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Recording: Conclusion

If God's attitude toward creativity were like the attitude of some Southern Gospel producers, He would have said after creating Adam and Eve, “Yeah, that's good enough. Let's do exactly that over and over and over for the next several thousand years.” Every man would look like his Uncle Fred and every woman would look like her Aunt Martha. There would be no need for mirrors because you would be able to see yourself in the face of every other human being. Your next door neighbors, your pastor and his wife, every teacher in every school, every actor on every TV show, every President, every clerk in every store, and every fashion model would have exactly the same face, hair and eye color, height, weight and tone of voice. You wouldn't have to guess what your children or grandchildren were going to look like because the boys would look like Uncle Fred and the girls would look like Aunt Martha.

And what if God carried this attitude over to every part of creation? What would the world be like if after He created a red tulip He decided, “That's good enough”? How boring life would be if we never saw a rose, or a daisy, or violets, or a sunflower. And what if every bird was brown? Or if God said “Apples are good enough. Why do they need to eat blueberries, oranges, kiwi, strawberries and grapes”?

God is the Creator. What does the Creator do? He creates! Creativity is the first attribute of God. The first five words of every Bible in the universe prove this – “In the beginning , GOD CREATED…” . Therefore, being creative is a reflection of God's nature in us. Webster defines it as “ having the quality of something created rather than imitated ”.

IT'S A SHAME THAT SO MANY OF OUR SOUTHERN GOSPEL “PRODUCERS” AND THEIR ARTISTS SEEM LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS WORD!

In an industry with so much potential, we keep churning out pure unadulterated trash. Kind of like giving a small child a paint set with many colors, but the only one they use is brown. The primary reason for this is that we don't take the time to be creative. However, there is ample evidence that much of the problem is also due to “producers” that aren't producing and musicians that have grown stale in their approach. This is most evident with recording facilities that use the same “house band” for every recording.

CREATING TAKES TIME

Creating takes time. If you doubt this, read the first Chapter of Genesis. God didn't just rush through creating the heavens and the earth. He did it step by step, one step at a time, each step building on the one before it. A quality recording (key word:quality) requires quality time. Time is a key ingredient to quality recording. It's not unusual to take several months to record properly. A quality(key word:quality) producer will take the time to find the right musicians, the right songs, and the right arrangements for YOUR recording. He will not use the same who and what he used for Uncle Fred and Aunt Martha's recording just because it's easier and maybe you don't know any better.

If your producer is not taking the time to be creative, then you need to create the time to fire him.

It's important to take the time to do things correctly, because you won't get another chance. Once the recording is released, it's too late. Groups always seem to be in a hurry to get their recording done in time for their homecoming, and in the process they sacrifice the quality that is so important.

You guys would never walk out on the platform of a large church in your shorts and sneakers .And how about you ladies walking out in your robe with curlers in your hair?

Not gonna happen! I ask you in all honesty, what is the difference in doing that and not taking the necessary time to make a good recording? In each case you are projecting an image of your ministry.

If we took the time to plan ahead we could be more creative in our approach to recording and our music would become more colorful and appealing.

Our music has become so predictable…verse,chorus,verse, chorus, half step mod, breakdown chorus, tag. Don't get me wrong; I'm not suggesting we should alter our art form, not at all. I love southern Gospel Music, but I keep hearing the same intros, turn-arounds, and arrangements, done by the same ten or twelve musicians. You can listen to the radio and it sounds like different groups singing the same song. Again, much of the reason for this is that, in many cases, the same musicians are playing the same music in the same studios – and they are doing this over and over and over again. It's a living for the producers and musicians, but career death for the artists who are placing their careers in their hands.

Music is a glorious medium. It has many aspects to it, some subtle, some loud, like the colors in nature. Use it to be creative. We could certainly benefit from some experimentation.

If your producer isn't willing to take the time to think about some creative options concerning each of your songs, then your producer is not giving you the creativity that you deserve. Maybe he isn't creative enough to call himself a producer? Maybe he should consider another line of work? If he loves Southern gospel music, maybe he should consider being a bus driver for one of the groups, rather than ruining their careers with inferior recordings? What's the point of having a producer if he's not involved in your ENTIRE recording process and doesn't take the time to consider a few options when it comes to YOUR music? For example, has your producer ever considered using different musicians and instruments?

Why not use a clarinet on an intro, or a flute? There are dozens of instruments. Why does every intro have to be guitar and piano or steel guitar?

I'll tell you why. It's because when most of our artists show up to record, the band is already in place, and as a wise old carpenter once said, “ If your only tool is a hammer, everything starts looking like a nail”.

TIME IS MONEY

Many of the artists in our industry are not selling enough product to be on a major label, therefore they must live in the world of custom recording, also known as “Bizzaro World”. I wish this were not so, but it is, and so we must deal with it.

The investment of money is the final element in the formula for producing the best recording you are capable of.

We always seem to be able to find the money to do the things that are important to us, no matter the cost. Yet when it comes to one of the most important aspects of our musical career, we tend to go bargain hunting. It's like there is a competition for bragging rights on getting the cheapest recording. Truthfully, you'll get what you pay for.

I get calls all the time from artists whose first question is, “How much?” Don't misunderstand me. Money is important, but in all honesty, most recordings at the level you need to help your career, cost about the same.

Whether I book musicians or someone else books them, they charge the same. Studio time is usually the same, within a few dollars. I know what other producers at my level charge and we're all about even. The real difference is in the other elements-the material, preparation, quality people, and time.

If you are serious about your career and don't have the money to make a recording at this level, then don't record. Beginning groups especially are so anxious to get a recording on the market that they will record with any studio they can afford. That isn't the best way. You're better off to wait until you can accumulate the money than to make an inferior recording just for the sake of recording. A poor recording will be a detriment to your career. Don't do it!

THE TIME IS NOW

There's no time like the present to reflect on our past mistakes so we can change the future. The only mistake that remains a mistake is the one we don't learn from. Perhaps you are a producer who is not meeting the standard of excellence that you know God requires of you. Today is the day to change. It's not difficult to figure out what to do – stop doing it. The only way we will stop this flood of inferior product that is saturating the Southern Gospel market with less than creative music is to stop it…NOW!

Or maybe you're an artist who recognizes that the rush to get “something” recorded and on the market is hurting your career and the industry you love. You know you are not getting your money's worth from your recording experience but you don't know what to do about it. It's not difficult to figure out – stop the process…TODAY. Call your producer and tell him what you want. Creativity takes time, and that time begins…RIGHT NOW!

I welcome your comments. You can reach me at

God Bless You

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