We began to feature record producers here awhile back with our Get A Leg Up series (well-known musicians paying tribute to their heroes and boosting the careers of lesser-known artists). More recently we have featured Dan Auerbach, Ted Templeman and Don Was. Come to think if it, the first were actually Adrian Sherwood and Dennis Bovell.
Today's featured producer is Jon Tiven, who is a friend and colleague of Peter Lubin. Tiven went from writing about music to making music, as a member of Prix, The Yankees, and The Jim Carroll Band. He also produced the 1975 sessions with Alex Chilton that became known as Bach's Bottom.
Like Chilton, Tiven turned his attention from power pop to soul. He utilized his musical talents and industry connections to produce and perform on a series of tribute albums in 1993 and 1994 spotlighting the songwriters Don Covay, Arthur Alexander, Curtis Mayfield, and Otis Blackwell. These tribute albums featured a wide range of performers from the worlds of rock, country, punk, soul and blues.
All of this activity led to more songwriting and production work with singers and songwriters: Wilson Pickett, Freddie Scott, Syl Johnson, Sir Mack Rice, Willie Jones, Betty Harris, Howard Tate, Garnet Mimms, Little Milton, Don Nix, Donnie Fritts, P.F. Sloan and Essra Mohawk (among others). Tiven has produced four albums for soul singer Ellis Hooks, four for guitarist Steve Cropper, and three for Pixies frontman Frank Black. His wife Sally Tiven plays bass on many of these records, and writes songs with Jon.
Jonder and Koen each chose songs from the past 30 years or so of Tiven's career writing, producing and playing with these legends of soul, blues and rock music. Today we share the first of two volumes, which features Koen's choices.
Complete with a new banner, here's Jon Tiven Vol. 1
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.nz/file/DU8HWQZC#owEqO6nnZ4mimwjHfO7_t5iz8cwnHBni4rnEGUwe6Bs
Question: Which of the artists on Vol. 1 do you like most?
It's hard to choose just one, but I have read that Jon Tiven considers his album with Wilson Pickett to be one of HIS favorites.
DeleteWillie Jones. He has got a very fine voice. Looking for more by him, right away.
ReplyDeleteJon Tiven wrote this in 2019 about Willie Jones: "Willie was the first person to sing r&b in the Motor City, according to r&b and soul Queen Bettye LaVette. Willie was signed in the 1950s to a singles deal by Atlantic Records with his group The Royal Jokers, but never broke through in a big way. All the while, the folks who came to see him and said 'I can do that' were starting record labels and hitting the bigtime. Willie is now 81, still has all his notes and sings beautifully."
DeleteCool & wise direction Mr. Tiven and I know dis gonna be ripe like Little Milton’s Blues Woncha git on off of my shoulders! The Jonder Koen thinking spelled out in Part 1 here is almost as if the post wrote itself .. a pure offering from the Universe itself! The new logo got me picturing some some road movie in high speed Lemme motorhome like when he wrote Ace of Spades as they played cards any waze keep up the fine and looking forward to part 2
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like Viacom CMD's stream of consciousness -- enjoy the music, my friend!
DeleteSteve Cropper is my fave!
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