What are some good recording studio books?

I would recommend George Martin’s “All You Need Is Ears”

“George,” he said, “I don’t know if you’d be interested, but there’s a chap who’s come in with a tape of a group he runs. They haven’t got a recording contract, and I wonder if you’d like to see him and listen to what he’s got?” “Certainly,” I said, “I’m willing to listen to anything. Ask him to come and see me.” “O.K., I will. His name’s Brian Epstein…” All You Need Is Ears is the story of George Martin, the man who spotted the Beatles’ talent, who recorded and produced them from the start, and who brought their musical ideas to life. In this witty and charming autobiography, he describes exactly what it was like to work in the studio with the Beatles–from the first audition (and his decision to scrap Pete Best on drums) to the wild experimentation of Sgt. Pepper (complete with sound effects, animal noises and full orchestras in evening dress at the direct request of Paul McCartney). This is a singular look at the most important musical group of all time, and how they made the music that changed the world: No other book can provide George Martin’s inside look at their creative process, at the play of genius and practical improvisation that gave them their sound; it is an indispensable read for Beatle lovers and anyone interested in the music world.

This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin

“Endlessly stimulating, a marvelous overview, and one which only a deeply musical neuroscientist could give. Daniel Levitin has a huge knowledge of music developed since the 1950s (and of Blues, Jazz, and etc. before this), and not merely a formal but a deep personal knowledge as an expert performer no less than as a listener. I liked the discussion of ‘safe’ and ‘dangerous’ music, and I very much liked the final chapter on the evolutionary origins of music. An important book.”

– Oliver Sacks, M.D.

and Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music by Phil Ramone

“Sinatra. Streisand. Dylan. Pavarotti. McCartney. Sting. Madonna. What do these musicians have in common besides their super-stardom? They have all worked with legendary music producer Phil Ramone.

For almost five decades, Phil Ramone has been a force in the music industry. He has produced records and collaborated with almost every major talent in the business. There is a craft to making records, and Phil has spent his life mastering it. For the first time ever, he shares the secrets of his trade.

Making Records is a fascinating look “behind the glass” of a recording studio. From Phil’s exhilarating early days recording jazz and commercial jingles at A&R, to his first studio, and eventual legendary producer status, Phil allows you to sit in on the sessions that created some of the most memorable music of the 20th century–including Frank Sinatra’s Duets album, Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, Ray Charles’s Genius Loves Company and Paul Simon’s Still Crazy After All These Years.

In addition to being a ringside seat for contemporary popular music history, Making Records is an unprecedented tutorial on the magic behind what music producers and engineers do. In these pages, Phil offers a rare peek inside the way music is made . . . illuminating the creative thought processes behind some of the most influential sessions in music history.”

This is a book about the art that is making records–the way it began, the way it is now, and everything in between.

books

I mean reading is awesome, but get out there and do something too right? Read, but also doing things with your ears and your hands is the best way to learn.

What are some good recording studio books?

I would recommend George Martin’s “All You Need Is Ears”

Author: James Kananen

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