Life on the Ground Issue 63
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FEATURE sometimes just succumbing to surreal Looking at working methods of some fits of hysteria as the intensely long hours of my favourite Producers has not made involved in making an album roll on. answering that question any easier. There’s also a certain amount of science George Martin, arguably the most – albeit simple – involved in studio well known Producer since the music work: a bit of the old phase relationships, industry started issuing this credit, is acoustical theory, alignment procedures, probably the best example of the Classic schematic reading, and mastering the Producer. As was quite standard in his creation of a proper cup of tea. It’s hardly day, he also worked in an A&R capacity the stuff of a Newton, an Einstein or a for a single record company, EMI. He Hawkins but it’s still science… to clowns decided if artists had sales potential and anyway. if so, he would sign them to the label and supervise their recordings. All this got me thinking about whether I should really be called an Engineer at As his relationship with The Beatles – his all. Maybe it’s a bit too much of a stretch. most famous signing – developed, and Sure, I can record a bridge but can I as their music grew more intricate, he design or build one? Maybe I should stop would write many of their memorable accepting this ‘Engineer’ credit altogether string arrangements for them, being a and just call myself a Recordist. I still trained musician and a master of music prefer Clown Scientist but I’m willing to theory himself. Martin certainly brought give a bit on this one, especially because polish and sophistication to The Beatles’ Scientist just doesn’t sound very rock ‘n’ sound, as well as making brilliant pop roll and Clown might make clients a bit arrangement suggestions such as starting nervous about shaking my hand, fearing a song with the chorus instead of the what may lie hidden in my palm. From verse. this day forward I’ll do my damnedest to He kept things well organised and ensure I never receive an ‘Engineer’ credit acted as an anchor in an increasingly Sure, I can record a on another album. That way I won’t ever psychedelic sea of ideas. He may actually “ again have to say: “No, no, I’m not a real bridge but can I design have been the first Producer to welcome engineer, I’m a music engineer!” or build one? Maybe I the musicians into “his” control room, BUILDING BRIDGES (& CHORUSES) and as The Beatles’ studio savvy increased should stop accepting Anyone with an M-Box and a Chinese he’d often leave them to work with Abbey this ‘Engineer’ credit condenser microphone can call Road staffers while he enjoyed evenings at LIFE ON altogether and just call themselves an Engineer these days but home. (Possibly involving the musicians that’s a long way from Real Engineering, in production was a ploy to get a few myself a Recordist. which is doing jobs like designing a evenings at home. What a clever man!) jumbo jet or the West Gate Bridge His role as a Producer contrasts THE GROUND (okay, the West Gate Bridge might not completely with someone like the late The Pilot Episode Hello dear reader and welcome to singing sea shanties about a big break be the best example because it tragically Guy Stevens, an incredibly influential the first episode of Life On the waiting like buried treasure at the next ” collapsed while still under construction. figure on the British scene during many What the hell is a ‘Producer’ Ground, a tragic situation comedy port of call? Will the intrepid crew ever But maybe that was because a Second of its best years but now largely forgotten and is an ‘Engineer’ capable detailing the high hopes and changing see the sunlight outside of the control Engineer designed it). and sadly under-credited. Stevens was tides aboard a leaky boat, the HMAS room galley and finally get exercise other One caveat: I’m keeping the Engineer originally a DJ at the New Scene Club of building bridges? It’s all Recording Studio. Battered on the reefs of than viciously hammering on computer credit in the space on my passport where in London during the mid ’60s where ‘Clown Science’ to some… sinking record company budgets, sails keyboards and repeatedly performing ‘Occupation’ is listed. Previously, I had he introduced bands like The Who and torn by the howling winds of cheap 375ml elbow curls? foolishly listed Music Producer as my The Small Faces to Jamaican dance Text: Jonathan Burnside digital technology and rising real estate JUST WHAT THE HELL IS IT WE DO FOR occupation but soon got tired of being music, American soul and R&B. This prices, torpedoed by U-Boats full of A LIVING? hauled in front of packs of drug-sniffing can be heard on his friends’, The Rolling novice bedroom recordists and cannon- Twenty years on and it’s still not easy beagles at every border crossing. Now Stones, Sweet Black Angel from Exile on balled by wanton music piracy, still the explaining exactly what I do for a living. that the passport controllers of the world Main Street. He titled the Rolling Stones’ little ship sails on through the dark waters My mother-in-law had a few interesting think I’m a Real Engineer, they’ve called Sticky Fingers album and named the of a shark-infested Music Industry. ideas on the subject when my wife and off the dogs and stopped inquiring about band Procol Harum after his cat. Like What madness motivates this screwball I were first dating. Sometimes she’d how I plan to support myself while George Martin, Guy Stevens worked for crew of sonic thrill-seekers to brave say, “What does he do? Is he a clown?” staying in their country. a record company, Island, during some of his career but the similarity stops unscrupulous music pirates, savagely deaf Other times she’d have the notion I was a ROOM FULL OF PRODUCE there. His duties at Island included going A&R people and drunken band managers scientist, maybe because of my glasses. I So I have finally realised that I don’t to countless shows to spot new talent, with tin ears who teeter about on wooden could fully understand her confusion. So Jonathan Burnside actually Engineer for a living, even (above) has produced rolling an endless supply of spliffs for legs, chanting “Work for cheap, you is this ‘Clown Scientist’ idea as accurate as and engineered albums though I’ve been credited with it for whoever came through the Island offices scurvy dogs, work for cheap! Maybe the Producer, Engineer or Mixer credits in both the USA and years. Maybe my Producer’s credit is a Australia, for the likes and finding the best of obscure music we’ll throw you an album project some that are usually given? Perhaps. I do think of The Living End, safe enough one though. A Producer from the West Indies and America to day. Yarrrrghhhhh!”? Will we hear the it has more panache about it, that’s for The Sleepy Jackson is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as and Faith No More, release on Islands’ Sue Records label. captain once again thunder the immortal sure. amongst countless “a person generally responsible for the words; “Aye, your face looks honest… others. He now resides There have been plenty of pranks and in Melbourne and owns production of a film, a play or a broadcast He was more of a trendsetter and a but I can’t put it in me cash register,” as pratfalls in studios all over the world for and runs Eastern Bloc program, album, etc.”. taste-meister than a musical arranger yet another band tries to avoid walking Studios (formerly and he often repainted the young bands years; people trying to provide comic Altantis) in Hawthorn. Still, what do I say when I’m asked, the Plank of Full Payment by desperately relief during some insane moments or AT welcomes him he produced with heavy-handed, broad aboard. “Exactly what is it a Producer does? AT 44 AT 45 brushstrokes, many of which turned ashram, and John Lennon, the most aggro out to be strokes of genius. Deciding he hippie the world has ever known, might should pair a loud rock band with a Bob have kicked poor Martin down the steep Dylan-sounding vocalist, he found a hard flight of stairs between the control room rock band called Silence, renamed it Mott and the studio room at Abbey Road. I’m the Hoople (the title of a book about also guessing, and probably not wildly, circus freaks he had read while in prison that Joe Strummer would have been for a drug offence), demoted their lead completely disappointed if Guy Stevens singer to roadie and found Ian Hunter had shown up at the studio at 9am sharp, to be his ‘Dylan’. Along with T-Rex and dressed nicely in a starched white shirt David Bowie, the band defined the British and black tie, smiling and saying, “Here’s glam era of the following years. Hunter the string arrangement I just wrote for later said that Stevens saw a spark in him Death or Glory.” But he was fine with that he did not even see in himself and the times Stevens trashed the studio and without Stevens; he’d still be working his lay down in the path of the head of the factory job.