ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board

ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board
http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl GENERAL >> MAIN BOARD >> Rolling Stones production http://rocksoff.org/cgi-bin/messageboard/YaBB.pl?num=1299967681 Message started by StonesFan1990 on Mar 12^th, 2011 at 4:08pm

Title: Rolling Stones production
Post by StonesFan1990 on Mar 12^th, 2011 at 4:08pm

I think MOST--or MANY--would agree that Jimmy Miller was their best producer, and that the Jimmy Miller era ('68-73) produced some great sounding albums...BUT
How do you feel about the Stones as producers on their albums? Or the Chris Kimsey era (1983-1989)? Or Don Was (1994-present)?

Honestly, I think Jimmy was slipping towards the end, with Goat's Head Soup. Songs that needed a rawer production like Dancing with Mr D. get a murky, almost Exile-like sound, for example.

I'm not a fan of the Kimsey years, really. And Don Was tries too hard to be Jimmy Miller, Jr.

Title: Re: Rolling Stones production
Post by Voodoo Chile In Wonderland on Mar 12^th, 2011 at 5:36pm

My answer is simple: Jimmy Miller was, by far, the best

Title: Re: Rolling Stones production
Post by Honky Tonk Man on Mar 13^th, 2011 at 10:59am

I don't pay too much attention to the production, to be perfectly honest. It's the songs that count. The only two Stones LP's that I dislike the production on are Dirty Work and Steel Wheels - though song-wise, the latter is very underrated, IMO.

Tattoo You is probably their best sounding record

Title: Re: Rolling Stones production
Post by AngieBlue on Mar 14^th, 2011 at 3:11am

Steve Lillywhite produced Dirty Work. I don't think he is a bad producer. I think he was a bad fit for the Stones.
If Dirty Work, Sleep Tonight and One Hit To The Body and maybe even Harlem Shuffle had been left more raw the album wouldn't have been so bad sounding.
The entire album sounds canned, for lack of a better term.

Steve Lillywhite also produced U2's first three albums. Most people are familiar with War.
Listen to that album and go back and listen to U2 live at the time. The difference in those songs is obvious.
And it the same atmospheric problem you hear on Dirty Work.

Production wise - that is the only one I don't like.

Everyone else has their strengths and weaknesses that don't make the Stones sound bad, just a little different here and there.
The songs, to my ears, seem to dictate how strong the albums are otherwise.