The History of Music Production

In The History of Music Production, Richard James Burgess draws on his experience as a producer, musician, and author. Beginning in 1860 with the first known recording of an acoustic sound and moving forward chronologically, Burgess charts the highs and lows of the industry throughout the decades and concludes with a discussion on the present state of music production. Throughout, he tells the story of the music producer as both artist and professional, including biographical sketches of key figures in the history of the industry, including Fred Gaisberg, Phil Spector, and Dr. Dre. Burgess argues that while technology has defined the nature of music production, the drive toward greater control over the process, end result, and overall artistry come from producers. The result is a deeply knowledgeable book that sketches a critical path in the evolution of the field, and analyzes the impact that recording and disseminative technologies have had on music production. A key and handy reference book for students and scholars alike, it stands as an ideal companion to Burgess's noted, multi-edition book The Art of Music Production.


Indispensable for lovers of music who are fascinated by the history of how musical recordings are made. Burgess has wrapped engaging stories around impressive research. --Steve Savage, author of The Art of Digital Audio Recording and Mixing and Mastering in the Box

This important work brings new perspectives to the history of recorded music and shows how new technologies have been applied artfully and creatively by the many talented artisans of the craft in ways that changed how music is understood. --Mike Howlett, Associate Professor at Queensland University of Technology and Grammy award-winning producer