The Best Mix in the History of Rock and Roll (using commercial songs as a guide)

[scrnplyr]

Using a commercially produced song (imported into a session) as an EQ/sonic and/or volume guide is a common practice among producer/engineers I've worked with over the years. One friend still uses Steely Dan cuts from the 70s to use as an EQ guide as well as general inspiration.

Assuming you use this practice, what's your list of the 5 BEST mixed songs since say...1967 heretofore? Or if not the best mixed songs, 5 songs you've used for mixing inspiration and why.
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I'm currently using She Will Be Loved by Maroon5 for "inspiration" for a mix with a singer that has very similar vocal tones.

4 other songs I've used in the past to varying degrees:

2. Journey - Don't Stop Believing - why: drums/guitars/vox mix
3. Faith No More - Epic - why: overlapping genres
4. U2 - Gloria - why: guitar efx/echo
5. The Police - Message In a Bottle - why: guitar sound/drum mix

[crizdee]

Hi,

Green Day. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams is one of my fav's

I also take it out with me when i do FOH sound.


Chris

[Meads]

The new Volbeat ("Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies") mixed by Chris Lord Alge is ear candy and my new reference for all things rock and metal.

[Bill Denton]

Give a listen to some of the totally "uncool" stuff from 67 thru 72.

The Grass Roots - "Where Were You When I Needed You", "Midnight Confessions", "Temptation Eyes".

Three Dog Night - "Joy To The World", just about anything by them.

B.J. Thomas - "Eyes Of A New York Woman" and just about anything by anybody that came out of Ardent Studios in Memphis.

The Beach Boys - Just about anything from 65 or so on.

You have to keep in mind that, like stuff from the late 70's, 80's, and 90's was mixed for FM radio, the stuff I suggested was mixed for AM radio. And remember that we were hammering it with tons of compression from Gates Sta-Levels and CBS Audimax and Volumax units (I was a disc jockey from 67 - 78).

When you consider the equipment available in that time period some of those mixes are absolutely amazing. Check 'em out...

[YYR123]

Originally Posted by Bill Denton

Give a listen to some of the totally "uncool" stuff from 67 thru 72.

yep

[Larold]

Best mixed is a subjective measure. Best sounding is more like it. There are lots of well mixed songs that don't have the ideal sonic width you need to sound out a room.

That's why I like "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon. It's got a nice crisp top end and a tight lo end. The bottom organ note on the chorus of "Us & Them", by Pink Floyd can really push your system...

I also have a Dylan song I did several years ago that I know well, and I can judge a room's acoustics in about 20 seconds.

[Touchwood Studios]

" Calling Elvis " - Dire Straights Neil Dorfsman mix

[louieshowers]

Michael Jackson - Thriller album Why: Analog warmth, balance, multiple instruments, versatility, separation and clarity

Daft Punk - Bring Life back to music Why: Analog warmth, Punchy bass and drums, balance, Retro/modern disco

Radiohead - Paranoid Android Why: Acoustic/Electric guitars, complex vocal layers/harmonies, keys, synth, clarity, separation, panning

The Eagles - Take it easy Why: Acoustic/electric/lead guitars, keys, vocal harmonies, balance, analog warmth

Queen - Killer Queen Why: Multi layered vocals, piano, rhythm section, guitars, punch

Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim - Girl From Ipanema Why: Authentic Jazz dynamics, analog warmth, quiet steady classical guitar and stand up bass

[brianjanthony]

I usually have the band supply some ref points... since that's what they'll compare my mix to. But when left to my own devices...

Modern Rock - Nickelback - All the Right Reasons

80s Rock - Def Leppard - all from High n Dry to Hysteria

Classic Metal rock - Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind - clean and not blasted in mastering, punch and classic metal sound. (referring to vinyl and not the re-re-remastered version)

Doom Metal rock- Black Sabbath first album - its dated sounding but thats what the kiddies want.

Super Modern Pop Rock Country - the new Lady Antebellum album is warm and not over mastered. I haven't listened a ton yet, but its fat on the bottom, smooth on the top and you can crank it in the car without getting a migraine. I love the sound.

Plain Rock - ACDC Back in Black - pick a song. it IS rock.

Roots Rock - Counting Crowes - August and Everything After or Mellencamp
s Mellencamp album (the one with Not Running Anymore on it) - guitars, vocals, mix in general

Blues based rock - Eric Clapton Slowhand - dingy dirty 70s. when people didn't edit their songs together.

Emo Rock - All American Rejects Move Along/ Green Day's American Idiot

i have to stop now....

[scrnplyr]

Great responses. I'm gonna research the newer cuts listed. I own most of the pre-1990 cuts listed and share the sentiments about the quality of those classic songs.

I would also like to see a list of songs that you think are NOT good mixes, as I learn as much from bad examples as good. I was listening to the song BRANDY by Looking Glass on the radio yesterday and the background vocals were ridiculously loud. Interestingly, I checked it out on youtube and the mix was ok, apparently the compression on the radio had artificially jacked up the harmonies to the point of absurdity.

I wonder if that happens as much with digitally produced music as it does with analog?

Keep the lists coming, good stuff

aj