Listening List
Here is a listening list we’ve used for a while on a particular module concerning recording techniques. This is getting a little old, in so much that some amazing other material could be included, but what? Bear in mind that the idea of this list is to make very explicit some really interesting recording techniques both in terms of hands-on technique (mic placement, room usage etc) and also philosophy (why).
Listening List
- Sergeant Peppers - The Beatles (1967)
- Discovery – Daft Punk (2000)
- London Calling - The Clash (1979)
- Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)
- Bran Van 3000 (1997)
- The Black Album - Matallica (1991)
- Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)
- Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991)
- Original Gold - The Beach Boys (1999)
- Wish You were Here - Pink Floyd (1975)
- 20 Greatest Hits - Aretha Franklin (1987)
- I Should Coco - Supergrass (1995)
- Divine Madness - Madness (1992)
- Live Evil - Black Sabbath
- Never Mind The Bollocks - The Sex Pistols (1977)
- Nimrod - Green Day
- Left of The Middle - Natalie Imbruglia (1998)
- Rubber Soul - The Beatles
- Under a Blood Red Sky - U2 (1983)
So what would you add to the list, and more importantly why would you add it? Thanks in advance.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I would add Miles Davis’s “Kind of blue” album as an example that it’s not all about “the more mic’s and tracks the better the sound”. In those days, recording technique was simpler. These records sound great because the players really had their craft down to a tee. They new their balance and dynamics as a band and less time needed to be spent on post production.
I think it is a good thing to start at the source: get the band positioned well, know who plays what and when, give each other room to play and listen to the balance of the band in the room. Get that right and your mix is going to be a lot easier! You’ll find out that it is amazing what you can do with just a pair of mics and maybe one or two spot mics.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Steve Albini (The man with the Mics)!
A few personal faves..
Joanna Newsom - Ys
Mono - “You Are There”
Mogwai - My Father, My King (Single)
Slint - Tweez
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
Breeders - Pod
Don Caballero - For Respect
Note he doesn’t always take a listed credit.. he’s a funny guy I guess.
Interesting article..
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep05/articles/albini.htm
Additionally I have to agree with “A Kind Of Blue”.. incredible sounding record that holds up today and probably always will.
February 29th, 2008 at 9:11 am
If its something recent from this decade I’d say John Mayer’s ‘Continuum’. Its one of those few recent records where every song stands out - lyrics, performance, arrangement and of course the recording and the mix. Its a CD I take along wherever I go - one of my references.
Then theres also Donald Fagen’s ‘Nightfly’. Although I’m not a great fan of his music, I end up listening to it just for the sound - mind blowing!
February 29th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Due to the common notion of jazz as “live improvisation” it’s possible that Miles’ contribution to recording/studio technique is (although well documented) often overlooked.. later works from “In A Silent Way” through to the “On The Corner” sessions (including the gob-smackingly astonishing “Bitches Brew”) used cut+paste/splicing techniques (inspired by Stockhausen) that are ubiquitous (although now achieved through digital methods) in contemporary electronica.
Slightly sidetracking but I felt it was worth mentioning, sorry.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I am not a technical expert when it comes to music production, but I think I have a fairly good ear, so I would like to add the following albums that I think show technical sophistication in their production.
What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye
I can listen to this album all day/every day, its fantastic, and I think the reason it works so well is the great production, with tracks flowing into each other and lots of sound layering. It really takes you into Marvin’s head and is very evocative of the time/place it was created in.
Cuckooland - Robert Wyatt
A fairly recent album (2003) but still a classic I think. I love it because it evokes Robert as an auteur. Working away in his home music room, creating the sound that he wants and chipping away at each track. Sorry to mix metaphors, but when I listen to this its like I can hear the brush stokes on his canvas.
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
I was also going to list Miles’ ‘Bitches Brew’ but Gary got in ahead of me, nice one. Anyway, I got to thinking about my Jazz collection and of course A Love Supreme jumped out and hit me in the head. Again, its a very personal album to the artist, so it exudes emotion and craft through its creation. Its absolutely flawless, the breathless whisper of ‘A Love Supreme, a Love Supreme’ sends shivers down my spine everytime.
Trout Mask Replica - Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
OK, I know, I know, but the story and circumstances of its production have got to be admired. Yes its bonkers, yes its a decent into madness, and yes the first time you listen to it you want to throw it out the window. However, there is something about this album that keeps daring you to fall in love with it. Just as you raise your arm to throw it, something stops you and a voice in your head says ‘go on have another listen’ and you do. Its and strange kind of voodoo, but it gets inside you and eventually you discover a whole ‘new world’ from which characters and stories emerge. You become hooked and thats it.
Exile on Main Street - Rolling Stones
I wouldn’t call myself a fan of the Stones, but this album is on regular rotation in my house, so it must have something. Like ‘What’s Going On’ above I think its the fact that the tracks work so well together and the whole production feels ‘complete’. Its band and studio working together as a complete unit, they are all in ‘the zone’ and when you listen to it you feel like it was recorded in a single session, at midnight, with the Devil himself at the desk.
Those are my New Additions. What I would like to do now is suggest some alternatives to the albums on the list, by the same artists.
Instead of ‘I Should Coco - Supergrass’ I think you should replace it with ‘A Road to Rouen - Supergrass’ which I think demonstrates a band who have travelled a long way and who have technically developed into something that with this album transcends their earlier work.
‘Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd’ this is a tough one, but for me ‘Atom Heart Mother - Pink Floyd’ truly represents the band at their most playfully inventive point, when the experimentation was still fresh and you can just picture them leaping around the studio in a frenzy of ‘lets record bacon frying’ enthusiasm. Maybe its too raw, too ‘not there yet’ for some, I don’t know, but there is something about it that is still pure and unique, where as I feel ‘Wish You Were Here’ is a developed sound that draws on the ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ formula, rather than actually pushing the boundaries.
‘Rumours - Fleetwood Mac’ again a tricky argument, but I go with my gut and nominate ‘Mr Wonderful - Fleetwood Mac’ instead. I guess this is a mute point really, as the lineup for each was totally different, so maybe this is a bit daft, but what the hell, its Mr Wonderful for me, and thats that.
‘London Calling - The Clash’ I really agree with this as a chioce, but as the list is for interesting recording techniques what about ‘Sandinista! - The Clash’. I know it gets a bad review and is seen as being disjointed and unedited, overblown etc. However, the fact remains that it was recorded by a band who were trying to do something totally different with their sound and are trying to incorporate a world of new experience and music into a single album. It was bound to fail thematically, but if when you listen closely to whats actually in Sandinista! you can’t help but be impressed by the shear ball’s of what they were trying to pull off.
‘Original Gold - The Beach Boys’ a compilation, what??? Oh please, how can you not include ‘Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys’ or for that matter ‘Smile - The Beach Boys’, both works of genius and thats final.
‘20 Greatest Hits - Aretha Franklin’ another compilation, no, no, no. Lets put this one to rights by going for ‘Young, Gifted and Black - Aretha Franklin’ its pedigree is undeniable, as I think one of her best. If you are going to ‘get’ Aretha, then get this, its that simple.
‘Divine Madness - Madness’ Yes, yes, I love these boys to, but for me they never did a good album, hence why Chris went for this compilation I guess, so I am going to suggest replacing this one with ‘I Just Can’t Stop It - The Beat’. I guess in some ways The Beat are very much a singles band like Madness, but I think this debut album shows that they could also produce something that would work as a package. In this case, it also includes a strong political message with the very overt ‘Stand Down Margaret’ to the deeper social commentary of ‘Mirror In The Bathroom’.
Anyway, thats it from me. I hope I haven’t been too controversial or gone on too long. At the end of the day I love music, so lists are always impossible, as I would like to mention at least a 1000 records if I had the time.
I look forward to seeing everyone elses suggestions.
March 1st, 2008 at 9:24 am
How’s about something produced by Spector i mean if anyone is known for using ‘different’ micing techniques it is Phil Spector and his famous wall of sound! …
The list you have is pretty good i’m unsure if i’d wan’t to cut any of those out. I love Justin’s suggestion of captian beefheart!
Brian Wilson had a similar sort of style so i’m glad to see him on the list (assuming thats some sort of greatist hits).
I would like to suggest more recent producers like timberland and kanye but i guess they are less about mic placement and more about editing and sampling (kanye).
I’ll let you know if i think of any others
March 24th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
i would include the roots things fall apart its a good fit for this as they are a live band not just an mc and some samples. i love the production of the album and it also adds a hip hop record to the list.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I don’t mean to be harsh,
but if none of you have considered RADIOHEAD’S - KID A
THEN YOU’RE ALL MAD!
Cheers,
Adnan