Why didn't Ted Templeman produce A Different Kind of Truth?

[dave_is_vh]

Why didn't Ted Templeman produce A Different Kind of Truth?

Was it a political thing where the VH brothers did not want Templeman because he kind of took Dave's side when they broke up in 1985?

Were Van Halen wanting to try something new?

Has Templeman lost his touch?

Something else?

[GreenBayLA]

New band, new era, new approach.

[chefcraig]

Since around 2004, Templeman has managed to produce three albums, two by Joan Jett and one by the Doobie Brothers. Hell, one of those albums (Naked, by Jett) was only released in Japan, and the others didn't exactly light up the charts. Possibly as a result, the guy is pretty much retired at this point.

[Jagermeister]

You know how Ed is with grudges. I guess that hatchet hasn't been buried yet.

[FORD]

Why didn't Ted Templeman produce A Different Kind of Truth?

Was it a political thing where the VH brothers did not want Templeman because he kind of took Dave's side when they broke up in 1985?

Were Van Halen wanting to try something new?

Has Templeman lost his touch?

Something else?

More like corporate politics. Ted went on to hold an executive position with Warner Brothers records, and even though I believe he's retired now, he probably would have been obligated to NOT work with a band who was not signed to WB.

Van Halen didn't actually sign with Interscope until the album was pretty much done, but the only other contender was apparently Sony, so this album was never even under consideration by Warner Brothers. From a business perspective, I can't really blame them after the failure of VDIII, and the second "best of" compilation with the three new Hagar turds in 2004. But then, that was two other bands using the name "Van Halen", as opposed to the genuine article.

You can bet that somebody in the WB head office is shitting themselves right now for letting this band get away

(Also, Templeman produced "FUCK" for Van Hagar, so apparently Ed & Alex weren't all that pissed that he sided with Dave in 86)

[twonabomber]

because Templeman is almost a hundred years old and his ears are probably shot.

You can bet that somebody in the WB head office is shitting themselves right now for letting this band get away

after a few listens to ADOKT, i was thinking the same thing. someone mighta lost their job over that decision.

[chefcraig]

You can bet that somebody in the WB head office is shitting themselves right now for letting this band get away

Narrator: Brian Thigh was a top record executive in London, in 1962. Mr. Thigh, you'be been known for many, many years as the man who turned down the Rutles.
Brian Thigh: Yeah, that's right.
Narrator: You said the guitar groups were on their way out and would never make any money at all in the 60's.
Brian Thigh: Yes, I did.
Narrator: You turned your back on all those millions of sales, all those hundreds of gold records.
Brian Thigh: *cough* Yeah, yeah, that's right.
Narrator: What's it like to be such an asshole?
Brian Thigh: What!?

[FORD]

The Rutles was brilliant satire, of course, but there really was an executive at Decca Records who turned down the Beatles with pretty much the exact same statements.

And of course, the minute EMI started making a lot of money from his wrong headed decision, he made sure he signed the next guitar group who walked in the door. Which wasn't a bad decision after all, since it turned out to be a scruffy little band who called themselves "The Rolling Stones".

[VHscraps]

Ted left Warners some time ago - after the big clear-out following Mo Ostin's 'retirement'. Ostin was ousted in 94, and most of the people VH worked with probably followed soon after. Sad demise of a once great record company - in the 70s they were the coolest label.

Interestingly Ted's sister, Roberta Petersen (herself a former VP at Warners - she signed Jane's Addiction, etc), was at Interscope for a while in the early days of the label.

And Sony pretty much thought they had VH tied up with this album. I posted something to this effect in December. Mojo magazine reported that Sony in London had invited them to a listening party for ADKOT, which was later cancelled. They switched very late in the day to Interscope.

[lesfunk]

The Rutles was brilliant satire, of course,.

unfortunately, Van Hagar?... Not so much.

[SNIPER]

New band, new era, new approach.

I go with this one.

[Hardrock69]

Pretty much the smart thing to do these days is to record your album first, THEN if you do any sort of deal at all with a major label, it is only a distro and marketing deal. Just license the music, and if the label is interested in making any cash at all they will have to promote it.

Certainly if Van Halen is involved.

[Zing!]

because Templeman is almost a hundred years old and his ears are probably shot.

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that Templeman said as much in an interview several years back. He doesn't have the ears for it anymore.

[Bad Muthafucker]

because Templeman is almost a hundred years old and his ears are probably shot.




after a few listens to ADOKT, i was thinking the same thing. someone mighta lost their job over that decision.

Gotta say, I thought that about WB too.

[Fairwrning]

ADKOT is my fave cd now..no doubt...but I do think the Templeman albums SOUNDED better.They werent quite as raw..a bit more dressed up...is that because of the studio or the producer??

[IceCreamBlondie]

New band, new era, new approach.

Agreed.....The Templeman era was like a "golden era" that is best left to be cherished. Its like a classic movie that should never be remade.

[Nickdfresh]

because Templeman is almost a hundred years old and his ears are probably shot.




after a few listens to ADOKT, i was thinking the same thing. someone mighta lost their job over that decision.

Especially when the album debuts either at number one or two...

[SparkieD]

He produced The Doobies' last album that was released a little over a year ago. He did a damn good job, so I don't think it had anything to do with his hearing.

[Coyote]

Well, if you were to rebuild a classic car (say, a Shelby Cobra), would you use the exact same parts from the heydays?
Most likely not, if your goal is to update it to the point of giving Porsches etc. a run for their money...