Producer Spotlight: Jon Tiven (Vol. 2)

Koen and I started looking into Jon Tiven's production credits while we were working on our Fantasy American Explorers project.  When Koen interviewed Peter Lubin, we learned that Jon Tiven appointed Peter as associate editor of the New Haven Rock Press, back when both of them were teenagers.  Jon and Peter cofounded Big Sound Records in 1977.

In a sense, Jon Tiven's career has now come full circle, as his current band (The Midnight Hour) is fronted by legendary guitarist Steve Cropper AND vocalist Roger C. Reale. Big Sound released Radio Active by Roger C. Reale & Rue Morgue in 1978.  

Garnet Mimms was on Peter Lubin's initial list for Fantasy American Explorers.  Koen and I found Garnet's 2008 comeback album Is Anybody Out There?  and noticed that Jon Tiven had produced it.  As we dug further into Tiven's extensive credits as musician, composer and producer, we decided that a compilation would be our next project.  

Jon Tiven wrote a fascinating column called American Beat for Music Republic magazine. He recalls his early days as a working musician, record label rep, producer, and songwriter.  He shares memories of some of the legends that he has worked with, as well as younger performers whose careers he has helped to promote.  

We didn't go all the way back to the days of Big Sound and Ork Records (where Jon Tiven produced Alex Chilton and played in his own band, Prix).  We started with the 1993 and 1994 tribute albums and worked our way forward.  We found over 40 records from 1993 to 2024 that Jon produced or co-produced. Jon and Sally are on many of them as performers and songwriters, and many of their compositions have been recorded by other artists.  

So that's why there are two volumes, and they still don't include everything! Tiven also produced a 2019 solo album for Handsome Dick Manitoba and has collaborated with Stephen Kalinich.  A lot of singers, songwriters and musicians appear on multiple Jon Tiven productions.  He has a wonderful ability to bring talented folks together to collaborate, and we hope you enjoy the blues, country, funk, R&B, rock and soul music contained in these sets.