RUSS TITELMAN PRODUCES
You can sweat like Springsteen, pout and kick like the Wilson Sisters, solo like Eddie Van H.. and crank out songs that’ll give the Lennon-McCartney catalog a run for its money. But the secret in the studio usually lies with that extra set of ears, that outside viewpoint that can spell the difference between a hit and a dismal miss.
RUSS TITELMAN PRODUCES
CREEM SHOWCASE
Dan Hedges
You can sweat like Springsteen, pout and kick like the Wilson Sisters, solo like Eddie Van H.. and crank out songs that’ll give the Lennon-McCartney catalog a run for its money. But the secret in the studio usually lies with that extra set of ears, that outside viewpoint that can spell the difference between a hit and a dismal miss. It’s the record producer’s viewpoint—that second opinion that’s made behind-thescenes stars out of guys like Trevor Horn. Nile Rodgers and Steve Lillywhite. Made them near-household names.
Russ Titelman’s been fine-tuning his studio tan for 15 years now. Randy Newman, James Taylor. Chaka Khan. Graham Central Station, Greg Allman, George Harrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul Simon and Christine McVie have all benefited from his touch as a producer. In New York these past few months, he’s been manning the swivel chair for Steve Winwood’s new album.
In light of the fairly recent emergence of the producer-as-celebrity, however, where the producer can often cop more attention than the artist being produced, his profile is low-key.