Musicheads play: Name! That! Music! Producer!

Joe Meek. Historically did just about everything that later producers got credit for. Going back to last weeks question about movie Docs, there one about him that recently came out in the UK, and had yet to make over here. There are a couple of amazing comps of his stuff out there, all of which are worth checking out.

Good call Eric P! The Phil Spector of England & both are killers. I have one of those Meek compilations. The stuff he was able to produce in his kitchen is amazing! Too bad the guy was nuts.

They are probably too well known to qualify, but three that should be mentioned are Steve Albini, Rick Rubin, and Butch Vig.

Albini's impact on indie rock over the last 25-30 years cannot be overstated.

As for Rubin, had he only done Blood Sugar Sex Magik and the Johnny Cash American recordings he'd still rank among the greats, and that doesn't even include cofounding Def-Jam.

Vig produced Nevermind and Siamese Dream. Enough said.

Craig

*warning, personal opinion ahead* IMHO, Vig gets overlooked.

T-Bone Burnett.

And anything Alfred Lion and Rudy Van Gelder did with Blue Note. Mickie Most. Mustn't forget Brian Eno and his work with Robert Fripp, David Bowie and most recently, David Byrne.

I second T-Bone Burnett. He did a guest DJ session on NPR where he discussed in-depth the kind of sound he looks for when producing a record. It's very much worth checking out.

My votes are for:
The Bomb Squad (Public Enemy, Ice Cube)
David Sitek (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
Steve Albini (Pixies, Nirvana)
Martin Hannett (Joy Division, Magazine)
Martin Rushent (Buzzcocks, Stranglers)

How about Sam Phillips. The gent who founded Sun Records and discovered Elvis, Roy Orbison, Howlin'Wolf, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis & so many more. Rock wouldn't be what it is if not for Sam!

ah, you would have to say *pop* music, which leaves out most of the folk and country producers I know. but okay -- John Leventhal, Robert (Mutt) Lange, Daniel Lanois. and for sure agree with you about Sam Phillips.

I'm sorry: I haven't been able to listen to the podcast yet, but if Brian Eno has not yet been named, then I intend to change that. His work with David Bowie, the Talking Heads, and U2 was groundbreaking and highly influential across various genres of pop music. His influence is sonically recognizable without overpowering the bands' own sound. He developed the "Oblique Strategies" which forced musicians to challenge their music-making assumptions, not just the sounds they recorded.

Speaking of David Bowie, what about Tony Visconti? He's alos produced T-Rex and Morrissey.

Todd Rundgren produced many great albums by many artists, including himself. XTC's Skylarking is classic, he also produced albums by New York Dolls, locals 12 Rods, Psychedelic Furs & the one that made him very rich, MEATLOAF!

Kevin Gilbert not only on much of his own exceptional-sounding recordings (Shaming of the True, Thud, Giraffe, Toy Matinee) but he mixed and produced with the likes of Keith Emerson, Madonna and Michael Jackson.

But maybe from a more producer-standpoint, 1st-and-foremost.

David Botrill: He's done excellent work with the likes of King Crimson, Tool, Peter Gabriel, Fair to Midland, Coheed and Cambria, Silverchair, Muse, I Mother Earth and Dream Theater among many others. The guy has a great resume, and it often turns out the stuff he works on, his level of clarity and standards often seem evident. It's not a coincidence many of those artists favorite albums were the one's he worked on.

Steven Wilson: While he's best known as a musician and songwriter among many of his projects. Porcupine Tree being the best known Not only the production work on their albums and his other projects like Blackfield, No-Man, Bass Communion, his solo album "Insurgentes" among others. But he's also worked with a number of artists as producer and mixer. Namely Opeth. But also upcoming, groups like Anathema and Orphaned Land. Yoko Ono, Marillion and ex-singer Fish's solo work are also among his credits.

He even was nominated for a Grammy last year for the 5.1 mix of the last Porcupine Tree album "Fear of a Blank Planet."

Plus he's been given the task to remix the entire King Crimson back catalog, handpicked personally by King Crimson founder Robert Fripp.

The man knows his studio techniques and how to produce quality sounding music, sonically especially. It wouldn't surprise me if he got involved in mixing film scores at some point. He has quite an ear.

Some great additions here; T Bone, Butch Vig, etc. I would throw in Mitchell Froom for his great work with Crowded House, Suzane Vega. Also, Bill Szymczyk who did Eagles, Joe Walsh. OK, I am an old school pop-rock guy.

The names that come immediately to mind are Sylvia Robinson, Nellee Hooper, Trent Reznor and Cordell Jackson.

Lee "Scratch" Perry has left a distinct mark on music.

I also want to throw out there Thom Wilson who produced a lot of the early LA and West Coast punk records.

scott litt? anyone?

John Cale had done some great work - Ambulance LTD, Nico, Stooges, Patti Smith, and Squeeze to name just a few along with all his solo stuff and Velvet Underground.

I thought up another one...Elvis Costello produced two great albums (that I know of) The Pogues "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash" and The Specials debut album. I think they are the best albums from both of the bands catalogs, and that his producing doesn't get as much recognition because he put out such great albums himself. The mans gotta ear for cool music..

How about Spot? He produced all those early-80s SST albums; albums by Black Flag, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Hüsker Dü, Descendents, Minor Threat, etc...

I'll have to go East Coast Style with Richard Harte, of Ace of Hearts Records. He Produced some of Bostons most beloved bands, including, Mission of Burma, The Lyres, Classic Ruins, The Neats, and many others.

James already mentioned him above, but I just read Tony Visconti's book;
"Bowie, Bolan and the Brooklyn Boy" and it's well worth the read for us musicheads.
Nice to see a soccer photo too James!
Also...I went through a period in the 90's when I brought everything a guy known simply as
Kramer produced, a little crazy too but in a good way, I think they all are!

i know i'll love anything dave fridmann produces, same with nigel godrich (great picks!)

i also love mike mogis and what he's done with bright eyes. i'm so looking forward to see what he's done with julian casablancas' solo release.