The Music Producers Series: Phil Spector

[cobrakai111]

Dust Brothers!

[theblackkeys]

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Re: future music producer series suggestions, I need to see Rick Rubin.

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And Sam Phillips FTW!!

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Elvis effin Presely
Johnny Cash
Ike Turner
Jerry Lee Lewis
Roy Orbison
Carl Perkins

[CharlieDontSurf]

Joker,

great post..I [censored] love Pet Sounds
Sloop John B rules

didn't realize it was so much bigger in the UK than in US at the time.

Although not a big seller for the band originally, Pet Sounds has been influential since the day it was released. Rapturously received in Britain, it was lauded in the music press and championed by many top pop stars. The Beatles, for example, have said that Pet Sounds was a major influence on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, and Paul McCartney has repeatedly named it as one of his favorite albums (with "God Only Knows" as his favorite song) — completing a circle begun by the Beatles' influence on Brian (see "the beginning of Pet Sounds", above). McCartney stated that:
“ It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water. I love the album so much. I've just bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life ... I figure no one is educated musically 'til they've heard that album ... I love the orchestra, the arrangements ... it may be going overboard to say it's the classic of the century ... but to me, it certainly is a total, classic record that is unbeatable in many ways ... I've often played Pet Sounds and cried. I played it to John [Lennon] so much that it would be difficult for him to escape the influence ... it was the record of the time. The thing that really made me sit up and take notice was the bass lines ... and also, putting melodies in the bass line. That I think was probably the big influence that set me thinking when we recorded Pepper, it set me off on a period I had then for a couple of years of nearly always writing quite melodic bass lines. "God Only Knows" is a big favourite of mine ... very emotional, always a bit of a choker for me, that one. On "You Still Believe In Me", I love that melody - that kills me ... that's my favourite, I think ... it's so beautiful right at the end ... comes surging back in these multi-colored harmonies ... sends shivers up my spine. ”

Other artists have also cited Pet Sounds as one of the all time classic albums. Eric Clapton stated that "I consider Pet Sounds to be one of the greatest pop LPs to ever be released. It encompasses everything that's ever knocked me out and rolled it all into one."

Elton John thinks that "Pet Sounds is a landmark album. For me to say that I was enthralled would be an understatement. I had never heard such magical sounds, so amazingly recorded. It undoubtedly changed the way that I, and countless others, approached recording. It is a timeless and amazing recording of incredible genius and beauty."

Beatles producer George Martin stated that "Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper wouldn't have happened… Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds.

[Mickey Brausch]

Deserving of mention is Phil Spector's pivotal cameo in Easy Rider where he plays the drug dealer in the pre-opening credits deal.

[Mickey Brausch]

For sheer artistic quality of music produced, few come close to Tom Wilson, in my personal pantheon.

Bob Dylan; "Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited"
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention; "Freak Out"
Velvet Underground; "White Light/White Heat", "The Velvet Underground and Nico"
Simon & Garfunkel; "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M."
Soft Machine; first album

He had a record label which issued Sun Ra's first LP and Cecil Taylor's "Jazz Advance". Died 47 years old.

[keikiwai]

good post pj

i just heard an interview w/ Ronnie Bennett now Ronnie Spector on Fresh Air. Phil and her are now divorced, and I'd really like to hear more about their marriage and what Phil was like. Ronnie sort of insinuated some things when she was talking to Terry Grosse of Fresh Air, but she didn't really describe their marriage directly and why they broke up.

Ronnie did say, flat out, that Phil would get mad at her when she sang rock and roll. Ronnie said that only classical music was allowed in the house.... this seemed strange to me, considering all the rock albums Phil produced.

What really interested me is that Ronnie seemed to insinuate that it was somehow because of Phil that she stopped singing when they got married. That she had planned on singing, but that somehow the marriage... well Phil, I guess, prevented it. Does anyone know anything else about this?

Anyway.... the interview's on NPR's podcasts of Fresh Air. It's the 3/2/2007 one, which is also good since it's got interviews w/ Melle Mel ("it's a jungle out there" - the message) and Grand Master Flash

[kickpushcoast]

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pj,

Great post and thread. I'd love to see writeups on all of the following:

Rick Rubin
Steve Albini
Dr Dre
Brian Eno
Pharrell / Neptunes
Quincy Jones

Also sorta interested in

Jermaine Dupri
Timbaland
Babyface

I'm very seriously considering music producer as my next career.

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o rly?

[Jay.]

Just adding this link in to somewhat show a producers input, Nirvana - Nevermind.

[jbrent33]

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Another GREAT one is Tom Dowd. I mentioned him in the documentary thread as there's a movie called "Tom Dowd and The Language of Music" which is excellent BTW. His contribution to music is immeasureable.

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I opened this thread and that is immediately who came to mind. I saw that documentary at SXSW a couple of years ago and was blown away by the volume of his work both as a producer and engineer. For those who don't know of him here is a short list:

The Allman Brothers
Cream
Eric Clapton
Solomon Burke
Dr. John
Derek and the Dominos
Aretha Franklin
The Drifters
Buddy Guy
Ben E King
Freddy King
Patty Labell
Lynyrd Skynyrd
MeatLoaf
Charles Mingus
Willie Nelson
Fathead Newman
Wilson Pickett
Sam and Dave
Otis Redding
Diana Ross
Dusty Springfield
A Tribe Called Quest
Rod Stewart
Wet Willie
Jerry Jeff Walker

I would highly recommend the documentary for anyone who is interested in the production side of music. I was amazed at the amount of input/control that a producer has on the finished product.

[WalkUpCondo]

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Just adding this link in to somewhat show a producers input, Nirvana - Nevermind.

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Pretty cool, thanks.