If Music Could Talk

Bazarboy has put up a great show dedicated to BAD II on Mixcloud, featuring an extensive interview with Andre Shapps.

Andre sheds a lot of light on the beginnings of BAD II and goes into a bit of depth about the creation of those sample-heavy albums. It was good to hear a few songs I've never heard for a long time too. Here's the link to part one, I'll post up the second part when it lands...

Nice... interesting stuff.

Regarding Higher Power, am I the only one who has no idea what an engineer actually does?

oliver wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 4:52pm

Regarding Higher Power, am I the only one who has no idea what an engineer actually does?

I recall reading a semi-famous essay/rant by Steve Albini, who said that because few producers have actual knowledge of recording, the real production work—the nuts and bolts of it—is done by the engineer. Producers now are more conceptual figures, idea people and sparring partners with the bands. But actually working the board and miking things up properly now is the engineer's job.

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 5:27pm

oliver wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 4:52pm

Regarding Higher Power, am I the only one who has no idea what an engineer actually does?

I recall reading a semi-famous essay/rant by Steve Albini, who said that because few producers have actual knowledge of recording, the real production work—the nuts and bolts of it—is done by the engineer. Producers now are more conceptual figures, idea people and sparring partners with the bands. But actually working the board and miking things up properly now is the engineer's job.

That makes sense. Thanks

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 5:27pm

oliver wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 4:52pm

Regarding Higher Power, am I the only one who has no idea what an engineer actually does?

I recall reading a semi-famous essay/rant by Steve Albini, who said that because few producers have actual knowledge of recording, the real production work—the nuts and bolts of it—is done by the engineer. Producers now are more conceptual figures, idea people and sparring partners with the bands. But actually working the board and miking things up properly now is the engineer's job.

The Doc is correct. The engineer does the technical stuff, the producer decides what comes out the other end.

Reference to Esmark's site suggests they didn't tour quite as extensively as André remembers.

They toured more extensively at times than Sony would have liked. BAD II kept touring the world with U2 when the record company wanted them back in the studio. I don't know if Esmark' site has everything, but they toured pretty much non-stop from Fall '91 until the end of '92, then more sporadically through '93 and '94, then heavily again in '95.

oliver wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 6:37pm

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 5:27pm

oliver wrote: ↑

22 Jun 2018, 4:52pm

Regarding Higher Power, am I the only one who has no idea what an engineer actually does?

I recall reading a semi-famous essay/rant by Steve Albini, who said that because few producers have actual knowledge of recording, the real production work—the nuts and bolts of it—is done by the engineer. Producers now are more conceptual figures, idea people and sparring partners with the bands. But actually working the board and miking things up properly now is the engineer's job.

That makes sense. Thanks

Yeah, the engineer's job title is a good description of what they do, while the producer is more like a guiding influence for the band, even to the point of arranging songs or suggesting changes to them, or being a cheerleader, Guy Stevens-style. Their relationship to the engineer is such that they may say that they want an EQ change on a track or an effect applied. They often know what sound they want, but don't have the technical skill to make it happen. The producer often mixes the album upon completion, but not always.

TeddyB Not Logged In wrote: ↑

25 Jun 2018, 5:31pm

They toured more extensively at times than Sony would have liked. BAD II kept touring the world with U2 when the record company wanted them back in the studio. I don't know if Esmark' site has everything, but they toured pretty much non-stop from Fall '91 until the end of '92, then more sporadically through '93 and '94, then heavily again in '95.

Okay. Perhaps it was André''s family name that led me to doubt the credibility of his words.

The line-up changed in 1995, didn't it?

MarkyJacobs wrote: ↑

26 Jun 2018, 4:54pm

TeddyB Not Logged In wrote:

25 Jun 2018, 5:31pm

They toured more extensively at times than Sony would have liked. BAD II kept touring the world with U2 when the record company wanted them back in the studio. I don't know if Esmark' site has everything, but they toured pretty much non-stop from Fall '91 until the end of '92, then more sporadically through '93 and '94, then heavily again in '95.

Okay. Perhaps it was André''s family name that led me to doubt the credibility of his words.

The line-up changed in 1995, didn't it?

Yes ... and yes. in mid-'95. But Andre was still there...

Part 2 here...

Didn't Mick use the F Punk method with some success to record The Libertines?

Sorry, forgot to say thanks for this. How rude of me!

Thanks, Heston. Thanks, Bazarboy.

Thanks... thoroughly enjoyed these.

The show is fantastic. Thank you, Bazarboy! Very interesting interview with Andre and great tunes. Good to hear your brilliant remixes too, especially Spanish Bombs and 7 Years (thanks Heston!).
This made my day.