This weeks Pet Sounds Playlist is a salute to the record producer, who frequently goes unnoticed by the public, and who is often the primary creative force behind a record. Many great moments in pop can be attributed to the people behind the scenes as much as, if not more than, those in the spotlight. Listen on Spotify HERE.

Sam Phillips seeing something special in Elvis, Phil Spector and his formidable wall of sound, Brian Wilson ignoring the rest of the Beach Boys to follow his own vision, John Leckie convincing Ian Brown to stop trying so hard and do what came naturally, Rick Rubin bringing Johnny Cash to a whole new audience through inspired cover choices, Dr Dre presenting us with the new Elvis, Brian Eno introducing Talking Heads to Fela Kuti and Andrew Weatherall converting Primal Scream from foppish Byrds copyists into saucer-eyed futurists. Here’s to the grease in the cogs…

01 That’s Alright – Elvis Presley (Sam Phillips)
02 My Name Is… – Eminem (Dr Dre)
03 Billie Jean – Michael Jackson (Quincy Jones)
04 Be My Baby – The Ronettes (Phil Spector)
05 Once In A Lifetime – Talking Heads (Brian Eno)
06 Sound And Vision – David Bowie (Tony Visconti)
07 Where Is My Mind? – The Pixies (Steve Albini)
08 Pump It Up – Elvis Costello (Nick Lowe)
09 What’d I Say – Ray Charles (Jerry Wexler)
10 Til The End Of The Day – The Kinks (Shel Talmy)
11 Telstar – The Tornados (Joe Meek)
12 C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan (RZA)
13 Holy Are You – The Electric Prunes (David Axelrod)
14 You Got The Silver – The Rolling Stones (Jimmy Miller)
15 I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times – The Beach Boys (Brian Wilson)
16 This Is Hardcore – Pulp (Chris Thomas)
17 Bye Bye Badman – The Stone Roses (John Leckie)
18 Disarm – Smashing Pumpkins (Butch Vig)
19 Loaded – Primal Scream (Andrew Weatherall)
20 Hurt – Johnny Cash (Rick Rubin)