Jim Scott (producer)

Last updated

Jim Scott is an American record producer and audio engineer, best known for his large body of work as an engineer, and his work as a producer with American rock bands Tedeschi Trucks Band and Wilco.

Contents

Scott has worked as engineer with a range of other rock music artists, including Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Sting, the Rolling Stones, Crowded House, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lowen & Navarro, Jack's Mannequin, Ron Sexsmith, The Mastersons and many others. Scott won a Grammy Award for engineering Tom Petty's Wildflowers , mixing the Foo Fighters' One By One , doing engineering work on Santana's Supernatural , and getting three Grammys for his work on the Dixie Chicks' Taking The Long Way . He also mixed Matchbox Twenty's More Than You Think You Are which reached a no. 6 on the US Billboard 200 and had two Top 10 singles on the US Hot 100.

In 2013, he participated in the documentary Sound City , by Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), [1] along with many others such as Paul McCartney, Butch Vig, Neil Young and Tom Petty. The film was about the Los Angeles studio and its Neve recording console, as well as its many visitors over the years.

Early years

Scott grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a drummer and singer in a few high school bands, notably The London Globe, Soul and The Reactions and Cole and The Embers. He bought his first set of drums in 1964 from Mel Bay. After high school, Scott went to California and studied at USC. It was there while performing the part of Cousin Kevin in the rock opera Tommy that he met musicians who became the folk-rock band Voices. Voices played gigs all over campus, coffee houses, and later at the Starwood on the Sunset Strip. Scott served as their self-taught producer, engineer, mixer, and roadie. Voices secured a record deal with MGM Records and were on their way to stardom when their crooked manager absconded with their advance money. After graduation, the band broke up and Scott became a geologist. After five years as a geologist, Scott returned to the music business. [2]

Record Plant years

At the urging of one of his friends who was a temporary accountant at The Record Plant recording studios, Scott was hired at minimum wage to be a gofer. Gofering led to janitoring which led to setup and maintenance and then remote recordings. While on the remote recording crew, Scott traveled the country recording such acts as Bruce Springsteen, Prince, The Blues Brothers, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Heart, Neil Diamond, and The US Festival. He did over 400 shows in two years. In 1981, he met his wife, Carol, and decided to get off the road and work in the studio. While assisting at The Record Plant he was mentored by Andy Johns and Lee DeCarlo, and worked on albums by Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick, Queen, and many others. [2]

1984-2005

After leaving The Record Plant to become an independent recording engineer, Scott found loyalty from his clients and worked on multiple albums by Tom Petty, Wilco, Robbie Robertson, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lowen and Navarro, Danzig, the BoDeans, John Fogerty, Natalie Merchant and others. He worked with noted producers Rick Rubin and George Drakoulias during much of that time. It was during this time that Scott began collecting recording equipment and musical instruments as a way to improve the sound of his recordings and the overall experience for his clients.

2006-present

Scott opened PLYRZ Recording Studio in January 2006. It is in a two-story, 5000-square foot warehouse with multiple rooms. The studio is filled his collection of vintage drums, amps, guitars, keyboards and recording equipment. The control room features a Neve 8048 Console and two Neve BCM-10 sidecars as well as racks of vintage compressors and effects. There is an impressive vintage microphone collection as well. During this time, Jim has worked on albums by The Courtyard Hounds, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Crowded House, Sixpence None the Richer, Ron Sexsmith, Ryan Bingham, Styx, Hanson and many others. [3]

Grammy Awards

Scott has been nominated for a Grammy Award 17 times, of which he has gained seven. [4]

YearNominee/WorkAwardResult
1985 Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles Best Engineered Recording non-classical Nominated
1995 Tom Petty - Wildflowers Best Engineered Recording non-classicalWon
1995Tom Petty - Wildflowers Best Rock Album Nominated
1998 Rolling Stones - Bridges to Babylon Best Rock AlbumNominated
1999 Santana - Supernatural Album of the Year Won
1999 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication Best Rock AlbumNominated
1999 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Echo Best Rock AlbumNominated
2000 Rage Against the Machine - Battle of Los Angeles Best Rock AlbumNominated
2002 Foo Fighters - One by One Best Rock AlbumWon
2002 Audioslave - Audioslave Best Rock AlbumNominated
2002 Matchbox 20 - More Than You Think You Are Best Rock AlbumNominated
2005 Jason Mraz - Mr. A-Z Best Engineered Recording non-classicalNominated
2006 Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready to Make Nice"Record of the YearWon
2006Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way Album of the YearWon
2006Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way Best Country Album Won
2009 Dido - Safe Trip Home Best Engineered Recording non-classicalNominated
2011 The Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator Best Blues Album Won

He has also worked on numerous other Grammy-nominated and winning albums by such artists as Lucinda Williams, Tift Merritt, Wilco, Robert Randolph and the Family Band and others.

Scott has over 350 album credits. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers</span> American rock band

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were an American rock band formed in Gainesville, Florida, in 1976. The band originally comprised lead singer and rhythm guitarist Tom Petty, lead guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench, drummer Stan Lynch and bassist Ron Blair. In 1982, Blair, weary of the touring lifestyle, departed the band. His replacement, Howie Epstein, remained with the band for the next two decades. In 1991, Scott Thurston joined the band as a multi-instrumentalist, primarily on rhythm guitar and secondary keyboard. In 1994, Steve Ferrone replaced Lynch on drums. Blair returned to the Heartbreakers in 2002, the year before Epstein's death. The band had a long string of hit singles, including "Breakdown", "American Girl", "Refugee" (1979), "The Waiting" (1981), "Learning to Fly" (1991), and "Mary Jane's Last Dance" (1993), among many others, that stretched over several decades of work.

<i>There Is Nothing Left to Lose</i> 1999 studio album by Foo Fighters

There Is Nothing Left to Lose is the third studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on November 2, 1999, through Roswell and RCA Records. It marked the first studio credit for drummer Taylor Hawkins, and is often seen as a departure from the band's previous work, showcasing a softer, more experimental sound. Vocalist and guitarist Dave Grohl has called it his favorite Foo Fighters album, stating that it was "totally based on melody" and that the recording process was a serene experience. The album was recorded using only three musicians; Grohl, Hawkins, and bassist Nate Mendel in the basement of Grohl's home in Alexandria, Virginia.

<i>More Than You Think You Are</i> 2002 studio album by Matchbox Twenty

More Than You Think You Are is the third studio album by American rock band Matchbox Twenty, released on November 19, 2002. The album is again a departure for the band as it has more of a focus on harder rock than the band's two previous albums. Five singles were released from the album: "Disease", "Unwell", "Bright Lights", "Downfall", and "All I Need". "Downfall" was released only in the United States while "All I Need" was issued only in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Rubin</span> American record producer (born 1963)

Frederick Jay Rubin is an American record producer. He is a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records.

<i>One by One</i> (Foo Fighters album) 2002 studio album by Foo Fighters

One by One is the fourth studio album by American rock band Foo Fighters, released on October 22, 2002, through Roswell and RCA Records. Production on the album was troubled, with initial recording sessions considered unsatisfying and raising tensions between the band members. They eventually decided to redo the album from scratch during a two-week period at frontman Dave Grohl's home studio in Alexandria, Virginia. The album, which includes the successful singles "All My Life" and "Times Like These", has been noted for its introspective lyrics and a heavier, more aggressive sound compared to the band's earlier work, which Grohl said was intended to translate the energy of the Foo Fighters' live performances into a recording. This was the first album recorded with Chris Shiflett as part of the band, and the first in which Grohl did not play drums, as drum duties were permanently assigned to Taylor Hawkins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Tweedy</span> American musician (born 1967)

Jeffrey Scot Tweedy is an American musician, singer songwriter, author, and record producer best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Wilco. Tweedy, originally from Belleville, Illinois, began his music career in high school with his band The Plebes along with Jay Farrar, also in the band. It became the alternative country band Uncle Tupelo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Schmitt</span> American recording engineer and record producer (1930–2021)

Albert Harry Schmitt was an American recording engineer and record producer. He won twenty Grammy Awards for his work with Henry Mancini, Steely Dan, George Benson, Toto, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, and others. He also won 2 Latin Grammys, and a Trustees Grammy for Lifetime Achievement.

Sylvia Lenore Massy is an American record producer, mixer, and engineer. Her first major breakthrough occurred with 1993's Undertow, the full-length triple platinum-selling debut for Los Angeles alternative metal band Tool as well as her work with System of a Down, Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Brazilian band South Cry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitol Studios</span> American recording studio

Capitol Studios is a recording studio located at the landmark Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood, California, United States. The studios, which opened in 1956, were initially the primary recording studios for the American record label Capitol Records. While they are still regularly used by Capitol recording artists, the facilities began to be made available to artists outside the label during the late 1960s to the early 1970s. The studios are owned by Universal Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Music Group.

NRG Recording Studios is a recording facility located in North Hollywood, California, that was created by producer and mixer Jay Baumgardner in 1992.

The Latebirds are a rock band from Helsinki, Finland. The band was formed in 2000 by drummer Janne Haavisto, bass player Mikko Mäkelä, singer/songwriter Markus Nordenstreng and guitarist Miikka Paatelainen. Guitarist Jussi Jaakonaho replaced Miikka Paatelainen in 2004. Organ player Matti Pitsinki from Finnish instrumental rock group Laika & The Cosmonauts was added to the line-up in 2005.

Stephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California, United States. He has been mastering music since 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound City Studios</span> Recording studio in Los Angeles, California

Sound City Studios is a recording studio in Los Angeles, California, United States, known as one of the most successful in popular music. The complex opened in 1969 in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles. The facility had previously been a production factory of the English musical instrument manufacturer Vox. Throughout the late twentieth century, the studio became known for its signature sound, especially in recording drums and live performances of rock bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sons of Bill</span>

Sons of Bill is a band from Charlottesville, Virginia founded by brothers Sam, Abe, and James Wilson, along with bassist Seth Green and drummer Todd Wellons. The band took their name from the Wilson brothers' father, Bill Wilson, a musician and professor of philosophical theology and Southern literature at the University of Virginia where the band initially formed. The band's album Love And Logic is their most successful to date; it was called "a classic roots-rock record for the modern age" by Rolling Stone, and "one of those delightful surprises that music so rarely springs in the age of digital access and constant, instant discovery" by British newspaper The Guardian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">54th Annual Grammy Awards</span> Event held on February 12, 2012

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles being broadcast on CBS honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. LL Cool J hosted the show. It was the first time in seven years that the event had an official host. Nominations were announced on November 30, 2011, on prime-time television as part of "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live! – Countdown to Music's Biggest Night", a one-hour special broadcast live on CBS from Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live. Kanye West received the most nominations with seven. Adele, Foo Fighters, and Bruno Mars each received six nominations. Lil Wayne, Skrillex, and Radiohead all earned five nominations. The nominations were criticised by many music journalists as Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy missed out on a nomination for Album of the Year despite being highly critically acclaimed and topping many end of year charts. West's album went on to win Best Rap Album.

<i>Revelator</i> (Tedeschi Trucks Band album) 2011 studio album by Tedeschi Trucks Band

Revelator is the debut album by the 11-piece American blues rock group Tedeschi Trucks Band released on June 7, 2011, by Sony Masterworks. Recorded in Derek and Susan's Swamp Raga Studios in Jacksonville, co-produced by Derek with producer/engineer Jim Scott. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Mario Testa</span> American musician

Christopher Mario Testa is an American producer, mixer, engineer, re-recording mixer, sound designer and musician. He was born in Florham Park, NJ. He now resides in Los Angeles, California.

<i>Sound City</i> (film) 2013 American film

Sound City is a 2013 American documentary film produced and directed by Dave Grohl, in his directorial debut, about the history of recording studio Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. Grohl was inspired to create the documentary after he purchased several items from the studio, including the Neve 8028 analog mixing console, when it stopped operating as a commercial studio in 2011. The film discusses the historic importance of Sound City Studios and its Neve 8028 console to the world of rock music, along with other recording genres. Sound City debuted on January 18, 2013, to positive reviews, with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. The film engendered a record, Sound City: Real to Reel, which received two Grammy Awards.

<i>Fear and Saturday Night</i> 2015 studio album by Ryan Bingham

Fear And Saturday Night is the fifth studio album by Americana singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham, released on January 20, 2015. The album was recorded with producer Jim Scott and will be self-released through Bingham's independent record label Axster Bingham Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church Studio</span> Historic church and recording studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

The Church Studio is a recording studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma established in 1972 by musician, songwriter, and producer Leon Russell. Located in a converted church building, the studio has since been cited as being the heart of the Tulsa Sound.

References

  1. "Sound City". IMDb.com. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Engineer Jim Scott Interview". Mixonline.com. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. "Plyrz Studios | Recording Studio | California". PLYRZ Studios. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. "Jim Scott". Grammy.com. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. "Jim Scott | Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 January 2021.