Danny Kortchmar
by Debra (dfs915@hanson.net)


If you're a fan of the classic rock music of the 1970s and 1980s, you probably own at least a few of the albums on which Hanson's latest producer, Danny Kortchmar, appears. He has worked with many of the best loved and bestselling artists of that era. Kortchmar, or "Kootch" as he is often called, has produced or played guitar with the following: (takes big breath here!) James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (together AND separately), Bob Dylan, the Pointer Sisters, Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Glenn Frey and Don Henley of the Eagles, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Etta James, Tracy Chapman, Bon Jovi, the Beach Boys, Billy Joel, and Carly Simon. He has also produced several soundtracks, including the original "Rocky Horror Picture Show" soundtrack, several albums related to the movie "This Is Spinal Tap!" (in which he also appeared!) and the "Coyote Ugly" soundtrack.

Danny's first foray into being a musician was in the early 1960s, with a band called The Flying Machine that he formed with his friend James Taylor. Do you remember James Taylor's song "Fire and Rain", when he sang of "sweet dreams and Flying Machines in pieces on the ground..."? That line was about the sad breakup of that band. After the Flying Machine broke up, Danny played with several bands, including the beatnik band the Fugs and a psychedelic band called Clear Light. Through one of these early bands, he met a young singer named Carole King. He later played guitar with her on her classic album, "Tapestry". His work on that album, as well as James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James", helped to establish his reputation as one of the top session guitarists on the West Coast.

Danny Kortchmar is also an accomplished songwriter. He has written with James Taylor and Jackson Browne. Jonny Lang recorded one of his songs. So did Cher. Don Henley had a major hit with "Dirty Laundry", a song that he co-wrote with Kortchmar.

In the late 1970s, Kortchmar started producing albums. The first album he produced was by Louise Goffin, Carole King's daughter, in 1979. Since then, he has produced more than 40 albums, including albums by Bon Jovi, Joe Cocker, Hall and Oates, Don Henley, Billy Joel, James Taylor, and Neil Young.

In a 1985 article in an online magazine called Music/Sound Output, Kortchmar describes his approach to producing. "I'm not the kind of producer who usually has his hands on the board", he said. "In other words, I'm not an engineer-producer. I'm more of a musician-producer. My areas of expertise in record production are picking songs and arranging the songs."

Songs are very important to Kortchmar. He is particularly concerned with the lyrics. The same article quotes him as saying this: "Lyrics are what the song is about. Remember, I'm spoiled from working with the very best songwriters, who all write great lyrics. So when somebody brings me a song which is very interesting musically, but has cliche-ridden lyrics or approaches its subject matter in a hackneyed way, it's a bad song as far as I'm concerned."

Danny Kortchmar also sounds as though he'd be a lot of fun to work with. For one thing, anybody who was involved with "This Is Spinal Tap" would HAVE to have a sense of humor! Also, he has this to say: "But what you don't want to do is tie the musicians down. You let them play swinging parts. What I believe in is creating an atmosphere in the studios that's creative and upbeat. In other words, I'm not the sort of producer who sits around with a big serious expression on his map all the time. I believe there has to be a joy involved. Music is a joyous experience, and that joy should come through on the grooves."

Listening to Hanson's music is always a joyous experience for their fans. I am very much looking forward to hearing how the musical relationship between Hanson and Danny Kortchmar sounds on the new CD.

Works Cited

"Danny Kortchmar". http://www.tctv.ne.jp/members/m-site/dannykortchmar/

"Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar." AllMusic Guide. http://www.allmusic.com/

"Don Henley's Sidekick Produces the Perfect Beat". Music/Sound Output. August, 1985. http://www.eaglesfans.com/info/articles/don_henleys_sidekick.htm