Don Dixon on R.E.M., the Smithereens and his other bands

He is a recording artist in his own right, and producer for a great singer named Marti Jones, also his wife

Marti Jones and Don Dixon in concert. (Photo courtesy Don Dixon).

If you own any recordings by Canton, Ohio, musician Don Dixon, you may be a little bit of a music nerd.

But if you listen to rock music, you probably know some of the bands who had successful music careers largely because of Dixon's production skills.

Dixon was the co-producer for the first two studio albums recorded by R.E.M.; “Rolling Stone” magazine named Murmur, the band’s initial album, the best album of 1983. He produced two of the best-known albums by the Smithereens, Especially For You and Green Thoughts, and produced a notable comeback album by the band The Gin Blossoms, Mixed Reality.

Dixon also produced albums by well-loved singer Marti Jones, who became his wife, and has been a producer for dozens of recordings.

His allmusic.com biography currently lists 772 credits, including as a producer and recording artist.

And, as a solo artist and band member, Dixon has made a wide variety of recordings, including rock, soul and country and western music.

Dixon, 72, who helped launch the revival of “jangle pop” by 1980s indie bands, plays bass for country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter’s live shows. During a July break in her ongoing tour, Dixon stayed busy in the recording studio.

He also took time to speak to me about his long music career and the often-challenging art of keeping rock musicians happy in a recording studio.

“No band is easy to work with. It’s all a lot of psychology,” he said.

Getting Michael Stipe to sing

Dixon and his friend and fellow musician Mitch Easter, of the band Let’s Active, served as co-producers for Murmur and Reckoning, the first two R.E.M. albums.

To please R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe, an eccentric introvert, Dixon set up an isolated place in the recording studio during the Reckoning sessions so Stipe would not have to deal with other people looking at him when he sang.

For one song, “7 Chinese Bros.,” Stipe still would not sing loud enough to allow his voice to be recorded, and Dixon had to figure out how to get his lead singer to sing. Dixon grabbed an old gospel recording and showed it to Stipe.

“He starts singing the liner notes,” Dixon recalled.

Dixon recorded Stipe’s performance of the liner notes, the two enjoyed a good laugh, and Stipe finally relaxed enough to sing the R.E.M. song. Stipe’s performance of the liner notes, “The Voice of Harold,” is available on YouTube.

“It’s weird the things that work,” said Dixon.

Dixon was a good friend of the late Pat DiNizio, lead singer and chief songwriter for The Smithereens. Dixon produced several Smithereens albums and DiNizio’s first solo album, Songs and Sounds, which Smithereens fans should track down.

Dixon even has a burn mark on his stove that DiNizio left when he cooked a homemade spaghetti meal for Dixon and Jones.

“I see it every day,” Dixon said.

The Gin Blossoms are known for one great album, New Miserable Experience, largely written by the late Doug Hopkins, who died shortly after the album was released. But Gin Blossoms fans should try the band’s 2018 album, Mixed Reality, which Dixon produced. The band is known to be particularly proud of the album.

“They were big Smithereens fans,” said Dixon, who met the band at an Ohio show.

The new album

Dixon’s latest album is Gunny Sack, available at Bandcamp.

It is mostly covers of songs by Dixon’s musical friends, including two tunes written by members of Rosavelt, a country music band from Cleveland Dixon has produced. One song, “Always,” features Jones' incandescent lead vocals.

Dixon’s recording career began with his 1970s country rock band, Arrogance, whose work remains available on music streaming services. "We were sort of a cross between Poco and Little Feat," Dixon said.

Since then, Dixon has recorded many albums under his own name. One of his favorites is The Entire Combustible World in One Small Room, a concept album about different rooms in a house.

While Dixon says he doesn't really care about being popular, “That record I really think really holds together in some ways for a normal human."

Marti Jones

Singer Marti Jones grew up in the Akron area and was part of the Akron music scene that suddenly emerged into national prominence in 1970s, with Devo, the Rubber City Rebels, Rachel Sweet, Chryssie Hynde (who admittedly actually rose to prominence in England) and others.

Akron producer and songwriter Liam Sternberg, best known for the hit song “Walk Like An Egyptian,” used Jones to sing a demo version of the song. The Bangles drew from that demo when they recorded their hit version of the song, Dixon told me.

Dixon produced Jones’ first solo album, “Unsophisticated Time,” and the two got married in 1988. They have lived in Canton for decades.

“She really is a great singer,” said Dixon, who particularly recommends Jones’ Brazilian-tinged album, “You’re Not the Bossa Me.”

Live At Spirit Square is a live album that particularly shows off her voice, and she’s backed by a tight band that includes Dixon on bass. There's no studio trickery to make Jones sound good, Dixon said.

“That really is 100% what happened,” said Dixon, referring to Spirit Square. “There really are no overdubs.”

Jones devotes most of her time nowadays to painting. Her website, martijonesdixon.com, displays some of her art.

Other albums Dixon produced

Dixon says he hates to single out particular albums he’s produced, as he hates to leave anyone out.

“It’s really hard to narrow it down,” he said.

But he did point to a few recordings he’s particularly proud of.

Where’d You Hide the Body, by James McMurtry, is the album that matches McMurty’s ability with words with “some heavy-duty musical talent,” according to a review at Allmusic.com.

Dixon also likes the album Saturday, which he produced for The Reivers. And Guadalcanal Diary was a great band. While you can’t go wrong with any of the group’s recordings, 2X4 is particularly good, Dixon says.

A slightly shorter version of this article appeared in the Sandusky Register.