On That Note: Dead Set on Production

[flynnhicks03]

George Drakoulias produced a a lot a albums I really enjoy.

Shake Your Money Maker was one of the first CDs I ever bought. Listened to it cover to cover so many times. One of my favorite songs from the album. Honorable mention to "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels"



Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Honorable mention to "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride"



He also produced (arguably) two of the best Jayhawks albums:

Hollywood Town Hall. Honorable mention to "Take Me With Your (When You Go)".



Tomorrow the Green Grass: Honorable mention to "Blue".



He also produced Screaming Trees Dust, which, had it been released 3 or 4 years earlier, would have been a massive commercial success. I picked "Sworn and Broken", but "All I Know" and "Dying Days" are right up there, too.

 

[ISU3PtLand]

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most intensively with Janet Jackson.They have written 31 top ten hits in the UK and 41 in the US. In 2022, the duo were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category.

 

[Cupped]

Phil Spector best known for his innovative recording practices, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and my nomination for the Weird Dude HOF! In 2004, Spector was ranked number 63 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest artists in history. In 2009, after two decades in semi-retirement, he was convicted of the 2003 murder of actress Lanan Clarkson and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison. He died in prison in 2021.

Spector's signature style was called the "Wall of Sound." He used large amounts of echo, dubbing, doubling and multiplying of musical instruments and the parts to be played, and overdubbing of recorded parts. The built-up effect gave his records an operatic theatrical quality. The music sounded "bigger than life". The effect carried over especially well on AM radio, which was how most music was broadcast in the 1950s and 1960s. He produced the Beatles Let It Be and some solo recordings of Harrison and Lennon. It's hard to be concise and do Spector justise but here is a sample. Feel free to add any other material!

 

[cyclones500]

As a Camper Van Beethoven fan, I’m compelled to mention Dennis Herring. He also produced or co-produced a variety of other acts. Spreading this over three albums and two artists … 4 songs instead of 3, stretching our guideline a bit, hopefully it’s OK for this case.

Herring produced the final two CVB albums before its breakup ... the band was getting wider exposure on Virgin Records.

From “Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart”



From “Key Lime Pie“
(Cover of Status Quo song)



Herring produced a couple of Modest Mouse LPs -- "Good News For People Who Like Bad News" is the first; Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album



“Pepperesque” segue into:

 

[cyclones500]

George Drakoulias produced a a lot a albums I really enjoy.

Shake Your Money Maker was one of the first CDs I ever bought. Listened to it cover to cover so many times. One of my favorite songs from the album. Honorable mention to "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels"



Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Honorable mention to "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride"



He also produced (arguably) two of the best Jayhawks albums:

Hollywood Town Hall. Honorable mention to "Take Me With Your (When You Go)".



Tomorrow the Green Grass: Honorable mention to "Blue".



He also produced Screaming Trees Dust, which, had it been released 3 or 4 years earlier, would have been a massive commercial success. I picked "Sworn and Broken", but "All I Know" and "Dying Days" are right up there, too.

Good choice, didn't think of that one.

I wouldn't make a sonic connection of The Black Crowes and The Jayhawks ... good producers can do well to emphasize strengths in varied styles.

Trivia nugget: Drakoulias got a name-drop in “Stop That Train” by Beastie Boys:
"Went from the station straight to Orange Julius / I bought a hot dog (from who?) George Drakoulias."

 

[cyclones500]

Roy Thomas Baker

From The Cars (debut):




From "Candy-O," The Cars




Co-producer on multiple Queen albums, including:

From “A Night at the Opera” … co-produced w/ Queen



From “A Day at the Races”



Also produced soundtracks for “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Wayne’s World.”

Baker must have had at least indirect influence production-wise on Ric Ocasek (I'll get to a few of his later as time permits)

 

[Clone up North]

Fascinating topic. One of my favorite contemporary producers is Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse. The dude is so creative and unique but what I really love about him is his ability to cross over into so many different musical genres. Here’s a brief list of artists he’s produced for:
Gnarls Barkley
U2
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
James Mercer of The Shins (together they formed the band Broken Bells)
Norah Jones
The Black Keys
Gorillaz
Banksy (yes, the artist)

 

[Clone up North]

As a Camper Van Beethoven fan, I’m compelled to mention Dennis Herring. He also produced or co-produced a variety of other acts. Spreading this over three albums and two artists … 4 songs instead of 3, stretching our guideline a bit, hopefully it’s OK for this case.

Herring produced the final two CVB albums before its breakup ... the band was getting wider exposure on Virgin Records.

From “Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart”



From “Key Lime Pie“
(Cover of Status Quo song)



Herring produced a couple of Modest Mouse LPs -- "Good News For People Who Like Bad News" is the first; Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album



“Pepperesque” segue into:

I remember seeing David Lowery and Cracker at People’s. Roughly 1994.

 

[Entropy]

I'm actually fortunate enough to know this producer: Brad Cook
We went to school together from elementary through college.
He's been in a bunch of bands, but his production as of late has been top notch.

Waxahatchee "Lilacs"


Nathan Rateliff and The Night Sweats "Love Don't"


Caamp "Believe"

 

[Buster28]

Nile Rodgers of Chic was a prolific producer in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. Some of the songs he helmed include: "Like A Virgin" (Madonna), "China Girl" (David Bowie), "Good Times" (Chic), "Upside Down" (Diana Ross), "Lay Your Hands On Me" (Thompson Twins), "Modern Love" (Bowie), "Material Girl" (Madonna), "Wild Boys" (Duran Duran), "Roam" (B-52s), "We Are Family" (Sister Sledge), "Original Sin" (INXS), "Le Freak" (Chic), and "The Reflex" (Duran Duran).




"The Reflex" was remixed and produced by Rodgers for release as a single in the United States, the label feeling the original album version wouldn't work on American radio at the time. It became Duran Duran's first #1 on Billboard's Hot 100.

 

[CivEFootball]

Nobody taking on the one man hit machine Timothy Mosley aka Timberland.











https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9QWOc0HnItM

 

[JayV]

Tom Werman produced some of the best rock albums:

 

[cyclones500]

Nigel Godrich

Worked on high-impact albums especially in late-'90s and '00s.

Sampler from two notable artists with whom has collaborated frequently.


Radiohead

From "OK Computer" (co-produced w/ Radiohead)



From “In Rainbows”




Beck

From “Sea Change.” A stunning gear-shift for Beck, at the time.



From “The Information”

 

[cyclones500]

I remember seeing David Lowery and Cracker at People’s. Roughly 1994.

That's cool! Didn't know Cracker had played at People's in that period. I got to see the group one time, I think maybe a year prior to that, First Ave. in Minneapolis.

 

[cyclones500]

Butch Vig

Again, stretching our guidelines — four tracks, four bands. But it's Night 2, so I think we can relax a few of the standards.


Nirvana “Nevermind.” Fairly or not, this might remain his crowning achievement/legacy as a producer, even though he has done plenty of work in the decades since (and prior-to).




From “Siamese Dream,” Smashing Pumpkins, album co-produced with Billy Corgan




From L7's "Bricks are Heavy" - co-produced with L7




From “Electric Bird Digest," Young Fresh Fellows -
Longtime personal favorite (released same year as “Nevermind”)





That roundup doesn't even include:

• Vig’s work as member of Garbage a(lthough majority of the group’s catalog lists production credit as Garbage).
• At least a couple of Foo Fighters LPs.

Anyone is free to post tracks from either/both. (I'd listen to it! )

 

[Cyclones8824]

Shocked no one has mentioned Dr Dre yet, so I will go with him.
Still Dre ft Snoop Dogg
In Da Club-50 Cent
Evil Deeds-Eminem
The Watcher-Dr Dre

 

[cyclones500]

Spot

Primary producer at SST Records.

Meat Puppets

From “Up on the Sun"







Black Flag

From “Damaged” (co-produced with Black Flag)





Husker Du

From “Zen Arcade” (co-produced w/ Husker Du)




From “New Day Rising” (co-produced w/ Husker Du)




Interesting “ironic” aside: Although Spot produced several Husker Du records, “Candy Apple Grey” is not among them … that LP contains the track “Dead Set on Destruction,” the inspiration for This week's OTN thread title. ("CAG" was co-produced by Mould/Hart).

See also: Descendents, Minutemen, Misfits.

 

[cyclones500]

T-Bone Burnett

Tip of the iceberg ... numerous awards as producer, and substantial discography of his own.

Peter Case (debut album)




Elvis Costello
“King of America”
(Co-produced, Burnett/Declan MacManus — aka The Coward Brothers)




Los Lobos
“How Will the Wolf Survive?”
(Co-produced with Steve Berlin)




The Wallflowers
“Bringing Down the Horse”

 

[VeloClone]

Erik Jacobsen produced mainly in the '60s through the '90s.

The Lovin' Spoonful Do You Believe in Magic, Daydream, and Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful





Jacobsen produced three albums with Norman Greenbaum. His greatest work with Greenbaum was coaxing the classic recording of Spirit in the Sky out of the reluctant artist.



In the '80s and '90s Jacobsen was a do everything partner with Chris Isaak producing seven albums including Heart Shaped World and this haunting classic:

 

[CloneFan65]

Brian Eno

Beyond the typical producing duties, Eno would play instruments and provide backing vocals, essentially becoming a band member.