While I was researching an earlier post I dug out my copy of The Penguin Book of Rock & Roll Writing. And I found myself diverted by a piece by Steve Albini(from Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac) about some of the records he has worked on as a producer. It is quite funny and I thought I'd provide excerts and the odd track from each. The Pixies - Surfer Rosa lp

A patchwork pinch loaf from a band who at their top-dollar best are blandly entertaining college rock. Their willingness to be "guided" by their manager, their record company and their producers is unparralleled. Never have I seen four cows more anxious to be led around by their nose-rings. Except that I got to rewrite their songs with a razor blade, thought the drums sounded nice, and managed to get Nate-The-Impaler on the L.P. as a cameo, I remember nothing about this album, although I thought it was pretty good at the time... The album took about a week; maybe two all tolled. Fee $1,500. 

I later recorded a single track with them for a label-stroke compilation. The band were getting the Big High Building "pampered performer" treatment for a couple of years by then and were consequently bored and dour. It took a couple of hours after dinner one night. Fee: $4,000. About a year later, Bob Krasnow, the geeb at Elektra's Big High Building who fathered this dumb idea sent me a truely revolting nickel-and-gold Omega wrist-watch (the kind record producers wear), with tacky Biz inscription and tacky presentation case. As soon as somebody at the pool room offers me what it's worth, I'm gonna have a hell of a nice dinner.