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Listen Up!: Recording Music with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, U2, R.E.M., The Tragically Hip, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Waits
An album-by-album account of working with iconic artists such as Anthony Kiedis, Michael Stipe, Gord Downie, and Bono, from a leader in the field. Mark Howard, a record producer/engineer/mixer and a trailblazer in the industry, will take you through the star-studded world of recording and producing Grammy Award-winning artists. Listen Up! is an essential book for anyone interested in music and its making. Along with the inside stories, each chapter gives recording and producing information and tips with expert understanding of the equipment used in making the world's most unforgettable records and explanations of the methods used to get the very best sound. Listen Up! is both production guide and exclusive backstage pass into the lives of some of the planet's most iconic musicians. Writing with his brother Chris Howard, Mark Howard provides a rare glimpse into the normally invisible, almost secretive side of the music story: that of the producer and recording engineer.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published March 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 23, 2019
Mark Howard has produced, recorded and/or mixed several classic records by some of the world's finest musicians. His memoir captures the stories of those discs and his part in them. Interesting as hell memoir by a guy who has seen and done amazing things. - BH.
February 4, 2024
A book about recording with Bob Dylan, The Neville Brothers, Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno? The records were all made at DIY studios built in old churches, ancient theaters and crumbling estates? Lovingly detailed descriptions of recording equipment, Indian tapestries and mood lighting? A Louisiana encounter with Jerry Garcia?
This book was basically tailor made for me. Not technically a recording guide but lots of inspiration. 5 stars.
This book was basically tailor made for me. Not technically a recording guide but lots of inspiration. 5 stars.
February 27, 2019
This is an honest review, in exchange for the copy of this book provided by ECW Press.
"Listen-up..." was created with the support of the Canadian Council of Arts. It is a re-cap of many of the accomplishments of Mark Howard who is a Canadian record producer, engineer and mixer. The time frame of this book and his work is roughly from the mid 1980's, through the 90's and into the 2000's.
This book may be of some interest to those interested in the music production of that time period. I feel it is primarily a music store book. Some knowledge of the equipment and the process is beneficial. While the back cover suggests it is a “production guide”, it is not instructional and not a reference guide.
Mark takes you through the process of renting several buildings over the years to be used as recording studios. These are described in great detail and with some of the changes that they made to them. The recording equipment is listed in each case and it’s shipping and installation is sometimes discussed. How some unusual sounds were produced at the time (to please all involved) are in there as well. Part of his job also involved gathering the right studio musicians of the period for a particular job.
There are some interesting anecdotes relating to the artists he recorded. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Willie Nelson are just a few involved in this book. Most of these being in the later part of their career; still making great music.
As with most artists at this level, we see many of their quirks and their eccentricities. Many are ego maniacs; some are pleasant some are not. Some have very bad and short fused tempers. To his credit, Mark was able to control these people enough to make some great recordings.
In most forms of popular music being created today, there is a great reduction in the need for studio musicians. The methods are almost entirely digital. The vocals are often completely altered with voice processors. The instruments, the notes and chords needed are simply created on the computer screen. Music has become a line of code. So the relevance of this book might be compromised somewhat. But it is an interesting look at that time period and the accomplishments of Mark Howard.
"Listen-up..." was created with the support of the Canadian Council of Arts. It is a re-cap of many of the accomplishments of Mark Howard who is a Canadian record producer, engineer and mixer. The time frame of this book and his work is roughly from the mid 1980's, through the 90's and into the 2000's.
This book may be of some interest to those interested in the music production of that time period. I feel it is primarily a music store book. Some knowledge of the equipment and the process is beneficial. While the back cover suggests it is a “production guide”, it is not instructional and not a reference guide.
Mark takes you through the process of renting several buildings over the years to be used as recording studios. These are described in great detail and with some of the changes that they made to them. The recording equipment is listed in each case and it’s shipping and installation is sometimes discussed. How some unusual sounds were produced at the time (to please all involved) are in there as well. Part of his job also involved gathering the right studio musicians of the period for a particular job.
There are some interesting anecdotes relating to the artists he recorded. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Willie Nelson are just a few involved in this book. Most of these being in the later part of their career; still making great music.
As with most artists at this level, we see many of their quirks and their eccentricities. Many are ego maniacs; some are pleasant some are not. Some have very bad and short fused tempers. To his credit, Mark was able to control these people enough to make some great recordings.
In most forms of popular music being created today, there is a great reduction in the need for studio musicians. The methods are almost entirely digital. The vocals are often completely altered with voice processors. The instruments, the notes and chords needed are simply created on the computer screen. Music has become a line of code. So the relevance of this book might be compromised somewhat. But it is an interesting look at that time period and the accomplishments of Mark Howard.
March 12, 2019
Listen Up! gives readers an inside look at the incredible world of music engineering, producing and studio installations. Mark Howard has had the privilege of working through the decades with some talented musicians. This book provides Howard a great opportunity to share his stories and knowledge with a broader audience.
Despite not knowing MANY of the artists (I know, I know how lame am I not to know the classics), or ANY of the equipment he mentions in detail throughout this book, I still found myself breezing through the oversized pages. I was intrigued and captivated by Mark’s lifestyle and frame of mind, from his “mobile studio” to being planted in new cities and expected to find the perfect recording location, his ability to adapt was commendable. Howard ensnares a world that many only dream of working in and invites readers in to view the hard work, flexibility and hours it took for him to be successful.
Hats off to an extraordinary career full of talent and hard work. While we may be lucky to have artists such as Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, we are equally (if not more) lucky to have talent like Mark Howard to capture their gift to share with the masses.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Despite not knowing MANY of the artists (I know, I know how lame am I not to know the classics), or ANY of the equipment he mentions in detail throughout this book, I still found myself breezing through the oversized pages. I was intrigued and captivated by Mark’s lifestyle and frame of mind, from his “mobile studio” to being planted in new cities and expected to find the perfect recording location, his ability to adapt was commendable. Howard ensnares a world that many only dream of working in and invites readers in to view the hard work, flexibility and hours it took for him to be successful.
Hats off to an extraordinary career full of talent and hard work. While we may be lucky to have artists such as Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, we are equally (if not more) lucky to have talent like Mark Howard to capture their gift to share with the masses.
*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2019
I received a digital ARC as part of the ECW Insiders program, formerly the Shelf Monkey program.
As a fan of many of the artists involved, I enjoyed Howard's insider stories about them (well, the news of Daniel Lanois' terrible temper was startling to me). Some of the anecdotes segue in and out rather abruptly, though in the context of short-lived session work, that makes sense. The amount of nuts-and-bolts recording information seems just about right for a casual reader who isn't in the industry. (I admit I would have liked to know more about the continual high/"in the red" levels used for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' CALIFORNICATION. If I recall correctly, Greg Milner's PERFECTING SOUND FOREVER points to that record as the turning point for productions, causing an ill-advised trend of albums so "maxed out" that they are hard to listen to in one sitting, and sound wrong on the radio.) Howard keeps personal revelations to a minimum, which seems appropriate (though I am curious about certain developments).
June 7, 2023
This is a great book if you are interested in any of the artists mentioned on the cover or if you are interested in recording studios, audio mixing or how records are made. There is even content for motorcycle enthusiasts.
I had no idea who the author was but actually I really like some of the recordings he was involved in. I had no idea he was involved.
A really interesting book, part diary, part tell all, part equipment list. A lot of the book is about how exactly a recording location was discovered and transformed into a space that would give good audio and an inspirational backdrop for the artists to create in.
There is a lot of detail about the tiffs and real fights that occurred. Some artists come off more as assholes than their normal/stage persona betrays. It’s amazing how selfish some people can get when they reach a level of fame and earnings that normal people can only dream of.
I didn’t expect to find this gem of a book but I’m happy I did.
I had no idea who the author was but actually I really like some of the recordings he was involved in. I had no idea he was involved.
A really interesting book, part diary, part tell all, part equipment list. A lot of the book is about how exactly a recording location was discovered and transformed into a space that would give good audio and an inspirational backdrop for the artists to create in.
There is a lot of detail about the tiffs and real fights that occurred. Some artists come off more as assholes than their normal/stage persona betrays. It’s amazing how selfish some people can get when they reach a level of fame and earnings that normal people can only dream of.
I didn’t expect to find this gem of a book but I’m happy I did.
June 3, 2019
Admittedly, before reading this book, I didn’t know Mark Howard by name. However, I know and love each of the artists he has worked with over the years. This was a fascinating journey of a music producer who has helped shaped some of the most iconic albums of our era. I found myself drawn to the inside stories of not only the making of each album, but the artistic process behind them. And I was very happy to delve The Tragically Hip’s Day for Night, since I’m a forever fan. From Billy Ray’s unpaid position to Brad Pitt’s visit to recollection of the power of Gord Downie’s legacy, it was a very special glimpse into the making of the record. If you’re a music fan, especially if you’re a geek who loves the making-ofs, this is a great book for you! Learn how some of the music that shaped our generation got made.
May 15, 2019
A fascinating book about making records was just released by ECW press called "Listen Up!". Its by recording engineer and producer Mark Howard with assistance by his brother Chris , and contains stories within stories about making records with Daniel Lanois, Neville brothers, tragically hip, red hot chili peppers, r.e.m. and iggy pop to name a few. The book is revelatory into the spirit of record making, (and the spirits that come and try to take part in a session?!) and has enough info about audio tecnology as well to satisfy the gear geek sort to speak. The book is in audiobook format as well at audible.ca . Way to go mark!
May 4, 2025
Listen Up! is an entertaining memoir tracking the career of Mark Howard, who by sheer determination, love of music, fortunate timing and clearly heaps of innate talent, forged a wildly successful career as a studio engineer and music producer. His writing style is rudimentary and the narrative shifts can be jarring but the fascinating stories more than make up for it. Detailed specs are provided for the gear-heads, but the real gold here are the glimpses into the recording process with some of modern music's biggest names: Bob Dylan, Neil Young, U2 and many more. Highly recommended to rock music fans interested in a peek behind the curtain.
December 3, 2019
Howard is a semi-legendary engineer/producer/player who had a big hand in making some of the better records of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. While the technical jargon often went over my head, what did connect was his story of the personalities behind the music. The book would be a worthwhile read just for Howard's Bob Dylan stories, and his chapter on doing a record with Tom Waits was also fascinating. A fun read that shows the enthusiasm of Howard and many of the outstanding artists he's assisted.
September 30, 2020
Opened my eyes to the role of producers and sound engineers, which seems to be just as much real estate flipper and tapestry buyer as making records. It does a good job of creating what I expect to be the honest vibe around a recording studio- complete with countless name-checks (of musicians, equipment, and bikes), poorly-veiled beefs, documentation of the quirks of the rich and famous, stories whose point seems forgotten, all delivered with a smattering of braggadocio. This is all meant to be positives. Thoroughly enjoyed.
January 17, 2020
“Listen up: when you sing, dance, or play music, your soul is at its best.”
A good read, with some equipment minutia, but plenty of character sketches of many artists involved in these recordings. A fair number of them appear to be incredibly demanding, and if Howard’s accounts are any indication, a little entitled, but I guess the ends justify the means sometimes.
Hats off to Mark Howard for weathering those storms, and helping birth some fantastic music.
A good read, with some equipment minutia, but plenty of character sketches of many artists involved in these recordings. A fair number of them appear to be incredibly demanding, and if Howard’s accounts are any indication, a little entitled, but I guess the ends justify the means sometimes.
Hats off to Mark Howard for weathering those storms, and helping birth some fantastic music.
May 6, 2023
A great balance of anecdotes about musicians and interesting technical details gives a sense of what a sound engineer / producer does. Mark Howard's commitment to supporting creativity and capturing the best performances includes relationships and setting up sympathetic environments for immersive working with bespoke acoustic spaces, instruments, and sounds tailored for individual artists. An insightful read.
August 14, 2021
A gear head would love this book, as the author clearly loves equipment and can talk about it for pages. I enjoyed the chapters when Howard would talk in more detail about personalities and the making of specific tracks. I guess I was hoping for more of a Song Exploder approach to this memoir.
December 8, 2021
Libro muy entretenido para leer con música de fondo. Y si no eres productor, ayuda mucho ir buscando los modelos que Mark menciona.
En cualquier caso, más una serie de anécdotas y retratos de trabajo con músicos famosos que algo estrictamente musical. Capítulos muy irregulares en calidad.
En cualquier caso, más una serie de anécdotas y retratos de trabajo con músicos famosos que algo estrictamente musical. Capítulos muy irregulares en calidad.
October 20, 2022
Listen Up! is sometimes a little gear-heavy for casual readers who just love good music (like me), but Howard's recorded so many cool and amazing artists that you'll definitely find lots to like in it if you like the artists he's recorded.
December 1, 2023
Baby kangaroos are not called wallabies and Brisbane is not in New South Wales. Otherwise, this is a lively read with lots of good gear talk and some funny stories. Best line - something about deckbuilding being part of Canadian DNA.
June 5, 2024
Fantastic book. If you are interested in how music is made/produced, this is the book for you. It gets down to the nitty-gritty in production, this is one of those books I'll read and reread to get more bits of info out of.
May 9, 2020
Stories felt filtered and too clean.
June 5, 2025
The Bob Dylan bits are the best.
February 26, 2019
This is an honest review, in exchange for the copy of this book provided by ECW Press.
"Listen-up..." was created with the support of the Canadian Council of Arts. It is a re-cap of many of the accomplishments of Mark Howard who is a Canadian record producer, engineer and mixer. The time frame of this book and his work is roughly from the mid 1980's, through the 90's and into the 2000's.
This book may be of some interest to those interested in the music production of that time period. I feel it is primarily a music store book. Some knowledge of the equipment and the process is beneficial. While the back cover suggests it is a “production guide”, it is not instructional and not a reference guide.
Mark takes you through the process of renting several buildings over the years to be used as recording studios. These are described in great detail and with some of the changes that they made to them. The recording equipment is listed in each case and it’s shipping and installation is sometimes discussed. How some unusual sounds were produced at the time (to please all involved) are in there as well. Part of his job also involved gathering the right studio musicians of the period for a particular job.
There are some interesting anecdotes relating to the artists he recorded. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Willie Nelson are just a few involved in this book. Most of these being in the later part of their career; still making great music.
As with most artists at this level, we see many of their quirks and their eccentricities. Many are ego maniacs; some are pleasant some are not. Some have very bad and short fused tempers. To his credit, Mark was able to control these people enough to make some great recordings.
In most forms of popular music being created today, there is a great reduction in the need for studio musicians. The methods are almost entirely digital. The vocals are often completely altered with voice processors. The instruments, the notes and chords needed are simply created on the computer screen. Music has become a line of code. So the relevance of this book might be compromised somewhat. But it is an interesting look at that time period and the accomplishments of Mark Howard.
"Listen-up..." was created with the support of the Canadian Council of Arts. It is a re-cap of many of the accomplishments of Mark Howard who is a Canadian record producer, engineer and mixer. The time frame of this book and his work is roughly from the mid 1980's, through the 90's and into the 2000's.
This book may be of some interest to those interested in the music production of that time period. I feel it is primarily a music store book. Some knowledge of the equipment and the process is beneficial. While the back cover suggests it is a “production guide”, it is not instructional and not a reference guide.
Mark takes you through the process of renting several buildings over the years to be used as recording studios. These are described in great detail and with some of the changes that they made to them. The recording equipment is listed in each case and it’s shipping and installation is sometimes discussed. How some unusual sounds were produced at the time (to please all involved) are in there as well. Part of his job also involved gathering the right studio musicians of the period for a particular job.
There are some interesting anecdotes relating to the artists he recorded. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Willie Nelson are just a few involved in this book. Most of these being in the later part of their career; still making great music.
As with most artists at this level, we see many of their quirks and their eccentricities. Many are ego maniacs; some are pleasant some are not. Some have very bad and short fused tempers. To his credit, Mark was able to control these people enough to make some great recordings.
In most forms of popular music being created today, there is a great reduction in the need for studio musicians. The methods are almost entirely digital. The vocals are often completely altered with voice processors. The instruments, the notes and chords needed are simply created on the computer screen. Music has become a line of code. So the relevance of this book might be compromised somewhat. But it is an interesting look at that time period and the accomplishments of Mark Howard.
February 23, 2020
Have you ever been around a musician or someone in the music biz that does nothing but tell you about all the quasi-famous people they’ve had encounters with (however brief) and you just feel like they’re sorta inflating the whole thing to sound cool? Then you realize that the people or situations they’re bragging about aren’t even very impressive in the grand scheme of things? Then your realize you’ve heard this crap from so many other needy people before that it’s all the same and the names and locations are just mixed around from the last person who told you these stories?
Take that experience and make it into a book that’s a couple hundred pages long. Yup. That’s this book.
Other than that....it was fine.
Take that experience and make it into a book that’s a couple hundred pages long. Yup. That’s this book.
Other than that....it was fine.
July 21, 2019
Lots of behind the scenes stories, experiences, and info about working with musicians (Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Young, Rickie Lee Jones, and so many more).
I found Mark Howard's behind the scenes in recording studios especially fascinating, since I'm in the recording equipment building and design business. I'd visited two of the beautiful and unique recording space Mark designed and decorated: the Teatro and the Paramour.
Also fun to hear many people I know mentioned on his pages.
I found Mark Howard's behind the scenes in recording studios especially fascinating, since I'm in the recording equipment building and design business. I'd visited two of the beautiful and unique recording space Mark designed and decorated: the Teatro and the Paramour.
Also fun to hear many people I know mentioned on his pages.
October 24, 2019
Audiobook. DNF. Too much technical jargon about instruments, speakers and equipment. Probably a good reference book for people in the musical field.
February 8, 2019
Listen Up by Mark and Chris Howard is a time- travel through rock and roll history, equipment tutorials and quirks of the loud and famous. Better than a backstage pass, the book covers relationships between artists and their surroundings, preferences of all kinds and the struggles behind the scenes to bring music that lives on beyond its makers. It’s brutally honest and extremely detailed, as a producer must be, but then forgiving at the end. It is a delve into some of our greatest music and how it almost didn’t come to be- an interesting read!
March 31, 2019
If you're a rock music fan this is a must read.
It's a fascinating and brutally honest telling of what's going on behind the scenes.
I loved it and was left craving for more.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a fascinating and brutally honest telling of what's going on behind the scenes.
I loved it and was left craving for more.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews