The Producer Speaks:

"I like being my own producer, but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Producer can be a bad word, depending on who's name comes after it."

"Some people just want me to turn the tape recorder on and off," says CVS. "Others come to me because they like hanging around. I've got the same gear most other studios have, the per-hour charge is for what I can bring to the project." Among the friends and colleagues who've recorded at Ordophon are Farmgirl, John Wesley Harding, and Chuck Prophet.

"The idea behind a demo tape is to capture the essence of a band's sound. Or if songwriting is the strength, the songs. If they can sing, then the voice. I've found that a good drummer can make anything sound better."

"Many bands come to me with the idea of making a record that sounds like the band does live. Even those Beatles tried it with Let it Be. The challenge to me as a producer with a request like that is with difference with how microphones record sound as opposed to what the live listening experience is all about.

Without the luxury of overdubbing, all artistic input lies in that one pass of the tape while the band is playing. It does sound like a great idea on paper, but bands can usually pull it off better if they recut a vocal or add extra instruments to build the sound picture."

CVS continues: "It's all show biz in the end. You have to sell the song, win over the audience, and whatever that is that you've got, do that. There's no rule, no one way to do it. I sound like Buddy Rich talking, but he knew it too.

My role, as producer, is to put the good aspects in the front line, and the weaker elements in back, or if necessary, out in the studio lounge."

Recording shouldn't be all hard work and heartache-
Dennis Wilson 1963

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