Who Is Daniel Lanois

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 15 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

A Creative Producer

Daniel Lanois is the man behind some of the world's most talented artists of the past two decades. He's one of the most creative and successful studio producers of his era. Don't be surprised if you find out that Lanois is responsible for half of the music you love.

In any event, you're in for a ride into his studio world. Let me show you some rare pictures, unseen videos and I am sure you'll change your perception of this artist.

Q: What Do These Albums Have in Common? 

Drag over the gray block to reveal the answer

A: They all were produced by Daniel Lanois

Or Watch This Video to Know The Answer 

Daniel Lanois Bio

powered by YouTube

Quick, what do you think of Daniel Lanois as a Producer? 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

The Other Side of Lanois 

Learn more about his unique style as a musician

What a Way To Play Guitar 

This is a must see!

What's His Best Produced Album? 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Three Reasons to Love Daniel Lanois 

1. He's an Amazing Musician and Guitar Player

2. He Brings Out The Artist's Best

3. He Supports Great Causes

Lotta Love To Give 

The Joshua Tree - Redux 

Daniel Lanois & Brian Eno Producers

Joshua Tree (Remastered / Expanded) (Super Deluxe Edition) (2CD/DVD)

Amazon Price: $53.99 (as of 05/16/2008)

The Joshua Tree has been meticulously re-mastered from the original analog master tapes. The 14-track bonus CD contains a number of B-sides and unused tracks that have been scattered elsewhere, but have never been collected in one disc before. The selling point of the DVD is the concert video in Paris, which many fans are going to find invaluable. Even better than a real thing!

Brain Eno and Daniel Lanois 

What Do They Think of Each Other?

"Dan listens to feel, to the skeleton of the songs, and draws attention to the things everybody else has stopped noticing."

"Eno is one of my favorite characters. He's a visionary and supporter of mine."

"Conversations are always heavy with Eno. He puts a lot of thought into everything. We make a nice team. We play well together, we play instruments well together."

 

Daniel Lanois Brain Eno in Studio

Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno & U2

powered by YouTube

 

U2:The Joshua Tree DVD - Exit

Lanois & Bono Discussing The Making of "Exit"

The Documentary 

The Joshua Tree

Amazon Price: $9.97 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $4.98

This DVD merges past and present, co-producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, mixer Steve Lillywhite, and guitarist The Edge isolate different tracks on the album's master tapes to show how some of U2's greatest songs were layered with each individual's big contributions.

 

U2:The Joshua Tree DVD - Running to Stand Still

Watch Lanois, Eno, Bono and The Edge telling the story behind the song.

Here Is What Is 

This is a moody and informative black-and-white documentary on Lanois' studio techniques. It follows approximately 18 months of Lanois' life, encompassing everything from work in Toronto with Canadian musician Garth Hudson to a studio session in Europe with U2. The title is based on the Jamaican proverb "Don't Look to Tomorrow, Look to Right Now".

"It's alright to give away secrets, especially if they're technological or systematic, and the thing that always belongs to you really is your heart and soul and your driving force and everyone is unique in that special kind of way."

Here Is What Is on DVD 

Lanois reveals some of his studio secrets

Here Is What Is

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 05/16/2008)

This documentary captures the art of making his last record. The film opens up with a timeless piano performance by Garth Hudson. He also joins Brian Blade's father at the Zion Baptist Church for an awesome rendition of This May Be The Last Time. The film also journeys with Lanois to Morocco where he meets mentor Brian Eno and the U2 members. From the inquisitive Where Will I Be to the emotive sounds of Lovechild, Here Is What Is features a collection of viscerally powerful and beautiful tracks. A must see!

Lanois in His Toronto Studio 

He performs the mixing console, like a guitar.

"I found that due to the size of my hands I could reach many faders at the same time. And because of my musical ear, I could move the faders in a musical way. So I don't see the console as a piece of technological device, particularly. I see it as a musical instrument."

Daniel Lanois in Studio part 2

Daniel Lanois in Studio part 1

powered by YouTube

Selected Discography as a Producer 

Producer
Jon Hassell, Power Spot (Uni/Ecm, 2000)
Willie Nelson, Teatro (Island, 1998)
Brian Blade, Brian Blade Fellowship (Blue Note/Capitol, 1998)
Luscious Jackson, Fever In, Fever Out (Grand Royal/Capitol, 1996)
Emmylou Harris, Wrecking Ball (Asylum, 1995)
Peter Gabriel, Us (Geffen, 1992)
Bob Dylan, Oh Mercy (CBS, 1989)
Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson (Geffen, 1988)
The Neville Brothers, Yellow Moon (A&M, 1989)
Peter Gabriel, So (Virgin, 1986)
Peter Gabriel, Birdy (Virgin, 1985)

Co-Producer
U2, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope, 2004)
U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind (Uni/Interscope, 2000)
Bob Dylan, Time Out of Mind (Columbia/Sony, 1997)
U2, Achtung Baby (Island, 1991)
Brian Eno, Music for Films (EG, 1990)
U2, The Joshua Tree (Island, 1987)
Michael Brook, Hybrid (EG, 1985)
Harold Budd, The Pearl (EG, 1984)
U2, The Unforgettable Fire (Island, 1984)
Brian Eno, Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks (EG, 1983)
Brian Eno, On Land (EG, 1982)

Could You Share Your Thoughts About Daniel as Producer? 

I'd love to hear it!

Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves...

RichLeigh

An excellent lens packed full of interesting detail!

Posted April 18, 2008

Music-Resource

Hi Cinetech, Great Daniel Lanois lens you've made here. I appreciate the amount of work you put into the lens. I'm a big fan of Eno and U2. If he's been working with them then he's with the right crowd. I especially liked the pedal steel video. Nice job. ~Music Resource~

Posted January 12, 2008

Eric Shoup

The Maker is the next amazing grace it will never be forgotten

Posted October 08, 2007

Mala

I just saw the premiere of Here is What Is.....it was as good as I had expected. I've been a fan for years now. But am so looking forward to the new album.

Posted September 14, 2007

Back Where U Belong 

Sinead & Daniel

In 1991, Lanois and O'Connor met back when she recorded "Blood of Eden" with Peter Gabriel for the album Us. Fast forward to 2007, and they were back together to record the song "Back Where You Belong' for the film "The Water Horse". This movie was released on Christmas 2007.

Sinead O'Connor Daniel Lanois

For your enjoyment. "Back Where I Belong." Written and Performed by Sinead O'Connor for "The Water Horse." Produced by Daniel Lanois. The footage from Sinead's house and Abbey Road where the song was made. I hope you enjoy the song and the movie opening Christmas Day.

powered by YouTube

Interview with Lanois 

by Randall from Free The Scene Blog

Daniel Lanois Studio

Randall: What work were you most proud of?

Daniel: The Pearl, which is an Eno/Harold Budd record. U2's Achtung Baby was a strange and bizarre masterpiece. There was a lot of torment in that process, and it shows up in the music, but it has beauty in it as well and it's kind of a strange furry beast that you would be happy to have sit at your dinner table.

read the entire interview here

New U2 Album in The Making 

Producers Lanois & Eno Team Up Again

U2's new album has been written, according to producer Daniel Lanois. So far, Lanois has done three writing sessions with Eno and U2 - one in Fez, Morocco and two in France. The album is expected to be released in 2008.

In an interview with Billboard magazine to promote his documentary Here Is What Is, Lanois said of the new U2 material: "The results are amazing, some of the best results we've ever had. I think everybody is hungry for something really fresh. We're having the same feeling when we recorded Achtung Baby. It's going to be very much hand-played but it'll be also electro."

Lanois, Eno and Bono in Fez, Morocco

powered by YouTube

Falling At Your Feet 

U2 & Lanois

Daniel Lanois The Edge U2

Ambient Collaboration 

His mastery of all things ambient started in early '80s, when he spent time working alongside Brian Eno, as well as minimalist pianist Harold Budd, pioneer guitarist Michael Brook and Fourth World Music trumpeter Jon Hassell.

Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks

With Brian Eno

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $8.00

The Pearl

With Harold Budd

Amazon Price: (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $4.75

Power Spot

With Jon Hassell

Amazon Price: (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $21.99

Music for Films

With Brian Eno

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $8.18

Hybrid

With Michael Brook

Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $8.45

Daniel Is Guitar Tech Savvy 

What's Lanois Main Guitar Set-Up?

"I have a 1953 Les Paul Gold Top. I love Neil Young's guitar sound, and his tech modified the guitar for me by putting on a Bigsby tremolo arm, and a Tune-O-Matic bridge to keep it in tune. "

read the entire tech interview here

In this video, Daniel plays a gift from Emmylou Harris.
Gibson SJ-200 with LR Baggs M1 Soundhole Pickup

Daniel Lanois LR BAGGS Acoustic Guitar M1 FPE-TV

Daniel Lanois has produced records by U2, Bob Dylan, and many others. Dan KNOWS TONE. Here Dan demos the LR Baggs M1 acoustic guitar Soundhole pickup.

powered by YouTube

A Picture Says A Thousand Words 

If you have any Lanois photo please add it to:
Daniel Lanois on Flickr by mishkaoutofcontrol

Come Talk To Me 

Peter Gabriel and Daniel Lanois

Daniel Lanois was introduced to Peter Gabriel by David Rhodes. At the time, Gabriel was interested in someone who could manipulate sound, someone who could work with him for the soundtrack of Alan Parker's film: Birdy. Then, they strengthened their relantionship and went on to make two brilliant albums: So and Us.

Daniel Lanois Peter Gabriel

In 1986, Daniel Lanois asked his pal David Bottrill to fly to England to aid in the recording of So. Bottrill once commented on a friendly clash between the two Egos. "With many things on the go, Peter was distracted too many times from writing lyrics. So there was a time when Daniel got so upset with Gabriel he ended up nailing the door shut in the studio where Gabriel was writing lyrics so he wouldn't be able to leave to make another phone call!"

Bottrill recalls the recording sessions of Gabriel's album Us as one of the most intense he ever experienced. The Lanois-helmed production spanned over 2 years, and he thinks the venture, at that time, was very perfectionist and too ambitious in scope.

This video shows Lanois and Gabriel rehearsing and recording Come Talk To Me, a song included in the album Us.

Peter Gabriel - US - Secret World 

Peter Gabriel - Secret World Live

Amazon Price: $11.97 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $8.99

Performance by Gabriel and his international band: violinist Shankar, drummer Manu Katche, and bassist Tony Levin. Featuring versions of well-known material like "Solsbury Hill," "Sledgehammer," "In Your Eyes," "Come Talk To Me" and the always-moving "Don't Give Up".

Emmylou Harris + Daniel Lanois = Wrecking Ball 

Wrecking Ball is perhaps Emmylou's best album ever. The complex and layered arrangements resolve into real voices and instruments. Daniel Lanois provides a distinctive sound that goes beyond what one normally expects from a producer.

Emmylou Harris Daniel Lanois

Steve Earle's Goodbye is a rhythmically sprawling reopening of an old wound, as Earle himself sits in on the proceedings, Deeper Well is Harris and Lanois' idiosyncratic take on gospel bluegrass and Jimi Hendrix's May This Be Love is stunning - Harris' exhilarating vocal matched with a terrific backing of Lanois' electric guitar and Mullen's drums. This is best Lanois-esque song of the album!

Emmylou Harris - Deeper Well (1995)

powered by YouTube

A Solid Production 

Wrecking Ball

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $6.48

This album includes breathtaking covers of numbers by heavyweights such as Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Lucinda Williams among others. The fingerprints of Daniel Lanois are all over this album as well. It's got the 'atmosphere' sound and pulsing beat that distinguishes his sound. This may not be for the Emmylou purist, however, it stands as one of the best albums of all time.

Robbie Robertson 

First Nations Music Warrior

Robbie Robertson was born to a white father and Native American mother from the Mohawk tribe. He started playing guitar when he was 9 years old. He achieved international fame and prominence with his work in the legendary 60s and early 70s rock group The Band. In 1986, his self-titled solo debut album was co-produced with Daniel Lanois.

Robbie Robertson

Robbie Robertson - Somewhere Down The Crazy River


Robbie Robertson - Fallen Angel


ROBBIE ROBERTSON - Showdown At Big Sky

 

Robbie Robertson

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 05/16/2008)

This album, whose lyric and musical imagery evoked Robertson's maternal Iroquois ancestry, included such songs as 'Showdown at Big Sky' and 'Somewhere Down the Crazy River,' which were very popular in 1988. Guest stars on the album include Peter Gabriel and U2. Many times in the album you can hear the handy work of Daniel Lanois.

The Neville Brothers 

New Orleans Connection

Aaron Neville Brothers Daniel Lanois

Yellow Moon

Amazon Price: $7.97 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $2.74

"Yellow Moon, an album that manages to find room for such contemporary touches as rap ("Sister Rosa," a tribute to civil rights figure Rosa Parks) without compromising or corrupting the Nevilles' identity. Each selection has New Orleans spice, like a delicious gumbo."

- Rolling Stone

With God in Our Side 

The Neville Brothers do Bob Dylan

This song almost didn't make it to Yellow Moon. Aaron Neville loves this song, and asked Daniel if they can include it in the album. Lanois said, well, let's listen to it and see if we could cut a version for the album, and it came out so good that the rest is history.

Aaron Neville & Daniel Lanois

powered by YouTube

 


The Neville Brothers - Amazing Grace


Neville Brothers - Yellow Moon: Relaid Audio


Neville Brothers - Sister Rosa: Relaid Audio

Teatro 

In 1998, Dan produced Teatro for Willie Nelson.

Daniel Lanois Teatro
Donata Wenders shot this beautiful picture and more...

Also at that time, the acclaimed film director Wim Wenders produced a small documentary: Willie Nelson at the Teatro, featuring 10 of Willie Nelson's songs, performed at Daniel Lanois' studio, a converted picture theatre in Oxnard, California.

Music For Films 

Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks: Deep Blue Day

The infamous toilet scene in Trainspotting, when Renton has to fish around in a shit-ridden bowl to reclaim his opium suppositories, eventually diving in and finding a somewhat incongruous coral reef. Lanois & Eno's Deep Blue Day provides the soundtrack, and the scene works on a number of levels: as a way to experience what Renton wants (and needs) to be imagining as he fishes around.

Blue Trainspotting

http://www.squidoo.com/daniel-lanois-songwriter Daniel Lanois plays the processed pedal steel guitar.

powered by YouTube

Sling Blade 

The Plot: Karl Childers, now a grown man, is released from a psychiatric hospital where he has been hospitalized since the age of 12 for the murder of his mother and her lover. Karl befriends a young boy, Frank, and is soon invited by Frank's mother, Linda, to move into the family's garage. As a strong relationship develops between Karl and Frank, a confrontation builds with Linda's abusive and sometimes violent boyfriend Doyle.

Sling Blade Karl Frank

The Filmmaker: Billy Bob Thornton wrote, directed and played Karl Childers in Sling Blade. His screenplay won an academy award, while he was also nominated for best actor.

Daniel Lanois Billy Bob Thornton

The Score: The soundtrack is rich and ambient, featuring Lanois' heavily-processed guitar and the help of a few extraordinary players (mentor Brian Eno, jazz drummer Brian Blade and Emmylou Harris).

1. Asylum - Daniel Lanois
2. Jimmy Was - Daniel Lanois
3. Bettina - Daniel Lanois
4. Soul Dressing - Booker T. & The MG's
5. Lonely One - Tim Gibbons
6. Blue Waltz - Daniel Lanois
7. Secret Place - Daniel Lanois
8. Darlin' - Bambi Lee Savage
9. Shenandoah - Daniel Lanois/Emmylou Harris
10. Orange Kay - Daniel Lanois
11. Smothered In Hugs - Local H
12. Phone Call - Russell Wilson/Mark Howard
13. Omni - Daniel Lanois
14. The Maker - Daniel Lanois

The track Orange Kay was named after an electric guitar pedal: The Orange Kay Fuzz. Lanois uses it in an ominous kind of way. Watch the scene Kaiser Blade:

Kaiser Blade

Daniel & Emylou - Shenandoah

Local H - Smothered in Hugs

 

Sling Blade: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture

Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $2.49

Daniel Lanois has incredible ways of capturing the right mood with his music. Any time I need a little bit of relaxation, I put this one in. If your a blues fan, there is some great picking also. Billy Bob Thornton really knew what he was doing with the film and the soundtrack is no exception to the film's brilliance.

Brian Blade 

Daniel's Side Kick Drummer

Brian Blade is the drummer of choice for Daniel Lanois. Brian has also recorded or performed with Joni Mitchell, Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bob Dylan and others. Daniel produced Brian's first album: Brian Blade Fellowship, in which he played mando-guitar and Fender Mustang guitar.

In an interview, back in 2006, Lanois said:

"I've known Brian for 15 years and he's like a brother. We always work best when we haven't played together in a while. Then we share our new knowledge together. But he has many layers to his personality and a darkness to him that you don't meet the first time, because he seems very sweet. And Brian is driven by all these layers."

Daniel Lanois Brian Blade

Brian Blade Fellowship

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $8.50

"Simply put, this is one the best jazz albums of the last few years from one of the best bands of the last few years. Drawing together many different influences, the music here has many rich melodies and textures that proves a current band can create something as beautiful as any of the classic Blue Note albums of the past."

-Michael Brumitt

 

Daniel Lanois and Brian Blade

powered by YouTube

Daniel's First DVD 

Rocky World

Amazon Price: (as of 05/16/2008)
Used Price: $50.00

"If you don't know anything about Daniel Lanois, this video is the perfect way to introduce one of the most amazing artists I have ever seen and heard from British Columbia to Louisiana."

- Soraya Kherfi

Daniel Lanois & Dave Matthews Teamed Up 

Oct. 14, 2001 at The Paramount Theatre

Groundwork 2001, the first-ever North American TeleFood event as part of its ongoing global campaign against world hunger.

Paramount Theatre Seattle

This was the line up on that memorable night:

Blind Boys of Alabama
Emmylou Harris
Daniel Lanois
Dave Matthews


Lanois Friends

So Damn Lucky 

Dave Matthews with Daniel Lanois

Daniel Lanois So Damn Lucky

Daniel Lanois Connections 

U2
The music of Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry have always been about heart and mind, body and soul. The best rock band that ever existed.
Brian Eno
Perhaps best known as a musician and producer, he's also an artist, professor and thinker.
Peter Gabriel
He's an innovative musician, writer and video maker. When at school he co-founded the group Genesis, which he left in 1975. Since then, his albums, live performance and videos have won him a succession of awards.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is perhaps the most influential American lyricist rock has ever produced and unquestionably the most important of the 60s.
The Neville Brothers
Aaron, Art, Cyril and Charles play together; they play apart. Each of the four brothers pursue projects of their own.
Interview with Daniel Lanois - OnlineRock
His latest album, Belladonna is a travel log from Mexico, where Miles Davis got to join in on the nightly studio adventures. By Nikki O'Neill, May 2006.
House of Soul - Electronic Musician
Great technical article by Paul Tingen. Lanois says "The secret of my studios is that I keep everything plugged in all the time. It's like a throwback to the '50s, when studios would have a drum kit nailed to the floor and several amplifiers ready to plug your guitar or bass into."
An Interview with Daniel Lanois
Jonathan Greenberg and Olivia Mather interview Lanois for "Echo, a Music-centered Journal"
Daniel Lanois Information
Another Lanois' fan tribute website.

Looking For a Rare Lanois-Produced Record? 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

If You Are a Gear Maniac 

by Alex Wyler

Alex Wyler who is a gear maniac has tuned in to Lanois' music devices and has revealed a list for all of us to see. He claims he has uncovered many secrets of Brian and Dan's treatments. Although he says he'll never reveal them to anyone.

Treatment Effect Devices in The Studio 1978-2006

You Might Also Like These Lenses