Interview with producer Peter Swan

Peter Swan did the producing on the WTM last album, and I had time to ask him some questions on how it came about, the producer that tries to get that right sound. Here is a portion of the interview:

“The first time I recorded Dan Simonis doing “Big Back Seat” he sounded very laid back, maybe a bit like Dean Martin, but after I screamed my head off, turning red in the face like a lobster, spittin' blood, and throwing the guitar case against the wall, while kickin' him in the butt with my cowboy boots, rantin' -- "Hey Dan, this is ROLLIN' ROCK, not a sissy-boy resting home!!!!" -- well then things started happening!! Dan caught on real fast, and delivered a smokin' ragin' version of "Arizona", which a few years later became a Number One Hit in all the Rock'n'Roll dance halls across England!!
It was very easy to get Dan to "click", because Dan felt the music deep in his heart and soul. Dan grew up on Rhythm & Blues and Hillbilly Music and therefore all he needed was a nudge, a sympathetic producer who loved and lived Rock'n'Roll Music, like ME, ha!, and who was not a groupie of de-sexed sissified anti-American 1960s crapola!
That's what I mean by who is in front of the mike, and who is behind the mike! Both positions--visavi the mike-- have to be pro Rock'n'Roll, and anti pop-schmaltz.
As far as mike placement is concerned, I do NOT like close-miking, because it tends to sound somewhat "dry" and "sterile" in most instances.
I try to leave enough room for most mikes to pick up some of the other instruments, this way the recording will sound more natural, like you are in a small night club, but not as muddled.