Q n' A of"Working With Teddy Riley"(by Bruce Swedien)

badthriller

Q: First of hello Bruce S. Glad to see you hear. I'm a huge fan of your work with Michael J. and loved your book. I'm also a big fan of Mr Teddy Riley. That Dangerous album was great. Now the questions... 1. When you first met him what did you think? 2. Had you ever heard his music before you worked with him? 3. I heard that when he was working on some tracks for Mike that when he first brought them to Mike and yourself, Mike sent him back into the lab because the tracks wasn't there yet. When he came back a second time, Mike's mouth dropped and Mike and yourself thought they were amazing tracks. Is there any truth to this. 4. How was it working with Teddy and what did you learn? 5. The tracks sounded so huge and up front. Maybe because there wasn't a lot going on in the songs track wise. Was that planned to do the songs like that? 6. Teddy's Kicks and snrs are amazing and very very out front and punchy. How did you want to record the drums for Teddy and as well how did you want to mix them? When you turned your back, did Teddy push up the snare +1db. Then when you guys went to lunch, You Mike and Teddy were walking out of the building and Teddy stops everytime and says "Sorry guys, Forgot my wallet in the studio. Be right back, and he goes in the studio and turns up the Kick +2db and the snare another +4db. Hahaha... 7. Do you think other than Quincey, That Teddy did the best job with Mike than all the other producers he's worked with after Q? Thanx for you years of Recording/Mixing. A: Marc...... Teddy Riley is the greastest!!!! Teddy is a superb musician. I absolutely loved working with him. I have never seen Teddy riley do anything like that!------->You Mike and Teddy were walking out of the building and Teddy stops everytime and says "Sorry guys, Forgot my wallet in the studio. Be right back, and he goes in the studio and turns up the Kick +2db and the snare another +4db. Hahaha...<-----That makes a silly story, but it wouldn't build trust. You don't think that Michael and I would hear if someone had been messing with the levels? NO WAY..... Both Michael and I admire and love Teddy Riley. I wouldn't be able to say that if----------->When you turned your back, did Teddy push up the snare +1db.<------------Deception like you describe will kill a relationship, in an instant... Bruce Swedien

badthriller

This guy asked some more questions as follow: Quote: Originally Posted by Bruce Swedien Marc...... Teddy Riley is the greastest!!!! Teddy is a superb musician. I absolutely loved working with him. I have never seen Teddy riley do anything like that!------->You Mike and Teddy were walking out of the building and Teddy stops everytime and says "Sorry guys, Forgot my wallet in the studio. Be right back, and he goes in the studio and turns up the Kick +2db and the snare another +4db. Hahaha...<-----That makes a silly story, but it wouldn't build trust. You don't think that Michael and I would hear if someone had been messing with the levels? NO WAY..... Both Michael and I admire and love Teddy Riley. I wouldn't be able to say that if----------->When you turned your back, did Teddy push up the snare +1db.<------------Deception like you describe will kill a relationship, in an instant... Bruce Swedien I totally agree with you. Just wanted to make you smile at the "turn up the snare bit". Sorry, I know that you would know if someone is messing with your mix. Also, I don't mean to offend you in any way, shape form or fashion. Nothing but true respect to you and what you do from me. Just a huge fan of Teddy and his music. If you don't mind me asking a few questions about the Dangerous album as that changed the way R&B is now. More about drums with no bass type songs with Hip Hop Stabs which Teddy was known for. 1. Who's idea was it to use just drumbeats and stabs for most of the songs on Dangerous? Was that planned at the beginning? And is it true that Teddy came with tracks at first but had to go back and bring better ones? 2. Knowbody could know the pressure Teddy was going through to try to take Quincey's spot for the next album. Thiller (40 million), Bad (30 million) and now Quincey steps down and Teddy steps up and has to compete with that. WOW!!! Did he seem nerves when working with not only the greatest artist but, with the greatest engineer? Did he always ask you for tips and watch how you were mixing the songs to pick up tips? 3. At that point in time, was it Quincey's idea for Michael to work with Teddy or Michael's idea? Also, when Michael came to you, how did you feel about Teddy taking Q's place? As I know Q is the one that brought Michael to you. 4. I've heard so many things about how Teddy create's drumbeats and what he uses. Is there any truth to him useing about 7 kicks together and 5 snares just on one song? And how he won't use a drumbeat without the SSL Mixbuss compressor. And now that I know you don't really use compression, how did you guys meet in the middle on that? 5. Did you learn any tips or tricks from Teddy as far as recording or mixing? I see that on most of those records, even with Jennifer Lopez, that you recorded and mixed with other mix engineers. I know you don't need anyone else to do what you do. Is it because that's the producer's engineer or you wanted to learn what they do nowadays? Or should I say that the other way around, they wanted to learn what you do nowadays? Hahaha :) Sorry for all the questions. I just can't believe that you actually answered back. You are the only person next to Michael that would know how Teddy works at his best. In my opinion, even though I love Teddy's work and how he has changed R&B forever by being the first producer to ever incorporate Hip Hop with R&B. I still wished Quincey would have done that next album with MJ. I also feel that Teddy, by far, did the best out of everyone other than Quincey in producing MJ. All the other producers after Teddy seem to try to do what Teddy did but, came up short. Last question if you don't mind, then back to all the eq/no comp/mixing questions. If Michael were to do another album which I'm sure he will. Out of all the producers he has worked with other than Quincey. Whom do you feel could get the job done now? 1. Teddy Riley 2. Rodney Jerkins 3. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis 4. Dallas Austin 5. Babyface 6. R Kelly 7. David Foster 8. None of the above...He needs somebody new Thanx for all the years of incredible recordings and mixes that you've done and are doing now. Quick note that may amuse you about me. When I was shopping for my first publishing deal in LA. I went to Q's publishing company amoung others. I was offered a deal by Quincey's Publishing company and was debateing to either go with him or David Foster, who was also offering me a deal at the sametime. Those were the days. Marc

hollyhxjlovesmj

I don't read others' opinions.I love Michael Jackson.He is just doing what he wants.

Cathysing

This queation guy must be a musicmaker.