TT only half of classic team

**Little Dreamer** · 03.17.01, 05:34 PM

I think a lot of you guys are overlooking and important aspect of things. Ted Templeman is only half of the classic production team. Donn Landee is the other half, as the sound engineer who defined VH sound for their first 8 albums. I know he had a falling out with Ed after OU812, so I don't know if they could work together again. I have not read any interview with the man, surprisingly. I guess you can't count on the Inside to deliver that kind of stuff anymore. I also haven't heard anything he's engineered or produced post 1988. I wonder what's become of him.
Now it's another question to know if bringing back the classic production team would be a good thing or not.
My opinion is that it is very rare (almost unheard of) for a band, even a major one like VH, to be able to block a name producer for 18 months. I don't see a guy like that sitting around the studio with the "no news is good news" policy. Word would have leaked by now that the guy's in the studio with them. I think that the album will be co-produced by the band and 5150's engineer (I don't know if it's still Erwin Musper), with maybe a producer coming in at a later stage. Mixing will be crucial, as III proved that poor mixing of an album can easily destroy it.

**Glenn** · 03.17.01, 06:54 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Little Dreamer:
I have not read any interview with the man, surprisingly. I guess you can't count on the Inside to deliver that kind of stuff anymore. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Shit, you couldn't count on the INSIDE delivering 30 blank pages, much less 30 pages with actual content in them.

------------------
www.vhlinks.com

If I don't meet you no more in this world, I'll meet you on the next one. AND DON'T BE LATE!!!

**track 5** · 03.17.01, 10:32 PM

The natives are getting restless INSIDE!

Out.

**mikeno55** · 03.18.01, 09:16 AM

As cool as it would be to get the whole gang back together, Landee is credited with losing Mikey in the mix for many of the early albums. The mix for OU812 sounds like complete shit (5150 isn't much better)...so many people aren't sad to see Donn go.

I'd take Erwin Musper over Donn Landee anyday..

**Van Heine** · 03.18.01, 09:16 PM

Damn, you guys know your shit!

Just wondering to myself, wouldnt it be possible for the boys to produce this one themselves? I mean, I dont think it would be a good idea, but it could happen couldnt it? I really dont know much about that side of the music buisness, I more into the music, so I dont know what the record company would say to that. I mean shit, they have recorded all of those albums at 5150 which must save WB a shitload on recording expenses.

------------------
"Do you believe in love at first site, or do I have to walk by again?" DLR
Dougie@vanhalenlive.com

**Little Dreamer** · 03.18.01, 11:40 PM

Donn engineered OU812, a not-so-impressive sounding album, but he's also responsible for some great sounding albums, like Fair Warning, VHI and 1984, where you do hear Mike very well. And he wasn't involved with VHIII where you can hardly hear the bass. So he might not be the one to blame for that particular problem...
My point was that just bringing back Ted won't be enough to get the classic feel back. Not that I think they should go for that option.
Ballard would be very good, or I'd go with some more out there choices like Brendan O'Brian (great great mixer) or Andy Wallace.
But I don't think those dude could adapt to VH's "mysterious" working schedule...