David Briggs (record Producer)
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David Manning Briggs (February 29, 1944 – November 26, 1995) was an American record producer best known for his work with
Neil Young Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield. Since the begi ...
and his band
Crazy Horse Crazy Horse ( , ; – September 5, 1877) was a Lakota people, Lakota war leader of the Oglala band. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by White Americans, White American settlers on Nativ ...
.


Early life and career

David Briggs was born in
Douglas, Wyoming Douglas is a city in and the county seat of Converse County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 6,386 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the home of the Wyoming State Fair. History Douglas was platted in 1886 when the ...
. He left Wyoming in 1962 to
hitchhike Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, autostop or hitching) is a means of transportation that is gained by asking individuals, usually strangers, for a ride in their car or other vehicle. The ride is usually, but not always, free. Signaling ...
his way to Los Angeles and Canada, then finally settled in California, the place he would call home for the rest of his life. In the mid-sixties, Briggs began producing in the music business working on
Bill Cosby William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American retired comedian, actor, and media personality. Often cited as a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was a film, television, and stand-up comedy ...
's label,
Tetragrammaton Records Tetragrammaton Records was an American record label founded in 1968 by music industry executives Roy Silver, Bruce Post Campbell, Marvin Deane, and comedian Bill Cosby. Silver, at the time, was also Cosby's manager. The term "Tetragrammaton" re ...
. One of the first albums he produced was for comedian
Murray Roman Murray Roman (March 8, 1929 – November 6, 1973) was an American stand-up comedian and television writer whose career was cut short by a car crash. Many consider his style, and material, to be similar to Lenny Bruce. Career In addition to his ...
. According to Briggs, this was the first album ever released with the word "fuck" on it. Working on Cosby's label led Briggs into doing his own production work with artists such as
Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...
, Summerhill,
Quatrain A quatrain is a type of stanza, or a complete poem, consisting of four Line (poetry), lines. Existing in a variety of forms, the quatrain appears in poems from the poetic traditions of various ancient civilizations including Persia, Ancient India ...
, Spirit,
Nils Lofgren Nils Hilmer Lofgren (born June 21, 1951) is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a memb ...
and his band Grin, and
Jerry Lynn Williams Jerry Lynn Williams (October 30, 1948 – November 25, 2005) was an American rock music singer and composer. He wrote such hits as " Forever Man", " See What Love Can Do", " Something's Happening", " Running on Faith" and " Pretending" for Eric ...
. In 1968, after picking up a hitchhiking
Neil Young Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield. Since the begi ...
, Briggs went on to produce the singer-songwriter's first solo album, entitled ''
Neil Young Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield. Since the begi ...
'' (1968). This led to a lifelong friendship between the two men, with Briggs co-producing over a dozen of Young's albums including ''
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere ''Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'' is the second studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in May 1969 on Reprise Records, catalogue number RS 6349. His first with longtime backing band Crazy Horse, it emerged as a sleeper ...
'' and ''
After the Gold Rush ''After the Gold Rush'' is the third studio album by the Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in September 1970 on Reprise Records. It is one of four high-profile solo albums released by the members of folk rock group Crosby, Still ...
''. Young's ''
Sleeps with Angels ''Sleeps with Angels'' is the 22nd studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released on August 16, 1994, on Reprise as a double LP and as a single CD. Young's seventh album with Crazy Horse, it was co-produced by long-time collabor ...
'' album (1994) is the last work that Briggs produced before his death in 1995. Other than producing with Young, Briggs worked on albums with many successful artists, including
Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...
,
Tom Rush Tom Rush (born February 8, 1941) is an American folk and blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose success helped launch the careers of other singer-songwriters in the 1960s and who has continued his own singing career for 60 years. Life ...
,
Steve Young Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Tampa Bay Bu ...
,
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are a Rock music, rock band formed in Melbourne in 1983 by lead vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and German guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throug ...
and
Royal Trux Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band active from 1987 to 2001, and again from 2015 to 2019 consisting of Neil Hagerty (vocals, guitar) and Jennifer Herrema (vocals). History While still a teenager, Hagerty joined Washington D.C. g ...
."Obituary: David Briggs, 51, Neil Young Producer", ''New York Times'', December 3, 1995
Retrieved November 12, 2022
A production and distribution deal was formed in 1970 between Columbia Records, Briggs and attorney Art Linson. Already an established producer, Briggs and Linson founded Spindizzy Records.


Death and posthumous projects

Briggs died on November 26, 1995 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 51 years old. Before his death, he was still working with
Joel Bernstein Joel Bernstein is a photographer, guitarist, and record producer based in Oakland, California. His photographs have appeared as the album covers for ''After the Gold Rush'', '' 4 Way Street'', '' Rita Coolidge'', '' Wind on the Water'', '' Runn ...
on the ''
Neil Young Archives The Neil Young Archives is a longtime project by singer-songwriter Neil Young. It started as a series of archival releases featuring previously released as well as unreleased studio and live recordings. It eventually developed into a website featur ...
'' project. This project had been underway for five years before his death and it was estimated at that time there could be anywhere from three to 20 albums worth of unreleased material. (Neil Young Archives Volumes 1 and 2 were released in 2009 and 2020 respectively.) After Briggs's death, Neil Young and
Crazy Horse Crazy Horse ( , ; – September 5, 1877) was a Lakota people, Lakota war leader of the Oglala band. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by White Americans, White American settlers on Nativ ...
went on to record material such as '' Broken Arrow'', released in 1996 and ''
Year of the Horse ''Year of the Horse'' is a 1997 American documentary film directed by Jim Jarmusch, following Neil Young and Crazy Horse on their 1996 tour. An accompanying live album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse was released in 1997. It offers a different trac ...
'', released in 1997. They have recorded sporadically in the new millennium, releasing the studio albums '' Greendale'' (2003), ''
Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana music, a genre or style of American music * Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1981 film), an American drama film * ''Americana'' (20 ...
'', ''
Psychedelic Pill ''Psychedelic Pill'' is the 34th studio album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released on October 30, 2012. It is the second collaboration between Young and Crazy Horse released in 2012 (the first being '' Americana'') and their first ...
'' (both 2012), ''
Barn A barn is an agricultural building usually on farms and used for various purposes. In North America, a barn refers to structures that house livestock, including cattle and horses, as well as equipment and fodder, and often grain.Allen G ...
'' (2021) and ''
World Record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizatio ...
'' (2022). The band The Low & Sweet Orchestra was working with Briggs at the time of his death. Their album ''Goodbye To All That'' was released in 1996 and featured 9 out of 12 tracks produced by Briggs.


Critical views

According to his ''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' obituary: "He developed a reputation as a passionate and opinionated producer, placing great demands on the musicians with whom he worked to get the rawest, most direct sound he could in the least amount of time." Briggs's work was not universally acclaimed. Neal Smith of the Alice Cooper group later said "David hated our music and us. I recall the term that he used, referring to our music, was 'psychedelic shit'." I think ''
Easy Action ''Easy Action'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Alice Cooper, released by Straight Records in March 1970. The title comes from a line from one of the band's favorite films, the musical ''West Side Story''. As with '' Prett ...
'' sounded too dry, more like a TV or radio commercial, and he did not help with song arrangement or positive input in any way." His sessions with Nick Cave for the album ''
Henry's Dream ''Henry's Dream'' is the seventh studio album by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 27 April 1992 by Mute Records. It was the first album to feature long-standing members Martyn P. Casey (bass guitar) and Conway S ...
'' also did not turn out the way the artist wanted, with Cave later saying "He was a fucking nightmare, that guy. I know he's dead now and all, but, fuck, man. I put a lot of energy into the writing of that record, and then for each day to see it drift away… it was a horrible, horrible experience."


Personal life

Briggs had one son, Lincoln, with artist Shannon Forbes in 1969. In 1988, Briggs married Bettina Linnenberg, who became the production coordinator on many of the projects that Briggs produced in the 1990s. These included recordings with Cave, Royal Trux, 13 Engines and Sidewinder. She also helped him on projects that remain unreleased, including work with
John Eddie John Edward Cummings, Jr. (born July 9, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter, screenwriter, and producer. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Eddie moved to New Jersey in the 1970s and became a popular club circuit musician there, occasionally performi ...
and
Blind Melon Blind Melon is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of guitarists Rogers Stevens and Christopher Thorn, drummer Glen Graham, vocalist Travis Warren and bassist Nathan Towne. They are best known ...
. Briggs was a spiritual atheist.Shakey: Neil Young's Biography
/ref>


Selective discography as producer or co-producer


Neil Young

*1968 – ''
Neil Young Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield. Since the begi ...
'' *1969 – ''
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere ''Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'' is the second studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in May 1969 on Reprise Records, catalogue number RS 6349. His first with longtime backing band Crazy Horse, it emerged as a sleeper ...
'' *1970 – ''
After the Gold Rush ''After the Gold Rush'' is the third studio album by the Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in September 1970 on Reprise Records. It is one of four high-profile solo albums released by the members of folk rock group Crosby, Still ...
'' *1974 – '' On the Beach'' *1975 – '' Tonight's the Night'' *1975 – '' Zuma'' *1977 – ''
American Stars 'N Bars ''American Stars 'n Bars'' is the eighth studio album by Canadian-American folk rock songwriter Neil Young, released on Reprise Records in 1977. Compiled from recording sessions scattered over a 29-month period, it includes " Like a Hurricane", on ...
'' *1978 – ''
Comes a Time ''Comes a Time'' is the ninth studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Neil Young, released by Reprise Records in October 1978. The album is largely performed in a quiet folk and country style. It features backing harmonies sung by ...
'' *1979 – ''
Rust Never Sleeps ''Rust Never Sleeps'' is the tenth album by Canadian American singer-songwriter Neil Young and his third with American band Crazy Horse. It was released on June 22, 1979, by Reprise Records and features both studio and live tracks. Most of the ...
'' *1979 – ''
Live Rust ''Live Rust'' is a live album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, recorded during their fall 1978 '' Rust Never Sleeps'' tour. ''Live Rust'' is composed of performances recorded at several venues, including the Cow Palace near San Francisco. Young ...
'' *1981 – ''
Re-ac-tor ''Re·ac·tor'' is the twelfth studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, and his fourth with American rock band Crazy Horse, released on November 2, 1981. It was his last album released through Reprise Records before he moved to Geffe ...
'' *1982 – ''
Trans Trans- is a Latin prefix meaning "across", "beyond", or "on the other side of". Used alone, trans may refer to: Sociology * Trans, a sociological term which may refer to: ** Transgender, people who identify themselves with a gender that di ...
'' *1985 – ''
Old Ways ''Old Ways'' is the 15th studio album by Canadian-American musician and singer-songwriter Neil Young, released on August 12, 1985, on Geffen Records. Background Young first made an attempt at a country album in the 1980s in January 1983. He reco ...
'' *1987 – ''
Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...
'' *1990 – ''
Ragged Glory ''Ragged Glory'' is the 20th studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Neil Young, and his sixth album with the band Crazy Horse. It was released by Reprise Records on September 10, 1990. ''Ragged Glory'' was voted the 36th best grunge a ...
'' *1991 – '' Weld'' *1993 – ''
Unplugged Unplugged may refer to: *Acoustic music, music not produced through electronic means * "Unplugged" (B.A.P song), 2014 * "Unplugged" (''Modern Family''), a 2010 episode of ''Modern Family'' Albums and EPs * ''Unplugged'' (5'nizza album), 2002 * '' ...
'' *1994 – ''
Sleeps with Angels ''Sleeps with Angels'' is the 22nd studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released on August 16, 1994, on Reprise as a double LP and as a single CD. Young's seventh album with Crazy Horse, it was co-produced by long-time collabor ...
'' *2017 – ''
Hitchhiker Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, autostop or hitching) is a means of transportation that is gained by asking individuals, usually strangers, for a ride in their car or other vehicle. The ride is usually, but not always, free. Signaling ...
'' *2018 – '' Roxy: Tonight's the Night Live'' *2018 – ''
Songs for Judy A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usually ...
'' *2021 – ''
Way Down in the Rust Bucket ''Way Down in the Rust Bucket'' is a live album and concert film from Canadian-American rock musician Neil Young and his band Crazy Horse, released on February 26, 2021. It is Volume 11.5 in the Performance Series of Neil Young Archives. Record ...
''


Other Artists

*1968
Murray Roman Murray Roman (March 8, 1929 – November 6, 1973) was an American stand-up comedian and television writer whose career was cut short by a car crash. Many consider his style, and material, to be similar to Lenny Bruce. Career In addition to his ...
– ''You Can't beat People Up and Have Them Say "I Love You"'' *1968 Lost and Found – ''Lost and Found'' * 1968 Quatrain – ''Quatrain'' *1969 Summerhill – ''Summerhill'' *1970
Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...
– ''
Easy Action ''Easy Action'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Alice Cooper, released by Straight Records in March 1970. The title comes from a line from one of the band's favorite films, the musical ''West Side Story''. As with '' Prett ...
'' *1970
Tom Rush Tom Rush (born February 8, 1941) is an American folk and blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose success helped launch the careers of other singer-songwriters in the 1960s and who has continued his own singing career for 60 years. Life ...
– '' Wrong End of the Rainbow'' *1970 Spirit – ''
Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus ''Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus'' is the fourth album by the American rock band Spirit. It was produced by David Briggs, who is best known for his work with Neil Young. The original LP was released in November 1970 by Epic. The band's lowest ...
'' *1971
Nils Lofgren Nils Hilmer Lofgren (born June 21, 1951) is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a memb ...
& Grin – '' Grin'' *1972 Nils Lofgren & Grin – ''
1+1 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
'' *1972 Spirit – ''
Feedback Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handle ...
'' *1973
Kathi McDonald Kathryn Marie "Kathi" McDonald (September 25, 1948 – October 3, 2012) was an American blues and rock singer and songwriter. As a teenager she sang with different bands around the Pacific Northwest before she was discovered by Ike Turner. She sa ...
''Insane Asylum'' *1975 Nils Lofgren – ''
Nils Lofgren Nils Hilmer Lofgren (born June 21, 1951) is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 1984, a memb ...
'' *1976 Nils Lofgren – '' Cry Tough'' *1986 Bradley Ditto – ''Check Me Out'' *1992
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are a Rock music, rock band formed in Melbourne in 1983 by lead vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and German guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throug ...
– ''
Henry's Dream ''Henry's Dream'' is the seventh studio album by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 27 April 1992 by Mute Records. It was the first album to feature long-standing members Martyn P. Casey (bass guitar) and Conway S ...
'' *1995
Royal Trux Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band active from 1987 to 2001, and again from 2015 to 2019 consisting of Neil Hagerty (vocals, guitar) and Jennifer Herrema (vocals). History While still a teenager, Hagerty joined Washington D.C. g ...
– ''
Thank You "Thank you" (often expanded to ''thank you very much'' or ''thanks a lot'', or informally abbreviated to ''thanks'' or alternately as ''many thanks''Geoffrey Leech, ''The Pragmatics of Politeness'' (2014), p. 200.) is a common expression of gr ...
'' *1996 The Low & Sweet Orchestra – Goodbye to all that


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Briggs, David 1944 births 1995 deaths Record producers from Wyoming People from Douglas, Wyoming 20th-century American businesspeople American atheists