Why is 24KG produced so badly?

[ViscountViktor]

If you look at the names associated with the album: Dave Stewart as producer, Chris Lord-Alge mixed it, Ted Jensen mastered it, why on earth does it sound as if they recorded Stevie's voice through rubbish car speakers and passed it off as a finished product?

I love 24KG but I feel if the quality of the vocals had been imrpoved, the whole album would have gone up a level.

[SisterNightroad]

I think it's deliberate. It's an album of old songs re-recorded by a seasoned singer, so they tried to give it an oldfashioned feel. Personally I liked it.

[James89]

I think with the whole production of the album you either love it or hate it. Personally, I don't like it but I can appreciate how people like the rawness of it.

[sleepless child]

I'm going to have to go back and listen to it again. I thought the production was pretty good. Nothing beats the production on Bella Donna and The Wild Heart. I wonder if Jimmy Iovine would ever produce again for Stevie. She seems to love Dave's approach to things. I think to the point that she doesn't seem to want to commit to doing another Fleetwood Mac album.

[redbird]

I had no clue that it was really an issue. While I didn't love the sound I certainly didn't hate it either. Will haven to relisten.

[TheWILDheart]

Finally, somebody else noticed! The music isn't so bad, but the vocals sound so distorted and make the whole album sound like a dodgy stream rip or like it's being played on a worn out cassette. It ruins the songs that I actually do like.

I just think it was a completely lazy rush job of a record with very little real effort put in. I expect most of the recordings were done in single takes and just slapped together.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by ViscountViktor

If you look at the names associated with the album: Dave Stewart as producer, Chris Lord-Alge mixed it, Ted Jensen mastered it, why on earth does it sound as if they recorded Stevie's voice through rubbish car speakers and passed it off as a finished product?

I love 24KG but I feel if the quality of the vocals had been imrpoved, the whole album would have gone up a level.

The production is perfect. It's the sound that made her famous.

[Macfanforever]

It must sound good on a pair of 1970's Kraco, Sparkomatic 6x9's speakers along with a Audiovox AM/FM Cassette and a 40watt Audiovox power booster.LOL........

That setup probably sound better then that cheap crap they have out now.LOL....Speaking of rubbish.

I think Dave wanted to keep a nostalgic sound with the album which it sounds good to me. His work on IYD was crisp as new which it suppose too be.

[Dreams Unwind]

I honestly like the production and sound of 24k, but there is certainly better stuff out there. I don't find it a problem, but I'm not usually not too critical of things like that unless it really ruins the sound/vibe for me.

[StreetAngel86]

i like it
i wish ppl would stop b!tching about it
it was NEW music produced in a handful of weeks
be grateful we got anything.

i personally like Stevie's harsh(er) older voice
i like that most of the songs on 24k sound rough and like there were had she done them on tour. I don't need fancy pants over-produced $ h!t
i like it simple and scaled down
not all the songs are on par with the demos
but they're pretty good.

the "new" stuff is what ruins the album for me.
not Dave. not Stevie. but the actual songs ... yukko

[welcomechris]

Originally Posted by StreetAngel86

i like it
i wish ppl would stop b!tching about it
it was NEW music produced in a handful of weeks
be grateful we got anything.

i personally like Stevie's harsh(er) older voice
i like that most of the songs on 24k sound rough and like there were had she done them on tour. I don't need fancy pants over-produced $ h!t
i like it simple and scaled down
not all the songs are on par with the demos
but they're pretty good.

the "new" stuff is what ruins the album for me.
not Dave. not Stevie. but the actual songs ... yukko

Thank you for saying this.

[Fannymac]

I really think it's a personal thing......I, myself, do not think Dave is the right producer for Stevie......there's no "edge" there. While I certainly didn't hate IYD or 24KG, I definitely think they would have been stronger with, say, Rick Rubin, T-Bone Burnett or Matt Serlatec producing.

[Macfanforever]

I wonder how 24K sound if it was on 8 track.

Probably good through those Kraco 6x9's with a Kraco player.

[BombaySapphire3]

24KG sounds pretty much like I expected it to under the circumstances.I still listen to many of the songs often.I also agree with whoever said that the muffled quality of some of her vocals may be a good thing for her more mature voice.Really for an album recorded in 3 week what were people expecting."Hounds of Love"

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Fannymac

I really think it's a personal thing......I, myself, do not think Dave is the right producer for Stevie......there's no "edge" there. While I certainly didn't hate IYD or 24KG, I definitely think they would have been stronger with, say, Rick Rubin, T-Bone Burnett or Matt Serlatec producing.

You got a good point there! I like what Dave did with In Your Dreams, and the different approach he took with 24 Karat Gold.

I hope a new solo is in the works in the near future (new songs and/or vault songs - it doesn't matter) It would be great if she took it in a different direction with a different producer like the ones you mention. T-Bone Burnett in particular could give her a more earthy, intimate, country-leaning sound. Stevie's voice is very adaptable to different genres of music. It could be stunning if she just took even just small shift in her approach.

T-Bone produced many of the albums of his now ex-wife Sam Phillips. (She is one of my favorite female singer/songwriters). I bet T-Bone would bring out the best in Stevie.