Producers - Producers You Make the Heat (20 tracks) +Album Reviews

It is about time this stuff was on CD

Charles Phelps | McKinney, TX United States | 11/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sounding like a US version of the UK group "The Records", The Producers wrote and played some excellent instantly memorable pop tunes (complete with great harmonies and catchy guitar riffs) led by Van Temple's soaring tenor voice and guitar, Bryan Holmes' driving drums, Kyle Henderson's melodic bass lines, and of course, Wayne Famous--the resident looney on keyboards.It is a shame that their only really major national success was "She-Sheila" because a large percentage of the tunes should've been hits. They were very popular with the college crowds circa 1982-85. I saw 'em three times and EVERYONE in the crowd knew all the words! In concert, they also did a killer cover of "A Hard Day's Night" (hmmm, maybe a live album is called for).The first album (Producers) is the most fun of the two in this package. Innocent, light weight, hummable, and a killer soundtrack to your college beer party (well maybe not these days). "What's He Got", "I Love Lucy", "What She Does To Me", "Certain Kinda Girl",... ahhh greatness! The second (You Make The Heat) is a little more serious and probably an attempt to compete more with the arena supergroups at the time. The songs are still good. It is just a little less Hollies-sounding and a little more Journey-sounding. "You Make The Heat" and "Breakaway" are standouts.These recordings have been criminally out of print for years. I myself have only had a cassette tape copied from the LP's back in the 80's. This release is greatly welcomed. I don't know how well it will go over with today's youth, but I know that a bunch of folks that were in college during the first half of the 80's are going to be tickled pink about it. I am now going to pop open a cold one, put this disc on and wax nostalgic. "Lucy....Luuuuuucy!"Thanks Producers for some great memories."

20 years later, and can hit #3 in Georgia!

karlsarch | Highlands Ranch, CO United States | 08/17/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike many of the reviewers here, I don't have nostalgic reasons for buying this CD. In Colorado, the Producers are virtually unheard of, although I can vaguely remember "What's He Got" getting some airplay when I was in High School. I had always been interested to hear more from Van Temple, the singer, after discovering his amazing vocals on another 80's recording, "Book of Dreams", from Steve Morse's album "Stand Up". Here it is fifteen years later, and thanks to Amazon I have had the opportunity to discover the Producers. After listening to the CD, with it's great combination of polish without compromising the fun and the energy of rock, and the great musical performances combined with the catchy tunes, I am convinced that this band should have been huge nationwide fifteen years ago, instead of huge only in Georgia. Somebody at some record company made a huge mistake back then by not marketing these albums better. I think that the fact that as of this review the re-released CD can become the #3 seller in Georgia really demonstrates that this band never got the exposure they deserved. Great 80's pop! Only a few of the songs sound really dated. Highly recommended for anyone who has a place in their heart for strong melodic 80s music that doesn't take itself too seriously. And what a singer Van Temple is!!!"

This is a great buy! Two releases on one CD!

Mark Sacher | Roswell, GA USA | 11/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This group is one of the most under-rated, lesser known bands of the 80s. The Producers' biggest hit was "She Sheila" which got some airplay and was on MTV for a while. Several other songs got some airplay in parts of the U.S. (I Love Lucy, Certain Kinda Girl, What's He Got, Merry Go Round, Back to Basics, Operation). I know this will sound like an overstatement, but I like every one of their songs.The band did release a 3rd LP called "Run For Your Life" but the group had switched labels and it was not widely promoted. That is a hard find, but it is every bit as good as the first two releases. A fourth album was recorded but never released (rumor has it that it will be released in late Sept 2001).The band has been touring again in 2001..."

The Producers: Undeservedly Underrated

Thomas P. Smith | Hyattsville, MD United States | 07/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's a real treat to have the two Producers albums finally released on CD. After nearly 20 years, the songs on these two albums (especially those on "You Make the Heat") are still fresh and full of energy. I first heard of the Producers when my brother's newly formed rock band (Option 30 - which at that time included a skinny punk named Trent Reznor) began playing Producers cover tunes like "I Love Lucy," "Dear John," and "She-Sheila." These covers became very popular in our little corner of Western PA, and band members were consitently asked by audience members who wrote the tunes. Me and my brother have always been baffled as to why the Producers never found a wider audience. Poor marketing? Lack of airplay? I dunno, but they deserved a hell of a lot more attention than they got. So, if you missed them back in the 80s, here's your chance to get to know and love the Producers."

Thank GOD!! The Producers on CD!!!

doctorwholittle | Here | 05/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having had the honour & privilege to open for this Atlanta-based quartet on two occasions are among the highlights of my 18+ year musical career, so I'm glad to see their first two LPs have finally been transferred to digital era.

Back in the early era of MTV (when they used to actually play music videos!), The Producers had three videos in heavy rotation ("What's He Got?", "Certain Kinda Girl" & the inimitable "She Shelia") & things looked very good for them. Unfortunately, a rather petty falling out between the band & a spiteful rep (who shall remain Al Teller) at Portrait Records cost them the brass ring after their sophomore -- & superior even to their excellent debut -- effort, which they've been paying for ever since.

The Producers, fortunately, are still very much a viable entity, although they generally don't travel very far outside their stompimg grounds unless they're performing for a private or special function. If you're ever in the Atlanta area, LOOK FOR THESE GUYS!!! It's a Power Pop feast you won't be sorry you saw. If you're not lucky enough to catch them live, get this compilation of their first two LPs, "The Producers" & "You Make the Heat". It won't replace the live energy of their shows, but it'll give the listener an extremely close approximation of how good these guys are, as there's not too terribly much lost in the translation.

(Then, go buy their finally-released "lost" album, "Coelacanth" -- but that's for another review!)"

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