Ron Nevison
Encyclopedia
Multi-platinum record producer Ron Nevison, throughout his career, has operated much like a surgeon, brought in during a critical point in a band's career to bring them back to the top from the commercial brink. Whether kick-starting a stalled hit maker like Jefferson Airplane
back into flight as Jefferson Starship, or breathing fresh air back into an outdated band's sound- such as was the case with Heart
and Chicago
, via seminal 1980s Billboard
# 1 ballads like "These Dreams
" and "Look Away
", respectively, Ron has rarely had a patient- metaphorically speaking- that he could not heal with his multi-platinum production touch.
Critics first took note of Ron's exceptional ear far ahead of many of his pop-rock peers, with one prominent example of the latter being Rolling Stone Magazine's observation in their 1973 review of The Who
's Quadrophenia
, which he engineered, that the album had been "magnificently recorded." Nevison's profile continued to rise through the mid-1970s as he helped to sonically shape a new generation of AOR rock via his engineering work on the first 3 Bad Company's LPs, Thin Lizzy
, and perhaps most notably on Led Zeppelin
's 1975 Physical Graffiti LP among a host of others. In addition to the aforementioned radio re-invention of Jefferson Starship
via late 70s and early 80s hits like "Jane", Ron's transition into head producer for groups like The Babys
, Traffic's Dave Mason
(which produced the hit single "We Just Disagree"), UFO, and Eddie Money
cemented his status as one of the industry's most in-demand hit record producers.
Ron's successes were measured by those of the acts he produced throughout the 1980s, carving out a niche for himself as the go-to producer for veteran rock acts needing a commercial reintroduction to a new generation of rock fans. Whether with Survivor
's album Vital Signs (which produced three Top 20 hits with "I Can't Hold Back", "High on You", and "The Search Is Over") or arguably his greatest turn-around with Heart
over the course of 8 Top 10 hits between 1984 and 1987, including # 1 smash hits like "These Dreams
" and "Alone
". Nevison also helmed the turn-around of legendary pop-rock outfit Chicago
on their 1988 album 19
, which produced three top-ten hits including "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love", "Look Away", and "You're Not Alone".
Amid this era, Ron balanced his smash pop-rock resume with a return to his harder rock roots via hit collaborations with genre giants like Ozzy Osbourne on The Ultimate Sin, Kiss
on Crazy Nights, and the two multi-platinum Damn Yankees studio LPs. In the latter case, Ron's collaboration with the group produced the smash hit "High Enough" for the supergroup (which featured Ted Nugent
, and principle members of Night Ranger and Styx.) The producer also logged hits during the heyday of the hair-metal genre with platinum rockers including Europe
, Bad English
, FireHouse, and Motley Crue
frontman Vince Neil
. Nevison's rock production was also discovered by a new audience throughout the 1990s as Greatest Hits collections were released by legends like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Thin Lizzy, New York Dolls
frontman David Johansen
, and Bad Company
among many others. Not surprisingly, these collections included many classic hits engineered and/or produced by Ron Nevison, who continued to maintain a mainstream pop presence with these and other rock legends throughout the 1990s, producing hit records for Meat Loaf
, Night Ranger
, Candlebox
, Lynryd Skynyrd, UFO
, and Grand Funk Railroad
, among others. Ron Nevison's career highlights include many of the record industry's highest distinctions, including his being recognized as Billboard Magazine's Top-5 Producer of the Year 4 separate times, garnering countless Grammy-nominated and winning hit records/albums, and producing well over 100 Million Albums sold in the course of his almost 4-decade career.
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
back into flight as Jefferson Starship, or breathing fresh air back into an outdated band's sound- such as was the case with Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
and Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
, via seminal 1980s Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
# 1 ballads like "These Dreams
These Dreams
"These Dreams" is a song by the rock band Heart released in 1986 from their 1985 self-titled album. It was the first song by the band to become a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.-Origin of the song:...
" and "Look Away
Look Away
"Look Away" is the name of a 1989 #1 Billboard Hot 100 Chart hit written by Diane Warren. It was recorded by the band Chicago for their 1988 album Chicago 19, with Bill Champlin singing lead vocals. When released as a single that year, the song proved successful, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for...
", respectively, Ron has rarely had a patient- metaphorically speaking- that he could not heal with his multi-platinum production touch.
Critics first took note of Ron's exceptional ear far ahead of many of his pop-rock peers, with one prominent example of the latter being Rolling Stone Magazine's observation in their 1973 review of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia is the sixth studio album by English rock band The Who. Released on 19 October 1973 by Track and Polydor in the UK, and Track and MCA in the US, it is a double album, and the group's second rock opera...
, which he engineered, that the album had been "magnificently recorded." Nevison's profile continued to rise through the mid-1970s as he helped to sonically shape a new generation of AOR rock via his engineering work on the first 3 Bad Company's LPs, Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
, and perhaps most notably on Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's 1975 Physical Graffiti LP among a host of others. In addition to the aforementioned radio re-invention of Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
via late 70s and early 80s hits like "Jane", Ron's transition into head producer for groups like The Babys
The Babys
The Babys were a British rock/pop group best known for their songs "Isn't It Time," and "Every Time I Think of You." Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in the late 1970s...
, Traffic's Dave Mason
Dave Mason
David Thomas "Dave" Mason is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic...
(which produced the hit single "We Just Disagree"), UFO, and Eddie Money
Eddie Money
Eddie Money is an American rock guitarist, saxophonist and singer-songwriter who found success in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums...
cemented his status as one of the industry's most in-demand hit record producers.
Ron's successes were measured by those of the acts he produced throughout the 1980s, carving out a niche for himself as the go-to producer for veteran rock acts needing a commercial reintroduction to a new generation of rock fans. Whether with Survivor
Survivor (band)
Survivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme...
's album Vital Signs (which produced three Top 20 hits with "I Can't Hold Back", "High on You", and "The Search Is Over") or arguably his greatest turn-around with Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
over the course of 8 Top 10 hits between 1984 and 1987, including # 1 smash hits like "These Dreams
These Dreams
"These Dreams" is a song by the rock band Heart released in 1986 from their 1985 self-titled album. It was the first song by the band to become a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.-Origin of the song:...
" and "Alone
Alone (Heart song)
-Céline Dion version:Céline Dion covered "Alone" for her 2007 album Taking Chances. It was released as the second single in Europe and North America, and third in the United Kingdom...
". Nevison also helmed the turn-around of legendary pop-rock outfit Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
on their 1988 album 19
Chicago 19
Chicago 19 is the 19th album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1988. After recording Chicago 18 with David Foster, the band decided to expand their sound with other producers and worked primarily with Ron Nevison and Chas Sandford for this album...
, which produced three top-ten hits including "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love", "Look Away", and "You're Not Alone".
Amid this era, Ron balanced his smash pop-rock resume with a return to his harder rock roots via hit collaborations with genre giants like Ozzy Osbourne on The Ultimate Sin, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
on Crazy Nights, and the two multi-platinum Damn Yankees studio LPs. In the latter case, Ron's collaboration with the group produced the smash hit "High Enough" for the supergroup (which featured Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
, and principle members of Night Ranger and Styx.) The producer also logged hits during the heyday of the hair-metal genre with platinum rockers including Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Bad English
Bad English
Bad English was an American/British hard rock supergroup formed in 1988, reuniting keyboardist Jonathan Cain with singer John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips, his former bandmates in The Babys.- History :...
, FireHouse, and Motley Crue
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
frontman Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
. Nevison's rock production was also discovered by a new audience throughout the 1990s as Greatest Hits collections were released by legends like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Thin Lizzy, New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
frontman David Johansen
David Johansen
David Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...
, and Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
among many others. Not surprisingly, these collections included many classic hits engineered and/or produced by Ron Nevison, who continued to maintain a mainstream pop presence with these and other rock legends throughout the 1990s, producing hit records for Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, Night Ranger
Night Ranger
Night Ranger is an American rock band from San Francisco that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. The band's first five albums sold more than 10 million copies worldwide...
, Candlebox
Candlebox
Candlebox is an American alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington. Since their debut, the group has released four studio albums, which have achieved multi-platinum and gold certification, as well as numerous charting singles, a compilation, and a CD+DVD....
, Lynryd Skynyrd, UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, and Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
, among others. Ron Nevison's career highlights include many of the record industry's highest distinctions, including his being recognized as Billboard Magazine's Top-5 Producer of the Year 4 separate times, garnering countless Grammy-nominated and winning hit records/albums, and producing well over 100 Million Albums sold in the course of his almost 4-decade career.