The Saturday List #496 - My top ten music producers

 I can't believe I've not done this list before. I have to give Gary Crowley a hat tip here. He is sitting in for Robert Elms and he is doing a fourfer (four songs suggested by listeners) of songs produced by legendary Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog-Oldham. I am a fan of Oldhams work, but it got me thinking "Which producer would I do a fourfer of". I realised that there are plenty! Anyway here is my list and the songs that made me include them. They are not in any particular order, apart from Glyn Johns who is deffo my fave. I suggest you google all of them. I have not included artists who just produced themselves primarily. 

1. Glyn Johns His work is brilliant. In my humble opinion, he produced the best rock album of all time, Sailor by The Steve Miller Band, the best British single "Love and Affection" and his CV includes all manner of great artists, including The Who, The Rolling Stones. The Eagles, etc. His book Soundman is brilliant.

2. David Bowie. Clearly, everyone knows Bowie as an iconic performer. His work as a producer is overlooked by many, but he produced Transformer by Lou Reed, which is perhaps my second favourite rock album of all time. It is pure genius. He also prduced, in my humble opinion, Iggy Pop's finest records. And lets not overlook Lulu!

3. Chris Thomas. The producer of Nevermind The Bollocks by The Sex Pistols. Whatever you think of Rotten and co, the production is brilliant. The drum sound is monumental and Steve Jones guitar sounds massive. He also produced the Pretenders. I am not a fan of Pink Floyd, but he did Dark Side of The Moon and even Son of the father by Chicory Tip.

4. Paul Oakenfold. Producer of my fave album of the 1990's, Thrills Pills and Bellyaches by The Happy Mondays. Mostly known as a remixer, working with the likes of The Cure and U2, The Rolling Stones etc. I must say I think that the man is a genius.

5. Martin Rushent. Here's a list of a few of the albums he produced. You don't really need to add anything... Rattus Norvegicus, No More Heroes, Another music in a different kitchen, Dare (The Human League).

6. Mike Thorne. Produced the first three Wire albums and Tainted Love by Soft Cell. The influence of these is impossible to quantify and Thorne clearly 'got it'.

7. George Martin. Any list without George Martin would be the work of an idiot! Of course he is most recognised for his work with the Beatles. My favourite from his catalogue though is Wings Live and Let Die.

8. Harold Raymond Battiste Jr. Produced one of my favourite albums, Gris Gris by Dr John. Also produced I got you babe by Sonny & Cher. 

9. Shel Talmy. Produced You really got me by The Kinks ( which probably invented the sound of metal guitars) as well asMy Generation by The Who, just to name a couple.

10. Boz Boorer. Yeah, I know he's my mate, I know I am biased, but having worked with Boz, he is a genius. His work with British Rockabilly bands such as The Deltas and Howlin Wilf established Boz's credentials and his work with Kirsty MacColl is absolutely brilliant.

I'll finish with a track Boz Boorer produced for the False Dots. The intro to this is all Boz's work. Of course I am biased, but I think this is the greatest intro to any rock song ever.