A link I was meaning to post for a long time. This list of 20 top producers may have some glaring omissions, but is still a good read.
American-born Shel Talmy was one of the best producers of the British Invasion, responsible for the signature sounds of the Who and the Kinks. Talmy was another character; he arrived in London pitching acetates of the Beach Boys, claiming to have produced them; he hadn’t. As an American, Talmy’s production ideas were a lot bolder and more primitive than those of his British contemporaries like George Martin; he favored raw sounds considered too untamed by most producers; as a result, those early Kinks and Who records still sound electric and vibrant today because of their raw, unairbrushed qualities; in some ways, he was the Steve Albini of his day. “I Can’t Explain” is the Who at their raw, early best; with raunchy lead and richly-timbered power riffing. The drums and bass are kept more forward in the mix than the British were comfortable with, giving Keith Moon and John Entwistle as much spotlight as Townshend’s guitar.
via Sunday Morning Playlist: Top Twenty Record Producers of the Rock Era – Page 6 – Blogcritics Music.
