Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings

by David N. Howard

You may not have heard of them, but you have certainly heard their songs! From the lo-fidelity origins of early pioneers to today's dazzling technocrats, the role of the music producer is as murkily undefined as it is wholly essential. Sonic Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings is an exploration of the influence of the often colorful, idiosyncratic and visionary music producers through popular music and the fascinatingly crucial role they have played in shaping the way we hear pop music today. Sonic Alchemy is nothing short of the secret history of the music producer.

Genres: Music

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Ero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terribly well written but still wonderful, if only because these stories are not well told. How many Beatles fans actually know much about George Martin, who was probably at least as influential & important as any of the fab four? (Though, after reading this, I realize I still don't actually know very much... hmmm. That wasn't one of the more useful chapters).

The Shel Talmy and Norman Whitfield chapters are pretty good. Really, I could prefer that this was a bit more technical though-- I want to know what gear folks used- there's a real lack of specifics here-- though I did find out that all the Hi Records Al Green records were four-tracked to Ampex tape machines, with only one track for Al Jackson Jr.'s drums. Which I'll be thinking about for a long time. Also that Shel Talmy used lots and lots of separate microphones for early Kinks drums, which is frankly sort of surprising. And that the acoustic guitars for 'street fighting man' were recorded to distorted cassette tape by Glyn Johns, inside the studio, and then the cassette tape tracks layered into the mix. (I'd always wondered about that wierd fuzzy sound).

Still, more specificity. I want the Tape Op magazine edition, that talks about what compressor was used for the Roy Harper's guitar, and what microphones Phil Spector used for John Lennon in their drunken Los Angeles spree.

But, I'm enjoying it nonetheless. All in all, this is a pretty great read for serious music geeks.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the most eye-opening and endlessly fascinating book about music I've ever read. Howard flips the script on contemporary (late 50's-present) music history, by focusing on stand-out music producers as primary creative forces rather than the the artists. Howard creates a very convincing new "canon" of great producers whose influence was felt deeply both in their own time (through the bands they produced) and afterwards by the many producers and bands whose work they inspired.
Beyond teaching me so much about these people and how they worked, one huge added bonus is all the great songs the book introduced me to, many of which had "slipped through the cracks" (such as those from the band The Millennium's album "Begin").
This book was a thrill to read, and I highly recommend it to any music fan.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A broad, unassuming introduction to North American music production over the past fifty years. Howard's narrative devices, used to introduce each chapter, get a little tired as it goes on, but work well to give some perspective to the social atmosphere and artistic conditions that define great producers; The music doesn't exist in a vacuum. Would like to see a second edition, as this one ends with Eminem's 2002 The Eminem Show. Notably missing from any serious investigation were The Dust Brothers and (a rather glaring oversight) Nigel Godrich.

[Matthew Lederman · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read but not necessarily essential reading, unless you want to know more about the behind the scenes production of some of your favorite music. The best part about this book is that it might point you towards more specific listening and reading depending on your tastes.

[Justin McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Growing up in the 90s, it's difficult to have a good perspective on music of the past. This book takes you back to the '50s and takes you on a ride into the early '90s to show how producers have shaped the sound of music over time. I strongly recommend this book to musicians, producers, and lovers of music.

[Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the insights this gave, just wish it went more into the beat scientists since thats where my heart is at