Brendan O’Brien On How He Recorded RHCP’s “Give It Away”

[@IceHockeyJedi]

This is one of those rare albums that you can listen to from beginning to end and every moment is amazing.

[@NeungView]

You really can't! It's solid gold shit from start to finish. It's almost as bad as U2.

[@mikenewbold1699]

@@NeungView PLEASE SAY SOMETHING OF VALUE

[@Kurtis11266]

@@NeungView Prove that it's shit

[@vagabond197979]

The rest of the album sounds nothing like the hits. I immediately put it in the sell pile. Did nothing for me.

[@DarkMatterBurrito]

@@Kurtis11266 Yes, prove an opinion, lol

[@endthisnonsense7202]

The best RHCP album ever, by miles. One of the greatest albums ever. And despite of this we're not even sure it was the best album released September 24, 1991.

[@jeff_mossy]

Definitely their peak, but I’m not sure it was miles ahead of Mother’s Milk.

[@kkrsnn5632]

Its great but it should have been shorter.

[@frankmarsh1159]

5:14 Web IV studio (where Brendan started out) had an EMT 250. Everybody said it looked like a robot... Kind of like R2D2.

[@Les537]

Great album start to finish. I bought 3 or 4 more from RHCP and hated them all. LOL.

[@RWilsonB]

A month earlier. Ten was released

[@tryste_mx]

Respect for Brendan matching Beato's denim freak.

[@christopherwrigley768]

Imagine Jay Leno was there too, we'd have the holy trifecta

[@HighScorsese]

Canadian Tuxedos for the win!

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

Denim jackets in 90 degree heat; Seriously?

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

@@JismIsm-en4kzand humidity.

[@mad_cat_1st]

0:19 - There's a documentary film called FUNKY MONKS, Rick. I've owned it on VHS for something approaching 30 years. Check it out! It's hilarious. BTW - "If You Have To Ask" is the best song on this album. I was lucky enough to see RHCP touring Blood Sugar at The State Theater in Kalamazoo MI. Pearl Jam opened. Smashing Pumpkins was the 2nd act. RHCP took the stage as headliner and when they went into the title track (Chad Smith's opening drum riff), the whole place was jumping up and down IN UNISON. 1500 people got the best show in 20 years that night (this was when they had the light bulbs on their heads). The only other time I saw crowd participation like that was George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars at the Fillmore in San Francisco. The place was packed shoulder to shoulder and jumping in unison to THE ONE.

[@unsungronin8093]

I had a copy of Funky Monks too, awesome video

[@poindextertunes]

I’m really jealous you got to see George Clinton and The Parliament Funkadelic :P 😭

[@jd-tg1ox]

I was there. I thought pearl jam was some local band. A month later Alive came out

[@mad_cat_1st]

@@poindextertunes It was the P-Funk Allstars. I would've have loved to see the original line up of Funkadelic, but I was too young. The only problem with Allstars is that Bootsie and Bernie aren't in the band. Still an amazing show, but don't be jealous.😎😎😎

[@JJDrumsChannel]

I love that the sound is so grand but achieved so simply. A great ethos to work by.

[@atravelerofbothtimespace4172]

Brendans a legend onea the best in the biz recorded some immortal albums i fully appreciate the work hes accomplished

[@Senortiger]

"Yes it was a real fun magical time! I have nothing but joy and alot of amazing memories from being there with everyone and part of the creative process.Bud was the coolest guy a real pro and always a gentleman! 😁👍

[@larryrock11]

I can’t wait to hear this full interview!

[@jfw1991]

It’s already up!

[@7BobbyGaylor7]

Love the behind the scenes we get from you and your channel. Cheers.

[@villamilk]

Growing up in the 90s, I saw Brendan O’Brien’s name on a large portion of the music I listened to. I greatly enjoyed immersing myself in every page of the booklets that came with CDs. This man is a true genius!

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Rick, i love these little segments. Keep'm coming.

[@ultramet]

“Great guitar tones are the player” 💯!

[@BarrackObamna]

Okay, play voodoo chile on an acoustic with no effects at all. I’ll wait to see how good that sounds superimposed over the original guitar-less track….

[@Prossdog]

@@BarrackObamnathat’s not the point. Obviously if you want certain effects you need to add them. But the point Brendan was making was that if you have a great player, it doesn’t matter if the eq is perfect, if the reverb could be turned a little up or down, if it could have used a little less drive etc. John Frusciante is going to make it sound good. All those things could be perfect for the recording but a lesser player still won’t sound good.

[@jc498]

​@@BarrackObamna Give Jimi Hendrix an acoustic guitar and he'll most definitely blow your mind with an acoustic rendition of it... because it's Hendrix. If you can't come up with something cool without everything caked in effects, you're probably not as good or as creative as you think you are.

[@BarrackObamna]

@@jc498 lmfao nah, there’s a reason he didn’t play an acoustic and loved his wah.

[@jc498]

@@BarrackObamna What I'm saying is if you play a Jimi Hendrix song it's going to sound bad. Whatever Jimi plays, on whatever guitar, with whatever pedals, he's going to kill it, because he's a good guitar player. His fuzz pedal doesn't make him good

[@dighawaii1]

This was absolutely awesome! Huge record to me. Able to say that it helped fuel the desire to work in the industry myself.

[@Peapodzilla]

One of my favorite documentaries is the making of this album. I actually like it even more than the album itself.

[@wompa70]

It's amazing how so many of the classic hits (and yes, I get the irony of calling something released the year I turned 21 classic) are such a product of when and where they were recorded.

[@finelerv]

That was super interesting to listen to but I have no idea what you guys were talking about half the time! Great content, as always, Rick.

[@hunterfisher2112]

Brendan attended my high school (Tucker High) and in the mid 90's came and spoke to our humanities class with Mr. Peppers. He was a super nice guy and had great stories from his life. He pulled into the parking lot in a new red Corvette. He made quite an impression.

[@markweston3345]

It’s a great documentary! Funky Monks

[@eatmoremusic3650]

Just watched Funky Monks again after this interview, awesome having some insight

[@UnitedLonerRecords]

I love this kind of stuff. Keep it coming!

[@dhammaboy1203]

Rick & Brendan are two of the greatest producers out there! Rick is also such a genuinely cool guy!

[@franciscoantonio5306]

My favorite video this guy Rick has posted.

[@WalterSobchak1000]

I love Brendan's work on Vs & Vitalogy. Great Albums

[@robbwagoner761]

Same! Nice callout.

[@wobzbluez]

would love to hear more stories about the recording of blood sugar at the mansion

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Thank you Brendan! Rick Beato is music teacher to the world!

[@Prossdog]

Rick is so good at knowing when to let people talk and when to briefly interject. Example… I’m hanging on Brendan’s every word then think “wait, what’s an emt 250?” Rick: “explain to people that don’t know what that is…” Me: thank you!

[@Vb923]

My favourite all time album!

[@Bluepilled-c5t]

What?

[@tylerdurden1221]

Give it away is like the 10th best song on this album

[@RGK93]

lol no, it's one of the best. There's a reason is their closing song since 2006.

[@sojungvage9740]

@@RGK93 best songs on Blood Sugar( and better than give it away) I'd say: Sir Psycho Sexy, If you have to ask, Blood Sugar Sex Magik Breaking the girl, Naked in the Rain, I could have lied, Power of the Equality, My lovely Man, Under the Bridge

[@RGK93]

@@sojungvage9740 To be fair all the songs you mentioned are great too.

[@adhofsink1216]

No

[@GregMerritt-ws8tq]

One of the last albums that was solid from start to finish.

[@closer02001]

Great album. I loved the following albums; Californication, Stadium Arcadium, but Rick Rubin ruined the sound of them by participating in the "loudness wars" and flatlining the dynamic response of the music. I know they can be fixed after hearing Dani California on Guitar Hero. Maybe someday they can be redone and we can finally hear the real greatness of those tunes?

[@forphxsake2024]

In the last two years the Replacements have released remixes of two of their albums that sound significantly different and most people think better. Sort of lifts them out of the "production du jour".

[@djhrecordhound4391]

It was already done for vinyl. Sounds completely different without the severe compression.

[@prohib8707]

What is a loudness war?

[@forphxsake2024]

@@prohib8707 use the internet bro . . . but in a nutshell . . . overuse of compression to create mixes that are louder and thus more initially exciting and thus more money-making. But less musical.

[@yoyolebatteur]

Stadium Arcadium vinyl is good and there's also a Californication 2012 reissue vinyl with a new mastering. Find the RIPs online...

[@cjonesufc]

Blood Sugar Sex Magic is one of the most original and unique albums ever recorded and it’s loaded with great song writing and musicianship. I think it essentially distills and defines the RHCP sound better than any other album and is also almost the only reason I say I’m an RHCP fan. I do like One Hot Minute for the most part, but I think Californication is vanilla.

[@bengrimshaw4811]

Couldn't agree more. Do you like RHCP? Uuuuuum...I love BSSM and a few other songs (By The Way, etc)

[@larryrock11]

Brendan is one of the greatest engineer/producers of our time!

[@J9045hello]

damn that was amazing. Rick, you are the GOAT for these.

[@TigerPalmer]

Rick: “Okay.”

[@MoggieLou]

In the debate about which band and time and place to be in would be the funnest, i think in that band, In that house recording that album has to be top 10

[@jellyfoxmusic]

Wow. Just further validation for my favorite album.

[@NAIVADA]

Love the lyrics... overlooked I think. And of course an amazing record from that fine, raw, soulful, organic team of funky savages

[@DazzleRebel]

I was lucky enough to get a similar story, first hand from Chad Smith back in early 2000s. He mentioned being an old haunted house in the hills with some strange goings on 😂

[@1367dhbkhf]

I was gonna mention I think they did say that house was supposed to be haunted 😂 😳

[@CarazyDiamond]

BOB’s greatest hit streak continues with Pearl Jam’s albums, I guess first 4 in a row. And those were certainly the staple grunge albums!

[@frankmarsh1159]

5:14 Web IV studio (where Brendan started out) had an EMT 250. Everybody said it looked like a robot... Kind of like R2D2.

[@_SliK_]

6:53 Can someone help explain this technique, please? I’ve been out of music production practice for a while.

[@jim_thom]

Wondered about this too, as far as i can tell the room mic(s) were going through a Drawmer gate unit that was triggered externally by Chads snare drum mic. So each snare hit triggered the gate unit to open the mics for x amount of time giving the natural reverb of the room.

[@_SliK_]

@@jim_thom That makes sense. Thank you so much for clearing that up for me. I might have to redo my degree!

[@logicalblackman8228]

I drive by that Manson every day. After Rick sold it, the new owner added a bunch of trees, so you can’t see anything now. If you’re into the old hippie counterculture movement of the late 60’s early 70’s, you should check out the area. Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison, Cass Elliot and many others, lived there. Jim Morrison and Joni Mitchell’s houses are both still standing. There’s a little country store that was kind of the focal point with some of these guys that jam sessions and Jim Morrison even wrote about it in the song left street. The neighborhood is the same name as the street: Laurel Canyon. Pop Smoke was killed over there too.

[@nickslad3164]

I always heard it’s the Sharon Tate murder house…?

[@billyhughes9776]

If you're a fan or not a fan of RCHP and enjoy the creative process in a studio with interesting interviews and interactions watch Funky Monks. I'm sure most here have seen it but if not do it. It's great and the style for the time is pre/proto "reality TV" done very well. I've watched it probably 20+ times. Brendan mentions Anthony and John not liking him, well, there an instance or two on film where you could see/feel that.

[@jeffspicoli2643]

Your dream guests are our dream guests Rick. Thank you!

[@popdiv]

Thank you . this is awesome stuff. xoxo

[@jesse977]

Sir Psycho Sexy is my favorite song ever. This record is probably my favorite album ever.

[@MichaelSuperbacker]

Let’s go! 😊

[@Tom-dv6ei]

Fantastic album, Amazing doc (Funky Monks). The fact Californication and By The Way get all the love does make me sad somewhat. Glad for them that they have 3 huge albums but the artistry of BSSM is beyond anything on their others. Its truly the RHCP hitting peak of their beginning to what they have become.

[@FrancisChrist]

By the Way is a turd

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Rick, for a better sonic experience, get RHCP's Greatest Hits on vinyl. No loudness compression, all dynamics.

[@TheClownfight]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this above, but there is a documentary of the whole thing. It's called funky monks

[@roddydykes7053]

They mention that it’s all on film in this video. Awesome foresight to do that back in the day. Would love to see all the albums behind the scenes footage

[@ronniepye]

Apologies Rick, now subbed!! Fascinating content!!

[@okosbokos1491]

When you aproach creative process like this great things happen

[@jacobl4597]

I LOVE this stuff ! Thank you !

[@TheClownfight]

Brendan Obrien is a rock god. This was really interesting, in that it sounds like he was the engineer (the guy who works the actual recording process, and twiddles the dials). I always knew him as a producer, which is the guy who says 'do the intro twice, then go to the chorus after the first verse. Move the bridge to the third verse... etc etc. Cool to see he's both. He also made my favorite pearl jam and stp albums. Got to see rhcp on this tour, 1991-ish, with pearl jam and Nirvana opening

[@kwizzeh]

BSSM and the two albums he worked on are how I heard about this dude lol

[@didsomebodysaydmt8193]

Funky Monks is all about the recording of that album it's a dam good rockumentary!

[@reel_images]

Brendan O'Brien is by far one of my favorite producers. His work is amazing and I love the dry vocals, Tool, RATM, PJ. You could really tell the difference between producers when Brendan O'Brien remixed the 10 album. His mix with vocals and guitar make the album more like v.s. Rick I wanna see more interviews with Brendan.

[@thevellocet]

Rubin tells you what sounds good. O'Brien makes it sound good.

[@basketburger]

Their best album by far just genius

[@nor44lab]

'Funky Monks' is a brilliant 'making of' rockumentary. Also as brilliant is 'The Grape Tapes' by Black Grape

[@johnupdate]

I remember hearing „give it away“ for the First time - the drum Sound blew me away! 😃

[@JazzMota]

RAW sound ❤

[@captainchunk4078]

Rick , I would love to see Justin Chancellor on your channel. Keep up the great work PS subscribed here too !

[@fernandogir.4992]

Red Hot Chili Peppers is my favorite band, love Blood Sugar Sex Magik

[@yesofredo]

anyone can explain the "the trick with gates" Brendan is talking??

[@tidepoolbay]

Rick! Keep On Keepin On! Peace & Love! WooF!!🐶🐶

[@DanAdlingtonOnline]

I love "Blood Sugar Sex Magic". The whole thing. There's something very special about the feel and sound of that album.

[@mikev4373]

I was thinking about this the other day. To be honest I don’t think there is another band that has a bass player drummer and guitarist that can match Flea Chad and John for talent on their respective instruments.

[@michaelkreitz1527]

Led Zeppelin

[@mikev4373]

@@michaelkreitz1527 absolutely…but I’m just thinking about bands now.

[@Sheepstealer8927]

I would argue the instrumental section of Rage against the machine as being on par with Rhcp, in terms of how tight they could groove together and their by themselves. I'm sure there are others ,even more technically advanced groups ..thinking of all the jazz and prog ensembles of that era ..even this era. But in terms of rock music and with the criteria, they have that level of recognizable individual sound, nothing current comes to mind. I'll happily hear out some suggestions though.

[@SydneyDrums]

Let's talk about the drum riser.. a lot of drummers like a riser so that everyone is roughly at the same height. The drummer is sitting down when others are mostly standing. It just makes sense

[@JuliusHowe]

As you asked so nicely I subscribed

[@jackorion7157]

Yes

[@AM2PMReviews]

I would love to hear the same album recorded in different houses. I bet we wouldn't notice much of a difference now unless you process it less.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Brendan is my hero...made his name.

[@daveandrew7014]

What/who is the Australian version of Shawn Ryan Show?

[@mattmckeon1688]

Brendan is the best recording engineer of acoustic drums since Eddie Kramer. And his era was the last time before drum recording got wrecked by excessive compression.

[@joem5903]

And what Butch Vig calls the "cannon shot snare."

[@moonshine7374]

Fun fact - that's Lew Ashby's house from 2nd season of Californication

[@LDdrums20]

That drum sound is what made me a drummer

[@jussiniemi9560]

I read from an interview in guitarplayer or sumtin from about the time that BSSM got released that they used in this song a trick that they learned from janes addictions "been caught Stealing" Which is to put a microphone really close to the strings of a unplugged electric guitar. And record that. A true clean sound, if you will. Sounds very thin and boxy. but in a nice kind of way. Only thing is that if this guy does not mention it, I am doubting my memory. You can hear the effect of this recording technique better if you listen to Been Caught stealing by jane's addiction. I am pretty sure that this guy just does not remember, and I am correct. :D

[@DonaldMerrit]

I have used that technique of putting a mic close to the electric guitar strings and it sounds really great

[@johnpickk7526]

Frusciante was using small fender 10w practice amps no. Stop during the recording, often a Fender "H.O.T" - same effect really, a very clean, in your face boxy sound. Really unique tones all over the album and yeah I'd suspect Jane's addiction was the inspiration for sure

[@BRZguy]

That's what they did for the intro to Funky Monks.

[@jussiniemi9560]

@@BRZguy Yeah thats the one I meant!!! THank you!!!

[@willinghamsctt]

Great documentary of this

[@johndoe2883]

A little tmi I thought

[@pierrelorthios851]

this album is "la crème de la crème"

[@allenandrews2380]

The 1 thing the newer chili peppers albums are missing is that beautiful reverb on the drums. Their songs arent terrible but i always imagine them with blood sugar drum mix. The drums just dont pop like they used to.

[@paulachueirelopesdebarros3607]

Sons of the Sun❤...Brandons!

[@poindextertunes]

Post drugs RHCP songs are so depressing 😑 I mean I’m glad they’re doing well but like what happened? They used to make such lively interesting music and then they all got sober and went down the emo path 🙄 One Hot Minute is their last good album and Dave Navarro’s contribution is highly underrated. I feel like he doesn’t get the praise he deserved for all the guitar work on that album. He was a perfect fit musically for RHCP after he left Jane’s Addiction.

[@nathansolo2605]

THIS record, Definitely Maybe, Appetite for Destruction, The Bends, Badmotorfinger and John Williams original score for Empire Strikes Back are albums id take to a deserted island.

[@MrDeengels]

Subbed!!!!

[@liemisenkeittiossa]

Amazing

[@Riversdoc11deff]

this guy is a legend!

[@2x_eyes]

4 drum mics 🐐

[@splashesin8]

😊

[@CraigHornerVerified]

Frusciante went DI for his clean parts, correct?

[@kevinmaillet4712]

8:07 - Chad had hash in his snare drum mic??? Lolololol

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

Do a little dance and then you drink a little wata!

[@fonkypluma6477]

In those days almost no one exept me was able to enjoy the full album... it was by far to futuristic to original to freak

[@peaterrepeater4441]

Great record but in hindsight Mother‘s Milk is their best record. Can’t listen to BSSM anymore but Mother’s Milk doesn’t get old.

[@PatM-l2e]

Casually passes over "yea some compressors".

[@neoczy3249]

Man their is nothing that sounds alike BSSM in the music world ...not even another Red hot album... You can search in the music library long..this is a unique piece of music

[@naoreskovich]

Okay

[@atravelerofbothtimespace4172]

Brendans like a official member of Pearl Jam as a bassist and pianist alotta people maybe dont know that

[@luisfer14240]

👍🏻

[@thetalentedmrfitz]

Not using the reverb did wonders for this album. Such a big difference in sound from Mother's Milk.

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

Ok, gotcha on the description of houses, etc, but the REAL question is: Why are both of u wearing denim jackets in 90 degree heat?