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Hello there! My name is Steve Allen. No, not the Steve Allen, former host of the Tonight Show, just Steve Allen. In the coming months, I will be shedding some light on what some may view as the simple task of making a record. In actuality, the process is complex and sometimes tedious, but at the end of the day it is truly worth every sleepless night.
Let's think about that statement for a second, making a record. What is a record? You would be rather surprised to learn the many different definitions and descriptions of that all too familiar word. You know, I was shopping the other day and had a brief conversation with a fellow twenty-something about today's music. I happened to utter the old adage, "they don't make records like they used to" which prompted her response, "I don't think they even make records anymore at all." Hmm, I thought, what could she have meant? I mean, I see records made everyday. I then realized, she thought I meant, vinyl records. She happens to be right. Long gone are the days of the 33 1/3 long play records. But my friends, records, are still very much in production today, even, dare I say, great ones.
It is that brief, yet, insightful conversation that leads me to write a series of articles in which I seek to debunk the myth that records are not being made today. I will discuss the inner workings of a great record. I will ask the questions, "Who should make records?" and "Is a record really what you need to expand your ministry?" We will examine some of the greatest records of all time and find out how and why they have stood the test of time. I will lead you step by step through the creative process of making a great record, exploring the art and science of this process. Finally, I will give you some advice on how to make your record timeless. What's that? Just who am I and why should you listen to me about making a record? Well, that is a valid question. The simple answer: I am a producer & mix engineer.
If you haven't seen my face, hopefully, you have seen my name. I have been living and working in Nashville for the past seven years. Along the way, I have worked with many wonderful people in the southern gospel family. Many of whom are my heroes.
My story begins in the rolling hills of West Virginia. Born in Worthington, the smallest incorporated town in West Virginia, I have recorded with more people than live in my hometown. Well, almost. Worthington is 2.2 square miles. That's right, it's smaller than a Wal-Mart! I moved to Nashville to attend Middle Tennessee State University in 1998. In October of that year, I heard Scott Fowler on a southern gospel radio station. Now, Scott Fowler, as many of you know, is a former member of the legendary Cathedral Quartet. I took a chance and called Scott after the show to ask if I might intern for him at Square One Studio. The rest, as they say, is history.
My initial project at Square One Studio, when the Cathedral Quartet retired later that year, was as engineer for Scott and Roger Bennett's new group, Legacy Five. Their critically acclaimed, nationally released first album received two Dove nominations. Since that fateful day, I have worked with a veritable who's who of Christian artists, including Bob Carlisle, Vestal Goodman, Gaither Vocal Band, Ernie Haase, The Isaacs, and The Old Friends Quartet.
So what have I been up to lately you ask? Well, I have had the honor of helping to make several great gospel records with producer/songwriter Zane King. Most notable was Terry Terrell's "Back on My Feet" CD. The title cut from that project received mainstream country radio airplay, which is no easy feat. In July of 2005, I worked on the pilot for a TV show called Gospel Music at the River, at the River of Life Assembly of God in Smyrna, TN, starring country music giant George Jones. In May 2005, I engineered a Kirk Talley CD and video, which Talley shared was the best product had ever done. Talley appeared subsequently in a feature article in the August 2005 issue of GQ magazine.
Now, do these accomplishments make me the authority on the record making process? Not hardly. Are there people out there that know more about it than I? Absolutely. Isaac Newton once said, "If I have seen further it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." What these accomplishments have afforded me is the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of the some of the biggest giants in the southern gospel family.
My father told me that hard work always pays off. "Son, make hay while the sun is out", he would say. Well, it turns out the ol' man was right. Not only do I feel that I have succeeded in my career, thus far, but I feel pretty darn good about how I have accomplished this feat. You see, I feel that I have a very specific purpose in this world. You might think that making records is that purpose. No, not really. Making records is my job. Being the best man that I can be, loving every human being, giving back to humanity, never letting anyone leave my life with less than they came with, my friends, that is my purpose. It just so happens that my job consists of delivering love to mankind under the disguise of a record!
Until next time, happy listening!
Steve Allen
http://www.squareonestudio.com
Reader Comments
Steve,A few minutes in your company and a person will realize how deserving you are of the blessings that have come your way. Your talent is unbelievable and it will be exciting to see the doors that will open for you in the future!
God Bless,
Kimberly
Great article...not only did I not know you are a fellow West Virginian but also worked on one of my favorite projects, Terry Terrell's "Back on my feet". Wow~ I'm impressed (lol) Keep on Keepin' On brother!
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Written: 06/01/2006 
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Steve Allen
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