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Title: Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios by William Clark, Jim Cogan, Quincy Jones ISBN: 0-8118-3394-1 Publisher: Chronicle Books Pub. Date: March, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (10 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Those were the days
Comment: "Temples of Sound" is an interesting and inspiring look at some popular American recording studios, mostly from the late 1950s and early 60s, but with a few nods to the later sixties and early 70s. (Sorry, no British studios. Abbey Road, Olympic, and Trident spring to mind - anyone want to write one?) Each chapter picks a particular studio (Sun, Chess, Motown, Western, Columbia, etc.) and gives a brief overview of its history (down to the present day; alas many of the studios no longer exist), its features, and the people who made it special, both artists and engineers. Indeed, the authors have interviewed a number of studio owners and engineers, which adds much to the text. The book certainly succeeds in being evocative - these were the days when echo chambers could be someone's bathroom, when everything was recorded on glorious analog tape, when most basic tracks were done live all in the same room with sonic leakage, and cigarette smoking in the studio was glamorous. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, the Doors, and other greats make walk-on appearances, and there are good photographs of many of them at work. (Actually, I could have used even more photos.) The book also rescues from relative obscurity one Bill Putnam, who apparently designed many of the sweetest-sounding rooms in the country. Often there are anecdotes about the history of studio owners and their labels, which are interesting, though one might hope for even more anecdotes about the artists and recording sessions. I found myself wishing for a little bit more technical information too, about how each room was set up and what specific gear they had, though some of this is mentioned briefly. And, of course, they can't cram every studio in here - for instance, there is no chapter on Muscle Shoals. However, the book ends with a nice discography of tracks to hunt down and listen to, each associated with one of the studios, and all of which I want to listen to after reading about these places' heydays. I find this book fascinating for what it does tell us, and inspiring in its depiction of an era when artistic talent, engineering skill, and human warmth made sometimes low-tech rooms into hallowed cathedrals of sound. A good gift for anyone interested in recording, or in the 50s-60s period.
Rating: 3
Summary: It's OK, not great
Comment: I just can't muster the enthusiasm of other reviewers for this book. Perhaps most interesting and informative are the stories of how some of the best recordings of the golden days of analog were made on a shoe string, over garages on third hand equipment. There are some insights into what made some of the studios sound unique.
The early chapters dwell lovingly on some details of the lives of the produces, engineers and some of the artists. But by the end the facts are marshaled and rushed past, leaving the reader with the distinct impression that they were included so as not to offend some egos or just to drop some names. In some cases the fact that the producers were flat out ignorant of music, rather unlikable individuals and driven by the Wall-Street motives of fear and greed are all too clear, but left between the lines.
All in all the book it left me with more questions than answers about the recording process. A decent compendium of facts about who did what when and where with a smattering of favorite artists and a few pictures to keep pop audiences happy. The authors are weakest when the crass business of the music industry intrudes into their picture of the studio as a crucible of pop art. I'd rather have more detail (even if it hurts) about a few studios or a focus on just a few top engineers and specific recording sessions.
Rating: 5
Summary: Really interesting!
Comment: Great book, especially after recently seeing the movie, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." A must-read for any musicologist, especially one who grew up with all of these tunes blasting from the car radio on WKNR, WXYZ and CKLW back in the 60's. And I was AMAZED by the Rudy Van Gelder story, being a fan of traditional jazz (Coltrane, et al.)
Even you fans who weren't yet born when some of these stars had already begun passing away will appreciate the "inside stories" behind much of the music you still hear today.
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Title: Inside Tracks: A First-Hand History of Popular Music from the World's Greatest Record Producers and Engineers by Richard Buskin ISBN: 0380807459 Publisher: Spike Pub. Date: 07 September, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits by Howard Massey ISBN: 0879306149 Publisher: Backbeat Books Pub. Date: 30 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Good Vibrations: A History of Record Production by Mark Cunningham, Alan Parson, Brian Eno ISBN: 1860742424 Publisher: Sanctuary Publishing Pub. Date: 01 September, 1999 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Creative Music Production, Joe Meek's Bold Techniques by Barry Cleveland ISBN: 1931140081 Publisher: ArtistPro.com Pub. Date: 2001 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: All You Need Is Ears : The inside personal story of the genius who created The Beatles by George Martin, Jeremy Hornsby ISBN: 0312114826 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 15 October, 1994 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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