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Classic Tracks

We break down and analyse how these golden classic tracks were created, then recorded, mixed, and produced -- with contributions from the record producers, sound engineers and artists involved.

Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 items
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    Classic Tracks: New York Dolls ‘Personality Crisis’

    Producer: Todd Rundgren • Engineer: Jack Douglas

    The fact that they achieved little commercial success didnt stop the New York Dolls from making one of the most influential albums in the history of pop music.

    Techniques Dec 2009
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    Classic Tracks: REM ‘Radio Free Europe’

    Producers: REM, Mitch Easter, Don Dixon

    REMs first single wasnt just an embryonic form of the style and sound that would later make them so successful, it was also a gem of the American new wave. But it took a long time coming...

    Techniques Nov 2009
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    Classic Tracks: Donna Summer ‘I Feel Love’

    Producers: Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte • Engineer: Juergen Koppers

    The pioneering electronica of I Feel Love didnt just revolutionise disco, it changed dance music forever. This is the story of how it was made...

    Techniques Oct 2009
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    Classic Tracks: The Kinks ‘You Really Got Me’

    Producer & Engineer: Shel Talmy

    There are very few records whose influence can be so strongly felt after 45 years as the Kinks You Really Got Me. At the controls was Shel Talmy, who tells us the story of a song that changed pop music.

    Techniques Sep 2009
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    Classic Tracks: Aerosmith ‘Walk This Way’

    Producer: Jack Douglas • Engineer: Jay Messina

    In 1975, Aerosmith stormed into the mainstream with their Toys In The Attic album, and in doing so set the tone for a decade of West Coast heavy metal.

    Techniques Aug 2009
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    Classic Tracks: The Moody Blues ‘Nights In White Satin’

    Producer: Tony Clarke • Engineer: Derek Varnals

    Thunderous reverbs, haunting vocals and Mellotron galore: we tell the story of recording the Moody Blues symphonic rock masterpiece, Nights In White Satin.

    Techniques Jul 2009
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    Classic Tracks: John Lennon ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’

    Producer: John Lennon • Engineers: Roy Cicala, Shelly Yakus

    Engineer Roy Cicala worked on all of John Lennon's albums from Imagine onwards, and in Whatever Gets You Thru The Night, recorded this solo number one hit single.

    Techniques Jun 2009
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    Classic Tracks: Van Morrison ‘Moondance’

    Producer: Van Morrison • Engineers: Shelly Yakus, Elliot Scheiner

    On his second solo album, Van Morrison took the production reins for the first time. Manning the desk was engineer Shelly Yakus, who tells the story of recording Moondance.

    Techniques May 2009
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    Classic Tracks: Heavy Zebra ‘Karla’

    Producer: Heavy Zebra • Engineer: Kevin Byrne

    Blighted by drug abuse and mental illness, Heavy Zebra never fulfilled their early promise. Nevertheless, the deranged majesty of their 1972 single Karla makes it a bona fide classic track.

    Techniques Apr 2009
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    Classic Tracks: The Flamingos ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’

    Producers: George Goldner, Terry Johnson • Engineer: Allen Weintraub

    This is the story of how an inspired rearrangement of an old song created a track that, 50 years on, remains a genuine and enduring classic.

    Techniques Mar 2009
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    Classic Tracks: Rick Astley 'Never Gonna Give You Up'

    Producers: Stock, Aitken and Waterman

    Producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman developed a massively successful formula for making pop records — and the story of Rick Astleys 1987 smash hit, Never Gonna Give You Up, is a perfect guide to the SAW assembly line...

    Techniques Feb 2009
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    Classic Tracks: Status Quo 'Rockin' All Over The World'

    Producer: Pip Williams • Engineer: John Eden

    In 1977 Status Quo brought in producer Pip Williams to help them clean up their act. The result was a hit album and a best-selling single — 'Rockin' All Over The World'.

    Techniques Jan 2009
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