David Briggs (producer)
Encyclopedia
David Briggs was an American record producer
best known for his work with Neil Young
and his band Crazy Horse
. He is noted for his eclectic imagination and style.
. Briggs left Wyoming in 1962 to hitchhike his way to Los Angeles
and Canada
, then finally settled in California
, the place he would call home for the rest of his life. In the early sixties, Briggs began producing in the music business working on Bill Cosby
's label, Tetragrammaton Records
. One of the first albums he produced was for comedian
Murray Roman
. According to Briggs, this was the first album ever released with the word "fuck" on it. Working on Cosby's label led Briggs into doing his own production work with people such as Alice Cooper
, Spirit
and Jerry Lynn Williams. In 1966 Briggs produced a release on ATCO Records
, I Won't Come Down, with Laramy Smith
while hitchhiking, Briggs went on to produce the singer/songwriter's first solo album, entitled Neil Young
(1968). This led to a lifelong friendship between the two men, with Briggs co-producing over a dozen of Young's albums (see discography below). The most acclaimed work together being Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
and After the Gold Rush
. Young's Sleeps with Angels
album (1994) is the last work that Briggs produced before his death in 1995. Other than producing with Young, Briggs worked on albums with many successful artists such as Spirit
, Tom Rush
, Nils Lofgren
, Steve Young
, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
, and Royal Trux
.
David had one son, Lincoln, with artist Shannon Forbes in 1969. In 1988, Briggs married Bettina Linnenberg. Bettina would soon be noted as the production coordinator on many of the projects that Briggs produced in the 1990s. These projects included Nick Cave
, 13 Engines
, Sidewinder
, and Royal Trux
. She even helped him on projects that would never be released such as work done with John Eddie
, Blind Melon
, and the Sweet and Low Orchestra.
. He was 51 years old. Before his death, he was still working with Joel Bernstein on the Neil Young Archives
project. This project had been underway for five years before his death and there could be anywhere from three to twenty albums worth of unreleased material.
After Briggs' death Neil Young and Crazy Horse
went on to record material such as Year of the Horse
, released in 1996.
Briggs' work was not universally acclaimed. Neal Smith of the Alice Cooper group later said "David hated our music and us. I recall the term that he used, referring to our music, was 'psychedelic shit'." I think Easy Action
sounded too dry, more like a TV or radio commercial and he did not help with song arrangement or positive input in any way." His sessions with Nick Cave were also acrimonious, which led to Cave remixing the album Henry's Dream
.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
best known for his work with Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
and his band Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
. He is noted for his eclectic imagination and style.
Early life
David Briggs was born in Douglas, WyomingDouglas, Wyoming
Douglas is a city in Converse County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 5,288 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Converse County...
. Briggs left Wyoming in 1962 to hitchhike his way to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, then finally settled in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, the place he would call home for the rest of his life. In the early sixties, Briggs began producing in the music business working on Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
's label, Tetragrammaton Records
Tetragrammaton Records
Tetragrammaton Records was an American record label, founded by artist manager Roy Silver, Bruce Post Campbell, Marvin Deane, and comedian Bill Cosby in the late 1960s. The name references a term for the un-nameable name of God....
. One of the first albums he produced was for comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Murray Roman
Murray Roman
Murray Roman was an American stand-up comedian whose career was cut short by a car crash. Many consider his style, and material, to be similar to Lenny Bruce.-Biography:He was Keith Moon's favorite comedian...
. According to Briggs, this was the first album ever released with the word "fuck" on it. Working on Cosby's label led Briggs into doing his own production work with people such as Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Spirit
Spirit (band)
Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...
and Jerry Lynn Williams. In 1966 Briggs produced a release on ATCO Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
, I Won't Come Down, with Laramy Smith
Career
In 1968, after picking up Neil YoungNeil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
while hitchhiking, Briggs went on to produce the singer/songwriter's first solo album, entitled Neil Young
Neil Young (album)
Neil Young is the self-titled debut studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, which was his debut release as a solo artist following his departure from the band Buffalo Springfield...
(1968). This led to a lifelong friendship between the two men, with Briggs co-producing over a dozen of Young's albums (see discography below). The most acclaimed work together being Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is the second studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released on Reprise Records catalogue RS 6349...
and After the Gold Rush
After the Gold Rush
After the Gold Rush is the third studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young. Released in August 1970 on Reprise Records, it was one of the four high-profile albums released by each member of folk rock collective Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu...
. Young's Sleeps with Angels
Sleeps with Angels
Sleeps With Angels is the twenty-second studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his sixth with Crazy Horse, released on the Warner Bros. Records/Reprise label....
album (1994) is the last work that Briggs produced before his death in 1995. Other than producing with Young, Briggs worked on albums with many successful artists such as Spirit
Spirit (band)
Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...
, Tom Rush
Tom Rush
Tom Rush is an American folk and blues singer, songwriter, musician and recording artist.- Life and career :Rush was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His father was a teacher at St. Paul's School, in Concord, New Hampshire. Tom began performing in 1961 while studying at Harvard University after...
, Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
, Steve Young
Steve Young (musician)
Steve Young is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, known for his song "Seven Bridges Road"...
, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
, and Royal Trux
Royal Trux
Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
.
David had one son, Lincoln, with artist Shannon Forbes in 1969. In 1988, Briggs married Bettina Linnenberg. Bettina would soon be noted as the production coordinator on many of the projects that Briggs produced in the 1990s. These projects included Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
, 13 Engines
13 Engines
13 Engines was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1990s.Formed in 1985 as The Ikons, the band consisted of four York University students—vocalist John Critchley, guitarist Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier. They released a self-titled independent cassette in 1986...
, Sidewinder
Sidewinder (band)
Sidewinder was a rock band founded in 1991 by brothers Nick and Martin Craft in the Australian capital Canberra. They supported U2 on the Australian leg of their Popmart tour. In the same year. Sidewinder's second album Tangerine received much airplay on Australian radio, most notably on Triple J.-...
, and Royal Trux
Royal Trux
Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
. She even helped him on projects that would never be released such as work done with John Eddie
John Eddie
John Eddie is an American folk rock singer. Eddie moved to New Jersey in the 1970s and became a popular club circuit musician there, occasionally performing with Bruce Springsteen. Eddie signed with Columbia Records and released two albums, in 1986 and 1990. The 1986 single, "Jungle Boy" peaked on...
, Blind Melon
Blind Melon
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock...
, and the Sweet and Low Orchestra.
Death and posthumous projects
David Briggs died on November 26, 1995, after a battle with lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. He was 51 years old. Before his death, he was still working with Joel Bernstein on the Neil Young Archives
Neil Young Archives
The Neil Young Archives is a series of archival releases by singer-songwriter Neil Young which feature previously released as well as unreleased studio and live recordings. The project has been long in the making – work began in the late 1980s...
project. This project had been underway for five years before his death and there could be anywhere from three to twenty albums worth of unreleased material.
After Briggs' death Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
went on to record material such as Year of the Horse
Year of the Horse
Year of the Horse is a 1997 documentary directed by Jim Jarmusch following Neil Young and Crazy Horse on their 1996 tour.-Eponymous album:Year of the Horse is also a live album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse released in 1997...
, released in 1996.
Critical views
David Briggs is remembered as a man who pushed musicians and friends to the very limits of their capabilities and utilized a low-tech, highly emotional and lively approach to "bring out the best" in every artist he worked with. Briggs, an accomplished writer and musician himself, was one of the first producers to take the place of the traditional studio "sound-man" at the recording board and learn to lay down track himself. When he said, "Do it again", they did it again. When he said, "Come listen", they knew there was something worth listening to. He will go down as one of the greatest non-technical rock and roll producers in the industry. His motto was "Never give up the master tapes."Briggs' work was not universally acclaimed. Neal Smith of the Alice Cooper group later said "David hated our music and us. I recall the term that he used, referring to our music, was 'psychedelic shit'." I think Easy Action
Easy Action
Easy Action is the second studio album by Alice Cooper, released by Straight Records in March 1970. The title comes from a line in the musical film West Side Story, which was one of the band's favorite films...
sounded too dry, more like a TV or radio commercial and he did not help with song arrangement or positive input in any way." His sessions with Nick Cave were also acrimonious, which led to Cave remixing the album Henry's Dream
Henry's Dream
Henry's Dream is the seventh album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, in spring 1992. There are possible references to John Berryman's series of poems The Dream Songs, which logs the dreams of the protagonist Henry. This album remains a big favourite amongst Bad Seeds fans, although Nick Cave...
.
Neil Young
- 1968 - Neil YoungNeil Young (album)Neil Young is the self-titled debut studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, which was his debut release as a solo artist following his departure from the band Buffalo Springfield...
- 1969 - Everybody Knows This Is NowhereEverybody Knows This Is NowhereEverybody Knows This Is Nowhere is the second studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released on Reprise Records catalogue RS 6349...
- 1970 - After the Gold RushAfter the Gold RushAfter the Gold Rush is the third studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young. Released in August 1970 on Reprise Records, it was one of the four high-profile albums released by each member of folk rock collective Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu...
- 1974 - On the Beach
- 1975 - Tonight's the Night
- 1975 - ZumaZuma (album)Zuma is the seventh studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his second with Crazy Horse, released in 1975. Some believe the album was named after Zuma Beach in Malibu; however, it seems more logical that the title comes from Montezuma, as he is featured prominently in the song Cortez The...
- 1977 - American Stars 'N Bars
- 1978 - Comes a TimeComes a TimeComes a Time is the ninth album by Neil Young, and a return to the country/folk rock sound of Harvest . Many of the tracks include harmony vocals from Nicolette Larson. Originally, it had started out as a solo record, but when Young played it for Reprise executives they asked him if he wouldn't...
- 1979 - Rust Never SleepsRust Never SleepsRust Never Sleeps is an album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse released in 1979. The bulk of the album was recorded live at San Francisco's Cow Palace, with overdubs added. Audience noise is removed as much as possible, although it is clearly audible at certain points, most noticeably on the opening...
- 1979 - Live RustLive RustLive Rust is a live album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, recorded during his fall 1978 Rust Never Sleeps tour. The show at the Cow Palace, San Francisco was filmed and was the performance used in the concert film, Rust Never Sleeps; however, the album Live Rust was composed of performances...
- 1981 - Re-ac-torRe-ac-torRe-ac-tor is the eleventh studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, and his third with Crazy Horse, released in 1981. The album married the electric guitar crunch of the late '70s Crazy Horse sound with early '80s new wave rhythms...
- 1982 - TransTrans (album)Trans is the twelfth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1982. Recorded partially and released during his notorious Geffen era in the 1980s, Trans baffled many Neil Young fans. Some suggested that the album could be a satirical message that Young was trying to send about the...
- 1985 - Old WaysOld WaysOld Ways is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1985. Young refers to this album in interviews as Old Ways II, as he had originally planned to release a country album titled Old Ways in 1983. Geffen objected to this, asking Young for a "rock 'n roll" album,...
- 1987 - LifeLife (1987 album)Life is the sixteenth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his fourth with Crazy Horse, Young's first with his erstwhile backing band since 1981's Re-ac-tor, and Young's last release on the Geffen label....
- 1990 - Ragged GloryRagged GloryRagged Glory is the twentieth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his fifth with Crazy Horse, released in 1990.The album revisits the hard rock style previously explored on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and Zuma...
- 1991 - WeldWeld (album)Weld is a live album and concert video by Neil Young & Crazy Horse released in 1991, comprising performances recorded on the tour to promote the Ragged Glory album...
- 1993 - UnpluggedUnplugged (Neil Young album)Unplugged is a 1993 live album by Neil Young. It contains a previously unreleased song "Stringman", that dates from 1976. The taping of the show was also released on VHS....
- 1994 - Sleeps with AngelsSleeps with AngelsSleeps With Angels is the twenty-second studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his sixth with Crazy Horse, released on the Warner Bros. Records/Reprise label....
Other Artists
- 1969 Summerhill - Summerhill
- 1970 Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
- Easy ActionEasy ActionEasy Action is the second studio album by Alice Cooper, released by Straight Records in March 1970. The title comes from a line in the musical film West Side Story, which was one of the band's favorite films... - 1970 Tom RushTom RushTom Rush is an American folk and blues singer, songwriter, musician and recording artist.- Life and career :Rush was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His father was a teacher at St. Paul's School, in Concord, New Hampshire. Tom began performing in 1961 while studying at Harvard University after...
- Wrong End of the RainbowWrong End of the RainbowWrong End of the Rainbow is the 1970 album from pioneer Folk rock musician Tom Rush. The music on this album, his second in 1970, tends to lean more torward the Country rock style.-Track listing:... - 1970 SpiritSpirit (band)Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...
- Twelve Dreams of Dr. SardonicusTwelve Dreams of Dr. SardonicusTwelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus is the fourth album by the psychedelic rock ensemble Spirit. Produced by David Briggs, who is best known for his work with Neil Young. The original LP was released in 1970 by Epic.... - 1971 Nils LofgrenNils LofgrenNils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
& Grin - GrinGrin (Grin album)Grin is a 1971 album by Grin, featuring songs by their guitarist Nils Lofgren. As well as being an album in its own right, this was released by CBS in the UK as part of a 1976 double album set along with its successor 1+1.- Track listing :... - 1972 Nils Lofgren & Grin - 1+11+1 (Grin album)-Personnel:* Nils Lofgren – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals* Bob Berberich – Drums, Vocals* Bob Gordon – Bass, Vocals* Graham Nash – Vocals on "Hi, Hello Home"* David Blumberg – Orchestration on "Just a Poem" & "Soft Fun"...
- 1972 Spirit - FeedbackFeedback (Spirit album)Feedback is the fifth album by the rock & roll band Spirit. Released in 1972, it was the first Spirit album without original members Jay Ferguson and Mark Andes, and it was also the only Spirit album that did not feature Randy California performing on it, as California had left the group to pursue...
- 1972 Steve YoungSteve Young (musician)Steve Young is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, known for his song "Seven Bridges Road"...
- Seven Bridges RoadSeven Bridges Road (album)Seven Bridges Road is the second album by pioneer Country rock musician Steve Young.-Track listing:#"Seven Bridges Road" - 3:22#"My Oklahoma" - 2:58#"The White Trash Song" - 2:50... - 1975 Nils Lofgren - Nils LofgrenNils Lofgren (album)Nils Lofgren is a 1975 album by Nils Lofgren, also known as the "Fat Man Album". It was his first solo album, following the breakup of his group, Grin....
- 1976 Nils Lofgren - Cry Tough
- 1986 Bradley Ditto - Check Me Out
- 1992 Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad SeedsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
- Henry's DreamHenry's DreamHenry's Dream is the seventh album released by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, in spring 1992. There are possible references to John Berryman's series of poems The Dream Songs, which logs the dreams of the protagonist Henry. This album remains a big favourite amongst Bad Seeds fans, although Nick Cave... - 1995 Royal TruxRoyal TruxRoyal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
- Thank YouThank You (Royal Trux album)Track listingSide one-#"A Night to Remember" – 2:32#"The Sewers of Mars" – 3:30#"Ray O Vac" – 4:04#"Map of the City" – 3:57#"Granny Grunt" – 3:52:Side two#"Lights on the Levee" – 4:28#"Fear Strikes Out" – 3:31...