On That Note: Dead Set on Production

[MeanDean]

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”

I can't let T-Bone Burnett pass without posting something from BoDeans' first album. Broke them nationally and they became regional legends in Chicago/Milwaukee. I think they had the most appearances on Letterman than any other act (with the possible exception of Darlene Love who did Christmas, Baby Please Come Home every year.)

 

[MeanDean]

Richard Gottehrer started out as a writer/performer/producer with partners Bob Feldman and Jerry Goldstein. Their recordings were released under the name The Strangeloves, with a totally fictitious back story that they were Outback dwelling Australians.



He then got into production as his primary effort in the 70's





Eventually breaking into more mainstream pop stuff

 

[MeanDean]

Richard Gottehrer started out as a writer/performer/producer with partners Bob Feldman and Jerry Goldstein. Their recording were released under the name The Strangeloves, with a totally fictitious back story that they were Outback dwelling Australians.



He then got into production as his primary effort in the 70's





Eventually breaking into more mainstream pop stuff

While doing the research on some of the details of Richard Gottehrer I stumbled across this. The B-side of the Strangeloves' (here credited as the Strange Loves) first release from 1964. Coincidentally on the same record label as the Beatles' She Loves You. This is some pretty obscure rock-a-billy. But I can't stop listening!

 

[MeanDean]

Really surprised... Nobody has grabbed the low-hanging fruit.

That being Sam Phillips. And George Martin.

 

[cyclones500]

Really surprised... Nobody has grabbed the low-hanging fruit.

That being Sam Phillips. And George Martin.

I had assumed Phillips would be chosen early. If this were a Producers Draft, I figured he'd be at least a late-first-rounder

I pushed Martin down on my list mainly because The Beatles aspect overshadows so much else -- probably unfair to his full body of work .... and I have plenty of other opportunities to use the band's music in various topics.

 

[MeanDean]

I had assumed Phillips would be chosen early. If this were a Producers Draft, I figured he'd be at least a late-first-rounder

I pushed Martin down on my list mainly because The Beatles aspect overshadows so much else -- probably unfair to his full body of work .... and I have plenty of other opportunities to use the band's music in various topics.

Right. But he did other Brit music during that 60's heyday. Also did comedy acts before the Fabs, not that that would register on the "great producer" indicator. And he did produce America. Not sure how much of their output he had a hand in, but some.

 

[MeanDean]

Right. But he did other Brit music during that 60's heyday. Also did comedy acts before the Fabs, not that that would register on the "great producer" indicator. And he did produce America. Not sure how much of their output he had a hand in, but some.

George Martin: 20 Great Non-Beatles Productions

Great George Martin productions outside the Fab Four, including Elton John, 'Goldfinger,' Cheap Trick, Jeff Beck, Ultravox and more

www.rollingstone.com

A few things I knew/suspected and quite a few I didn't know.

 

[MeanDean]

Peter Asher

One half of the 1960s British Duo of Peter and Gordon (World Without Love, I Go to Pieces, etc) and brother of actress Jane Asher - who was Paul McCartney's girlfriend through the mid/late 60's.

He was hired by Apple Music as their A&R guy so got involved in production there too. Most notable for James Taylor's debut album. This pairing continued with Taylor into the 70s during his hit making period.

 

[drlove]

Sorry I'm late.






producer: Jerry Harrison

 

[drlove]

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.

I was in Iceland last week and took a tour about Reykjaviks music history. It was fun, and we learned about the Sugarcubes...etc. at the end, I ask thetour guide guy (on the left in the picture) what he listens to. His answer was "my true love is bands like Husker Du". I think earned some street cred when i mentioned the old concert that is getting released soon from the late '70s.