The Producer's Room Ep23 - Bruce Swedien

For this special episode The Producers Room interviews legendary engineer and producer, Bruce Swedien at his home studio in Ocala, FL. Among his 5 Grammy awards and countless nominations, Bruce has worked with legends such as: Michael Jackson, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie, George Benson, Quincy Jones, Natalie Cole, The Chi-Lites, James Ingram, Patti Austin, Barbara Streisand, Donna Summer, Rufus and Chaka Kahn, Roberta Flack, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Nat King Cole and many others

[@Fabmus3]

RIP Mr. Bruce Swedien you will be missed.

[@fabolousninenine30]

dude made 96 mixes of Billie Jean just to pick the 2nd one. That's real dedication. What a legend. I'd love to have a talk with him.

[@Realigndadjmusic]

And the first take of michael's vocals made the final mix

[@beck103187]

How about Temperton writing 35 Thrillers :))) these guys were Demigods

[@cplaei1800]

91 mixes*

[@HaharuRecords]

Chamone,, 😎🤳

[@marcusbrown7817]

91

[@OXyGeNe8DJ]

When I was 15 years old, I was listening Thriller album and I'm around 40, still listening.. Thanks man.

[@eastwestblason7213]

same here

[@alandediosbattifora2759]

The sound on that album and Off the wall - oh my!

[@MegaUtube99]

I have a feeling that when you’re 80+ you’ll still be listening as well

[@VisheshOnyx]

Bruce is an absolute genius . The sonics of off the wall and thriller are unique , even with all the advancements of the technology people will never be able to get that sort of perfection .

[@adam-hp6qt]

cause its always different when actual musicians are playing

[@GargeBarge]

That’s really strange to think about....

[@cyorkgo]

​@@GargeBarge Not really strange if you think about it. Not sure if you are a music professional but we don't have ANY active engineers that have the experience of a Bruce Swedien and the talent of a Quincy Jones collaborating and making music today. Before working with MJ, they both had worked with people like Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Oscar Peterson and the great Count Basie just to name a few. Think about this .. They both were in the business almost 40s before they did Thriller. Who do we have today that has that type of experience/wisdom? No one! So it's not strange, that's called experience.

[@BoosterGoldEarth6]

Hope and pray we can get Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis to collaborate with Kendrick Lamar

[@xuamox]

Year after year, Billy Jean and Thriller has to be one of the best-produced songs and albums of all time. It's just perfect and so powerful!

[@AllyKiss18]

He’s such a lovely man, I love how much he dotes on his wife and what a beautiful bond they have. Of all the engineers in the world, he’s who’d id choose to do my album.

[@ArvidNielsen]

I had the wonderful privilege of working with Bruce 15 years ago. Musically, my life came full circle then. I’m grateful for it ❤

[@maureenb6016]

Behind Michael's Music are all creative geniuses because Michael himself does not settle for less. If he wanted a particular sound he would beatbox and they need to find the instrument that would replicate the sound otherwise, it will just remain as beatbox.

[@sonicultura]

RIP Bruce Swedien!! Such a legend is there anyone like him left on the planet?

[@oholm09]

I would take his place be a engineer also I'm a self taught musician composer

[@sonicultura]

@@oholm09 easier said than done tbh.

[@sonicultura]

@@oholm09 like he has said you also need to be in the right time and the right place. I mean to find someone like Q and MJ and then make those tracks. Damn you gotta be good! So we will see if you will take his place... ;)

[@defaultHandle1110]

I just found this out. I have 3 of his books. I didn’t even know till now in 2023. Rest In Peace and In Stereo, Music first and music last.

[@Dario5B]

28:17 "you can't possibly listen to that (man in the mirror's choir) without being affected" so true!

[@Reggi_Sample]

We miss you Bruce

[@dljr60]

i applaud you and say thank you for your respect for Bruce and his wife while conducting this interview - historic document

[@jerrydeclercq3323]

I share the loss with all the great tributes here. I was fortunate to have worked with Bruce at Universal Recording in the 60's when he was so much in demand for mixing records and commercials. Some commercial recordings called for large orchestras, BG singers and announcers all on the spot. Reading music helped. Four Seasons, Leslie Gore, the list goes on for Pop. Past several years have been able to visit Bruce and Bea here in Florida. Great Memories!! Jerry DeClercq, Largo, FL

[@Pw614]

Interviewer seems like a great guy, and he did a fantastic job with the interview. A lot of great stories throughout the interview too!

[@sebastienmartin3981]

Bea & Bruce… 🕊 Our meeting has changed my Life. Love You.

[@brandbusters183]

Legend Forever would have loved to work with you.

[@ANGBelgium]

Bruce Swedien rocks.

[@ArvidNielsen]

Oh, and Dave, speaking of coming prepared: You’re, obviously, doing that. These interviews are truly enlightening.

[@conradmurray5850]

The interviewer handled this really well

[@SergioPaoletti]

Mr Swedien is such an amazing engineer and human being. Thanks for this great interview, Dave! Keep going!!

[@DavidTanganelli]

Bruce Swedien you were a fantastic human been and a truly music master. Very Thanks for all you did. all my love from the bottom of my heart. inspiration.

[@CarlDoesMusic]

Album in a day... dude could mix. And get that lady a comfortable chair! She's the one. Sits in on sessions and actually contributes musically. I want one.

[@CarlDoesMusic]

Album in a day... dude could mix.

[@Anhidema]

I call myself an unfortunate not to be able to meet this wonderful Human being !

[@Semtex777]

RIP Bruce Swedien

[@djtrakakadrunkpoet8598]

Smile does indeed makes u cry

[@EmraldoDaSilva]

what a life he's had! thank you Bruce!

[@abdallah344401]

You are the best and true genius

[@JamrockVybzTV]

Such a great interview.. Wonderful couple! Bruce is my mentor

[@billgibsonmusic]

Great job Dave! Bruce and Bea are the absolute best and you did an excellent job capturing that. I still get to talk with them regularly and count that as an extreme joy and privilege. Quincy and Bruce were the guys I really looked to coming up so it was amazing to get to do books with them both! I'll be sharing this with my crowd. You're doing an awesome job!

[@japmtl]

Love to you always Bruce you made magic, and Bea wishing you strength and peace.

[@painlesskunal7075]

Rest in peace

[@djtrakakadrunkpoet8598]

Great gems

[@Tunemood]

I could have watch this interview go on for 3 years! Absolutely loved it, thank you

[@errolmichaelphillips7763]

"Quincy is probably the closest thing to a genius..." That's some endorsement.

[@oholm09]

Facts 100%

[@symph1744]

Such legacy!

[@allthingscreative1631]

Love this interview but I'm getting a small vibe like the interviewer isnt an MJ fan.

[@lepxs]

WOW :) What a great moment you have captured on video! Thank you :)

[@lesvg87]

Thank you for everything Bruce

[@PeerHond69]

just heard about the news... rip bruce!

[@kkeiros]

Well, he started with Bill Putnam. But, more importantly, he learned. What an audio genius.

[@ELIOSANFELIU]

Genius¡¡

[@mohaawwkk]

Bruce and his wife seems like a very sweet couple. RIP Bruce :(

[@MJruling]

Respect for his #talent.

[@tomburton8645]

His voice breaking talking about Oscar is heartbreaking

[@HaharuRecords]

Just like Bruce it I want to do it, what I love but at the same time I had to always listen about him and thoae who inspires me

[@nicholalaw1533]

Great

[@FVDaudio]

💖💖✨✨ thanks

[@adriatic123]

Great episode

[@MsLacy707]

Epic interview!

[@AceAttack]

thanks for that ..

[@d0cn0tes]

"The lights don't stop on down beats"....lol only Quincy would say that

[@tomburton8645]

I am so sad Bruce is gone. I feel like I knew him

[@mecyjecy]

Sad to see him lose so much of his memory. It's been a few interviews that he's lost himself in his statements about MJ. In one interview he confuses "childwood" (and can't remember the title) with the recording of "she's out of my life". He says that it's from Edgar allen poe that MJ was inspired to write Thriller... whereas it's Temperton who wrote it... Here, I haven't finished looking at it, but already a mistake with "smile".

[@eastwestblason7213]

Michael loved Edgar Allan Poe anyway. I can say that Rod finished the lyrics of Thriller in the car heading to the studio at the very last minute.

[@lesvg87]

08:10

[@mjsocks5929]

Michael has writing credits as well

[@ReyHugoTelevision614]

Amazing

[@conradmurray5850]

This is so cute

[@AlbertoMartinezDelRio]

Great video!

[@brenobraga5037]

My life dream 4real

[@ReyHugoTelevision614]

Wow he worked with Oscar Peterson!!

[@dljr60]

historic

[@willycalderonofficial]

RIP HERO

[@daanfischer5452]

What i am curious about is, when he says 96 mixes, does that mean the drumkit is mixed differently 96 times? Or did he just move the faders for 96 mixes ?

[@lartisan6274]

its 96 versions of billieJean mixed, not just the drum. So they listened all night the 92-96 version for choice the final which was the second version

[@daanfischer5452]

@@lartisan6274 no thats not what i meant 😅 I meant, did he move the eq around for all those mixes, did he make the bass guitar darker on mix 20 for instance, or did they just move the faders and tweek with volume ?

[@dmoneyd2010]

// Thank God for Bea, i don't think Bruce could make it without his her.

[@conchejoraff]

I mean, I’m sure Bruce doesn’t like being asked about MJ only as if he had only worked with him. But you cannot interview MJ’s engineer and ask that little about Michael Jackson. Not only he didn’t ask much about him but also seemed like the interviewer would cut him when speaking about him or even avoid it. When I say MJ i mean the mixing of his records obviously.

[@lamsior]

L E G E N D !

[@VariationMachine]

Gray interview with both bruce and his wife b

[@yobhsiFehT]

#relationshipgoals

[@georgethompson1535]

22:40 34:00 36:50

[@PJ....]

11:36 "Did You Work With Stevie" ... Yes ---> kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3zQnX-Cn5eFnLM

[@kaafaa5944]

23:17 min smile -Mj kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIW4f2Wmar-rr7s