The greatest music producers (and what makes one anyway)?

Martin Stett
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The greatest music producers (and what makes one anyway)? Apr 5, 2023 19:22:50 GMT pacinoyes likes this

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Post by Martin Stett on Apr 5, 2023 19:22:50 GMT

Thoughts on this subject? Everybody knows their favorite artists, but behind many of the greatest releases lie producers that also have extremely strong discographies. I don't pretend to have the slightest idea what a producer even does (much as I have little clue what a movie producer does, aside from maaaaaybe hit people with a stick to keep them on time/under budget), so perhaps they're not as big a deal as I seem to think.

However, there is one producer I've noticed who sticks out with many (MANY) of my favorite albums: Haruomi (or "Harry") Hosono. Oddly, I don't care for his own solo music that much, but the musicians he gathered under him - Jun Togawa, Miharu Koshi, Koji Ueno, and of course his band Yellow Magic Orchestra - were utterly magnificent and totally, out of this world wild and new. Nobody seemed to be trying whatever the hell musicians in his label were doing - nobody else was doing Apogee and Perigee or 新世紀への運河 or Paralellisme - and as a result, some of the music he produced is among the most exciting I've heard (feel free to click around on these albums to see what I'm talking about):

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So what makes a great producer, and who do you think are the greatest?

And so, let the curtain rise on tonight's dream

pacinoyes
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The greatest music producers (and what makes one anyway)? Apr 5, 2023 20:12:05 GMT Martin Stett and Mattsby like this

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Post by pacinoyes on Apr 5, 2023 20:12:05 GMT

Excellent topic. Essentially a great Pop producer enhances the artists strengths and gets out of the way - or - gets so much IN the way that they make you rethink the bands whole aesthetic:

* Phil Spector was the first great one obviously

* Steve Albini .....George Martin.......Jim Dickinson - all were great at creating environments that matched the artists intent but could easily be botched in execution.....

* Martin Hannett I would say was my "favorite" - he was a straight up production genius for a time and introduced / invented / perfected the whole idea of instrument separation and space - not only did he define Joy Division, he saves The Only Ones Oh Lucinda Love Becomes A Habit too..........he put the best production on a U2 song (11 O'Clock Tick Tock).........then a few years later..........he, um, died

* Nick Lowe belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame JUST for his production work - Costello's first 5 (many other times), Graham Parker, Pretenders, The Damned many more

* For modern producers - Mark Ronson - who talked his billionaire parents into building him a billion dollar studio defined Amy Winehouse and her sound he works wonder with a whole different Pop artist (Lily Allen)........heck he made a great Garage Rock album in a totally unique style for him even (Black Lips Arabia Moutain).......whenever people say they admire people "who made it on their own".........not really.......the only way you could be Mark Ronson is with lots of money up front.........total Nepo Baby ........and all the better for it :uhoh:

* For Metal or Prog - Steven Wilson - people will buy records just for his production of it - regardless of artist !

Here is an example of one of the best examples of Rock production - each instrument - including the voice - is distinct and removed and then unified - the band didn't play it distinct though and with someone else producing it would be much more "normal".......Hannett makes it almost otherworldly - he slows it down - stretches it out - it sounds overwhelming and immediate.....and far away and threatening........his production of the song sounds like a storm coming .......

Last Edit: Apr 5, 2023 20:20:07 GMT by pacinoyes

Martin Stett
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"Stett is weirder than New York" - Urbanpatrician

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The greatest music producers (and what makes one anyway)? Apr 5, 2023 22:38:59 GMT

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Post by Martin Stett on Apr 5, 2023 22:38:59 GMT

Apr 5, 2023 20:12:05 GMT pacinoyes said:

Excellent topic. Essentially a great Pop producer enhances the artists strengths and gets out of the way - or - gets so much IN the way that they make you rethink the bands whole aesthetic:
Here is an example of one of the best examples of Rock production - each instrument - including the voice - is distinct and removed and then unified - the band didn't play it distinct though and with someone else producing it would be much more "normal".......Hannett makes it almost otherworldly - he slows it down - stretches it out - it sounds overwhelming and immediate.....and far away and threatening........his production of the song sounds like a storm coming .......

So they're supervisors keeping things in line (or making the lines), got it.

And so, let the curtain rise on tonight's dream

The greatest music producers (and what makes one anyway)?

Post by Martin Stett on Apr 5, 2023 19:22:50 GMT

Post by pacinoyes on Apr 5, 2023 20:12:05 GMT

Post by Martin Stett on Apr 5, 2023 22:38:59 GMT

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