Phil O'Keefe: In The Studio Trenches

[scud133]

I'm wondering what people think are the best engineered / best produced albums out there. Learning (or stealing) is always more fun when your teachers are the best :thu: Albums that come to mind for me are: Tom Petty -- Wildflowers or anything produced by Mutt Lange (def leppard, ac/dc, or shania twain or whatever) So what are the albums that you listened to that made you want to run around and tell everyone how freakin awesome they sound?

[scud133]

Also if you want to elaborate at all, feel free... For me the thing that stands out on Wildflowers was how every sound occupies a spot not only left/right, but they also have a vertical sense of space (some things sound like they're floating above others) and a sense of depth (two things could be in the same spot left/right but one sounds more forward than the other). Whenever anyone says "3D soundstage" that is the album I think of immediately. Not to mention, each instrument just plain sounds like perfection : )

[-Juggernaut-]

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Metallica - The Black Album
Tool - Pretty much all of them
NIN - Downward Spiral

[Oddlogic]

Roger Waters - Amused to death

[wwwjd]

most Alan Parsons Project [Mr. Dark side of moon, Mr. Abby Road] Steely Dan / Donald Fagen the Michael Jackson's were very well done

[Riff1970]

Without a doubt it is ACDC Back in Black for me. What a huge difference in tone from a couple albums before that one.

I wish I knew half of what Lange does. He sure knows how to fiddle with dem pan and EQ knobs.

Also KISS' Destroyer.

[jackcheez]

One of my all time faves is Jimi Hendrix-Cry of Love.

[skiscem]

1+ for TooL

[nerol1st]

Well I can't stand them personally but as far as production goes I'm gonna have to say nickelback's latest album. I will also but down Linkin Park's meteora. One that I actually like for the band itself is killswitch engage's the end of heartache.

[nerol1st]

I am not a fan of tool recordings. The snare is panned weird. Maynard is to low in the mix.

[Neonfacelift]

Muse: Black Holes and Revelations

[albiedamned]

I'll throw out New Order's Republic.

[TBush]

I remember 3 records that just sonically kicked my butt when I was a kid- AC/DC "Back in Black" Judas Priest "British Steel" (very crisp and 3-D) Jeff Beck "Blow By Blow" There are better-sounding records, but these are my immediate responses. Then there's "Gretchen..." by King's X and Living Colour's "Time's Up". I can keep going, but I gotta run...

[wwwjd]

I ALMOST said Nickleback too, but it seems to me more like a STANDARD GOOD prodcution that sounds great because the SONGS themselves are not over done. Just a few parts written, cleanly done, clear and present... then mastered with that pop shine. Good sound overall

[UstadKhanAli]

Emmylou Harris "Wrecking Ball" by Daniel Lanois is incredible.
I like a lot of the Led Zeppelin recordings.
Michael Jackson stuff - really fantastic, full recordings
Metallica (Black Album)
NIN (not sure, probably Downward Spiral)
Steely Dan "Aka" (I like this but don't love it, but the playing and production are phenomenal)
ELO

I also think that Steve Albini has recorded some really great sounding stuff, like some of the Zeni Geva stuff and obviously Nirvana.

Note that these are not necessarily my favorite productions (with the exception of Lanois), but are some of the best engineered/produced albums I've heard nevertheless.

And regarding Metallica and NIN, there is so much midrange information in there that mixing this is in itself a work of genius.

I also can't think of any specific examples, but Roy Halee must be mentioned in some of the best engineered stuff. Great work.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]FIELD RECORDINGS:

David Parsons - his field recordings are *phenomenal*. Just freakin' amazing.

Alan Lomax - his field recordings are also "phenomenal".

Hugh Tracey - He did what the others did, but in adverse conditions, well off the beaten track. Hugh Tracey, take a bow.

People who do field recordings rarely get accolades for doing outstanding engineering, so I hope to rectify that by pointing out some of these people that I greatly admire who lug the recording equipment to the source instead of having musicians come into a controlled, sonically tuned environment....and STILL come up with fantastic recordings that stand the test of time.

[Lee Knight]

The new Raising Sand with Plant and Krauss comes to mind. It has that wonderful smoky quality that comes from an upright bass booming poking into the other mics. Tape delays, tube grit... and nice relaxed yet fully engaged performances by all involved. I think the electric guitars and bass on Abbey Road are godlike. Everything about the recording of the overplayed Stairway to Heaven is golden. It has the added benefit of including "the perfect rock guitar solo." That's a great recording. Have you listened to the recording of Don McClean's American Pie lately? With the recording in mind? It's awesome and it's my idea of a cool, rockin' yet intimate, house party style recording. Love the piano performance, sound and recording. Mutt is a god For Highway to Hell alone. The he did Back in Black. He remains a guilty pleasure of mine into his "hot wife era" too. Teenage Wasteland The Dylan album with The Times They Are A'Changin' is a really cool recording. MJ's Off the Wall!

[UstadKhanAli]

I really like the way "Back in Black" is recorded. So real and full sounding.

T-Bone Burnett does some of the best engineering stuff I've heard, but although I really enjoy the Krauss/Plant recording - especially how the vocals are recorded - I don't care so much for the big-ass drums.

[Exocaster]

I am not a fan of tool recordings.

The snare is panned weird.
Maynard is to low in the mix.

I've always liked their drum sound; it's very natural for a heavy band. They get a lot of their drum sound from the overheads, or so I've read, which is very unusual in modern hard rock and metal. As for the vocals, mixing them lower- as another instrument, really, not out front over the top of everything- is a big part of their sound. I think it's appropriate for what they do- prog-flavored heavy rock. But I digress. I really enjoy their production.

As far as hard rock's concerned (other than Tool)-
Gov't Mule- pretty much anything. Great, natural sounds, with an old-school vibe and minimal overdubbing.

Metallica- Load and Reload. Everyone loves the Black album. I prefer these two for production. I suppose they're more contemporary sounding; drier drums and vocals, less scooped guitars. I'm not a fan of the '80s arena rock sound, so the production on these appeals to me more.

Soundgarden- Superunknown. Fantastic drums, huge sounding mix, and one of the best rock vocal performances ever committed to tape.

Honorable mention- Alice In Chains- Dirt. Those triggered drums have to go. Seriously, except for the snare rolls in Rooster, every hit sounds exactly the same. A big blemish on a great album.

[kishjor]

Electric Ladyland is amazing as far as production goes.

Revolver to me is just as good, but you can't leave out SGT peppers.

Dark Side is probably floyds best production done on an album.

Morrison Hotel strikes me as an album with good production.

Band on the Run is always great too.


Finally I'd say Night at the opera by queen is produced as well as any album I've ever heard.

[Lee Knight]

Band on the Run is always great too.

:thu:

Shawn Colvin's A Few Small Repairs is a great reference recording for acoustic based pop/rock. Mandolins layered with jangly electrics and capoed Martins. Hip folk/blues harmonica work. It's naturally ambient drums add another layer of cool depth as well. Everything is captured with a naturalness that on paper should make it the antithesis of a pop recording. Except it's a pop as can be in sales.

I steal production ideas from this recording all the time.