Thriller Engineer Speaks to Full Sail Students
Legendary producer/engineer Bruce Swedien discussed his work with Michael Jackson and others
In the wake of Michael Jackson’s passing this summer, casual listeners and die-hard fans alike have taken the time to revisit the pop icon’s musical discography. And without a doubt, the pinnacle of Michael Jackson’s catalog is 1982’s Thriller, which featured the hit singles “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller” and is regarded as the most commercially successful album of all time.
Producer/engineer Bruce Swedien played a crucial role in the shaping of Thriller. As the recording engineer and mixer on the record, Swedien worked closely with Jackson and legendary producer Quincy Jones in crafting the album’s sound, earning him one of the album’s eight GRAMMY® Awards in 1984.
Full Sail University recently welcomed Swedien to campus for a lecture/listening session in Full Sail Live. Swedien engaged in conversation with an auditorium of Recording Arts students, sharing his stories about a career that has paired him with musical greats like Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Diana Ross, and answering questions about his studio methods and recording techniques.
Swedien kicked off the two-hour session by playing what he says was Jackson’s favorite piece of music, his cover of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.” “Michael actually sang live with the orchestra that you hear on the recording – there were no overdubs,” Swedien explained afterwards. “His vocal performance is just phenomenal. I was yelling and clapping in the control room when we recorded that one.”
Jackson’s music was a dominant theme throughout the discussion, as Swedien reflected on his 20-plus years working as a sound engineer for the King of Pop, touching on everything from the microphones he used to record his vocals to the singer’s work ethic and demeanor in the studio.
“Michael was always relaxed. It was never a struggle to record with him, ever,” Swedien said. “He was also the kind of guy who didn’t believe in half-stepping. He would be up all night the night before learning the lyric from memory. I never once recorded Michael with a piece of paper in front of him. He always sang from memory. He’s an impossible act to follow.”
Along with playing and discussing other pieces of music from Jackson’s discography, Swedien also offered his advice to students aspiring to start careers in the music industry, emphasizing that a passion for music has been the driving force behind his professional success. “Music is the only true magic in life. The passion for music is what we have to look for in ourselves,” he said. “There’s no easy way to figure out how to make hit records. Money does not talk to music, and music does not talk to money. My greatest advice would be to go out, find yourselves a band that you really believe in, and just start making records.”
Producer/engineer Bruce Swedien played a crucial role in the shaping of Thriller. As the recording engineer and mixer on the record, Swedien worked closely with Jackson and legendary producer Quincy Jones in crafting the album’s sound, earning him one of the album’s eight GRAMMY® Awards in 1984.
Full Sail University recently welcomed Swedien to campus for a lecture/listening session in Full Sail Live. Swedien engaged in conversation with an auditorium of Recording Arts students, sharing his stories about a career that has paired him with musical greats like Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Diana Ross, and answering questions about his studio methods and recording techniques.
Swedien kicked off the two-hour session by playing what he says was Jackson’s favorite piece of music, his cover of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.” “Michael actually sang live with the orchestra that you hear on the recording – there were no overdubs,” Swedien explained afterwards. “His vocal performance is just phenomenal. I was yelling and clapping in the control room when we recorded that one.”
Jackson’s music was a dominant theme throughout the discussion, as Swedien reflected on his 20-plus years working as a sound engineer for the King of Pop, touching on everything from the microphones he used to record his vocals to the singer’s work ethic and demeanor in the studio.
“Michael was always relaxed. It was never a struggle to record with him, ever,” Swedien said. “He was also the kind of guy who didn’t believe in half-stepping. He would be up all night the night before learning the lyric from memory. I never once recorded Michael with a piece of paper in front of him. He always sang from memory. He’s an impossible act to follow.”
Along with playing and discussing other pieces of music from Jackson’s discography, Swedien also offered his advice to students aspiring to start careers in the music industry, emphasizing that a passion for music has been the driving force behind his professional success. “Music is the only true magic in life. The passion for music is what we have to look for in ourselves,” he said. “There’s no easy way to figure out how to make hit records. Money does not talk to music, and music does not talk to money. My greatest advice would be to go out, find yourselves a band that you really believe in, and just start making records.”
