Mark Ronson – Version (Sony BMG)
What makes a good producer? As I see it, there are three types of producers all bringing their own unique talents to a project:
• Technician – Acting more as an engineer, the Technician understands how to capture great sounds. The Technician is a technological wizard who has an innate understanding of instruments and amps that’s as thick as Sears catalog. Think: Steve Albini.
• Maestro – A composer and arranger, the Maestro doesn’t just read music but also understands it so intricately that he can turn any melody and bridge any verse so seamlessly that it’s impossible to imagine how it could have gone any other way. Think: Phil Spector or Brian Wilson.
• Life Coach – This character has a bizarre and natural sense of what’s Right and Wrong in music. He may not have the technical knowledge or natural ability to play music, but he instinctively understands how to create an atmosphere and draw out the best in an artist. Think: Rick Rubin.
While widely different in their approaches to music, each of these production styles, when successful, share two things: Good Taste and Style. Both of which Mark Ronson has for miles and miles.