Tom Dowd, the Language of Music

Post by **VelvetGeorge** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:01 pm

Whatever you do, find a way to watch this DVD.

It's only about an hour long. And if I can find time to watch, any body can.

It's amazing. Heavily steeped in recording studio and audio gear history if you're into that stuff.

And well worth the price of admission to see Tom solo up tracks from Layla. Duanne Allmans parts are unreal!!!

george

rjgtr · Post by **rjgtr** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:24 pm

This is a great DVD. Just buy it. Even the out-take interviews are facinating. Dowd was probably the greatest engineer in music ever. And the history of his life is worthy of a movie.

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:40 pm

Right you are VG,Tom recorded and mixed guitars,like no other before or since.
Layla,Live at Fillmore East,the list could go on for days,the guitar world lost a true original,and it is neat that you pay homage to him.
I have the remastered Layla CD's,which I will send you copies of,George.
Where can one obtain this dvd?
Regards
Yngwie'Photobuckethead'308

NitroLiq · Post by **NitroLiq** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:46 pm

yngwie308 wrote:Right you are VG,Tom recorded and mixed guitars,like no other before or since.

*cough*Eddie Kramer*cough*

rjgtr · Post by **rjgtr** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:11 am

Actually I think Eddie Kramer recorded guitars just a little better at times, but Dowd was much better at an overall mix.

This was proven by the remix of Layla done in the 80s - they quickly rereleased Dowd's mix. Dowd's remix of ABB Fillmore East is just brilliant.

The new Woodstock mix is an example where Kramer sacrificed the overall mix for Jimi's guitar. The other guitarist takes a solo and you can't even hear it. I love Jimi Hendrix, but I want to hear what the band sounds like too.

Dowd's contribution was getting people together (Duane and EC), making them confortable (Ray Charles) and seeing what was needed to make music special. He also got such a good natural sound from all the instruments and voices. He started in the age of live cutting laquer discs and helped get us all the equipment we have today. Between Dowd and Les Paul, they invented all the recording techniques we use today.

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:55 pm

Rjgtr,good point.
As far as Jimi's recorded guitars,I think Jimi tweaked the board as much as Eddie,and Tom was much more connected with the musicians.
Everyone has their opinions,and in my experience it is better to 'tune'out posts with comparisons,believe me!

I have the gold discs,original masters recordings of ABB Fillmore East,and the 20th Anniversary edition of Layla,these are milestones in recording of the guitar.Tom is/was the man.
Yngwie308

NitroLiq · Post by **NitroLiq** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:15 pm

Funny how everyone just associates EK with Jimi. I was thinking more of Led Zep II, IV, and Houses of the Holy!

rjgtr · Post by **rjgtr** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:26 pm

Actually I was thinking not only of JH, but Zep and even EC on D&D In Concert. Zep is sort of a strange beast anyway, since Page was so hands on, so the mix was probably more Page than Kramer.

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Tom Dowd, the Language of Music

Tom Dowd, the Language of Music

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