Does anyone on here follow the works of any specific producers? When asked in that FAQ thread I put down Rick Rubin, but he's really the only producer I know the name of who's worked on records I like. It's like saying Flea or Victor Wooten is your favorite bassist, because everyone knows they're cool and you don't know the names of many other bassists. So... are there any albums you've ever put out for because of the producer who worked on it, or any albums where you feel like the production made all the difference, or just any producers who you notice keep getting mentioned on the backs of all your favorite CDs?

Just wondering.

It seems that i pay more attention to the producer when it comes to pop/hip hop/ rap than rock because in those genres the producer himself writes the actual music. I check up on the following to some degree:
Everybody on Anticon
Dangermouse
Madlib
9th Edition
Just Blaze
Kanye West (much better producer than rapper)

And you've got The Neptunes, Timberland, and Dr. Dre putting out great tracks every once in while. But as far as Rock producer I'm a little fuzzy. Nigel Godrich has produced some great albums (Radiohead, Beck). The Dust Brothers did Becks Odeley album which is a masterpiece of production in my opinion. Mark Hannet (Joy Division). Im sure there are more that I should pay attention to but just don't know about. Im interested to see who other people say.

There are several that I always check out. Martin Birch, as I listed, produced groups like Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and associated artists, Fleetwood Mac, and Blue Oyster Cult.

I also really like Bill Laswell. He has worked with to many to even start listing, just check out his page on allmusic. Especially if you like Electronic/World/Funk/Jazz.

Brian Eno is another big cat.

John Custer is a local producer that has done lot's of work 'round NC. Including Corrosion of Conformity, Dag, and Cry of Love.

As am I, so I started a thread about it.

I wasn't really thinking about hip-hop producers, but yeah, I guess that makes sense, but I tend to think of songwriter as a different job, to be looked at seperately, in the same way you wouldn't critique a self-produced band's production based on how they play live. But I see where you're coming from. In a boy-band/manufactured artist situation, the producer pretty much comes up with the artist's sound for them. That kind of %100 production wasn't where I was originally going, but it is interesting to think about. I just find it interesting how the little layerings or augmentations or tone on a guitar can make a hit, where otherwise the mainstream media wouldn't have paid attention.

Seems like a fun job.

I've never gone wrong with Jon Brion. He does a lot of soundtracks but he also produced Kanye West's new CD. He did a lot of work with Aimee Mann.

How about Daniel Lanois.

What did he do

took the words right out of my mouth.

the only disc i have that he produced is luscious jackson's 'fever in fever out'. a friend of mine is a huge fan of his work tough. lanois was also the guy who had the balls to tell dylan to stop mumbling if mrmory serves me correctly.

i've also got more than a few discs with these guys as producer.

terry date
micheal beinhorn
dave jerden
brendan o'brien

they're names i recognize in interviews but not people i seek out when i'm shopping for cds. i can't actually think of a time where i've thought to myself 'holy crap it was produced by this dude i need to buy it'.

Dan Nakamura
I have heard and enjoyed everything he's ever worked on.

Is Bill Laswell one of the guys who was in Praxis?