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Post by smokie on Apr 8, 2018 8:44:21 GMT
Who would you like to produce the next album?
Any suggestions?
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Apr 8, 2018 9:24:14 GMT
Who would you like to produce the next album? Any suggestions? I know he doesn't appeal to everyone but it's Mike Paxman for me. He is the perfect Quo producer. No special effects; no multi-layered sound apart from a Hammond organ doing it's thing or occasionally an acoustic guitar as a distant backdrop. Just Quo the way I like them to sound.
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Post by smokie on Apr 9, 2018 7:02:19 GMT
Who would you like to produce the next album? Any suggestions? I know he doesn't appeal to everyone but it's Mike Paxman for me. He is the perfect Quo producer. No special effects; no multi-layered sound apart from a Hammond organ doing it's thing or occasionally an acoustic guitar as a distant backdrop. Just Quo the way I like them to sound. I feel much the same to be honest.
I think he knows how the band should sound and it good at achieving that.
I remember reading that at the time when Do They Know It's Christmas was recorded, Trevor Horn said to Francis and Rick that he wanted to produce them. Just someone from outside the Quo camp might be an interesting change?
I suppose it depends a lot on who Francis wants to work with, if anyone.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Apr 9, 2018 7:40:49 GMT
I know he doesn't appeal to everyone but it's Mike Paxman for me. He is the perfect Quo producer. No special effects; no multi-layered sound apart from a Hammond organ doing it's thing or occasionally an acoustic guitar as a distant backdrop. Just Quo the way I like them to sound. I feel much the same to be honest.
I think he knows how the band should sound and it good at achieving that.
I remember reading that at the time when Do They Know It's Christmas was recorded, Trevor Horn said to Francis and Rick that he wanted to produce them. Just someone from outside the Quo camp might be an interesting change?
I suppose it depends a lot on who Francis wants to work with, if anyone.
And how much they're prepared to budget for. Top producers ain't cheap. As long as the album is predominantly guitar based, I'll be happy. I'm not pro guitar and anti everything else. I just like Quo to sound like Quo.
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Post by I Ain't Complaining on Apr 9, 2018 10:42:23 GMT
I know he doesn't appeal to everyone but it's Mike Paxman for me. He is the perfect Quo producer. No special effects; no multi-layered sound apart from a Hammond organ doing it's thing or occasionally an acoustic guitar as a distant backdrop. Just Quo the way I like them to sound. I feel much the same to be honest.
I think he knows how the band should sound and it good at achieving that.
I remember reading that at the time when Do They Know It's Christmas was recorded, Trevor Horn said to Francis and Rick that he wanted to produce them. Just someone from outside the Quo camp might be an interesting change?
I suppose it depends a lot on who Francis wants to work with, if anyone.
I think Francis might just produce it himself.....he produced most of the songs he co-wrote on the QPQ album. I think Francis can get a good sound when he produces (Thirsty Work excluded!) but I think that an outside producer (like Paxo) has it's benefits because it brings an extra voice and extra ideas to the table. I think if Frame produces then it's just done his way without much argument or challenge. I could well be wrong, but that's how I see it.
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Post by snakelady on Apr 9, 2018 11:10:18 GMT
Who would you like to produce the next album? Any suggestions? Actually I've no idea - all I know is whom I don't want. I think Paxo and Pip both are ok, but really I'd love to have someone who's never worked with Quo before. A completely fresh approach for this new line-up and not one of the standard guys, who already have their firm ideas how Quo should sound. So not Greg Jackman either ..
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Apr 9, 2018 12:23:31 GMT
I think Mike Paxman does more than just produce Quo's albums. I don't actually know what else he does but he is usually found in pics in the tour programmes, just being part of the general entourage. He's no doubt an established part of the inner sanctum. He was at Rhino's gigs at the 100 Club as well and I also saw him in the bar before Francis's gig in Edinburgh.
I also saw him the other week on an old TOTP but I can't quite remember who with. It wasn't Judie Tzuke though and he was just a young lad by the looks.
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Post by smokie on Apr 9, 2018 14:23:39 GMT
I feel much the same to be honest.
I think he knows how the band should sound and it good at achieving that.
I remember reading that at the time when Do They Know It's Christmas was recorded, Trevor Horn said to Francis and Rick that he wanted to produce them. Just someone from outside the Quo camp might be an interesting change?
I suppose it depends a lot on who Francis wants to work with, if anyone.
I think Francis might just produce it himself.....he produced most of the songs he co-wrote on the QPQ album. I think Francis can get a good sound when he produces (Thirsty Work excluded!) but I think that an outside producer (like Paxo) has it's benefits because it brings an extra voice and extra ideas to the table. I think if Frame produces then it's just done his way without much argument or challenge. I could well be wrong, but that's how I see it. I agree with all that and I am happy enough if it's going to MP and I'd rather have MP as opposed to Francis producing it.
Having thought about what snakelady said, I think I'd be keen to have a complete outsider come in and take charge of the project.
But whom? As mortified has already stated, producers aren't cheap but on the other hand, the whole band might just benefit if it were a new face/voice which appeared with a fresh outlook, fresh ideas and different way of doing things.
The whole band might just benefit from that?
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Post by I Ain't Complaining on Apr 9, 2018 14:33:41 GMT
I think Francis might just produce it himself.....he produced most of the songs he co-wrote on the QPQ album. I think Francis can get a good sound when he produces (Thirsty Work excluded!) but I think that an outside producer (like Paxo) has it's benefits because it brings an extra voice and extra ideas to the table. I think if Frame produces then it's just done his way without much argument or challenge. I could well be wrong, but that's how I see it. I agree with all that and I am happy enough if it's going to MP and I'd rather have MP as opposed to Francis producing it.
Having thought about what snakelady said, I think I'd be keen to have a complete outsider come in and take charge of the project.
But whom? As mortified has already stated, producers aren't cheap but on the other hand, the whole band might just benefit if it were a new face/voice which appeared with a fresh outlook, fresh ideas and different way of doing things.
The whole band might just benefit from that?
I agree.....but I think that would be far too far out of their comfort zone at their ages! They've only just got over Leon and Ritchie coming in!!
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Post by coldwarkid on Apr 9, 2018 16:08:40 GMT
I hope they go back to John Eden who did a great job back in the day and whose remixes really captured the essence of the Quo sound far better than originally. He could produce a really guitar driven rocking album with the right material of course. Plenty of Rossi/Young compositions and hopefully some input from Andy possibly writing with Richie. Mike Paxman is too basic in style and workaday, certainly with some of Francis's poorer writing the overall effect is very flat an uninteresting. Pip Williams is a top class producer, just the wrong style for Quo, far too clean and "popy". To establish any kind of musical credibility going forward the band have to look backwards to "Heavy Traffic" and the pre '81 albums and go for a sound and song style that harks back to the glory days, far more rocking, give Richie chance to show what he can do on rhythm guitar and lead vocals and let Andy rip on Hammond, there are few players as good as him left out there.
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Post by viking55 on Apr 9, 2018 18:36:30 GMT
It’s a difficult one. To get the old sound it has to be recorded analogue never mind who the Producer is . I know that equipment is still around but is it a cost effective excerdise in monetary terms ? There is not much money to be made in Albums judging by sales figures these days. It’s so much easier for them having a ready made Free Studio I guess called Francis place. Hence it would be really difficult to get that 70’s wall of sound. They definitely could achieve a Heavy Traffic type of sound which if the material is good I would be very happy with ! As for producer who knows. Just get a time served fan in front of the monitors and let them tell you if the sound is good or not so good. Would be s lot better than a yes man. 😂
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Post by I Ain't Complaining on Apr 10, 2018 9:50:13 GMT
I think Mike Paxman does more than just produce Quo's albums. I don't actually know what else he does but he is usually found in pics in the tour programmes, just being part of the general entourage. He's no doubt an established part of the inner sanctum. He was at Rhino's gigs at the 100 Club as well and I also saw him in the bar before Francis's gig in Edinburgh. I also saw him the other week on an old TOTP but I can't quite remember who with. It wasn't Judie Tzuke though and he was just a young lad by the looks. Did he fill in on drums on one of Quo's TOTPs performances once? I seem to remember seeing a clip of something like this.
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Post by I Ain't Complaining on Apr 10, 2018 9:55:44 GMT
It’s a difficult one. To get the old sound it has to be recorded analogue never mind who the Producer is . I know that equipment is still around but is it a cost effective excerdise in monetary terms ? There is not much money to be made in Albums judging by sales figures these days. It’s so much easier for them having a ready made Free Studio I guess called Francis place. Hence it would be really difficult to get that 70’s wall of sound. They definitely could achieve a Heavy Traffic type of sound which if the material is good I would be very happy with !As for producer who knows. Just get a time served fan in front of the monitors and let them tell you if the sound is good or not so good. Would be s lot better than a yes man. 😂 I love HT as an album, but IMO the sound is probably the weakest of the more recent albums. I think they get a much chunkier sound on TPAOY, ISOTFC & QPQ.
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frozenhero
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Post by frozenhero on Apr 10, 2018 21:29:37 GMT
Who would you like to produce the next album? Any suggestions? I know he doesn't appeal to everyone but it's Mike Paxman for me. He is the perfect Quo producer. No special effects; no multi-layered sound apart from a Hammond organ doing it's thing or occasionally an acoustic guitar as a distant backdrop. Just Quo the way I like them to sound. Mike can produce OK, but DON'T let him mix or master the recording!! He has no ears!!Sorry for being so harsh, but what he did to the FF live recordings and to LNOTE on the DVD is an absolute disgrace.
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Post by coldwarkid on Apr 10, 2018 22:08:20 GMT
I think Mike Paxman does more than just produce Quo's albums. I don't actually know what else he does but he is usually found in pics in the tour programmes, just being part of the general entourage. He's no doubt an established part of the inner sanctum. He was at Rhino's gigs at the 100 Club as well and I also saw him in the bar before Francis's gig in Edinburgh. I also saw him the other week on an old TOTP but I can't quite remember who with. It wasn't Judie Tzuke though and he was just a young lad by the looks. Did he fill in on drums on one of Quo's TOTPs performances once? I seem to remember seeing a clip of something like this. Kenny Jones of The Who filled in once and Jim Lea of Slade has also filled in on bass
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Post by snakelady on Apr 11, 2018 5:58:15 GMT
I hope they go back to John Eden who did a great job back in the day and whose remixes really captured the essence of the Quo sound far better than originally. He could produce a really guitar driven rocking album with the right material of course. Plenty of Rossi/Young compositions and hopefully some input from Andy possibly writing with Richie. Mike Paxman is too basic in style and workaday, certainly with some of Francis's poorer writing the overall effect is very flat an uninteresting. Pip Williams is a top class producer, just the wrong style for Quo, far too clean and "popy". To establish any kind of musical credibility going forward the band have to look backwards to "Heavy Traffic" and the pre '81 albums and go for a sound and song style that harks back to the glory days, far more rocking, give Richie chance to show what he can do on rhythm guitar and lead vocals and let Andy rip on Hammond, there are few players as good as him left out there. John Eden has never been a producer, but obviously he's a great engineer - at least with the analogue stuff. So him looking after the sound might indeed be a good idea. Not sure about Francis producing - he can be brilliant (RTYD). Thirsty Work on the other hand .. No, an outside producer kicking their collective asses (sorry, Francis )and taking them out of the old guys' comfort zone would be perfect IMO. And yep, let the young guys contribute.
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frozenhero
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Post by frozenhero on Apr 11, 2018 8:27:35 GMT
I hope they go back to John Eden who did a great job back in the day and whose remixes really captured the essence of the Quo sound far better than originally. He could produce a really guitar driven rocking album with the right material of course. Plenty of Rossi/Young compositions and hopefully some input from Andy possibly writing with Richie. Mike Paxman is too basic in style and workaday, certainly with some of Francis's poorer writing the overall effect is very flat an uninteresting. Pip Williams is a top class producer, just the wrong style for Quo, far too clean and "popy". To establish any kind of musical credibility going forward the band have to look backwards to "Heavy Traffic" and the pre '81 albums and go for a sound and song style that harks back to the glory days, far more rocking, give Richie chance to show what he can do on rhythm guitar and lead vocals and let Andy rip on Hammond, there are few players as good as him left out there. John Eden has never been a producer, but obviously he's a great engineer - at least with the analogue stuff. So him looking after the sound might indeed be a good idea. Not sure about Francis producing - he can be brilliant (RTYD). Thirsty Work on the other hand .. No, an outside producer kicking their collective asses (sorry, Francis )and taking them out of the old guys' comfort zone would be perfect IMO. And yep, let the young guys contribute. John has co-produced Just Supposin' and Never Too Late with the band. I'd love to see him involved - if only as "mixing supervisor" (i.e. somebody who listens to the mix and says what should be improved). Not sure why it has to be analogue - a good producer can get a good sound from digital equipment, a bad producer can get a bad sound from analogue equipment... coldwarkid While Pip's production on the 80s and 90s albums can be described as "clean", I think he did a superb job on ISOTFC, which doesn't sound poppy at all. In fact, what I really liked about that record is that he seemed to challenge the band to try out new sonic paths, which took them out of their comfort zone. Now about the mastering...
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Post by elvis57 on Jul 12, 2018 8:34:52 GMT
I think Rick's songs should be left as his, so just on his solo album and not messed with by Francis. There is enough writing ability in the band with Francis and Bob (who should have a major role in recording to get more of the classic sound back) and Andy Bown with potentially Richie, or by themselves. No writing or "vocal" input from Rhino. There are the makings of a great album as long as Francis can let the reins go a bit and let Richie bring back a harder driving edge and sound as he displayed on the recent live footage of him playing in Ireland. Disagree totally, Rhino's contributions have been the best songs for many yeas
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Post by coldwarkid on Jul 12, 2018 12:50:44 GMT
I think Rick's songs should be left as his, so just on his solo album and not messed with by Francis. There is enough writing ability in the band with Francis and Bob (who should have a major role in recording to get more of the classic sound back) and Andy Bown with potentially Richie, or by themselves. No writing or "vocal" input from Rhino. There are the makings of a great album as long as Francis can let the reins go a bit and let Richie bring back a harder driving edge and sound as he displayed on the recent live footage of him playing in Ireland. Disagree totally, Rhino's contributions have been the best songs for many yeas Which of his songs would you regard as good? A couple of his collaborations have been passable but his writing shows very little originality and a poor ear for melody.
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Post by snakelady on Jul 14, 2018 6:34:25 GMT
Disagree totally, Rhino's contributions have been the best songs for many yeas Which of his songs would you regard as good? A couple of his collaborations have been passable but his writing shows very little originality and a poor ear for melody. Sorry, but that's just wrong. On Quo's last studio album Rhino's songs -Run And Hide and Fiji Time - were definitely the most creative and IMO the best too. You know I'm no fan of Rhino's singing, but his vocals on RAH are good and fitting. Never thought I'd say that, but I'd like to hear him sing that one live. And Fiji Time is just a great summer song. Play it loud while you sip your cocktail on the terrace ! Generally speaking I tend to think when he writes with Francis something good can come of it, as Francis adds the melody and makes it sound like Quo e.g. Dust To Gold, while on his own it often doesn't sound like Quo to me either e.g. Bad News.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 14, 2018 7:15:17 GMT
I personally think Rhino has written or co-written Quo's most listenable stuff over the last couple of decades. I appreciate they all contribute to all of the songs in some way but some of those he has a credit for are certainly amongst the best. Shine On; Obstruction Day; Driving To Glory; Lucinda; The Madness; Belavista Man; Beginning Of The End; Bad News; Two Way Traffic; Dust To Gold; Any Way You Like It; Reality Cheque; Run And Hide; Fiji Time;
That's not a bad little collection and they'd all be in my list of favourite Quo tracks over the period. If Quo do bring out an album of new material, even if it's their last, it'll be interesting to see what Richie brings to the table. I don't get the impression country ballads are his thing
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Post by coldwarkid on Jul 14, 2018 11:55:02 GMT
In response to the two above comments it's your personal opinion that his songs display originality and are good and I respect that, I view them from the perspective of someone who has been a professional musician, song writer and producer for 45 years and for me his contributions have been very mediocre. I do like Belavista Man and BOTE though.
I really hope Richie brings some real rock to the new album too, the kind of thing we would have expected from Rick back in his heyday.
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Post by noproblems on Jul 16, 2018 11:09:50 GMT
Good morning chaps and chapettes!
You have all posted some interesting points, and just to lower the tone of the debate, I'll add mine!
Rhino: What's wrong with Bad News? It's not that Rhino is a bad singer, but when I last saw Quo he was singing Rick's parts. Now, that's not "hands off Rick's songs!", but Rick's songs are best suited to Rick, and Rhino's songs are best suited to Rhino. Rhino can't match the higher notes that Rick could, and severely struggled. Rhino has contributed a fair number of good songs to the Quo party: Belavista Man, Bad News (OK, that was Freddie's song), Two Way Traffic, Gravy Train, Reality Cheque, Run and Hide, The Oriental, Obstruction Day and a fair few more.
Rick's material: I don't have a view on whether any of Rick's unreleased material should be used for a new Quo album. The romantic in me says "yeah, go for it", but the band may cite various reasons as to why not, such as there was nothing we could use, start afresh, etc...
Producer: NOT Mutt Lange, Jeff Lynne. I'm going to go completely "out of the box" - how about Ted Templeman (Doobies, Van Halen), Glyn Johns (Stones, Faces, Clapton), even Tony Visconti (Lizzy, Bowie, T-Rex)? Never going to happen, of course, and Mike Paxman and Francis Rossi divvied up Quid Pro Quo quite well, but I think Quo needs a shake up and some fresh ideas, but with Francis on hand to keep them true to the Quo sound.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 16, 2018 11:46:09 GMT
Good morning chaps and chapettes! You have all posted some interesting points, and just to lower the tone of the debate, I'll add mine! Rhino: What's wrong with Bad News? It's not that Rhino is a bad singer, but when I last saw Quo he was singing Rick's parts. Now, that's not "hands off Rick's songs!", but Rick's songs are best suited to Rick, and Rhino's songs are best suited to Rhino. Rhino can't match the higher notes that Rick could, and severely struggled. Rhino has contributed a fair number of good songs to the Quo party: Belavista Man, Bad News (OK, that was Freddie's song), Two Way Traffic, Gravy Train, Reality Cheque, Run and Hide, The Oriental, Obstruction Day and a fair few more. Rick's material: I don't have a view on whether any of Rick's unreleased material should be used for a new Quo album. The romantic in me says "yeah, go for it", but the band may cite various reasons as to why not, such as there was nothing we could use, start afresh, etc... Producer: NOT Mutt Lange, Jeff Lynne. I'm going to go completely "out of the box" - how about Ted Templeman (Doobies, Van Halen), Glyn Johns (Stones, Faces, Clapton), even Tony Visconti (Lizzy, Bowie, T-Rex)? Never going to happen, of course, and Mike Paxman and Francis Rossi divvied up Quid Pro Quo quite well, but I think Quo needs a shake up and some fresh ideas, but with Francis on hand to keep them true to the Quo sound. From a personal point of view, much as some if it is very suited to Quo, I'd rather they left Rick's solo tracks alone. I just think its a fine legacy and should remain so. But Rhino did Lonesome Road with Richie a couple of months ago and I have to say hearing it live sent shivers down my back. So I am prepared to contradict myself purely for my own selfish personal pleasure Producer? I'm one of the few fans of Mike Paxman it would appear. The reason I like pretty much all of Quo's self-penned albums since 1999 is because he's been at the helm for the vast majority. Apart from the 'flat/dull' sound of Heavy Traffic which, for me, is now in retrospect and I don't think is down to the producer, they've all sounded top notch to cloth ears here.
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Post by coldwarkid on Jul 16, 2018 16:30:01 GMT
Good morning chaps and chapettes! You have all posted some interesting points, and just to lower the tone of the debate, I'll add mine! Rhino: What's wrong with Bad News? It's not that Rhino is a bad singer, but when I last saw Quo he was singing Rick's parts. Now, that's not "hands off Rick's songs!", but Rick's songs are best suited to Rick, and Rhino's songs are best suited to Rhino. Rhino can't match the higher notes that Rick could, and severely struggled. Rhino has contributed a fair number of good songs to the Quo party: Belavista Man, Bad News (OK, that was Freddie's song), Two Way Traffic, Gravy Train, Reality Cheque, Run and Hide, The Oriental, Obstruction Day and a fair few more. Rick's material: I don't have a view on whether any of Rick's unreleased material should be used for a new Quo album. The romantic in me says "yeah, go for it", but the band may cite various reasons as to why not, such as there was nothing we could use, start afresh, etc... Producer: NOT Mutt Lange, Jeff Lynne. I'm going to go completely "out of the box" - how about Ted Templeman (Doobies, Van Halen), Glyn Johns (Stones, Faces, Clapton), even Tony Visconti (Lizzy, Bowie, T-Rex)? Never going to happen, of course, and Mike Paxman and Francis Rossi divvied up Quid Pro Quo quite well, but I think Quo needs a shake up and some fresh ideas, but with Francis on hand to keep them true to the Quo sound. I like the idea of Tony Visconti, though sadly I can never see it happening, Quo no longer have the influence to get a producer of that calibre. A possible out of the box choice who would produce a really rocking album and would insist on absolute top form performances from all involved would be Tony Clarkin of Magnum, his work as producer of Magnum's latter career has been of an amazing standard.
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