sub-genre.







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Definitely a high point!