[Recovering_Democrat]

Hard to find a name here that doesn't belong. I especially like Jeff Lynne of ELO getting recognized.

[I-ambush]

What about Jimmy Page, whose work as musician and composer may have gone unnoticed without his prowess as producer of the Led Zeppelin sound?

[Jokelahoma]

Tough to limit to five. These five are good, although I'd replace number five with Alan Parsons, whose signature sound made Pink Floyd.

[Gay State Conservative]

Even though he's a worthless dirtbag you've gotta admit that Phil Spector did some mighty fine stuff in the day.

[Clemenza]

I always like the "brown sound" Rick Rubin gave to Danzig, Slayer's "South of Heaven", and the Beastie Boys "Licensed to Ill."

Liked Sandy Pearlman's work with Blue Oyster Cult, which is unfortunately attributed to Bruce Dickinson, thanks to a certain SNL skit. Pearlman screwed up the Clash's sound on "Give 'Em Enough Rope", however.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I think the civilized world could have done without any one of them. But that’s just me.

[Libertarian444]

Mutt Lange
Rick Rubin
Glyn Johns
Brian Wilson
Bob Johnston

[Starboard]

Have to consider Bob Rock for his work with Metallica and Motley Crue and others. Even if you're not a fan, those bands had many high impact albums.

Also Mutt Lange for work with Def Leppard, AC/DC, Foreigner and Shania Twain.

[ArmstedFragg]

Jeffy Lynne did a lot of Roy Orbison’s stuff. I think one of this best efforts was the post-mortem release of Orbison’s “I drove all night”. Roy had cut a scratch track for the composer one day on his way home, and it sat unused until after his death. Lynne managed to hit the exact feel of Roy’s earlier stuff, with a little twist in the hook that makes it special.

[LRS]

Ok, I'll put a vote in for Shel Talmy. Not the greatest, but he was there for some history, and to do some innovations, and produced some hits, notably for the Kinks and the Who, among others...

[PzLdr]

The late Terry Melcher [Doris Day’s son], who produced te early Byrds’ LPs.

[PzLdr]

Buddy Holly [and Norman Petty]

[vetvetdoug]

Except for George Martin, few can come close to the accomplishments in the studio of the Bradley Bros, Owen and Harold, and Chet Atkins. My bets are that the Bradley Bros. and Chet Atkins from the studio orchestrated more hits than #2-5 combined.

[MarkL]

Just 5 really is far too limiting. But I would agree with all of these. I would also add Todd Rundgren. While his music is something of an acquired taste, there are few producers with a better ear for "pop" sounds. While he's had a number of hit songs himself and with his bands, as a producer he's really something of a powerhouse. The albums he's produced are pretty staggering, and the list of bands that he's turned into hit makers is amazing.

Just as a hint of some of his production work, there's XTC's "Skylarking," pretty much off of Hall & Oats hits, and Meatloaf's "Bat out of Hell." There are FAR more.

Mark