Greatest Production Ever?

[Walk]

I've heard a lot of people say Metallica's self-titled album has the greatest production of all time, but I find the drums to be a bit tame and cold. Also, the effects on Hetfield's voice take a lot away from it, especially on the ballads. The Unforgiven could be an incredible song, even if not metal, but the pop-voice during the chorus ruins it. The guitar production is very good, but it still doesn't hide the lack of memorable riffs. Still, the production is the best of all Metallica albums except the rawness of ...And Justice For All.

I'd say the greatest production ever heard on an album is Pantera's The Great Southern Trendkill. Just listen to the introduction of 10's and you'll understand what I'm saying. The production makes everything heavier. It's easily Pantera's second best album, right after Cowboys From Hell, and it's better in some ways. The guitar tone is perfect, the effects on Anselmo's voice work very well, and the drums are sharp.

Motorhead's 1916 album, Slayer's Reign In Blood, Def Leppard's Pyromania (Hysteria's overproduction kills it), and Black Sabbath's self-titled album also have noticibly excellent production.

[mrlee]

Marilyn mansons mechanical animals to me has a good production sound.

[Thorazine Shuffle]

I would go with Floyds Dark Side Of The Moon as well as The Wall and the Beatles Revolver album.

[Izzy]

Type O Negative's October Rust has superb production, everything sounds superb, great tones on the instruments, downtuned it has a terrific groove

Pink Floyd's efforts just go without saying - superb production on all their greatest works

Terry Date and Vinnie Paul/Dimebag Darrell did a superb job on the production of all Pantera's albums - Dimebag's guitar tone is just perfect, the drums sound fantastic and the vocals are always in perfect balance with the music so neither is submerged

Dave Mustaine's remix of Rust in Peace is just sensational. The original is frankly abysmal to my ears, no bass at all, atleast as bad as the worst produced album of all time ...and justice for all. Dave's remix makes this album kick ass and really shows what decent production can do for an album

[Genesis]

Metallica's Black Album, AC/DC Back In Black come to mind, but I would hardly put them in the  'Greatest Productions Ever' category.

[Skeletor]

Agree with The Great Southern Trendkill and October Rust... then there's Lateralus by Tool, awesome work on that album.

I was just listening to Sepultura's Chaos A.D., and thinking how great the sound is - even though it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

[Walk]

Roots is the only Sepultura album worse than Chaos AD. Their older albums, especially Beneath The Remains, have much better production AND better music. Sepultura and Korn made mallcore production popular, and it has even infected real heavy metal! Look at Fear Factory... 

[Jonathan]

"Black Album" by Metallica and Foo Fighters "The Colour and the Shape" have the best productions ever, according to me.

Use Your Illusion I & II and some Stone Temple Pilots albums also have really good production.

I think Soundgarden had really good production on their albums too.

[Thorazine Shuffle]

"Black Album" by Metallica and Foo Fighters "The Colour and the Shape" have the best productions ever, according to me.

Use Your Illusion I & II and some Stone Temple Pilots albums also have really good production.

Good call on the STP albums.  Purple has awesome production.  And Izzys right about Type O Negative.  October Rust is a very lush recording and Type O Negative in my opinon has the best drum tone as well.

[Gunner80]

I've heard a lot of people say Metallica's self-titled album has the greatest production of all time, but I find the drums to be a bit tame and cold. Also, the effects on Hetfield's voice take a lot away from it, especially on the ballads. The Unforgiven could be an incredible song, even if not metal, but the pop-voice during the chorus ruins it. The guitar production is very good, but it still doesn't hide the lack of memorable riffs. Still, the production is the best of all Metallica albums except the rawness of ...And Justice For All.

I'd say the greatest production ever heard on an album is Pantera's The Great Southern Trendkill. Just listen to the introduction of 10's and you'll understand what I'm saying. The production makes everything heavier. It's easily Pantera's second best album, right after Cowboys From Hell, and it's better in some ways. The guitar tone is perfect, the effects on Anselmo's voice work very well, and the drums are sharp.

Motorhead's 1916 album, Slayer's Reign In Blood, Def Leppard's Pyromania (Hysteria's overproduction kills it), and Black Sabbath's self-titled album also have noticibly excellent production.

You know shit about absolutely nothing!!! 

[IzzyDutch]

Izzy Stradlin's Ride On album, everything is clear and in your face. Great variety of drumsounds aswell, from Ride On till Spazed. Just awesome..

[kupirock]

Agree with The Great Southern Trendkill and October Rust... then there's Lateralus by Tool, awesome work on that album.

second that

[Mr. Dick Purple]

The production on Bruce Dickinson's Accident of Birth is excellent!, Roy Z manage to create a solid sound in the album, another great Roy Z album production is Helloween's Dark Ride.
The Queen production on Innuendo is just fantastic I think it is one of the greatest albums ever made by the band in all aspects 

[GNR_Green]

Firstly, I won't say what I think the best produced album is as I haven't listen to all of them!  I would agree with most of what has been suggested so far though.  I think the best production is the production I don't notice - in other words if I think the album sounds good I won't make a point of it, while if it sounds bad I think about what needs changing!

Use Your Illusion I & II and some Stone Temple Pilots albums also have really good production.

I think Soundgarden had really good production on their albums too.

I have to pick up on the Use Your Illusion bit above though.  I have never really been happy with any of GN'R's production.  I think that AFD lacks the heaviness it should have because Duff's bass sounds like it's only half there most of the time.  On UYI I've always been baffled - listen to Don't Cry and the bass pours out of your speakers.  Listen to Bad Obsession and what's this?  No bass!  The guitars sound great on all GN'R albums which I am thankful for.  The drums on UYI's are good I think.  Axl's vocals are sometimes great but need to be a bit clearer - you'd never get half the lyrics (e.g. Right Next Door To Hell) unless you had them printed (now I sound old, but don't let that fool you).  Mike Clink was the man responsible for GN'R production back then and he also produced Rust In Peace so Izzy agrees with me:

Dave Mustaine's remix of Rust in Peace is just sensational. The original is frankly abysmal to my ears, no bass at all, atleast as bad as the worst produced album of all time ...and justice for all. Dave's remix makes this album kick ass and really shows what decent production can do for an album

[Mr. Sinister]

I agree about the UYI production.  Sometimes it's great and balanced, sometimes it's overproduced to the max (Perfect Crime and Breakdown come to mind - Love the songs, but they both have a ton of effects going on). Axl's vocals especially suffer, but that may be primarily due to him trying to squeeze too many lyrics in there. Still, thank god the lyrics were printed.

To date, my favorite-sounding album is Garbage's "Version 2.0," because it's loud and bold, but perfectly balanced so you can hear everything going on, even when most of the songs are awash in electronica effects. It just sounds great.

[-Jack-]

I'd go with DSOTM by Pink Floyd. For being made in the 70's.. its just a step above everything eles.

I've always disliked the UYI production... most of the songs just dont sound good anymore. Very dated feeling. The songs ARE good. They just dont sound so good anymore..

O and to the person who said megadeth sounds alot better with the remix... is it good enough to be worth a purchase? id definitly buy it with a recomendation.

[grendood]

The Stone Roses.

[jameslofton29]

Dark Side of the Moon-Pink Floyd
Badmotorfinger-Soundgarden
Black Album-Metallica
Dr. Feelgood-Motley Crue
Physical Graffiti-Led Zeppelin
Seasons in the Abyss-Slayer
Elastica-Elastica
Appetite for Destruction-GNR

[The New Fiona Apple]

Appetite for Destruction had just the right amount of rawness and polish

Ditto, Clash Albums not named Cut the Crap and Sandinista.

Phil Spector Wall of Sound was always very good.

Doo Wop Production always has been very good with the melodies (Frankie Valli is very good with this type of production)

Motown 1960s-Just something felt right with those

Duran Duran- More Processed then Cheese, but was done good enough that you barely noticed