Completely Conspicuous 531: Where Have All the Good Times Gone?

This week, I'm joined by author Greg Renoff as we discuss the new book he wrote with legendary rock producer Ted Templeman.

Show notes:

- Greg's first book was 2015's Van Halen Rising

- Five years later, people are still discovering it

- Wrote about the early years of VH from a fan's perspective

- The band filled a void when their debut came out

- That book led to Greg's new book, Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music

- Templeman came to book signing for Van Halen Rising

- Greg later pitched the idea of a book about Templeman

- Book looks at his start as a musician and the albums he worked on as a producer

- Renoff wanted to add more structure to Templeman's recollections

- Book's out on ECW Press on April 21

- Took a few years to put together before the editing process

- Did a lot of interviews with Ted, exchanged many emails

- He didn't want to dwell on controversy too much

- Book starts with his childhood in Santa Cruz through the last album he worked on with the Doobie Brothers in 2010

- Didn't cover every album he worked on

- He was a talented musician in his younger days, as a jazz phenom and then a minor pop star

- Heavily influenced by Tito Puente

- Got into producing with the Doobies in '71, and later Captain Beefheart, Little Feat, Montrose

- Not in touch with the VH camp anymore, but appreciative of his work with them

- Worked with Van Morrison a few times

- Templeman was on TV with his pop group Harpers Bizarre, but he didn't see a future in performing

- Was interested in production and moved behind the scenes in 1970

- Nearly got out of the industry

- Started at the bottom listening to tape submissions

- Found the Doobie Brothers demo

- VH already had the harmony vocals, and Ted incorporated those (and provided some) on most of those albums

- By the time he got to VH, Ted was intent on finding bands a radio hit

- Worked with a wide range of artists from Carly Simon to the Bulletboys

- Sometimes he was brought in to finish projects that others had started

- Currently interested in streaming and following certain artists

- Initial book launch plans have changed because of COVID-19

- Hoping to do joint interviews eventually

- Greg plans to do another VH book

- Started work on it, but will get back to it once coronavirus restrictions are lifted

Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts and anywhere else you get podcasts. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.