Dave Cobb

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For other people with similar names, see David Cobb (disambiguation).
Dave Cobb
Born (1974-07-09) July 9, 1974 (age 47)
Savannah, Georgia
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active2005–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitedavecobbproducer.com

Dave Cobb (born July 9, 1974) is a six-time Grammy Award-winning American record producer, songwriter and music executive who is based in Nashville, Tennessee, best known for producing the work of Rival Sons, The Highwomen, Chris Stapleton,[1] Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile and John Prine.[2][3][4]

Cobb is also a contributor to the six million-selling 2018 A Star Is Born soundtrack and produced "Always Remember Us This Way" for Lady Gaga[5][6]

Early life[]

Cobb was born in Savannah, Georgia,[7] to Mary Cobb (née Floyd) and David Cobb, Sr. He went to The Cottage School in Roswell, Georgia.

Cobb said his family was very religious and was active in the Pentecostal faith (his maternal grandmother was a minister).[8] Cobb started out playing drums and taking guitar lessons at church when he was four years old.[8]

Career[]

When Cobb was first starting in music, he worked as a session player in Atlanta, Georgia.[9] He joined the band The Tender Idols, featuring Ian Webber (vocals), Danny Howes (guitar), Guy Strauss (drums) and Joe Jones (bass). They released three LPs, the second of which Dave Cobb co-produced. They signed with Emagine Records based in New York City.

Cobb played guitar and bass and was in this band for seven years.[10] He was involved in the recording process, which got him interested in being in the studio, and led to him recording and producing other bands he was friends with.[7] The record contract was very restrictive and took a long time to get out of.[8]

Cobb moved to Los Angeles, California after he left his band. He lived there from 2004 to 2011, eventually moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 2011.[5]

Cobb considers Shooter Jennings family. The two have worked together for a long time, since they met in California via Cobb's manager, Andrew Brightman.[7] In 2005, Cobb and Jennings made the record Put the "O" Back in Country, together as their first collaborative work.[10]

In 2009, thanks to his professional connection to Jennings, Cobb produced the Oak Ridge Boys’ record The Boys Are Back,[6] encouraging the band to record outside their standard catalog. The group then went on to cover songs by The White Stripes, Neil Young and John Lee Hooker.[11]

Cobb and Sturgill Simpson originally first met at a Billy Joe Shaver concert.[12] They then went on to complete Sturgill’s record Metamodern Sounds in Country Music in only four days. Cobb has said he used many different vintage recording techniques, avoiding any electronic recording approaches for this particular album.[10]

Cobb’s approach of studio recording for Jason Isbell's Southeastern was an effort to chronicle an acoustic sound similar to what is found on Simon And Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water, where a non-traditional recording environment was captured to provide an organic, live and “warm” sound.[7][13]

Cobb met singer-songwriter Anderson East at Nashville's legendary Bluebird Cafe. The two ended up making East's record, Delilah, which was recorded at legendary FAME Studios in North Alabama's Muscle Shoals. Rodney Hall from FAME allowed the pair into the archives—in the vault they found George Jackson's song, "Find 'Em, Fool 'Em, Forget 'Em," which is now a track on Delilah.[14] The video for "Find 'Em" is shot at FAME.[15]

In 2013, Cobb began work producing Early Morning Shakes, the third studio album from Whiskey Myers, a Country Southern rock band from Palestine, Texas. The record was released on February 4, 2014.

Cobb’s professional career is managed by Brightman Music.[16] Cobb also runs Low Country Sound[17] an imprint of Elektra that has a distribution deal with Atlantic Records.[18] The debut project for Low Country Sound was the 2015 record Delilah, by Anderson East, who is currently signed with the label.[19]

In 2016, Cobb produced and curated the collaborative album Southern Family. Cobb has said he was inspired by the album White Mansions. It was released on his Low Country Sound imprint. The record, which is characterized as a concept album, is focused on themes centered on family values and the artist's experiences growing up in the South. It contains song contributions by Zac Brown, Anderson East, Jason Isbell, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Morgane and Chris Stapleton among others. It was officially released on March 18, 2016.[20]

In July 2016, Cobb began a long-term residency at RCA Studio A on Nashville's Music Row. The studio is adjacent to the famed RCA Studio B which opened in 1956. The title of Chris Stapleton's 2017 release From A Room: Vol. 1 refers to the album being recorded at the studio, as does The Oak Ridge Boys' 2018 release, 17th Avenue Revival, referring to the studio's location on 17th Avenue in Nashville.

Artistic approach[]

Cobb has said he focuses on the performer's voice, aiming for an end product which sounds natural. Cobb often plays guitar, and occasionally drums, on the records he produces.[7] Cobb cites Jimmy Miller (Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street) as an important influence in his approach to producing, as well as Glyn Johns and Brendan O'Brien.[21] Current influences include Gabriel Roth (Daptone Records).[7]

Cobb also is known to not have a preference over analog recordings versus digital, instead believing the spontaneous nature of creativity as well as the inspiration derived from new discovery, predominantly drives the organic quality of a song.[7]

Personal life[]

Cobb lives in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee.[5][19] Cobb is married; he and his wife, who is from Albania, have one daughter together.[8][10][5]

One of Cobb's paternal cousins from Georgia is the singer-songwriter Brent Cobb.[10][22] Additionally, Cobb said he grew up with musician Butch Walker.[8]

Cobb has talked about the long-term passion that turned into a serious hobby where he explores different types of wine, especially from Paso Robles and other California vineyards.[8]

Awards[]

Equipment[]

  • Console / board: HELIOS by Dick Swettenham (Abbey Road Studios)[8]
  • Recorder: Endless Analog's CLASP (Closed Loop Analog Signal Processor)[24][25]
  • Converters: Burl Audio B80 Mothership and the B32 Vancouver[26]

Selected discography[]

Artist Album Label Credit Year
Jade Bird Different Kinds of Light Glassnote Records Producer 2021
Barry Gibb 'Greenfields': The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 Capitol Records Producer 2021
Chris Stapleton Starting Over Mercury Nashville Producer 2020
Dawes Good Luck with Whatever Rounder Records Producer 2020
Ian Noe Between the Country "National Treasury Recordings" Producer 2019
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Live from the Ryman Thirty Tigers Mixer 2019
Rival Sons Feral Roots
“Do Your Worst”		 LCS/Atlantic Producer 2019
Brandi Carlile and Sam Smith “Party of One” Single Producer 2019
Lady Gaga A Star Is Born Soundtrack
“Always Remember Us This Way”		 Interscope Records Producer & Music Consultant 2018
Marcus King Band Carolina Confessions Producer 2018
Elle King Shake the Spirit
“Ram Jam” and “Told You So”		 RCA Producer 2018
Brandi Carlile By the Way, I Forgive You Low Country Sound/Elektra Producer 2018
The Oak Ridge Boys 17th Avenue Revival Lightning Rod Records Producer 2018
Lori McKenna The Tree CN Records Producer 2018
John Prine The Tree of Forgiveness Oh Boy Records, Nashville Producer 2018
The Revivalists Take Good Care Producer 2018
Amanda Shires To The Sunset Producer 2018
Colter Wall Songs of the Plains Producer 2018
Shooter Jennings Shooter Producer 2018
Ashley Monroe Sparrow Warner Bros. Nashville Producer 2018
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit The Nashville Sound Southeastern Producer 2017
Chris Stapleton From A Room: Volume 1 Mercury Nashville Producer 2017
Europe Walk the Earth Hell and Back Records Producer, co-writer 2017
Zac Brown Band Welcome Home No Reserve/Elektra Producer 2017
The Lone Bellow Walk Into A Storm Descendant Records/Masterworks Producer 2017
Colter Wall Colter Wall YMRC/Thirty Tigers Producer 2017
Judah & the Lion Folk Hop n' Roll CTV/Caroline Producer 2017
Wheeler Walker Jr. Ol' Wheeler Thirty Tigers Producer 2017
Various artists: Anderson East, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of the Story (An Album to Benefit War Child) Looking Out Foundation Producer 2017
Anderson East "Forever Young" featured in Ram Trucks Television Commercial Low Country Sound/Elektra Producer, Performer 2017
Chris Shiflett West Coast Town Le Coq Napoleon/SideOneDummy Producer 2017
All Them Witches Sleeping Through War New West Records Producer 2017
Jillette Johnson All I Ever See In You Is Me Rounder Producer 2017
Lori McKenna The Bird and the Rifle CN Records Producer 2016
Brent Cobb Shine On Rainy Day Low Country Sound/Elektra Producer 2016
Whiskey Myers Mud Wiggy Thump Producer 2016
Amanda Shires My Piece of Land Lightning Rod Producer 2016
Judah & the Lion Folk Hop N' Roll CTV/Caroline Producer 2016
Bonnie Bishop Ain't Who I Was Thirty Tigers Producer 2016
Brett Dennen Por Favor Elektra Records Producer 2016
Various artists: Anderson East, Brandy Clark, Brent Cobb, Holly Williams, Jamey Johnson, Jason Isbell, John Paul White, Miranda Lambert, Morgane Stapleton feat. Chris Stapleton, Rich Robinson, Shooter Jennings, Zac Brown Band Southern Family (compilation) Low Country Sound/Elektra Producer 2016
Lake Street Dive Side Pony Nonesuch Records Producer 2016
Mary Chapin Carpenter The Things That We Are Made Of Lambent Light Records Producer 2016
Rival Sons Hollow Bones Earache Records Producer 2016
The Sore Losers Skydogs Excelsior Recordings Producer 2016
Holly Williams TBA Georgiana Records Producer 2016
A Thousand Horses Southernality[27] Republic Records Producer 2015
Corb Lund Things That Can't Be Undone New West Records Producer 2015
Kristin Diable Create Your Own Mythology[28] Thirty Tigers/Speakeasy Records Producer 2015
Chris Stapleton Traveller[29] Universal Music Group Nashville Producer 2015
Anderson East Delilah[30] Elektra Records Producer 2015
Chris Isaak First Comes The Night Vanguard Producer 2015
Christian Lopez Band Onward Blaster Producer, Mixer 2015
Houndmouth Little Neon Limelight Rough Trade Records Producer, Mixer 2015
honeyhoney 3 Concord Records Producer 2015
Finger Eleven Five Crooked Lines Concord Records Producer 2015
Lindi Ortega Faded Gloryville[31] Last Gang Records Producer 2015
Europe War of Kings Hell and Back Records Producer, Mixer 2015
Wheeler Walker Jr. Redneck Shit Pepperhill Music Producer, Mixer 2015
California Breed California Breed Frontiers Records Producer 2014
Rival Sons Great Western Valkyrie Earache Records Producer 2014
Whiskey Myers Early Morning Shakes Wiggy Thump Records Producer, Mixer 2014
Eliot Bronson Eliot Bronson Saturn 5 Records Producer 2014
Sturgill Simpson High Top Mountain High Top Mountain/Loose Music Producer 2013
Sturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds in Country Music High Top Mountain/Loose Music Producer 2014
The Wans He Said, She Said Independent Producer 2014
Jason Isbell Southeastern Southeastern/Thirty Tigers Producer 2013
Jason Isbell Something More Than Free Southeastern/Thirty Tigers Producer 2015
Rival Sons Head Down Earache Records Producer, engineer, writer 2013
Lindi Ortega Tin Star Last Gang Records Producer 2013
Rival Sons Pressure & Time Earache Records Producer, engineer, writer 2011
Jamey Johnson The Guitar Song Mercury Nashville Producer 2010
Jamey Johnson The Lonesome Song Mercury Nashville Producer 2008
Shooter Jennings The Wolf Universal South Producer 2007
Shooter Jennings Electric Rodeo Universal South Producer 2006
Shooter Jennings Put the "O" Back in Country Universal South Producer, engineer, co-writer 2005
Waylon Jennings Waylon Forever Vagrant Records Producer 2008
Rival Sons Before the Fire Earache Records Producer 2009
George Jones Squidbillies – Theme Song Cartoon Network Producer 2011
A Thousand Horses A Thousand Horses EP Interscope Records Producer 2009
The Secret Sisters The Secret Sisters Universal Republic Producer 2010
Brooke White High Hopes & Heartbreak June Baby Records Producer 2009
Michael Johns Hold Back My Heart Downtown Records Producer, co-writer 2009
Nico Vega Nico Vega Myspace Records Producer 2007
Black Robot Black Robot Brightman Music Producer, engineer, co-writer 2007
Chris Cornell Carry On ("Safe and Sound") Interscope Records Producer 2007
The Strays Le Future Noir TVT Producer, co-writer 2006
The Ringers Headlocks and Highkicks Independent Producer, co-writer 2006
Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers So Many Musicians to Kill Atlantic Producer 2005
The Shys Astoria Sire/London/Rhino Producer, co-writer 2005

Chart positions[]

Twice in June 2017 Dave Cobb produced albums held 4 of the top 5 Billboard Country albums. The first was the week of June 8 with Chris Stapleton's From A Room: Vol. 1, Zac Brown Band Welcome Home, Chris Stapleton Traveller and Wheeler Walker Jr. 'Ol Wheeler. And again the following week with both Chris Stapleton albums, Zac Brown Band and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

In August 2015, the Cobb-produced record by Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free, debuted at number 1 on Billboard Magazine's rock, folk and country record charts.[32][33] Although he had had critical success in the Americana genre, this was the first time Isbell received such high ranking across genres.[34][35]

Song/Album Artist Year Chart Position
From A Room: Vol. 1 Chris Stapleton 2017 US Billboard Top Albums (Sales)

US Billboard Top 200

US Billboard Top Country Albums

Canadian Albums (Billboard)

UK Top Albums (OCC)

1

2

1

1

22

The Nashville Sound Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit 2017 US Billboard Top 200

US Billboard Folk Albums

US Billboard Top Rock Albums

US Billboard Top Country Albums

US Billboard Top Independent Albums

4

1

1

1

1

Welcome Home Zac Brown Band 2017 US Billboard Top 200

US Billboard Top Country Albums

Canadian Albums (Billboard)

2

1

2

"Take It All Back" Judah & the Lion 2017 US Billboard Top Alternative Songs

US Rock Airplay

1

4

Ol' Wheeler Wheeler Walker Jr. 2017 US Billboard Top Country Albums

US Billboard Top Comedy Albums

US Billboard Top Independent Albums

10

1

5

Something More Than Free Jason Isbell 2015 US Billboard Top Rock Albums[36]
US Billboard Top Folk Albums[37]
US Billboard Top Country Albums[38]		 1
1
1
Traveller Chris Stapleton 2015 US Billboard Top Country Albums[39] 1
"Smoke" A Thousand Horses 2015 US Billboard Hot Country Songs[40]
US Billboard Top Country Airplay[41]		 5
1
Early Morning Shakes Whiskey Myers 2014 US Billboard Top Country Albums[42] 10
Carry On Chris Cornell 2007 US Billboard Top Rock Albums[43] 6
Put the "O" Back in Country Shooter Jennings 2005 US Billboard Heatseekers Albums[44] 1

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Casey, Jim (26 November 2015). "Chris Stapleton: The Trendsetter". Country Weekly. Retrieved 30 November 2015. The Cobb Effect
  2. ^ Powers, Ann (22 June 2015). "The Making Of Jason Isbell's '24 Frames'". NPR Music. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  3. ^ Trigger (13 December 2013). "Why Producer Dave Cobb Is The Real Winner of 2013". Saving Country Music. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  4. ^ Lane, Baron (5 November 2015). "David Cobb – The Man Behind The Roots Music Tide". Twang Nation. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Powers, Ann (December 16, 2015). "An Outsider Remakes Nashville's Traditional Sound". NPR Music.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Kerns, William (June 19, 2009). "Oak Ridge Boys: Legendary vocalists reinvent band with stripped-down sound". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Bosso, Joe (October 6, 2014). "Nashville's hottest producer, Dave Cobb, talks "sound purity"". MusicRadar.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Monahan, Pat (March 30, 2015). "Episode 87: Dave Cobb by Patcast by Pat Monahan". Patcast by Pat Monahan (Train). starts at 19:40[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Leight, Elias (November 19, 2015). "Producer Dave Cobb Talks Working With Chris Stapleton & Country's 'Tipping Point'". Billboard.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Moss, Marissa R. (July 23, 2014). "Producer Profile: Dave Cobb". Rolling Stone.
  11. ^ Gerome, John (May 29, 2009). "Oak Ridge Boys tackle White Stripes on new album". Pioneer Press. Associated Press.
  12. ^ "Sturgill Simpson & Dave Cobb – Interview". LR Baggs. August 12, 2014.
  13. ^ Verity, Michael (October 23, 2015). "The Producers, Part 1: Dave Cobb". The Bluegrass Situation.
  14. ^ Orr, Dacey (July 23, 2015). "How a bathroom break at The Bluebird sold superproducer Dave Cobb on Anderson East". Nashville Scene.
  15. ^ East, Anderson (March 2, 2015). "Anderson East – Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget 'Em [Live from FAME Studios]". Anderson East.
  16. ^ "Brightman Music - Producer Management". Brightman Music. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  17. ^ "Low Country Sound Official Site". Low Country Sound. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  18. ^ Orr, Dacey (July 24, 2015). "Dave Cobb and Anderson East Talk Bromance, Nashville, FAME Studios, Chris Stapleton and More". Nashville Scene.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b c Rau, Nate (April 14, 2015). "Red-hot producer Dave Cobb partners with Elektra Records". The Tennessean.
  20. ^ Vain, Madison (January 6, 2016). "Dave Cobb explains 'Southern Family'". Entertainment Weekly.
  21. ^ Bosso, Joe (February 16, 2015). "Dave Cobb's top 5 tips for producers". MusicRadar.
  22. ^ DeYoung, Bill (January 8, 2013). "5 questions: Brent Cobb". Connect Savannah.
  23. ^ Mansfield, Brian (September 18, 2014). "Jason Isbell dominates Americana Music Awards". USA Today.
  24. ^ "Dave Cobb mixing with Endless Analog CLASP". Endless Analog. February 28, 2010.
  25. ^ "Dave Cobb Chooses CLASP for Secret Sisters". Clyne Media. November 5, 2010.
  26. ^ "Dave Cobb using the B80 Mothership / B32 Vancouver". Burl Video Productions. October 10, 2013.
  27. ^ Roland, Tom (July 22, 2015). "A Thousand Horses Hope They Have The Public's Number With 'Drunk Dial'". Billboard.
  28. ^ Horowitz, Hal (February 24, 2015). "Kristin Diable: Create Your Own Mythology". American Songwriter.
  29. ^ Lindenmuth, Katy (June 1, 2015). "8 Music-Related Reasons Nashville Is Buzzing Right Now: 6. The Existence of Chris Stapleton". Billboard.
  30. ^ Billboard Staff (July 17, 2015). "Tomorrow's Hits: R. City, Anderson East & Rico Richie". Billboard.
  31. ^ Dauphin, Chuck (August 6, 2015). "Go Behind the Scenes With Country Singer Lindi Ortega as She Records New Album 'Faded Gloryville': Exclusive Video". Billboard.
  32. ^ Mason, Anthony (August 9, 2015). "The fall and rise of Jason Isbell". CBS News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015.
  33. ^ Kellmurray, Beth (July 27, 2015). "Jason Isbell Celebrates the Chart Success of 'Something More Than Free'". Diffuser.fm.
  34. ^ Hight, Jewly (August 5, 2015). "Country Star (and Expectant Dad) Jason Isbell 'Glad to Have My Baby on the Brain'". Billboard Magazine.
  35. ^ Mazor, Barry (August 4, 2015). "'Something More Than Free' by Jason Isbell Review". The Wall Street Journal.
  36. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Top Rock Albums Peak Position". Billboard. August 8, 2015.
  37. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Top Folk Albums Peak Position". Billboard. August 8, 2015.
  38. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Top Country Albums Peak Position". Billboard. August 8, 2015.
  39. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Top Country Albums – 2015 Archive". Billboard. May 23, 2015.
  40. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Hot Country Songs Peak Position". Billboard. May 30, 2015.
  41. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Top Country Airplay Peak Position". Billboard. June 13, 2015.
  42. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Top Country Albums Peak Position". Billboard. February 22, 2014.
  43. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Top Rock Peak Position". Billboard. June 23, 2007.
  44. ^ "Billboard Charts Archive – Heatseekers Albums – 2005 Archive". Billboard. August 6, 2005.

External links[]

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