The best producer? George Martin Or Bob Rock?

ZEKE SAYER · #1 06-15-2003

I'm fan of George Martin's work with the Beatles. (i think that's just about the only band that he producted.) He is a smart man. From his work on Srt. Pepper to Abby Road. Bob Rock on the other hand is "Ok" His work on MetallicA Has turned out some good guitar, bass and vocal sounds. but i'm begenning to think that he don't know what in the hell he's doing. His drum sound (kick and snare) Suck big time. But Let's figure out which one of these producers most liked.

Z

Richie Woods · #2 06-15-2003

Sir George Martin has worked with numerous bands after the Beatles (the 70's thru the 90's). A classic production of his is Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow. IMO, it is a masterpiece.

As far as producers go, Jimmy Page is one of my all time favorites. For his day (during Zep) , he was as much as an innovator as Martin was in his day. His recent work on the new Zeppelin DVD is outstanding.

Cyrokk · #3 06-15-2003

You're kidding me right?

George Martin's productions have turned out near prestine. Even with the most limited technology of the time, he has helped create music that is just as sonically exciting and pure as it was in its heyday. I don't spend my time trying to ponder what is missing from the sound on Beatle records, unlike all of Metallica's albums with Bob thus far. Despite the fact that the production on St. Anger doesn't bother me as much as most folk, I still listen to it and think "man, if they only just did this or that then this album would kick so much ass".

Although it would never happen, I'd love to hear a Martin Birch produced Metallica album. He is one of the few that can really pull out a decent metal album.

Cy

c7sus · #4 06-15-2003

Metallica uses a producer to make that shit?

Wow, you learn something every day...........

I bet Lars has a stroke every time they have to cut the guy a check.

Richie Woods · #5 06-15-2003

This is just such a 'no contest' poll.

I have been reading on other boards at how sucking the sound is on the new Metallica album...mostly the drums. What else has this guy Rock done?

Taiyed · #6 06-15-2003

I think David Bottril (spelling?) is a fantastic metal producer. Listen to Tool's Lateralus, or Silverchair's new Neon Ballroom (which is actually quite weak other tahn two really heavy, amazing songs). He's done a lot of other stuff in the past, but Lateralus is just fantastic. He really knows how to make stuff sound big while having some space in the sound which is truly amazing.

therage! · #7 06-15-2003

WTF,

Rock and Martin in the same sentence!

Martin is a legend.

What I can't figure out is why the hell Metallica needed Rock to produce that shit. I wonder what his points were on that latest POS? The only guy worth a dime on that record is the guy doing all the edits in PT.

Cyrokk · #8 06-15-2003

Good call Taiyed!

Being a massive Tool fan, I love his work. I didn't realize he did Silverchair too. A very underrated yet damn good band.

Cy

cstockdale · #9 06-15-2003

Martin beats Rock, Rock beats Rubin, Lanois beats them all

donkeystyle · #10 06-15-2003

i think that the new silverchair album is their best yet. daniel johns keeps pushing himself........who knows where he'll be with his next record........he's also shows that he doesnt' have to play metal constantly........... i think that album is anything but "weak" but i do think that it's lacking the pop sense that daniel has shown he has......i think that's what has made his previous albums so much more accesable....... i favor neon ballrom though.

I like that daniel has grown up and doesn't feel like he has to write metal songs constantly......i just wish his fans would grow up also.........cause it's obvious from interviews that he writes metal for his fans, not himself.......he actually stated that the couple metal songs on the album are there just because that's what people expect from silverchair.

tool is amazing and i think they would have similar sounding albums even if bottril hadn't produced them. but the 2 albums that bottril produced are pretty damn good

Light · #11 06-16-2003

Sir George is one of the most prolific, diverse, and consistent producers in the world. In addition to the Beatles, Jeff Beck, and all the rest of the pop/rock stuff he produced (there is a lot), he is also one of the worlds best classical producers (he actually considered this to be his "career"), and he got his start (late `40s-early `50s) producing comedy records.

Two of my favorite of his (recent) albums were "Glory of Gershwin," by Larry Adler, and "In My Life," by Sir Martin himself. "Glory of Gershwin" was an eightieth birthday album by Adler, who was a close friend of George Gershwin's, and probably the best chromatic harmonica player in the world. The album is duets by Adler and various well known musicians, doing Gershwin covers. High points include "But Not for Me," sung by Elvis Costello, and "My Man's Gone Now," Sung by Sinead O'Connor. Also Larry Adler and George Martin's version of "Rhapsody in Blue," though I wish they had not cut out so much of the piece. After the first time Gershwin and Adler played "Rhapsody in Blue," together (back in the 1920's) Adler was constantly begging Gershwin to write a piece for chromatic harmonica, and Gershwin would always respond, "I already have, Rhapsody in Blue."

"In My Life" was to be the last album George Martin produced (I have not noticed him changing that decision). It is an album of Beatles songs, with various people covering them. Highlights would be "Come Together," sung by Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin, and Jeff Beck playing "A Day in the Life." There is also a version of "I am the Walrus," sung by Jim Carrey, and while I am not a huge fan of Jim Carrey, I like the track. There are also a number of Martin's orchestral arrangements of Beatles songs (he did all of the orchestral arrangements for the original recordings, of course). He did this album, intending it to be his last album. He said, "There has to be a last album, so I would like to choose which one it is."

George Martin is a genius of a producer, a consummate musician, composer, and orchestrater. In addition to this, he has owned two of the world’s great recording studios (Air Montserrat, and Air London).

Bob Rock is, as near as I can tell, a passable guitar player, who tries like hell to emulate Mutt Lang, and can't quite get there. Of course, he can sell records, so I guess it does not really matter, right? I can't think of an album he has done which I am overly fond of (and I do like loud music, so it is not a genre thing). He certainly is not as diverse, nor as knowledgeable, about music as Sir George Martin, nor does he have 50+ years of amazingly good recordings behind him.

I got to do lights for one show for Sir George when he was touring, shortly after he retired. He was talking about the making of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Harts Club Band." I spoke with him very briefly after the show, and he was a kind, gracious, confident, and honest gentleman. He asked about my (then) interest as a producer. He was encouraging of this interest, far more so then many producers and engineers who are far less famous. He also had a handshake which was surprisingly firm for such an excellent piano player (most really great players seem to have handshakes like limp salmon, due to their concern for their hands.) He has an incredibly engaging personality. It is a shame his hearing lose (it is quite severe) has forced him to give up producing.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

Light · #12 06-16-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by cstockdale
Martin beats Rock, Rock beats Rubin, Lanois beats them all

Danial Lanois is great, but better than George Martin? I think not. And I would rather listen to Mitchel Froom and/or Tchad Blake then Danial Lanois (though I love him too).

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

Light · #13 06-16-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Richie Woods
What else has this guy Rock done?

Bon Jovi

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

shAkEz_gk · #14 06-16-2003

Dr. Dre

statecap · #15 06-16-2003

Sir George...HANDS DOWN !!!

moley · #16 06-16-2003

No brainer.

ZEKE SAYER · #17 06-16-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by shAkEz_gk
Dr. Dre

I read about that guy one of last year's eq issues. is Rap/Hip-Hop all that guys does?

ZEKE SAYER · #18 06-16-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Light
Bon Jovi

M.K. Gandhi

Bon Jovi........I like to listen to his records.....WHEN I NEED A GREAT LAUGH!

D

sjoko2 · #19 06-16-2003

The biggest no contest ever. George Martin of cause! - who was my 'mentor' after a band I worked with got signed by NEMS Enterprises (Apple's management) in the late '60's.

Blue Bear Sound · #20 06-16-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by ZEKE SAYER
Bon Jovi........I like to listen to his records.....WHEN I NEED A GREAT LAUGH!

And yet, that band's engineering sounds better than I've heard from you!!!!

(this isn't intended as an insult, but if you feel you can afford to laugh at their sound/material, the presumption is that you could do better than they -- and you're not quite there yet, I'm afraid!!!)

Light · #21 06-16-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Blue Bear Sound
And yet, that band's engineering sounds better than I've heard from you!!!!

(this isn't intended as an insult, but if you feel you can afford to laugh at their sound/material, the presumption is that you could do better than they -- and you're not quite there yet, I'm afraid!!!)

Perhaps, but to compare Rock has done with Sir George, there is no comparison.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

Blue Bear Sound · #22 06-16-2003

True!

jet-rocker · #23 06-16-2003

In the future, people will laud the visionary work that Bob Rock did with the band Metallica.

Bob Rock will be elected "Supreme Ruler".

George Martin's name will be removed from EVERY textbook. The Beatles??? Who are they???

-Jtt

ZEKE SAYER · #24 06-16-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Blue Bear Sound
And yet, that band's engineering sounds better than I've heard from you!!!!

(this isn't intended as an insult, but if you feel you can afford to laugh at their sound/material, the presumption is that you could do better than they -- and you're not quite there yet, I'm afraid!!!)

WO WO WO. Who said i was talking about the sound? I was talking about Jon Bovi Himself. The guy don't know what real rock is.

chessrock · #25 06-16-2003

No offense, but this is a pretty silly poll.

Kind of like asking:

"Greatest rock singer/songwriter of all time?: John Lennon or Ronnie James Dio?"