Benchmark Records?

What records really inspire you in terms of production values, things you try to emulate in your own recording?

From an overall album point of view, with all of their songs in total that are benchmark's in rock music history, that also set the achievement bar VERY high, in terms of songwriting and musicianship....

The Beatles - Rubber Soul

The Beatles - Revolver

The Beatles - Abbey Road

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Yes - The Yes Album

Moody Blues - Seventh Sojourn


These are the first ones to come across my mind....

Thanks for your reply.

I was hoever thinking more along the lines of production rather than musicianship though. You know, mic'ing, mixing, effects etc..

Thanks for your reply.

I was hoever thinking more along the lines of production rather than musicianship though. You know, mic'ing, mixing, effects etc..


Ahhh... so, I took production as to mean everything that went into it.

So, out of that list for production... Abbey Road (Geoff Emererick) and DSOTM (Alan Parsons). Then I would add Sgt Peppers LHCB (Sir George Martin & Sir Paul McCartney) from a production point of view.

Couldn't resist this. One of my faves at the moment, Nonsuch by XTC produced by Gus Dudgeon.

Just a few off the top of my head.....'Dark side Of the Moon' continues to amaze and inspire after all these many years. 'Here Is What Is' by Daniel Lanois is a wonderful lesson in prodcution values. 'Life Is Messy' by Rodney Crowell...the production on this album is top notch....I love the way the guitars are layered, with teles, strats, acoustics and Hammond's trading center stage, fading in and out as another beautiful guitar tone takes center stage. The playing is ace's and every song a gem. One of my all time favorites.

Thanks for your reply.

I was hoever thinking more along the lines of production rather than musicianship though. You know, mic'ing, mixing, effects etc..

Kinda hard to separate the performances and arrangements from the production..trying to polish turds, etc.

Always liked the sound of Steely Dan's Aja and Gaucho records: Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, Peg, Josie, etc.

All incredible sounding recordings.

The most inspiring recordings tend to be the ones where there is no awareness of production "tricks". Just great music!



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The most inspiring recordings tend to be the ones where there is no awareness of production "tricks". Just great music!



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I like these records too, especially when the room is mic'ed instead of individual instruments. The better the music, the less production matters.

But there is a lot of music that is fairly mediocre but i love listening to for the production, like admiring guitar tone I guess.

Hmmm. I am going to go outside the box.

Simon & Garfunkle-Bookends. I agree that they kind of copped out on side 2 considering that was made up of singles that had already been released but side 1 is the focus. A song cycle from birth to old age. Roy Halee is one of the unsung geniuses as far as recording engineers go.

The Millenium-This studio creation was a Curt Beottcher prodction all the way with ex-Music Machine members Keith Olsen (later to engineer Fleetwood Mac and produce Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl"), Ron Edgar, and Doug Rhodes as well as Lee Mallory. This was one of the first albums using the then new 16 track tape machines and one of the most expensive records ever produced in Cloumbia records history. It is a testament to Boettcher's abilty to arrange vocal harmonies as well as using the technology available to create a very unique album

Boston-1st album. I'm still trying to figure out some of the stuff on that album considering it was recorded in a home studio. On top of that it has to be one of the best debut albums.

Moby Grape-another perfect debut album. The cool thing with this album is that David Rubinson would mix the backing vocals out of phase wit the rest of the track causing a spaciousness in the stereo field. Unfortunately the mono version cancels it out but still a great album.

XTC-Skylarking. More proof that Todd Rundgren is not only a master of getting good sounds, he also gets them in an amazing short period of time.

Deep Purple-Machine Head. Recorded in a empty hotel and using the Rolling Stones Mobile recording truck. Martin Birch was not only able to get a great drum sound he also managed to get decent seperation while also using room mics for ambience. You can really hear the effect with the Anniversary re-master done by Roger Glover.

Jimi Hendrix Experience-Axis: Bold As Love. Eddie Kramer, Olympic Studios, first use of stereo phasing effects, need I say more.

I pretty sure some more will come once I had a cup of coffee.

Please contribute more folks, this is very interesting.

To the people who like the simple sound of pre-60's music where there are no tricks at all. Shared mics, unintended distortion and such. Do you try to achieve the same sound on your modern home recordings done digitally?

To the people who like the simple sound of pre-60's music where there are no tricks at all. Shared mics, unintended distortion and such. Do you try to achieve the same sound on your modern home recordings done digitally?

yes! absolutely and it can be quite challenging! as you've probably gotten sick of already :lol: are all my attempts at re-creating the EMI recording vibe of the Beatles.

But on other new material, I just am trying to capture that lovely open space around the instruments you hear on really good recordings. Also, very challenging to achieve.