The Producer of the new album is....

[Man Ray]

Chris Thomas.....

According to Daniel Lanois in a Hotpress Interview, the new producer is Chris Thomas. He worked on the following albums among others.... INXS (Listen Like Thieves, Kick), Sex Pistols (Never Mind The Bollocks), The Beatles (The White Album), Roxy Music etc... He also mixed Dark Side of the Moon de Pink Floyd.



Info source: U2achtung.com

 

[Man Ray]

Chris Thomas - Biography
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chris Thomas was among the most acclaimed and versatile producers of the rock era, weathering any number of changes in musical attitudes and tastes to remain at the forefront of contemporary pop for decades. Born in Britain's Middlesex area on January 13, 1947, his introduction to the music industry was as a member of the obscure Second Chance; after the band's dissolution, Thomas signed on with George Martin's AIR production group, an affiliation which led to his keyboard work on a handful of tracks on the Beatles' legendary White Album. From there he moved on to his first solo production chores, helming the Climax Blues Band's 1969 eponymous debut LP; Thomas also worked on the group's next three albums, followed by an extended collaboration with Procol Harum which expanded greatly upon his growing reputation.


By the early 1970s, Thomas was among the busiest producers in the industry -- in addition to recording albums with John Cale (1973's masterful Paris 1919), Badfinger (three albums including Ass) and the Mick Abrahams Band, he also mixed classics including Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and Brian Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets. However, his greatest early success came as a result of his long stint with Roxy Music, producing the group's groundbreaking LPs For Your Pleasure, Stranded and Siren. From Roxy's signature glam-rock sound, Thomas was next thrust headlong into punk, helming the Sex Pistols' 1977 landmark debut Never Mind the Bollocks; he also began a long relationship with the Pretenders which yielded not only the group's renowned self-titled 1980 debut effort, but also their 1984 comeback Learning to Crawl.


The arrival of the 1980s also saw Thomas begin working with longtime stars including Pete Townshend, a collaboration which resulted in the acclaimed Empty Glass, as well as Elton John, a partnership which continued throughout the decade and even into the early 1990s and the soundtrack for the Disney film The Lion King. Thomas' other primary focus of the period was INXS -- after helming the group's 1985 breakthrough album Listen Like Thieves, he moved on to their 1987 smash Kick. In the years to follow he kept a much lower creative profile than in the past, his producer's credit appearing on fewer and fewer releases. Finally, in 1995, he returned to prominence helming Pulp's Different Class -- one of the year's most acclaimed albums, it offered ample evidence that Thomas' finger was still on the pulse of the contemporary pop scene. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Jason Ankeny

 

[U2Kitten]

Thanks for the info, I had no idea! What happened to Eno?

 

[wertsie]

Interesting...

The White Album...

 

[bonosloveslave]

I think a new producer means that U2 will likely have a very different sound once again, hopefully in a good way though

 

[The_Sweetest_Thing]

Whoa...thw hite album blew my mind, but wasn't all that commercially successful. Dark Side -

This should be very very different from anything we've heard...

I'm worried.

 

[U2FReAk]

That sounds really interesting, although I love Lanois and Eno...

 

[Blue Room]

Worried? Man, I'am more excited about the new album. I feel very confident that we are in for another great album with a slightly different tone and I think that is great. One of the reasons I like U2 so much is that they can make so many different types of sounds and it is almost always great.

 

[bayernfc]

Interesting......although i loved Lanois and Eno's work, I can't wait to see what this album's gonna sound like......thanx for the info.

 

[Dorian Gray]

He actually worked as a keyboardist and not a producer/mixer on the White Album, but cool nonetheless!

 

[Zoomerang96]

awesome. im glad they got someone new.

 

[mug222]

I am incredibly excited by this news--if true--and anyone who has heard John Cale's Paris 1919 will know exactly why.

 

[MrBrau1]

I think this means we'll be getting the kind of album Bono's been hyping it up to be. Less atmosphere, more driving sounds. Considering this guy was involved w/ Badfinger, Sex Pistols, Bono's "Great 45's" comments may indeed be true!

 

[bayernfc]

Could this mean that they've finally decided on a producer after the so called "trial runs" and the new album could be released on time?

 

[MrBrau1]

Could this mean that they've finally decided on a producer after the so called "trial runs" and the new album could be released on time?

Or they've finished the trial runs and will begin ACTUALLY recording w/ this producer? Hello album in 2005!

 

[U2SJ]

I agree this is very exciting news!!! I can hardly stand the wait for this new album!

 

[womanfish]

This is exciting. I mean, Nevermind the Bullocks, Dark Side of the Moon, Learning to Crawl, Listen Like Theives and Kick...... very, very interesting.

I just hope that they come straight out and kick some ass, and Edge just tears it up. After thinking of about all of the directions that U2 has taken, straight out, hard, rocking, kicking ass all the way through has really not been one of them. Achtung does rock, but is still tempered with slower songs throughout. It will be cool to see what comes of this work with this new producer.

 

[Strato Edge]

Wow.....This albums going to absoulutely blow our minds. We have no idea what to expect, and it's awesome! Bono said the Edge is going to make this next album great, God knows what's going on down there in Dublin. And I don't want to know

 

[U2girl]

Interesting to see someone new. Can't say I know any of the albums mentioned (except Kick, some of the songs from White album, and God save the Queen and Anarchy in the UK from the Sex pistols) - all very different music.

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

Hmmm, I think that it is great that U2 is going "outside of their box" to work with another producer. I hope that Chris Thomas brings to them what he did for Badfinger, INXS and the Sex Pistols, because those albums he did with them are classics (for the most part). I especially enjoyed INXS' Kick, because at the time they released that album I thought they sounded like the 'pop' version of U2.

 

[elevatedmole]

New direction.

Can't wait. Finally I'm getting optimistic about the new album.

 

[Michael Griffiths]

Here's Lanois' quote from the article (courtesyof U2log.com):

Chris Thomas to produce new U2 album?
Daniel Lanois is interviewed in Hot Press Magazine (reg. req.). Asked whether he is working on the new U2 album, he says:

?No, I?m not. I just saw Paul McGuinness a couple of nights ago. They?re in the studio with Chris Thomas (Roxy Music, Sex Pistols, Pretenders). I spoke with Bono about it, he said ?Well, we decided to go old school? and obviously I?m not available ?cos I?m working on my record.?
Chris Thomas produced classic albums such as Roxy Music?s For Your Pleasure, the Sex Pistols? Never Mind The Bollocks, INXS?s Listen Like Thieves and Pulp?s Different Class.

 

[martha]

The arrival of the 1980s also saw Thomas begin working with longtime stars including Pete Townshend, a collaboration which resulted in the acclaimed Empty Glass

This is one of my favorite albums!

 

[SkeeK]

come on!!! fuck up that mainstream!

 

[melon]

Less atmosphere, more driving sounds.

But I like atmosphere.

Melon

 

[Michael Griffiths]

I'm guessing that if it sound's like "punk rock made on Venus" (as Bono described the album), it has plenty of atomosphere *and* "driving sounds". What a concept, ambient punk music.

 

[popkidu2]

Pulp's album Different Class is brilliant. I love that album. Sounds like U2 got a good producer for this next venture. Whoohooo!

 

[Michael Griffiths]

Thanks to follower for digging the "following" up. Talk about an impressive resume! I'm especially excited that he produced Different Class and X:

The database goes like this: first Artist, then Album, then Chris Thomas participation

Baby Anne I'm About to Break Producer
Badfinger Ass Producer
Badfinger Badfinger (Warner Brothers) Producer
Badfinger Wish You Were Here Producer
Badfinger Ass (Bonus Track) Producer, Mixing
Bill Bruford Stamping Ground: Bill Bruford's Earthworks Live Editing
Brian Eno Here Come the Warm Jets Bass
Bryan Ferry Let's Stick Together Producer
Chris Spedding Ready! Spedding! Go! Producer
Chris Spedding Guitar Graffitti (Germany Bonus Track) Producer
Climax Blues Band The Climax Chicago Blues Band Producer
Climax Blues Band Plays On Producer
Climax Blues Band A Lot of Bottle Producer
Climax Blues Band Tightly Knit Producer, Design
DJ Micro Music Through Me Producer
Dave Stewart Party Town Producer
Disney Disney's Greatest Pop Hits Producer, Mixing
Disney Favoritas de las Princesas de Disney Producer
Elton John The Fox Producer
Elton John Sleeping With the Past (MCA) Producer
Elton John Too Low for Zero Producer, Original Mastering
Elton John The One Producer
Elton John Duets Producer
Elton John Big Picture Producer
Elton John Made in England (Rocket CD Single) Producer, Mixing
Elton John The One (Germany Bonus Track) Producer
Elton John The Big Picture (Single) Producer
Elton John Something About Way You Look Tonight / Candle 1997 Producer
Elton John Circle of Life Producer
Elton John Can You Feel the Love Tonight Producer
Elton John The Last Song (single) Audio Production
Elton John Breaking Hearts Producer
Elton John Reg Strikes Back (US) Producer
Elton John Jump Up! Producer
Everlast Eat at Whitey's Vocals, Bass
Gentle Giant Acquiring the Taste Synthesizer
INXS Disappear Producer
INXS X Producer
INXS Listen Like Thieves Producer
INXS Kick (US Bonus Tracks) Producer, Liner Notes
INXS X (Bonus Tracks) Producer
INXS Kick Producer
John Cale Paris 1919 Producer
Kilburn & the High Roads Handsome Producer
Kokomo Kokomo (1975) Producer
Liquorice John Death & the All-Stars Liquorice John Death Producer
Marcella Detroit Jewel Harpsichord, Bells, Producer, Drum Programming, Flute
Max Lucado When Christ Comes Concept, Development
Michael Kamen The Three Musketeers (Original Sountrack) Producer
Mick Abrahams Mick Abrahams Producer
Mick Abrahams At Last Producer, String Arrangements
New Order Back to Mine Producer
Nirvana Chemistry Producer
One the Juggler Nearly a Sin Producer
Paul McCartney Back to the Egg Producer
Paul McCartney Back to the Egg (Japan) Producer
Paul McCartney Wild Life Producer
Paul McCartney Wild Life (US Bonus Tracks) Producer
Paul McCartney Wild Life (Import Bonus Tracks) Producer
Paul McCartney Run Devil Run Producer
Pete Townshend White City: A Novel Producer
Pete Townshend Empty Glass Producer
Pete Townshend All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes Producer
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Mixing
Pink Floyd High Hopes Keep Talking (US) Editing, Mixing
Pink Floyd The Division Bell Mixing
Pish Posh Indoor Storm Producer
Procol Harum Home Producer
Procol Harum Grand Hotel Producer
Procol Harum Exotic Birds and Fruit Producer
Pulp Different Class Keyboards, Producer, Guitar
Pulp This Is Hardcore Producer, Piano
Pulp Something Changed (#1) Producer
Pulp Help the Aged Producer
Pulp Little Soul, Pt. 1 Producer
Pulp Little Soul, Pt. 2 Producer
Pulp Party Hard (#1) Producer
Pulp Something Changed (#2) Producer
Pulp This Is Hardcore (Single #2) Producer
Quiver Gone in the Morning Producer
Rigormoses Fetch Vocals
Roxy Music For Your Pleasure Producer
Roxy Music Love Is the Drug Producer
Roxy Music Stranded Producer
Roxy Music Viva! Producer
Roxy Music Viva Roxy Music! The Live Roxy Music Album Producer
Roxy Music Siren Producer
Sadistic Mika Band Sadistic Mika Band Producer
Shakespear's Sister Hormonally Yours Producer, Remixing
Tall Paul Precious Heart Producer
The Beatles The Beatles (White Album) Harpsichord, Producer, Mellotron
The Pretenders Pretenders Keyboards, Producer
The Pretenders I'll Stand by You Producer
The Pretenders Last of the Independents Producer
The Pretenders Extended Play Producer
The Pretenders Learning to Crawl Producer
The Pretenders Pretenders II Producer, ?
The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols Producer
The Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant Live Producer
The Sex Pistols Filthy Lucre Live Producer, Mixing
The Sex Pistols God Save the Queen Producer
Thrashing Doves Bedrock Vice Producer
Tom Robinson Power in the Darkness Producer
Various Artists Atlantic Hit 45's '80-88 Producer
Various Artists Ghostbusters 2 Producer
Various Artists Grosse Pointe Blank ?
Various Artists Luv Collection: Movie Luv Producer
Various Artists Mission: Impossible (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture) Producer
Various Artists Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock Producer
Various Artists Trainspotting Producer
Various Artists Swing into Christmas (Columbia) Bass
Various Artists El Pea Producer
Various Artists The Best Rock Album in the World...Ever! 2 Producer
Various Artists The Best Rock Album in the World...Ever! Producer
Various Artists Club Nation 2001 Producer
Various Artists Euphoria: Chilled, Vol. 3 Producer
Various Artists @Home @Sunset Producer
Various Artists Philadelphia Folk Festival: 40th Anniversary Associate Producer
Various Artists Freddy Got Fingered Producer
Various Artists Now That's What I Call Music! 1990 Producer
Various Artists Now That's What I Call Music! 1988 Producer
Various Artists Best Anthems... Ever! (2000) Producer
Various Artists This Is the 80's Producer
Various Artists Ministry of Sound: Chillout Annual 2002 (#2) Producer
Various Artists 24 Hour Party People Producer
Various Artists BPM Presents: That Club Mix Producer
Various Artists Hits 50: 50 Tracks - 50 Hits! Producer
Various Artists Songs From The Chillout Lounge Producer
Various Artists Disney's Superstar Hits Producer, Mixing
Various Artists Duty Free Remixed Producer
Various Artists Q Anthems Producer
Various Artists Godskitchen: The Album Producer
Various Artists Best Pub Jukebox in the World...Ever! Producer
Various Artists Nme Singles of the Week 1995 Producer
Various Artists Once in a Lifetime Producer
Various Artists Now That's What I Call Music!, Vol. 35 Producer
Various Artists New Hits '96 Producer
Various Artists In the Mix '96 Producer
Various Artists Poptopia! 70's Power Pop Classics Producer
Various Artists '80s Hits Back, Vol. 3 Producer
Various Artists El Rey Leon Producer, Mixing
Various Artists Best Rock Anthems In The World...Ever! Producer
Various Artists CMJ the Year in Alternative Music 1980 Producer
Various Artists Fantastic 70's Producer
Various Artists Hits Power Age Rock Producer
Various Artists First Generation: Virgin 25 Years Producer
Various Artists Sound of the Suburbs Producer
Various Artists Small Soldiers Producer
Various Artists Now That's What I Call Music!, Vol. 32 Producer
Various Artists Great Expectations (Original Soundtrack) Producer
Various Artists Louisiana Swamp Blues, Vol. 1: Live at Tabby's Blues Box Guitar
Various Artists Color and Light: Jazz Sketches of Sondheim Bass
Various Artists 1995 Grammy Nominees Producer, Mixing
Various Artists Boys on the Side Producer
Various Artists Cassette Mythos Audio Alchemy CD/K7 Engineer
Various Artists The Lion King Producer, Mixing
Various Artists Lethal Weapon 3 Producer
Various Artists The Lost Boys Remixing
Various Artists American Anthem Producer
Various Artists Revenge of the Killer B's, Vol. 2 Producer
Various Artists Classic Rock (Cema) Producer
Various Artists Against All Odds (Original Soundtrack) Producer
Various Artists Pretty in Pink (Original Soundtrack) Producer
Various Artists Rock for Amnesty Producer
Various Artists Just Say Da: Volume IV of Just Say Yes

 

[Flying FuManchu]

Chris Thomas is such a boring name. I mean U2 tends to have producers whose names are so exotic/ cool sounding such as Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Flood, Steve Lillywhite, William Orbit, Jimmy Iovine.... Not a good sign...

 

[Flying FuManchu]

On a serious note, I like the fact that he's worked on Pulp's big albums (as a producer)....