Mike Shipley on Mutt

[70aarcuda]

Mike Shipley talks about Mutt at Grear****z.com

http://www.gear****z.com/board/archive/index.php/t-16329.html

Mike Shipley on Mutt:

You will never hear a quote or interview with Mutt. He feel's his job is a behind the scenes one and he refuses to give interviews etc. His way of working is very unorthodox and a lot of people don't understand why he does work the way he does. I've already had some ****z here telling me that Dusty Springfield did it a certain way so what's wrong with Mutt etc , and that's what kinda rubs Mutt up the wrong way. He is not making records for "industry people" to buy and critique, he's making records for the check out girl at safeways , or the guy pumping gas .
Hearing opinions from Engineers and producers etc about his work methods is kinda old and just beg's for everyone to give an opinion and put a value on it in terms of how "they" work compared to him.
"how can u spend so long , it's not natural , that doesn't sound like a real kit, you do What ??'" etc etc . All that gets in the way of what he does .So he chooses to be reclusive to a point and not listen to any one else's opinion especially the AandR people!! He makes records for one reason only...to sell them. He will rewrite the same song until he's happy with it and that can be a while, he wants every record to have a "sound "to it rather than take for him what is the easy route and that can take some time also.
Yes there are people that work way faster and get the job done to their satisfaction just fine, he chooses a different route and always has. As I said his record sales are between 180million and 190 million so his way works for him. People have tried to copy him, thinking that all you gotta do is be anal and spend alot of time..but there is so much more than that. I love working with him because it's always something new.
As lame as an artist like Shania is to a lot of people,I just got a plaque last week from Mutt and the label saying that she is the "First artist in history to have 3 conecutive diamond albums"
so theyve sold over 10 million each. Actually in total for her it's about 70 million on the three records. Back in Black just hit the 20 million mark. DL sold around 35 million.etc .
He is thinking about doing an English rock band next year , so Ill see how he feels in a few months time about it.

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Right from day one when I was assisting on Mutt's sessions in London , it was obvious that he had a different way of working. If you couldn't keep on top of things on his sessions , which were pretty hi energy with no room for fuc@k ups then you were out. For whatever reason we clicked and I really enjoyed the challenge even as an assistant.
It was soon after that he asked me to be his engineer and build a studio for us etc and I was 19 at the time so it was all very exciting. I loved the energy level and the creativity. I had seen some of the most creative bands and producers at Wessex studios and Mutt was the most creative. He works brutal hours and it's quite intense 'cos we wrangle over sounds etc. but it was always a matter of..I'm gonna get what he wants if it kills me...'cos he was hard to satisfy and we would tear down and start again so many times. Some mixes would take weeks .And some albums took years and As much as I wanted to give up , I wanted to keep hacking away to find what it was that we had to do to get it to work.
There have been other engineers work with him from time to time but he hates it and so do they .
After 26 or so years together we can fight a bit (in a healthy way) but we've figured out how to work together !!!
Then word got around that I can take tough situations in the studio so I get a lot of calls to work with more "difficult" artists , and that's alot of fun too because quite often their "difficult" part is their creative part so if you can figure how to make it a positive instead of a negative then it's a great experience. So many business type people just don;t know how to handle an artistic temprament and use words like "difficult" instead of realising that the vision in an artists mind can not always be put into words and that I guess is frustrating for them..for me it's fun and a challenge.

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[Troll]

Thanks for the article.

[Brooke]

Mike Shipley talks about Mutt at Grear****z.com

http://www.gear****z.com/board/archive/index.php/t-16329.html


As lame as an artist like Shania is to a lot of people

Ouch. What a quote. :uhh:


On another note, seems to me that Mutt at times would be a real pain in the *ss to work with. He is talented, but he sure is controlling.

[Shania's4life!!]

As lame as an artist like Shania is to a lot of people,


You mean the millions that buy her? ...great logic. :rolleyes:
In comparison to the people that like Shania, the people that don't really isn't "a lot", at least by standards which you can measure. Perhaps a lot of the artists that don't sell, don't sell because a lot of people think they are lame...ever thought of that? ..no, people will always make excuses for why something doesn't sell while attacking the successful artists in music.
There isn't a formula behind Mutt's success, he just has an ear for what sounds good, and Shania is the epitome of that.

[EilleenTwain88]

Ouch. What a quote. :uhh:
Heh. IF he really did say that himself:
A. they really must be good old friends (and even still he is quite a brave man) ... :D
B. Mutt has quitted altogether and Shipley's is looking for a new job :shocked:

But my guess is that it was the interpretation of the writer again, nothing more. Might explain why The Gold Finger is not giving interviews himself - tired of reading wrong conclusions of things said. And then explaining them over and over to other journalists. And so on.

[70aarcuda]

Mike Shipley is a member of that message board and posts there using the name shipshape. You can do a search on his user name and find all of his posts. He talks about The Cars, Def Leppard, Shania, Mutt, ect. It's very interesting stuff. The quotes were not from an interview, they were direct comments posted by Mike.

I think Mike is saying that a lot of muscians and other artists think that music that is highly commercial is lame. I think he is defending the music by pointing to the sales figures as justification for the music. The music being created may be considered lame to some but it is successful because it is doing what it is suppose to, that is sell lots of units. I did not take the comment as an insult to Shania or Mutt.

Mike works with tons of successful artists so he would survive quite well without Mutt.

[Paul]

Don't worry they know each other very well! ;)

[EilleenTwain88]

Mike Shipley is a member of that message board and posts there using the name shipshape. You can do a search on his user name and find all of his posts. He talks about The Cars, Def Leppard, Shania, Mutt, ect. It's very interesting stuff. The quotes were not from an interview, they were direct comments posted by Mike.

I think Mike is saying that a lot of muscians and other artists think that music that is highly commercial is lame. I think he is defending the music by pointing to the sales figures as justification for the music. The music being created may be considered lame to some but it is successful because it is doing what it is suppose to, that is sell lots of units. I did not take the comment as an insult to Shania or Mutt.

Mike works with tons of successful artists so he would survive quite well without Mutt.
Ah. Okey.

I wouldn't find the sales figures to be a good measurement for the value of the music though... well in that sense that it has touched many souls maybe. Neither would I find commercially not succesfull music to be more valuable in any case... sometimes sure but not every time.

I watched the Madonna's Confessions Tour Concert on New Year's Eve and I must say that if ever there was LAME music in this world (even though highly succesfull in sales), there you've got it. I couldn't tell the songs apart "for the kingdom". And the echo they use for her voice (well maybe for the good reason I am sure) got really annoying after the first hour...

But the show was great, she is a amazing dancer and performer, the money and effort she had put to the other aspects of the concert made it very valuable entertaining experience in deed.

[dreamer]

mutt is a genus Shania is proof Shania rocks period.

[Shania's4life!!]

All music that is released commercially is "commercial". Every artist who releases their music publically with a price tag wants it to sell, if they say that they don't then that would make them a hypocrite.

Now, looking at the word "commercial" in a different context...what exactly has been commercial, or rather "mainstream" for the past 5-10 years? rap? hip hop? punk/alternative rock? I wouldn't say Shania is commercial in that sense, she has her own style and stays true to herself. The people that listen to Shania are the people that find her and like her, her audience isn't exactly the kind of people who just listen to whatever is considered socially "hip" or "cool" in the current trends, which is why Shania has experienced long term success rather then the "flavour of the month" type which most people have these days.

[FinnFreak]

So THAT'S where The Darkness-rumour originated from..! :D

heh, and I guess the guys we're quite happy about it too... :p


Yeps, a producer/engineer can be just as creative and artistic as a performing artist - and some, perhaps even more so...


John - ;)

[Brooke]

Friend or no friend, his choice of words were very poor. He might be trying to defend Shania, but by saying that tons of people find her lame, he is in fact doing the exact opposite.

With friends like this who needs enemies.

[FinnFreak]

Ouch. What a quote. :uhh:

It was quite an honest reading how the most vocal music enthusiasts (= critics) rate Shania.

I'd say with Shania & Mutt, there's some similarities to some of the most successful movie directors - the masses simply adore the amazing stories brought to the silver screen, yet the storytellers don't get recognition until decades have past. Yep, like Spielberg & Lucas - at least, that's my opinion.




On another note, seems to me that Mutt at times would be a real pain in the *ss to work with. He is talented, but he sure is controlling.

That's what everyone who have worked with him have said.

BUT: within the same breath, they do mention, that they wouldn't have had it any other way & would absolutely love to work with him again.

Because there's a difference between end results that "will do" - and results, that will be remembered.


John - :)

[Brooke]

It was quite an honest reading how the most vocal music enthusiasts (= critics) rate Shania.

I'd say with Shania & Mutt, there's some similarities to some of the most successful movie directors - the masses simply adore the amazing stories brought to the silver screen, yet the storytellers don't get recognition until decades have past. Yep, like Spielberg & Lucas - at least, that's my opinion.

I agree with you. But it can become depressing at times to constantly hear. Also, I expect certain entities to always trash her and belittle her (Nashville, certain artists, etc.), but coming from a friend (who might have meant no disrespect) it is even more depressing. If you want to build up a friend, you don't start a sentence by putting them down, then building them up. There are many other ways to show that you respect your friend and show a contrast/comparison scenario. Say my friend was considered ****ty by some, I would not start out a sentence by saying oh yes you are considered to be a huge wh*re by many, but in reality you are not. I would never use words by haters to combat hate towards the person I care about.

I just don't want Shania to have to wait till she is 90 to get respect.






That's what everyone who have worked with him have said.

BUT: within the same breath, they do mention, that they wouldn't have had it any other way & would absolutely love to work with him again.

Because there's a difference between end results that "will do" - and results, that will be remembered.


John - :)

True. Truly a love/hate relationship :smirk:

[FinnFreak]

Mike Shipley was NOT bashing Shania. Read the text again. This time, with thought.

Shania's got the recognition - perhaps not from critics, but then again, they didn't write the music for them - they wrote it for us.

And the numbers don't lie.


John - ;)

[EilleenTwain88]

We must be careful not to mix things here. Even though they might seem quite tight combination to us, Mutt and Shania ARE two separate persons. And Shipley is a friend of Mutt's for the longest time as I understand, but he doesn't have to be a great fan of his wife or her music.

But maybe the guys are right. It was not meant to be disrespectful to her. He was just expressing the opinion of many people in his own world of music industry professionals, who think her music a little too simple and straigth-forward to be "great". And him to be the main reason of its success.

Which I don't agree, by the way.

[Brooke]

Mike Shipley was NOT bashing Shania. Read the text again. This time, with thought.



Read what I wrote again. And try this time to read what I wrote with thought. Speaking of rude :rolleyes:

[Brooke]

We must be careful not to mix things here. Even though they might seem quite tight combination to us, Mutt and Shania ARE two separate persons. And Shipley is a friend of Mutt's for the longest time as I understand, but he doesn't have to be a great fan of his wife or her music.

But maybe the guys are right. It was not meant to be disrespectful to her. He was just expressing the opinion of many people in his own world of music industry professionals, who think her music a little too simple and straigth-forward to be "great". And him to be the main reason of its success.

Which I don't agree, by the way.

With the extremely poor word choice that he used, we are never going to be sure what he actually thinks or what he actually thought. And that demonstrates the problem with talking the way that he does.

There were countless ways that he could have showed his support without putting her down at the same time.

And like you said, he is friends with Mutt. Who knows how he truly feels about Shania.

[FinnFreak]

With the extremely poor word choice that he used, we are never going to be sure what he actually thinks or what he actually thought. And that demonstrates the problem with talking the way that he does.

There were countless ways that he could have showed his support without putting her down at the same time.

And like you said, he is friends with Mutt. Who knows how he truly feels about Shania.

It's a post on a discussion board - NOT a press release.

...and I bet Mr Shipley didn't expect that his use of words would be put under a microscope, critically over-analyzed & then a sentence given at the Forums...

If there's a hint of irritation to be found between those lines, I just happen to read it as some minor frustration addressed towards those who don't even bother to figure out Mutt's way of working/keeping his privacy and repeatedly underestimate Shania - YES, IMHO he is talking in her defense, when mentioning those sales numbers (letting the figures do the talking)


...are we really THIS bored..?


...I'm now going to have a listen to Mike Shipley's surround mix of Üp! - at least there, the music mix does the talking for his behalf...


John - ;)

[EilleenTwain88]

...are we really THIS bored..?
YES we are... :( ... Mrs and Mr Doc Langes should fix us pretty soon. :D

[dreamer]

here here

[Brooke]

...are we really THIS bored..?



Just as bored as all the other hundreds of members who make countless posts on topics that interest them day in and day out. :smirk:

[Brooke]

Mrs and Mr Doc Langes should fix us pretty soon. :D


Now that is the spirit :)

Hopefully none of their "friends" decide to make anymore uplifting comments this time around :smirk:

[FinnFreak]

Boy, are we judgmental or what..?


John - :p

[dreamer]

LOL I'm STILL "bored enough to read this thread"

[Nandoram]

Now that is the spirit :)

Hopefully none of their "friends" decide to make anymore uplifting comments this time around :smirk:

Brooke:
The Shipley post from that other forum was not meant as a biting comment against Shania or Mutt's music. Gear****z is a high-end musician's forum, wherein highly articulate and opinionated music industry types hang out. As much as it hurts us, most of them don't enjoy Shania's music and in actuality, they really HATE it. They think of ANY commercial music as sub-par... Shania's included. A lot of their feelings are rooted from crass jealousy, and because they are mad at the world that they haven't had the success Mutt and Shania have had.

I post on Gear****z from time to time, and I love Mutt's work (all of it), so not all folks feel that way about Shania's work.

Anyway, Shipley was addressing them, knowing that a lot of them don't like Shania's music. So he said "As lame as an artist like Shania is to a lot of people,I just got a plaque last week from Mutt and the label saying that she is the first artist in history to have 3 conecutive diamond albums." He's actually addressing those JEALOUS, ELITIST TYPES by telling them that even though they don't think much of Shania as an artist, look what she has achieved that you haven't. It's obvious no LAME artist has ever or ever will achieve that level of continued success without something redeeming about them or their music.

Keep this in mind, and don't misinterpet what Shipley is saying. ALso, bear in mind the context he said it in (gear****z forum). It wasn't meant to be said anywhere else.