Insidetracks: A First-Hand History of Popular Music from the World's Greatest Record Producers and Engineers

by Richard Buskin

Behind every classic pop record is a musical mentor whose job it is to coax the finest performance from an artist, while a technical virtuoso captures that unforgettable sound for posterity . In this... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380807459
• ISBN13: 9780380807451
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Quill
• Length: 364 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.0" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

The often forgotten ingredient to the enchantment

Yes, very few music fans are actually aware of the role of music producers in the making of timeless (or in more subjective terms, special) recordings. Richard Buskin's opus, which begins with a passionate foreword by Brian Wilson, will help to clarify the work of past and present key figures in the record production world. To the initiated, the testimonies, anecdotes and other episodes that once were only confined to the control room come to life as the living proof of the utmost importance of such professionals in the making of the songs we all love, showing that they often need far more than just "good ears". Part diplomats, part businessmen, part psychologists, part marketing experts; record producer helped to shape music as we know it today. As a final comment, unlike Mark Cunningham's book (which is also fantastic, by the way), this one is not only confined to the UK scene.

A great look at behind-the-scenes heroes

While, no question, musical talent speaks loud and clear, a good producer and a good engineer sure help raise the volume level. This is a great collection of anecdotes from some of the top people in both areas (sometimes they're the same person!). George Martin, Sam Phillips and Quincy Jones you probably know, but the insights of others like Bob Rock (Metallica), Norman Smith (Pink Floyd), Bill Price (The Sex Pistols), Roy Halee (Paul Simon), Chris Kimsey (The Rolling Stones) and Leiber and Stoller (Elvis, The Drifters), as well as everyone else featured here, make for fascinating reading about what goes on in the studio. Hope there's a Part 2 somewhere down the road!