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Visconti talks about working with Morrissey in the Telegraph
posted by davidt on Thursday March 23 2006, @09:00AM

 Paul writes:
Today's Daily Telegraph contains an interview with Tony Visconti, in which he talks about recording ROTT with Morrissey:

Bolan, Bowie, Morrissey and me - The Telegraph
(Filed: 23/03/2006)

Excerpts:

Producer Tony Visconti has worked with them all. He talks to Mick Brown

What a lot of people don't realise about Morrissey, says the producer of his new album, Tony Visconti, is that he has a sense of humour. "We were talking one day early on in the sessions, and he said, I'll bet you never expected to find your name in a song, did you? And he pulled out the lyric sheet, and there it was." 

Visconti: 'I have a way of capturing someone's essence'

The song, Morrissey's new single, is called You Have Killed Me: "Visconti is me/ Magnani you'll never be/ I entered nothing and nothing entered me/ till you came."

The reference, of course, is to the Italian film director Luchino Visconti, not the American record producer. Tony Visconti has never found his name in a song; but it is to be found on the more than 100 albums that he has produced over the past 35 years, for artists as various as Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Thin Lizzy and the Moody Blues.

...

Morrissey may be a very different sort of alpha male, but Visconti has been an admirer since the early days of the Smiths. They first discussed the possibility of working together 14 years ago, on Morrissey's album Your Arsenal. It never came to pass.

He was staggered, therefore, when, last September, out of the blue, he was asked whether he could travel to Rome to produce Morrissey's new album. He was on a plane three days later. The singer, the producer says, is "a very private person. I don't know who he is or what he does when he's not in the studio. He doesn't show you that side. But his own personal feelings are obviously very much the source of his songs.

"His lyrics talk a lot about love, about death. The most important thing is emotion, and he demands that from his band and the music. It has to make you cry or feel uncomfortable. The lyrics will provoke you to think, but that's not high on the agenda, and at the same time he'll make big jokes about the songs - 'Who the hell would write a song with all these Roman street names? Who the hell would use the term 'retroussé nose'?"

Visconti laughs. When he took the job, he says, a lot of people warned him that Morrissey was trouble. "I was told he was moody, elusive and hard to work with in the studio. But what that usually means is that someone is professional. In the 45 days I worked with him, we did not have one single argument."

What a lot of people don't realise about Morrissey, he says, is that "the guy's an angel".

 
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Visconti talks about working with Morrissey in the Telegraph | Log in/Create an Account | Top | 31 comments | Search Discussion
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The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
All the people that have worked with Morrissey (Score:0)
Seem to like him. I think that says a lot.
Anonymous -- Thursday March 23 2006, @09:23AM (#205159)
Visconti is...... (Score:1)
Impossible to dislike him after the sterling work he has done on this record. Life is a pigsty...Thank you Tony I am humbled!!
A known Vulgarian -- Thursday March 23 2006, @11:10AM (#205209)
(User #15874 Info)
Fantastic job, Tony (Score:0)
Shame you weren't taken on board sooner. You could have saved YATQ.
Anonymous -- Thursday March 23 2006, @12:44PM (#205246)
Visconti's production on this record is special (Score:0)
no doubt in my mind about it. which means 2 things - he has the technical skill to pull it off, but just as, or perhaps more, important is he has the temperament, goodwill, trustworthiness that allows the performers to feel comfortable 'in his hands'. that is the magic part that eludes the pretenders and wanna-bes.
Anonymous -- Thursday March 23 2006, @12:53PM (#205252)
angel? (Score:1)
i new moz was an angel when he shook my hand at the ryman in nashville. by the way...rott is relevant. how many other stars can say that after twenty years.
mozdukemod -- Thursday March 23 2006, @01:14PM (#205259)
(User #15829 Info)
  • Re:angel? by mild_best_wishes (Score:1) Thursday March 23 2006, @05:11PM
    • Re:angel? by mozdukemod (Score:1) Thursday March 23 2006, @08:01PM
    Professional Angels (Score:1)
    They're a pair of professional angels. This is so much more palatable to read about than the whining about the Arctic Monkeys or Jonathon Ross. It takes one to know one where earnest emotion is concerned.
    goinghome -- Thursday March 23 2006, @01:21PM (#205262)
    (User #12673 Info)
    Visconti Is A Very Special Producer (Score:0)
    ...he's up there with the best.
    I'm pleased Moz has now worked with him and, who knows, may do so again in the future. I'm certainly looking forward to hearing the LP.
    Visconti's work with Bolan and especially Bowie has made for some of the greatest rock music ever. From what I've read about him, he also comes across as a very genuine man. It's no wonder he a so in-demand producer.
    Anonymous -- Thursday March 23 2006, @01:21PM (#205264)
    cum back stephen street (Score:0)
    tony yer nearly as gud as stephen, but you just havent earned it yet baby
    Anonymous -- Thursday March 23 2006, @03:00PM (#205298)
    Visconti early work (Score:1)
    If you're interested in learning more about the genius of Tony Visconti, take a listen to a remastered copy of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" album (or listen to the original vinyl if you're that way inclined). While listening, remember that this was made in 1970. Then think about other productions from that time and you'll find there is no comparison. (You might also enjoy the sheer power of Bowie's greatest album)

    When I found out that Visconti was at the helm of ROTT, I knew we were going to get a far superior production to YATQ.

    "The heart is free"
    Osakaglen -- Thursday March 23 2006, @08:25PM (#205342)
    (User #5882 Info)
     "If you ever need self-validation, just meet me in the alley by the railway station..."
      As one reviewer said... (Score:1)
      this album is not just about Morrissey, but about Visconti's interpretation of Morrissey. This is interesting all by itself, and it certainly adds to the complexity of the ROTT experience.

      As many have said before, it is such a shame that the two of them did not get together before this, it is such a rewarding partnership.
      Anaesthesine -- Thursday March 23 2006, @08:36PM (#205343)
      (User #14203 Info)
       If Moz did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.
        I cannot speak French (Score:1)
        Google says that 'retroussé nose' means 'rolled up nose' in French. Is there by any chance a more sublte translation?
        Auric Goldfinger -- Friday March 24 2006, @01:54AM (#205377)
        (User #3416 Info)
         Do my eyes deceive me, or is Senna's Lotus sounding rough?
        Named After (Score:0)
        Bolan, Bowie, Morrissey and me ....

        This article is named after a Phil Ochs song !

        Anybody else know about or LOVE Phil Ochs ? I feel so alone...

        MOV
        Anonymous -- Friday March 24 2006, @03:56AM (#205385)
        angel down we go together (Score:1)
        the production is superb...thats clear as water....

        thank you Tony...now let's see the b sides
        NakedLondon -- Friday March 24 2006, @12:04PM (#205517)
        (User #14755 Info)

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