Chapter 16: The Record Producer and the LA Sound
Chapter 16 traces the growing influence of record producers during the early 1960s as they gained greater control over songwriting, recording, and the overall sound of popular music. Producers such as Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and Phil Spector helped create commercially successful recordings for girl groups and vocal acts, while surf rock expanded through artists like Dick Dale, Jan and Dean, and the Beach Boys, whose music celebrated Southern California youth culture and introduced new studio techniques that reshaped pop music.
Important Terms
Record Producer – The person responsible for directing the artistic and technical aspects of a recording session.
Artist and Repertoire (A&R) – A record label department that discovers artists, selects songs, and oversees recording projects.
Session Musician – A professional musician hired to perform on recordings without being a permanent member of the artist's group.
Tape Splicing – Editing recorded tape by cutting and joining sections to create a finished recording.
Post-Production – The editing and mixing process completed after recording sessions end.
Wall of Sound – Phil Spector's production technique that layered multiple instruments and extensive reverb to create a dense, orchestral sound.
Doubling – Recording two or more instruments playing the same musical line to create a fuller sound.
Reverb – An audio effect that creates the impression of sound reflecting through a space.
Studio Bleed – The unintended pickup of sound from nearby instruments by multiple microphones.
Sound Mixing – The process of balancing recorded instruments and vocals into a final recording.
Teenage Symphony – Phil Spector's description of his richly layered pop productions.
Playlet – A short, story-driven song that unfolds like a miniature theatrical scene.
Girl Group – A vocal ensemble of young women performing professionally written pop songs with close harmonies.
Surf Rock – A style of early 1960s rock associated with Southern California and characterized by reverb-heavy guitar playing.
Instrumental Surf Rock – Surf music emphasizing electric guitar without lead vocals.
Vocal Surf Pop – Surf music combining vocal harmonies with themes of surfing, cars, and California youth culture.
Spring Reverb – A guitar effect using vibrating springs to create an echo-like sound.
Tremolo Picking – Rapid repeated picking of a single note on the guitar.
Natural Minor Scale – A musical scale commonly used in surf rock to create a darker sound.
Power Chord – A guitar chord emphasizing the root and fifth, widely used in rock music.
Distortion – A gritty guitar sound produced by overdriving an amplifier.
Overdrive – Mild amplifier distortion created by increasing the input signal.
Bouzouki – A Greek string instrument whose rapid picking technique influenced Dick Dale.
Sonic Texture – The combined sound created by the interaction of musical parts.
Monophony – A musical texture consisting of a single melodic line.
Homophony – A musical texture in which voices move together rhythmically in harmony.
Polyphony – A musical texture with multiple independent melodic lines performed simultaneously.
Electro-Theremin – An electronic instrument used on Pet Sounds to create gliding tones.
Death Disk (Splatter Platter) – A pop song telling the story of a fatal accident or teenage tragedy.
Auteur – An artist whose personal vision dominates the finished creative work.
Artists Discussed
Jerry Leiber – Songwriter and producer who helped establish the modern role of the record producer.
Mike Stoller – Songwriter, producer, and longtime collaborator of Jerry Leiber.
Carole King – Songwriter and producer associated with the Brill Building.
The Coasters – Vocal group known for humorous, story-driven songs produced by Leiber and Stoller.
The Robins – Rhythm and blues group from which the Coasters developed.
Phil Spector (Harvey Phillip Spector) – Producer who developed the Wall of Sound.
Lou Adler – Producer associated with Carole King and the Mamas & the Papas.
Sandy Nelson – Rock drummer.
The Teddy Bears – Vocal group formed by Phil Spector.
Lester Sill – Music executive and co-founder of Philles Records.
The Wrecking Crew – Elite Los Angeles session musicians who played on many major recordings.
Hal Blaine – Drummer and member of the Wrecking Crew.
Carol Kaye – Bassist and member of the Wrecking Crew.
Jack Nitzsche – Arranger who worked with Phil Spector.
Richard Wagner – German composer whose orchestral style influenced Phil Spector.
The Righteous Brothers – Duo who recorded "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'."
Ike and Tina Turner – Duo who recorded "River Deep, Mountain High."
The Ronettes – Girl group known for "Be My Baby."
Ronnie Spector (Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett) – Lead singer of the Ronettes.
The Crystals – Girl group produced by Phil Spector.
The Chantels – Early girl group.
The Shirelles – Girl group associated with Brill Building songs.
Dick Dale (Richard Anthony Monsour) – Guitarist known as the "King of the Surf Guitar."
The Del-Tones – Dick Dale's backing band.
The Ventures – Instrumental surf rock band.
The Surfaris – Surf rock band known for "Wipe Out."
Link Wray – Guitarist who pioneered distortion and power chords.
Duane Eddy – Guitarist known for twangy surf-influenced instrumentals.
Jan Berry – Member of Jan and Dean.
Dean Torrence – Member of Jan and Dean.
Brian Wilson – Principal songwriter, producer, and arranger for the Beach Boys.
The Beach Boys – Surf rock group that expanded pop music through sophisticated vocal harmonies and studio production.
Dennis Wilson – Drummer and the only actual surfer in the Beach Boys.
Carl Wilson – Guitarist and singer for the Beach Boys.
Mike Love – Lead singer and lyricist for the Beach Boys.
Al Jardine – Guitarist and founding member of the Beach Boys.
Songs Referenced
"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" – The Shirelles
"Hound Dog" – Big Mama Thornton (later popularized by Elvis Presley)
"Jailhouse Rock" – Elvis Presley
"Riot in Cell Block No. 9" – The Robins
"Smokey Joe's Cafe" – The Robins
"Searchin'" – The Coasters
"Down in Mexico" – The Coasters
"Yakety Yak" – The Coasters
"Charlie Brown" – The Coasters
"Poison Ivy" – The Coasters
"To Know Him Is to Love Him" – The Teddy Bears
"Spanish Harlem" – Ben E. King
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" – The Righteous Brothers
"River Deep, Mountain High" – Ike and Tina Turner
"Baby, I Love You" – The Ronettes
"Be My Baby" – The Ronettes
"Walking in the Rain" – The Ronettes
"(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" – The Ronettes
"Surfer's Choice" – Dick Dale and the Del-Tones
"Miserlou" – Dick Dale and the Del-Tones
"Wipe Out" – The Surfaris
"Rebel Rouser" – Duane Eddy
"Jennie Lee" – Jan and Dean
"Baby Talk" – Jan and Dean
"Heart and Soul" – Jan and Dean
"Surf City" – Jan and Dean
"Dead Man's Curve" – Jan and Dean
"Last Kiss" – Wayne Cochran
"Teen Angel" – Mark Dinning
"Leader of the Pack" – The Shangri-Las
"Tell Laura I Love Her" – Ray Peterson
"Surfin'" – The Beach Boys
"Surfin' U.S.A." – The Beach Boys
"Sweet Little Sixteen" – Chuck Berry (basis for "Surfin' U.S.A.")
"Surfer Girl" – The Beach Boys
"Fun, Fun, Fun" – The Beach Boys
"Johnny B. Goode" – Chuck Berry
"Surfin' Safari" – The Beach Boys
"Little Deuce Coupe" – The Beach Boys
"Be True to Your School" – The Beach Boys
"California Girls" – The Beach Boys
"I Get Around" – The Beach Boys
"Help Me, Rhonda" – The Beach Boys
"Barbara Ann" – The Beach Boys
"Sloop John B" – Traditional folk song (recorded by the Beach Boys)
"Don't Worry Baby" – The Beach Boys
"God Only Knows" – The Beach Boys
"Caroline, No" – The Beach Boys