Watch Legends In The Music Biz Create

Alan Parsons and Daniel Lanois basically show us how to produce a CD

By Stephen Pate – When the legends of music promise to tell all, I listen.

Alan Parsons was the recording engineer at Apple Records who recorded Pink Floyd’s progressive rock anthem The Dark Side Of The Moon.

Parsons is releasing a new 3 DVD set called “Alan Parsons Presents Art And Science of Sound Recording DVD Set (Three-Disc Set)” at the Anaheim CA NAMM show. Parsons trained under George Martin the genius behind The Beatles.

From the trailer it looks very interesting. I’m not a progressive rock fan but the people Alan has assembled cut across the whole industry: country, rock, and blues.

The DVD set is aimed at people who want to learn how recording works and begin to develop some of the important techniques.

The project has been in development for years. It will be good to see the launch happen.

Alan Parsons is a legend produce-musician in his own right. Interviewing other industry professionals shows an openness that benefits everyone.

If you’re in the area the Alan Parsons Project will be appearing at the Anaheim NAMM show.

Daniel Lanois

Daniel Lanois released Here Is What Is as a DVD documentary of his producing and recording techniques in 2007. Along with a kind of month-in-my-life travelogue, Lanois shows you how he constructs, records and mixes his music. He delivers lots of great hints and tips for everyone in an off-handed and dreamy style.

The DVD is definitely mind-expanding if you already know a thing or two about recording. Lanois makes the assumption you want to learn some of his tricks. The DVD is so good, a friend liberated it and I have to get another copy. Whatever, spread the knowledge around.

Daniel Lanois is the U2 producer since their first hit Joshua Tree. He produces a completely different sound for his own CD’s such as the excellent L’Acadie or the mysterioso Belladonna.

Bob Dylan turned to Lanois to produce the award winning albums, Time Out of Mind and Oh Mercy.  In his autobiography Chronicles, Dylan describes On Mercy as a battle of two musical titans. That was obviously good for Dylan coming out of his mid 80’s slump.

If you listen to those albums with the outtakes in Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8
you get an even better picture of Lanois at work crafting the songs with Dylan.

Highly recommended.

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