Have you ever heard a great song, the kind that pulls at your heart or instantly makes you tap your foot, and wondered “Who produced that song? It’s amazing!” If the answer is no, don’t worry, neither have most people who love music. It would be like hearing someone had a baby and asking who were the doctors and nurses that performed the delivery. But we all know that great songs don’t just belong to the person who sings them; they have a whole extended family who nurture and grow them into the harmonious bliss that we hear and love.
Jake Brown has written an excellent reference piece, filled with stories on the birthing process of music through the eyes of some of Nashville’s greatest producers. Each chapter of BEHIND THE BOARDS: NASHVILLE centers on prolific industry talents who take words and lyrics along with an artist’s vision to give life to many of the songs we know and love to sing along.
There are so many hit songs in the country music industry and each one has a team behind them of lyricists, musicians, singers and producers who make art from the compilation that each person brings to the table. Chris DeStefano loves his work so much so that, as he says in the book, “I wake up at 5 in the morning because it feels like literally every day is Christmas Morning……it’s really exciting to feel all the possibilities at the start of the day.” That feeling helps him bring his creative genius to each piece he produces.
There are chapters loaded with similar feelings and stories from all of these talented produces that many music consumers aren’t even aware exist. BEHIND THE BOARDS: NASHVILLE is a must read for anyone who loves what music is and does for the soul. It opens a window into where songs are born.
Also featured are Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, who have worked with many great artists both separately and together. Each has their own unique history to bring to the table as they did most recently with the group Midland. They knew exactly how to bring the glory days of the 70’s and 80’s country music scene the band wanted into the modern era without changing their style. It was a match made in heaven. As the book states, “Arguably one of a producer’s greatest works of wizardry is knowing how to tune a band’s sound to its true time.” Based on Midland’s success, this producing duo are wizards.
BEHIND THE BOARDS: NASHVILLE is certainly worth the read. Whether you are an artist, songwriter, singer, musician, producer, lover of music or aspiring to be any of those, this book will inspire you. The first line of the introduction reads: “The record producer has long been among the unsung heroes of the record-making process.” With each person who reads BEHIND THE BOARDS: NASHVILLE maybe we can begin to sing the producers praises too.
Behind the Boards: Nashville is available on Audible.com and on Amazon.com.
For more information on Behind the Boards: Nashville, visit: www.behindtheboardsnashville.com