Who should Stevie's next producer be?

[Christopher]

IMO Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard successfully brought Stevie the closest to the warm sonics of her early solo career (Bella Donna & Wild Heart), as well as her first 5 FM studio records. Which also is one of the myriad of reasons why I believe In Your Dreams is vastly superior to Trouble In Shangri-la. Within Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey's recent production on SYW had Stevie sounding cold, jarring & metallic on much of her SYW material - even her harmony fills on his songs - therefore I'm not too keen on seeing Lindsey Buckingham produce another FM or Stevie record for that matter. The addition of Mitchell Froom seems to be a wise decision to handle production duties during the impromptu songs the FM boys recorded. I will be very interested to hear how Mitchell's esthetic adds to the FM dynamic sonically on the upcoming singles.

This warm sonic production, I believe, is what fans are gravitating to favorably on 'You Can't Fix This", as well as the throwback arrangement which recalls rhythmical tangents of "Rhiannon" & "Dreams", as well as "How Still My Love', "Outside The Rain", and generally that early 80's live production sound before the production became too processed and digital sounding.

What I love about Stevie is she is always game for working with new people, but so far it's un-clear whether Dave Grohl, Butch Vig, or perhaps even the Neve console is responsible for that rich warm sound on YCFT. For now, I lean toward Dave Stewart/Glen Ballard who were masterful in bringing Stevie's A game to recording again, making her sound fantastic, and for overall bringing out her creativity we all know is still strong. In Your Dreams boasts her best & strongest sounding studio vocals since the early 80's. But also, I'd stipulate (after watching Sound City) that if she does record another solo record, it should be recorded at Dave Grohls Studio 606 on that analog soundboard. Besides Dave Stewart, I'd love to see Stevie work with T-Bone Burnett, Rick Rubin or even Butch Vig.

[SpyNote]

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

Screw Grohl.I don't want Stevie sound like a crap 90's rock group like his junk he and his buddies put out.

Sorry.

Jimmy is my pick.

I voted for Jimmy too. After what happened with RAL, I think they have some unfinished business.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by WatchChain

I was happy with Dave Stewart's production of "In Your Dreams". Whatever the case, I would like to see her continue to explore new territory. Dave Grohl could be very interesting. I'd also like to ponder what direction that someone like Rick Rubin or Mitchell Froome could take her in. If she INSISTS on working with a past producer, what would a Nicks/Iovine reunion sound like? I would be curious.

CASE FILE OF PRODUCERS THAT STEVIE SHOULD AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE:
Rubert Hine, Thom Panunzio, Rick Nowels and Greg Ladanyi (no worry, he passed away). No offense, but I consider their work with Stevie to be representative of an artistic coma. We are currently enjoying a renaissance that I'd like to see continue.

Very astute observations and comments! You are spot on with the producers you mentioned. Even though I still enjoy Stevie's most questionable songs, her work suffered in the hands of her misguided choices of producers. Dave Stewart was a saving grace. Stevie rises to the occasion when she is with someone who understands her talent; someone who can add the element of fun and innovation. I'd be thrilled if she worked with T-Bone Burnett. I bet he would be the one to give Stevie an incredible album that would finally return her to the top of the charts.

Curious to know what you think of Sheryl Crow's work with Stevie?

[Hartbreakkid]

Not a fan of Dave G. I kind of take Courtney Love's side. Is that bad?

[mitzo]

Dallas Austin!

[Macfanforever]

Originally Posted by SpyNote

I voted for Jimmy too. After what happened with RAL, I think they have some unfinished business.

Yes .I always liked Jimmy.

We know what happens I love to see Lindsey to produce but probably will be cat fights and get nothing done.Dave S was great with her.It look like the recordings went smooth as I seen on the docu.

[Macfanforever]

What that I'm puzzled about .How some other artists slap 1 to 3 albums per year and have multiple number one hits from each album ,Then you look at Stevie/Lindsey and FM and they have jack to show.

It looks like they look for too perfection to their work.

[WildHearted]

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

What that I'm puzzled about .How some other artists slap 1 to 3 albums per year and have multiple number one hits from each album ,Then you look at Stevie/Lindsey and FM and they have jack to show.

It looks like they look for too perfection to their work.

The people that put together 1-3 albums per year full of #1 hits also have 40 different writers contributing to their albums.

[WatchChain]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Curious to know what you think of Sheryl Crow's work with Stevie?

I think Sheryl's work with Stevie was refreshing. Stevie's career was on life support between 1989 and 1997. After suffering through offerings like "Street Angel", "Desert Angel", "Jane", and "Docklands", I was ECSTATIC to hear Sheryl's production on "If You Ever Did Believe". Overall, I was very happy with the work that followed on TISL. I love "Sorcerer" (a track that I first heard Marilyn Martin do) and "Candlebright" I was also pleased with John Shanks' production of "Planets". Then again, I'm also partial to Dave Stewart......I'm new here, but it seems most ledgies either love Dave S. or hate him. Personally, I fell in love with their partnership on "In Your Dreams".......

What are your thoughts on Sheryl Crow's work with the high priestess? I'm surprised we haven't seen much of them together lately. It seems that Stevie and Sheryl were joined at the hip from 1998--2002. I must also add that, at the end of the day, I would buy a record of Stevie Nicks snoring if that was what was produced. I absolutely adore her and find guilty pleasure in even her most questionable songs. "Children of the world, the forgotten chimpanzee..........

[elle]

i'm watching this poll and how it's developing and i'm amused as how fickle human nature is -

few months ago almost everyone here was still raving about DS and how SN should never ever record without him as a producer anymore... now he was running last in this poll, way behind even oh-so-hated LB and is finally just managing to catch up to him.

and then majority wants Grohl to be the producer even though he rarely produces and is probably not the producer behind that song he and FF did on Neve console with SN... probably produced by Butch Vig.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Christopher

IMO Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard successfully brought Stevie the closest to the warm sonics of her early solo career (Bella Donna & Wild Heart), as well as her first 5 FM studio records.

This warm sonic production, I believe, is what fans are gravitating to favorably on 'You Can't Fix This", as well as the throwback arrangement which recalls rhythmical tangents of "Rhiannon" & "Dreams", as well as "How Still My Love', "Outside The Rain", and generally that early 80's live production sound before the production became too processed and digital sounding.

and that warm, sonic production of her early career was thanks to Jimmy Iovine. So I totally vote Jimmy. He strove to make her music its best as HER music. The others are collaborators, adding *their* musical sensibility to her lyrics.... which I don't always mind, but I think Jimmy strove to get HER concepts on tape and did so like no other (besides Lindsey in the early days)

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by WatchChain

What are your thoughts on Sheryl Crow's work with the high priestess? I'm surprised we haven't seen much of them together lately. It seems that Stevie and Sheryl were joined at the hip from 1998--2002. I must also add that, at the end of the day, I would buy a record of Stevie Nicks snoring if that was what was produced. I absolutely adore her and find guilty pleasure in even her most questionable songs. "Children of the world, the forgotten chimpanzee..........

A lot of Stevie fans took issue with Sheryl Crow's involvement with Stevie. Some think she was trying promote herself by using Stevie, and others just didn't like her production style and felt she put too much of herself in the songs. I can see how those issues have some validity.

I became a fan of Sheryl Crow the first time I saw her perform very early in her career, as the warm up opening act for Crowded House. She's a incredibly talented singer/songwriter/producer, but she's not everyone's cup of tea. Stevie has collaborated with some really cheesy people in the span of her career, but Sheryl isn't one of them. May the chimpanzees be not forgotten and prevail!

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

and that warm, sonic production of her early career was thanks to Jimmy Iovine. So I totally vote Jimmy. He strove to make her music its best as HER music. The others are collaborators, adding *their* musical sensibility to her lyrics.... which I don't always mind, but I think Jimmy strove to get HER concepts on tape and did so like no other (besides Lindsey in the early days)

Most records in the 70's and early 80's had that warm sound no matter who produced them, because analog recording was prevalent then before digital became the holy grail of recording & producing later on.

I realize this is a hypothetical thread question, but some reality must be present. For instance, Jimmy Iovine would never be hands on involved in producing these days (period) like he was during Stevie's 1st 3 solo records. He has a much bigger job these days as chairman of a huge record conglomerate (Interscope-Geffen-A&M), as well as other entrepreneurial interests. He pretty much delegates music producing to his stall of in house music producers & songwriters -- matching producers & songwriters with artists he deems as a fit. And as far as Dave Grohl - as some have already pointed out - he is not a in demand music producer. And he, along with the rest of the Foo's, have co-produced some of their records, but have mostly relied on heavy hitter producers on their releases. For Instance, Butch Vig soley produced their critically acclaimed 2011 "Wasting Light" record.
Lets just add a dose of reality to this conversation.

Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard were a brilliant team for Stevie on In Your Dreams.
So out of the 4 producers listed in this poll, only 2 are realistic. And I'd take Dave Stewart/Glen Ballard by a mile over Buckingham to produce the next Stevie record or Fleetwood Mac record!

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I realize this is a hypothetical thread question, but some reality must be present. For instance, Jimmy Iovine would never be hands on involved in producing these days (period)

Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard were a brilliant team for Stevie on In Your Dreams.
So out of the 4 producers listed in this poll, only 2 are realistic. And I'd take Dave Stewart/Glen Ballard by a mile over Buckingham to produce the next Stevie record or Fleetwood Mac record!

I completely agree with those comments. Lindsey should unburden himself of being the producer of the next Fleetwood Mac album. The right producer will direct them to be more cohesive and hopefully inspire them to create a great album, just as Dave Stewart did for Stevie.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

The people that put together 1-3 albums per year full of #1 hits also have 40 different writers contributing to their albums.

Are the people who put out 1-3 albums per year putting out good ones? Honestly, when people are too prolific they wear me out. I don't care if it's Prince or Stephen King or Sue Grafton.

It's kind of funny because I have been reading Dickens since I was a kid and I still haven't finished him. I used to have built in cabinets, but they couldn't move with me, so I got new shelves, but they aren't as spacious. And I was unpacking books and running out of shelf space and Dickens' has these 1000 page tomes I haven't even scratched yet and I was just shaking my head and thinking. "Wow. I need to let Chuck go. He has finally exhausted me." Not that IYD or SWS compare to The Old Curiousity Shop, but . . .

Michele