Jan/Feb 2024
Welcome to issue #159 of Tape Op.
In this issue, we present the second of our interviews with recording engineer and producer Donn Landee, as first seen in issue #157. To say I was thrilled to get Donn into Tape Op is an understatement, as I'd searched for years to find a way to get ahold of him. With credits like Montrose, The Doobie Brothers, Neil Young, Captain Beefheart, and Van Halen, Donn helped define the sound of rock music for all time.
When I read Ted Templeman's autobiography, Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music, written with Greg Renoff, I enjoyed hearing about Ted's adventures working on so many classic albums, many with Donn as his engineer and co-conspirator. From there, I read Greg's book, Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal. Donn Landee showed up all over that fine tome as well, and his presence added a lot of information and color that no one else could have. When I dropped Greg a line to tell him how great these books are, he offered up the fine article with Lee Herschberg in #154, and after some pestering from me he asked Donn Landee if he'd be up for more interviews. Now we're proud to feature more about the making of classic albums with Van Halen and many others. Hats off to Greg Renoff for his generosity, and many thanks to Donn Landee for his valuable time!
— Larry Crane, editor & Founder
