Can somebody explain the meaning of "Overproduced"?

Also name any albums or songs that's overproduced.

I can't explain it exactly. To me, it's too many bells and whistles. Babyface's production on Whitney's I'm Your Baby Tonight comes to mind. Though I like the song, there's too much going on in it.

Krytonite said:

hmmmm...I guess an example is better than any explanation...

listen 2 the original version of "endorphinmachine" and the album version or "Dolphin"...the album verions of both are good examples of overproduced songs

TommyRoss said:

I know what you mean.In the late 80s especially,many songs were overproduced.Too many things going on in the mix.The production sounded cluttered and noisy.

all of prince's albums after graffitti bridge...

and seal's Human Being CD...oh that album is overproduced...his vocals are way too "clean"...the arrangements too layered...and the backing vocals too layered...

wendy and lisa once said that trevor horn (seals producer) re-records and re-records vocals and layers and layers the arrangement so much that it sucks all the life out of songs.

thats overproduction.

It means too many added components.

The opening track on lovesxy is overproduced; all them voices and sounds make the song seem unfocused.

keenlythegod said:

Agreed.I love the song "Eye No" but I gotta admit,it is really overproduced.Too many voices,too many horns,etc.I think Eric or Alan Leeds feels the same way.

Krytonite said:

The Beatles Love

The version of "We Can Funk" that made it's way onto the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack is way overproduced.

Blondie's "The Tide Is High" I guess would also classify as overproduced. The bandmates even mention in the liner notes in The Platinum Collection that they used practically every instrument under the sun on that song. They just kept adding one after another. But that song is a rare exception, because it came out really well.

Too much going on at the same time, to such an extent that everything starts to sound so noisy....

Linkin Park's singles.

Overproduction is taking every color of paint, splashing it on a wall, and then trying to smear a masterpiece out of it because you really have no idea what you're trying to paint to begin with.
[Edited 12/13/06 14:19pm]

Anything made by Master P lol.


no 4real..somethign like even though FANTASIC "Lovesexy" by Prince (the song) it is overproduced.

But like I said b4 the song is still fantastic, but there is alot going on
[Edited 12/13/06 14:30pm]

Here's an example of a GOOD overproducd song; Phill Spector's production of Tina Turner's River Deep, Mountain High
[Edited 12/13/06 14:37pm]

Harlepolis said:

Everything ole' Phil did was overproduced. But somehow it worked. Probably because that was back in the day when "overproduced" meant "more instruments". Now it means "more noise". Also 'cause Tina could still sang over a tidal wave.

VoicesCarry said:

Exactly, I don't mind overproduction, just as long as it being used properly.

I listen to alot of 70's Arabic music, and they're pretty HEAVY produced, but everything's in place. Even space and timing play a big part of the production.

Let me bring some relevence in here; Quincy Jones & Arif Mardin, these fellas loved bringing the WHOLE ensemble into the booth, somehow they put everything in place.

overproduced does not equal over-arranged.

wasn't most of phil's stuff recorded live?

sosgemini said:

Exactly.

sosgemini said:

In the 60's it did. Seriously there was too much going on in a lot of his recordings.

And Phil's stuff was recorded live then he would spend 6 months doing overdubs on one song, so....
[Edited 12/13/06 15:16pm]

CinisterCee said:

They are overproduced...they just BAD!

To me over-produced means not really being able to hear any one element in the music. Everything is so glossed that nothing seems seperate. It's all one big haze.

It's like looking at a star. Look in the sky and you see stars, but when you look directly at one it practically seems to disappear or lose its definition.

Mostly, nothing sounds natural. Particularly the vocals. Over-produced vocals sound too even, too lifeless. Nice on casual listen, but inhuman on closer inspection.

CinisterCee said:

Am I right, folks? Let's hear some hate for Linkin Park.

CinisterCee said:

HHHHHAAAAATTTTTEE!!

the perfect example for you..my furry friend...is:

Michael Jackson's "Invincible" album.

CinisterCee said:

Do you notice how they have all this stuff going on with no kind of melody in their songs?

i think a lot of prince tracks 90's and up are very overproduced....


or maybe its just that he needs a producer.. big time

ABeautifulOne said:

YES!

go2theMax said

'TGE' is an extremely overproduced CD.I have the early versions of those songs (recorded in 1993/94) and I prefer these to the released tracks.Because that album took forever to come out,Prince spent alot of time on the songs...re-recording,mixing tracks over and over,adding layers of synths,etc.It's a good album,though.
[Edited 12/14/06 3:34am]

SoulAlive said:

Over compressed as well during mastering!

Just listen to interactive(recorded around same time) off crystal ball compared to TGE; it shows you how the mastering effects the songs; in this case in a bad way.

Crystal ball was mastered fine!

missfee said:

all MJ albums from Dangerous are overproduced, not just in sound but the overall albums, where he tries to be all things to all people, that imo is another form of over-producing.