New producers for Stevie? Is she too difficult?
 

The topic of potential producers for Stevie was brought up in another thread. My question is whether it's Rick Ruben or Don Was 0r Jimmy Iovine....is Stevie considered to difficult to produce? Does she take to long to record in the studio? Does she not take enough risks? Is her voice considered to be too limited? For some reason she seems to be unable to produce an entire album with one single producer except for IYD with Dave. I enjoyed her music with Dave. Someone mentioned Rick Rubin. Ricks work with Johnny Cash and Jack Blacks work with Loretta Lynn was amazing. I wish Stevie would consider challenging herself even more. Really pushing the edge.

Well, this is an overdue thread. The fact is in the beginning Stevie was pliable and she listened to Jimmy and Lindsey and she became a huge star. The pressure of success and probably about a thousands pounds of coke later, Stevie became full of herself and her career tanked. Everytime Stevie thinks she has the upper hand, she flops like a hot potato. She needs to stay humble and listen to those who have her best interest at heart.

P.S. She listened to Dave without cynicism. She listens to Lindsey like she wants to **** a 9 pound brick out of her asssss.

P.S. She listened to Dave without cynicism. She listens to Lindsey like she wants to **** a 9 pound brick out of her asssss.[/QUOTE]



AMEN!!!!!!! Love her but AMEN :xoxo:

Good grief. Nobody here knows what Stevie is like in the studio, so why does everyone automatically assume the worst? Finding the right producer is kind of like finding the right lover. You're going to try out some songs, some of them will work out, but sometimes the chemistry is just not there in the end. I don't begrudge Stevie for wanting to branch out and try different producers. At least we know that, at the end of the day, she has worked as hard as possible to hold true to her vision of how her music should sound, even if it means switching up producers or, in the case of "Bombay Sapphires," producing it herself. The fact is, she has been around the block and she knows what works and what doesn't work. She has standards. And if that makes her a bitch, then she's a bitch: Being In Total Control of Herself.

I would think that there were definite low points when Stevie would not have been pleasant to be around which would make it difficult for a producer to get the best out of her. But I look at it like her tours, when she's on she is unbeatable and puts on a dynamite show. When she's off, and let's face it, she's been off a lot through the years, her best music just is not going to come out. Street Angel is a good example of this, many think the album is atrocious(I like it) and the tour one of her best. She was on fire on the tour and had she had the same fire in the studio (although, listen to the '92 Mirror Mirror for what "maybe" could've been). So, I think it comes down to her being on or off, and knowing the difference, which I would speculate has been really difficult for her to accept. We fans have cut her tons of slack through the years, sat through some pretty bad shows, listened to some 1/2 hearted writing and singing, but we never lost our belief in her because we new her raw talent was there.

I think the main reason she is difficult to produce is because she ****s all of her producers XD

well that used to be called "job security"

Oops Wow.Hahahah.LOL.As I watch some of those behind the scenes videos .I do see as all of us have seen is friction between her and others.I guess its like any other job.We sometimes have some friction between other co-workers.Or to much perfection on recording the music.The general public probably wont catch any defects and bloopers in the recordings.Us fans probably will.

i only wish she would have stuck it out with dallas austin. out of everything that could leak, i hope that her sessions with him surface.

me too! that is the MOST intriguing collaboration of her career that i have YET to hear! "Un-pretty" has a definite Stevie vibe , with T-Boz's raspy singing. i REALLY wish those recordings would surface. i was actually visiting a friend in ATL when the news came out she was there recording with him.

linda perry!!!
 

the stuff she produced for "X-tina" was amazing! i'd LOOOOOVE for Stevie to work with a female producer. it would be a fascinating, radical departure for her. and Sheryl Crow doesn't count....... i think Sheryl was too starstruck to bring out the best in Stevie. the John Shanks songs on TISL were much better. i think LP would be an incredible collaboration.

With all the years of recording Maybe Stevie herself can take a crack by producing herself without help.She dont have fight with anybody.

Good point, her work on Bombay isn't too shabby if I do say so myself. Very good song and a highlight of Trouble in ShangriLa.

I don't think she was starstruck, they were friends at this point. I think if anything, Sheryl made Stevie sound like Sheryl Crow. Nothing innovative was done, but it wasn't bad either. I think I'm one of the few who liked what Sheryl did to Stevie's music, but then again, I like the guitars up front and center in the mix and Sheryl does that a lot.

Sorry but I have to point out that this was Jack White.

I'd love Stevie to either self-produce more or work with Don Was.

[QUOTE=Dodfather;1042504]Sorry but I have to point out that this was Jack White.
/QUOTE]

I sort of like the idea of Jack Black as a producer for Stevie

[QUOTE=Sanne2;1042506]I love the idea! Of course they would then make "The greatest *****ng song in the world!"

I think there's a difference between difficult and having an opinion and giving input. Difficult is demanding that a whole 12 string section is brought in, days are spent getting it "right" (according to the artist), and then demanding it gets scrapped from the final mix because the artist is no longer "feeling it". Or throwing temper tantrums. Or treating everyone like they are below you. Or never showing up when you are actually needed. (My run in with Shanks leads me to believe he's difficult to work with, by the way.)

Some of her more recent choices in producers and engineers look like they come from more of a commercial viability stand point. You don't pick some of the busiest pop engineers/producers and wait around just to have them mix a few songs for nothing. I think this last album was more on her terms than any of her other albums because she was in that type of "I'm making this for me" mentality and Dave set the ambiance for recording she wanted and gave her a comfortably controlled environment to work.

I think she's more "present" than some artists in the studio are and wants her input listened to and acknowledged. She's not technical but she has an idea as to what it should sound like. But I don't see her being a perfectionist. And I don't see her walking in with a ProTools session with 98 tracks of self made percussion and informing the engineer that they will be using it all. But she does like to take her time and for some producers (who in turn work with certain engineers that have the same problem) that are booked up months in advance with projects or like to run through things quickly and get on to the next project, that doesn't work well.

You have to remember these are long hours of different personalities trapped in a windowless box listening to things 1000x and sometimes nitpicking things to death and sometimes "outsiders" looking over shoulders, like a label person making sure you've got at least one single or musicians' union rep ensuring you're not going over workable time. Even really laid back, easy going people can have bad studio days.

Seems to me, no one is harder on a producer/engineer than Lindsey Buckingham. At least Stevie never strangled anyone! :laugh:

Stevie absolutely needs a producer! She is not like Lindsey or other artists that are capable of self-producing. She doesn't have the technical skills, nor the ambition to attempt that.

I think Dave Stewart worked well with her because he respected her talent and understood her strengths and weaknesses. Plus, Dave appears to be a fun, earnest easy-going, light-hearted guy. All those elements worked to her favor.

Some of the other producers she has worked with were not that forgiving or compassionate, and they had a strained camaraderie.

I'm sorry but I think this post is BS. It think the problem was Stevie respecting their talent. She resisted because she didn't want to be known as a muse. Her best hits, such as Gypsy, Dreams.... have her morphing into many things for her producers. When left to her own hand, Stevie has flopped Lets's be honest.

Yes your right.With todays digital age.She will be totally lost.As we know she is not a fan of computers and techie stuff.With Dave she felt comfortable in the studio also at her house.

I completely agree. I know of very few artist who NEEDS a producer more than Stevie. I also believe that Stevie had a meeting of the minds(or souls) with Dave I think he appealed to Stevie's ego. I think, like Sheryl, he baby'd Stevie. One day I'd love to see her put in a recording studio with the likes of jack white or Rick Ruben or Dave Was and see what they produce.

Love this post :)

No one assumes to know exactly what she's like in the studio. We just take " pieces" of our knowledge or history with Stevie and discuss points. I'm a designer and home builder and I can promise you that I can be "difficult" to work with but I still create really beautiful homes. I was just inquiring if ledges perceive that Stevie only works with a@@ kissers (jk) in the studio on the last four or five solo albums because she doesn't want her music to be altered a lot. I know she's true to herself and btw but being difficult for one's art doesn't make someone a bitch. That's a logic jump you're taking not me:thumbsup:

I'll ignore the BS comment. But I have deciphered a salient point that you make -- that perhaps is that Stevie is probably very stubborn when it comes to working with her producers. It's clearly evident in the Destiny Rules documentary, in the scene where Lindsey questioned her on the changing tenses in her lyric. He had a very valid point, but Stevie knocked it down.

Depsite (0r because of) sleeping with several of her producers, they have been contentious relationships...even with ones she hasn't bedded. Despite that, Stevie herself has given credit to some of them for bringing out the best in her, but I'm sure it wasn't easy for them.

David Steward is an anomaly. Never has she been so outspokenly elated over working with a particular producer. It seems they have a special chemistry between them that resulted in her best work in long time. No confrontations. No drama. That is highly unusual!

I'm a little confused... where have we gotten the notion that Stevie is "difficult" or that her relationship with her producers has been contentious? From all accounts, the only producer she ever really clashed with, was Glynn Johns.

Sure, her and Jimmy parted ways at the height of her craziness, but then they immediately worked together again when he asked her to record "Silent Night" just a couple of years later. They've also remained close friends. If she were that problematic in the studio, would he have wanted to work with her again so quickly?

It would seem there were no problems with Sheryl Crow, Rick Nowels, Keith Olsen, Mike Campbell, John Shanks and Thom Panunzio. And any issues with Rupert Hine seemed to arise only after the album was recorded, and for personal reasons.

What we saw in the 'Destiny Rules' documentary, was an example of the complicated relationship between Stevie and Lindsey. I highly doubt it's indicative of her relationships with other producers. Besides, as HejiraNYC said, her having an opinion on the way her songs are completed, doesn't make her "difficult."

As for multiple producers... Cher once said that it's important to find the right producer for the right song. She said that if one producer doesn't "get" a particular song, she finds a producer who does. Based on some of the comments Stevie has made regarding the process, it seems she has a similar approach.

Finally, some honest level headed recollection to this head scratching & presumptuous thread. As Johnny Stew acknowledges, The only producer Stevie really didn't like or get along with was Glyn Johns, which most likely was also exacerbated by Stevie's climaxing klonopin condition. And in the end, it was Jimmy who could no longer work with Stevie to finish RAL because of her heightening coke addition, ego & personal demons.

Since Stevie has been sober, she has worked successfully with many producers including; Don Was ("Somebody Stand By Me"), Pierre Marchand, John Shanks, David Kahane, Sheryl Crow, Glen Ballard & David Stewart to achieve the most cohesive solo recordings of her career since the early 80's.

Perhap's the intent of this thread was to dream about producers we as fans would love to see Stevie work with in the future:cool: I personally would love her to work with a younger producer like Mark Ronson (that could be really interesting) or Jon Brion, or keep things old school with T Bone Burnett, or do another round with Jimmy Iovine as executive producer. But ultimately I'd be satisfied to see her work with Dave Stewart again. Their work together was creatively successful, satisfying & consistent, while retaining the perfect amount of classic Stevie-ness.

[QUOTE=Sanne2;1042506]Ha-ha! Me too!

Rhett Davies has perfected the kind of sound to which Lindsey, Stevie, and the Mac should aspire.

But it won't happen because Stevie's taste sucks.


ETA: I thought Chris Isaak's MR. LUCKY was almost Rhett Davies-worthy. Producer credits (via wiki): Eric Rosse, John Shanks, Mark Needham, Chris Isaak

ETA: Also, I still think that working with the Pet Shop Boys would be the greatest thing Stevie could do.

T Bone Burnett would be very interesting. He'd give Stevie a great sound, I think. Someone else mentioned Rick Rubin. I think that would be great if he's interested in her music. He kind of has to be a big fan of the artist he's producing to do magic with their material.

I like to know why Stevie never gotten a number one solo tune.Excluding FM Dreams.Some did come close.I feel sorry for her with all the work she's done and not get a number one hit under her belt.She has had all the top producers in the biz that produced hits for other artists that help produce her music and get a mediocre outcome on the charts.IYD did had hit potential tunes on it. but nobody pushed it.:shrug:

Can somebody shed some light on this .Please.

Rick Rubin is the producer of the moment.

Why would Stevie want to hire a new producer?, Dave Stewart did an awesome job with IYD's, she had the best time of her life making this album.. When in the future Stevie decides to record another CD, it will be with Dave. Tho i would love for Jimmy L to produce 1 or 2 songs, just for old times sake & to complete the full circle of Stevie's career.

He produced Tom Petty, Johnny Cash,Dixie Chicks and Adele .The others he worked with according wikipidea are not in my faves dept.She can give him a try.
I dont see anything wrong with Dave.I still dont understand why this cd did not get noticed.Plus alittle or no radio airplay.I hope FM new cd gets noticed if they record one.I doubt it.

[QUOTE=Christopher;1042729]Finally, some honest level headed recollection to this head scratching & presumptuous thread. As Johnny Stew acknowledges, The only producer Stevie really didn't like or get along with was Glyn Johns, which most likely was also exacerbated by Stevie's climaxing klonopin condition. And in the end, it was Jimmy who could no longer work with Stevie to finish RAL because of her heightening coke addition, ego & personal demons.

Since Stevie has been sober, she has worked successfully with many producers including; Don Was ("Somebody Stand By Me"), Pierre Marchand, John Shanks, David Kahane, Sheryl Crow, Glen Ballard & David Stewart to achieve the most cohesive solo recordings of her career since the early 80's.

Perhap's the intent of this thread was to dream about producers we as fans would love to see Stevie work with in the future:cool: I personally would love her to work with a younger producer like Mark Ronson (that could be really interesting) or Jon Brion, or keep things old school with T Bone Burnett, or do another round with Jimmy Iovine as executive producer. But ultimately I'd be satisfied to see her work with Dave Stewart again. Their work together was creatively successful, satisfying & consistent, while retaining the perfect amount of classic Stevie-ness."

The thread didn't presume that Stevie was difficult...I asked the question "if she was difficult??" We've all seen the same clips of the studio interaction. As I've already stated in an earlier remark...I'm a perfectionist..I'm a control freak...I certainly wouldnt critize Stevie for those traits..my question was " if" she was considered difficult in the circle of top producers?? (if your head continues to need to be scratched consider a new shampoo):xoxo:

I think Dave has really served Stevie very well. I would be pleased if her produced her again. However it would be extremely interesting if T Bone Burnett was at the helm. He could showcase her music with a very different, distinct flavor. I think they would work well together. I love all the albums he produced with his former wife, Sam Phillips (I'm a big fan of hers).

I stand corrected. I clearly inflated and overstated the situation of a very few into one of of many.

i almost ALWAYS agree with EVERY post from MANY people...but SOMEBODY STEP ON ME just SUCKS!!! ..................S.........U.......C........K......S.....!!!! SUCKS... ...i mean REALLY????? (talking) i stood at the door.... and sucked while you drove away???? :shrug:.............YUCK....this song compares to "all the beautiful worlds" HOW?????????

One of my faves. She really tore into the song and made a quasi-gospel un-Stevie tune into something her own. Interesting classic vocals from her, gorgeous arrangement, kept the Stevie mystique and allure!