Def Leppard

[BevvyB]

There was a thing on telly about the making of the last two Def Leppard albums.

Although I totally appreciate the production ethic, comraderie, etc etc and Mutt Lange's influence...

...what the hell? Is that zero content songwriting or am I REALLY missing the point here.

They're all pretty good musicians, great in fact, but..I dunno. I kind of get 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' in a Joan Jett kind of way, but...I dunno...

..there's so much 'soul' and 'gutwrench vocals'...it just seems to be..bland

OK, shoot me now!!!

[crispy]

I always thought I was missing out on something as my mates were going bonkers about them.

However, last night's prog confirmed that I really didn't miss anything at all... poodle rock (rawk?) for post pubescent teenage girlies (and boys).

As a telly documentary it was badly produced & edited and didn't really provide any moments of inspiration, unlike say, Paul Simon's Graceland from an earlier series (an album I also didn't get at first, but after Classic Albums, I went straight out & hunted one down on vinyl).

[BevvyB]

Oh good, so it wasn't just me then.

[Renie]

I watched the Whitney Houston story

[Jules]

Pore sum sugar on MAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!



Was Mutts "plastic clack" non real drums drumsound a landmark in production?

It sure used to piss me off!

Vocals and overall 'huge" production trip was addictive though...

[Saucyjack]

"Poodle rock" LMAO....that about sums it up

[BevvyB]

Are there any VERY GOOD 'all about the making of this album' documentaries out there?

I wish there was a series that ventured further into the realms of gearsluttines and technique.

Actually, that drum sound sounded like he had a kit comprised solely of rubber ducks.

[StuartMac]

I really enjoyed the Classic Albums programme of Who's Next - but then it's one of my all-time favourite records, so that's hardly surprising.

FWIW, I ****ing HATE Def Leppard. Every single God-forsaken nano second of their miserable output. And Bon Jovi (foul mood coming on rapidly)grudge

[BrianT]

Yeah, I thought the docu on AC/DC "Back In Black" was pretty cool.


BT

[BevvyB]

When things sound so rockin' as that album who gives a f*** what they're shouting about.

[Jules]

The one about The Band was good too...

To see a grey haired vetran rock star push up the faders, scratch his chin and muse "how the hell did we come up with a Chinese ending for that one?" was priceless!

[JSMITH]

I happen to love most Def Leppard productions. Very talented guys with a formula that works for the most part. I do agree that the lyrics on some of the stuff is cheese. What do you expect for pop rock.

The show you speak of was edited like crap if it is the same one I saw. NO FLOW whatsoever!

The making of Metallica's Black album was..... o.k. I guess. I bet you have seen that one though.

[cally]

i used to think it was spelt deaf Leopard

[blackcatdigi]

Originally posted by JSMITH
I happen to love most Def Leppard productions. Very talented guys with a formula that works for the most part. I do agree that the lyrics on some of the stuff is cheese. What do you expect for pop rock.

Can't really blame them for being a product of the era. They were IMHO, some of the best produced albums of their time.


But I'm a big Mutt fan.

[Jay Kahrs]

Originally posted by BevvyB
Actually, that drum sound sounded like he had a kit comprised solely of rubber ducks.

Well, he was beating rubber pads.

Anyone remember the show Remote Control on MTV? My favorite question ever was; "If you were making mittens for Def Leppard how many would you make?" The girl thought about it for a few seconds and said "10" before the buzzer went off and her chair went backwards ejecting her from the game.

[blackcatdigi]

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs
Well, he was beating rubber pads.

Anyone remember the show Remote Control on MTV? My favorite question ever was; "If you were making mittens for Def Leppard how many would you make?" The girl thought about it for a few seconds and said "10" before the buzzer went off and her chair went backwards ejecting her from the game.

Cruel, man. Cruel...

[crispy]

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs
Anyone remember the show Remote Control on MTV? My favorite question ever was; "If you were making mittens for Def Leppard how many would you make?" The girl thought about it for a few seconds and said "10" before the buzzer went off and her chair went backwards ejecting her from the game.

I'm wiping the beer from my laptop (and the wall behind) as I type! Don't do this to me!!!

It was quite marked how similar Shania's stuff is production-wise to Hysteria. A case of one hat fits all (or not)?

[Generalmix]

Personally, I find Mutt's production very interesting. The big production, big sound lots of overdubs and great background vocals.

[BrianT]

For those who are not Mutt or Def Leppard fans, may you be so fortunate as to have the privilege to decline the opportunity to produce an album that sells 20,000,000 units, worldwide.

I know your artistic integrity would never let you become involved in such a crass endeavor


Regards,
Brian T

[BevvyB]

Do albums sell 20,000,000 units worldwide anymore?

Apart from that...

There was another one of those programs on last night about Never Mind The Bollocks and the Sex Pistols.

It was kind of interesting, but My God that Malcolm McClaren bloke just gets worse with age.

[stuntmixer]

I also really enjoyed the making of "Songs in the Key of Life" ..........

[AlanThomas]

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs
Anyone remember the show Remote Control on MTV? My favorite question ever was; "If you were making mittens for Def Leppard how many would you make?" The girl thought about it for a few seconds and said "10" before the buzzer went off and her chair went backwards ejecting her from the game.

Hmmm, that reminds me...

I remember seeing, a few years ago, this blues guitarist (can't remember the name) that had no arms & played the guitar with his feet. Yeah, he'd sit in a chair with the guitar flat on the floor & fret & pick with his feet.

I always thought he and Def Leppard's drummer should've gotten together...

[Burt]

the making of Aja is my fave in the series... the scene where Donald Fagen starts rapping over Black Cow trying to keep a straight face is priceless...

Bernard Purdie's appearence is great too... talk about 'self-confidence'!

wish they'd do some more in this series... I'd love to nominate Joni's 'Hissing of Summer Lawns' - lots of interesting playing and studio techniques goin' on... and interesting media rejection at the time.

Burt

[chrisso]

I think it is a great series.
Even interesting on albums I hate - like Hysteria.
I find it hard to see how a bog standard doco with a few people talking behind a mixing desk could be so 'badly edited' as some are saying.
Yeah the Dan one was great, especially the Purdie bit.
Erecting a sign beside the drums.......'congratulations, you've just hired the greatest drummer.......' etc
Can't quite remember the exact wording.

BTW, a couple of weeks ago they did Dark Side of the Moon.
I missed it but heard it was good.

[Jay Kahrs]

Originally posted by BrianT
For those who are not Mutt or Def Leppard fans, may you be so fortunate as to have the privilege to decline the opportunity to produce an album that sells 20,000,000 units, worldwide.

I know your artistic integrity would never let you become involved in such a crass endeavor

Of course. Punk rock all the way!!!

I heard "Pour Some Sugar" on the radio this morning. Man, I can totally appreciate the production but it doesn't make up for the fact that it's a pretty crappy song. Think about it, if you stripped back the gated 'verb and all the layers could you play that song on a piano or acoustic guitar and still have a song?

Not really.

So what are we listening to? The song? Or the production around the song? Discuss further, when does the production take over the song?

[amanitas]

You can still play it. In fact, there exists a blues recording of some chick singing it, which is interesting albeit sucking major ass. Nonetheless, the lyrics are somewhat salvagable in terms of a pretty simple metaphor (but what rock lyrics aren't?) and you can't fade the guitar riff - that's pure unadulterated 100% cock rock right there, ****in aye...

Does it still work as a song without the production? Yes, barely. Does it sell 20,000,000 copies without the production? not a chance.

[Drumsound]

So Mutt has sold 20 bazillion records...When will Satan take the soul he has obviously bought?

BT took me to task on this a few years ago over at RAP. Yes I understand I will never sell as many records, will never have as much money, be as well known etc, so what? I abso-****ing-lutely hate the records that guy has made (sans AC/DC he was smart enough to basically stay out of their way)!

I can truly say I would turn down Mr. Lange if he called and asked me to work with him, or for him.

[BevvyB]

IMHO the sound of Mutts records is nothing to do with his success.

It's his ability to get songs into shape

Even had the 'production sound' have been less, I think the songs would have been succesful (especially true of Shania Twain)

The public don't get all the drivel us lot talk. They hear songs that they like.

Mutt is a great constructor. The technical side of his work in my opinion is a small part of its success.

And I can't stand Deaf Leper.

[Jules]

Jay, yes I agree, the bombastic production plays a big part, I semi disagree Bev, Def Lepard & Brittany owe a LOT to production.

I've been to Mutts ex wife's house (theirs, she got to keep it) She was dabbling in management back in the late 80's.. it sure was nice!

It's my understanding that Mutt kinda grossed out the whole C&W community with Shania's "cyber line dance" pop. Is that true? I get an image of good old boys & girls toe tapping to the irresistible beat but thinking 'what the Sam Hill' is THIS? Is this accurate?

[BevvyB]

I'm not talking about Brittany

I'm talking about why Mutt sells records. I think one of his mains strengths is song construction.. And also while were at it, Britneys song construction is also terrific, without it, no amount of great sounding pop-tasticness would help if she had shiity songs. I actually find Britney's production quite transparent, I only end up singing the hooks in my head, not particulalry remembering some fill or production noise

thank god mutt helped construct deaf lepers songs, for their own sake, all they ARE is construction, there's no lyrics there...

OF COURSE the sound is important. But if mutt hadn't have had dealings with the other half of the production (ie the songwriting process and constructing stuff out of the shit the band was writing) then he would have nowhere to go.

Anywa, I'll be over in half an hour so I'll beat you up when I arrive. Put the coffee on.


BTW: Which ex wife? I know one of them...she hooked me up with one of my current singers....