HOW TO OVERPRODUCE A ROCK RECORD!
[2002 ADDENDUM: On some circulating versions this title has mysteriously changed to "HOW TO PRODUCE A HIT RECORD!"... attributed variously to F. Lee Harvey Blotto, or to no one]
Written by Jack Endino, Xmas 1998; also available in "The Tape Op Book", published by Feral House Press.
First, spend about a month on "preproduction", making sure that everything is completely planned out so that no spontaneity is necessary or possible in the studio. If there are no "hits" there, make the band collaborate with outside songwriters. [On one of the uncredited versions of this essay that I still get unwittingly forwarded to me from time to time, someone added here "... or better still cover an old hit!" Thanx, good point.] Line up extra studio musicians who are better players than the band themselves, just in case.