Soul Mining: A Musical Life

Daniel Lanois produced some of the best albums for Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, U2, Peter Gabriel, and the Neville Brothers. A French-speaking Canadian from a small town, Lanois became one of the world's most prolific and successful record producers and an accomplished musician. He was raised by a single mother on a hairdresser's salary and was later discovered by Brian Eno. Lanois chronicles his work on major albums including U2's The Joshua Tree, Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind, and Emmylou Harris's Wrecking Ball. He shares his recording techniques and innovations for the first time, tracing the evolution of recording technology from reel-to-reel decks through the microchip era to the download age. The book combines technical discussion of recording technology with reflection on artistic excellence and the importance of music. Lanois explores how the environment and forces surrounding the recording process matter as much as the finished albums themselves. He examines his ongoing pursuit of balancing tradition with innovation in music production.