Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings

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Summary: Great source of info on Major Producers.
Review: Centering around some of the most widely successful and arguably avant-garde producers in modern pop music, Howard gives the dedicated Stones or Beach boys fan an insight into the mind of the person "putting it all together". He points out as in Traffic's case; A sound engineer that throws a lead singer a tambourine or pair of maracas can completely change the outlook of a session, and never see anything but a credit. Known well to the public, Dr. Dre, Phil Spector, and John Cale are also covered relatively extensively; following up on minutia for the audiophiles. Producers often don't get the credit they deserve, but in mainstream music they usually are usually as active as the individual band members. Negotiating everything from the sound production to submarine sandwiches, they are the ones that make it happen. All content copyright www.maximumink.com

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Summary: great read
Review: Combining solid research, impeccable taste and a fluid writing style, David Howard lays open what had previously been, for me, a mysterious component in the creation of some music I can't live without. It's a great read, reliably told and entertaining, by someone who clearly must be a diehard music fan himself.

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Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: David N. Howard does a wonderful job showing how the folks behind the scenes created not only unique songs, but entire genres of music. From Rock and Roll to Dub, to Avant-Garde, and even Hip Hop, this book explains the birth of some of the most influential facets of contemporary music. Mr. Howard's enthusiasm for the music caused me to listen to familiar music in a new light and gave me a new found appreciation for music I had previously not enjoyed.

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Summary: Legendary Music From a Fresh Perspective
Review: Precious little writing has been devoted to the people behind the sounds of classic albums, but this book greatly serves to right that wrong with concise yet detailed chapters on the well-known greats (Phil Spector, George Martin...) and the cult favorites (best piece on David Axelrod to date, includes contemporary interview). Sonic Alchemy rises to the top of the music book glut with ease...

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Summary: The true stories of some of the most influential producers
Review: Sonic Alchemy: Visonary Music Producers And Their Maverick Recordings by professional music journalist David N. Howard presents the true stories of some of the most influential producers in the history of music, from pioneers like Phil Spector and George Martin to the technocrats of today. The roles that producers have had in crafting nuances of popular music is thoroughly explored, in this eminently readible and enjoyable anthology. Black-and-white photographs and meticulous research and listings complement the engaging tales.

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Summary: INTO THE MUSIC
Review: This book is an excellent primer for anyone interested in digging deeper into the sounds they've heard on their favorite records. Howard uses extensive interviews and great anecdotes to flesh out a thorough history of groundbreaking record producers, from the masters -- George Martin, Shel Talmy, Brian Wilson -- to cult favorites like Brian Eno and John Cale. For anyone who's curious about where the sound comes from, this is a great starting place.