Mark Linett On Remixing The Beach Boys

Mark Linett talks Beach Boys image

When it comes to remixing “classic” songs for the distant past, it’s a lot tougher than you might think. For one thing, with many hits done on 4 and 8 track tape where many mix elements might be together on one track, there’s not much to mix or place in stereo. For another, it’s sometimes impossible to find the master tapes. Mark Linett, who’s won 3 Grammys and has worked with acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Los Lobos, America, Ricki Lee Jones, Eric Clapton, Christopher Cross, Randy Newman, Michael McDonald, and many more, has been the keeper of The Beach Boys catalog for a long time now, and he’s seen it all.

In this video Mark talks about all the problems he’s run up against during the remixing and mastering of The Beach Boys long release history, as well as the treasure trove of unreleased material. While so much of the band’s tapes have been preserved (they made it a point to keep everything possible), in one heartbreaking example he describes how their “Good Vibrations” 8 track master tape was thrown out during a studio remodel, and the electronic means he’s gone through to recreate the individual tracks.

Mark is also an avid gear collector and he has a studio that’s part vintage and part museum, which he also describes.

It’s an interesting view for anyone who’s a Beach Boys fan, or is just interested in what happens to old master tapes.

By the way, you can hear more from Mark on my Inner Podcast #135. Mark also appears in the interview section of my Recording Engineer’s Handbook.


Crash Course image
Spread the word