Explore the Legendary Career of Music Producer Ted Templeman: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at His Platinum-Selling Discography

John J Cashman: If you’re a fan of Van Halen and the Doobies, and enjoy behind the scenes stories about how their records were produced (with a little background info on how the industry worked in those days), you should enjoy this book as much as I did. If not, you may not find it interesting.

United States on Feb 24, 2024

Sly: it explains well how Van Halen began and also how Doobie bros began, and how Ted Templeman helped them achieved their goals.

Canada on Nov 23, 2023

McBoab: A great read. Just wish it had an index!

United Kingdom on Nov 20, 2023

Sandy Appleyard: At first, I hesitated about reading this book, simply because I’m doing research for a rock star romance series that I’m writing, and my inspiration is with Van Halen, specifically, with Eddie. But then I realized that if I restrict myself to one band in conducting my research, that I’m really limiting the scope of my knowledge on the subject. And I’m so glad that I read this engrossing, in-depth biography.

From the first page, I was interested. Ted talks about his namesake, his Uncle, who went off to war and was presumed dead, and his parents decided to name their unborn child after him, as a tribute. Then, some time later, when Uncle Ted returned from the war, he had many stories to share, some that Ted also shares in this book.

Ted had a very intriguing upbringing, growing up basically in the woods, subject to hunters, guns, and all sorts of unsafe things, but in a child’s eye, were viewed as adventures. Ted was also exposed to music, with family members that owned a record store, where he later worked. He learned to play just about every instrument imaginable, and he played well enough to start his own band, which lit the flame for his passion in the...

United States on Apr 22, 2021

H. Woods: Santa Cruz-born Ted Templeman is a rock god. A natural multi-instrumentalist with a distinctive voice, his Bay Area-based “Beatles on the Beach” band, The Tikis, got signed by famous SF DJ Tom Donahue’s Autumn Records label (produced by Sly Stone, there he is again!), which got sold to Warner Brothers, which led to work with legendary producer Lenny Waronker as a member of the hit-making Harpers Bizarre machine, which meant working with Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Van Dyke Parks and the Wrecking Crew. Along the way, Ted saw the Beatles backstage at the Cow Palace and Candlestick. Hanging out at “the Bunny” (allusion to the Warner Bros. Bugs Bunny franchise where he would work for 38 years), Ted visited a recording session where Frank Sinatra browbeat a producer, and Ted introduced his girlfriend to Elvis at Western Recorders studio. Ted then discovered and produced the Doobie Brothers, was asked to produce Van Morrison’s Tupelo Honey, where he discovered Ronnie Montrose, then produced (at various times) Nancy Sinatra, Todd Rundgren, Little Feat, Captain Beefheart, Nicolette Larsen, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt (and hangs with Jerry Brown), Sammy Hagar, Bette...

United States on Feb 06, 2021

Stu: Music millions love and can still recall with a one bar intro. So many questions answered before they were asked. This is the companion book for those LP's you have stored. Ted Templeman's humbleness is amazing, his insight and aural magic in producing albums is truly awesome. Zoomed through the kindle at every possible hour. Actually helped me get a hold of many ideas - and as a bonus helped me in my own radio program. Highly recommended.

Australia on Aug 16, 2020

Pau: Todo perfecto

Spain on Aug 08, 2020

Ap PotAp Pot: If your want a Van Halen book you need.
Also get Van Halen Rising.
Greg Renof takes you back to our youth.
Cudos Greg!!!

Germany on May 07, 2020