Tommy James, R.E.M. and Bruce Springsteen have shaped multi-instrumentalist and studio owner Greg Baxter, today’s featured artist in our popular series. View his album picks at Local Spins.
Jack of All Trades: Greg Baxter plays a lot of musical roles. (Photo/Joe Hirschmugl)
EDITOR’S NOTE: All musicians can trace their inspiration to key recordings that influenced their careers. Writer Ross Boissoneau today showcases music that changed the world for West Michigan musician and studio owner Greg Baxter. Scroll down for a Spotify playlist of his picks, including a current favorite and tracks featuring Baxter himself.
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Greg Baxter is a busy guy.
In no particular order, he’s a guitarist, bassist, producer, engineer, studio owner and retail analyst. Wait, what? Yes, his longtime day gig has been in retail, where he’s worked in various positions, including purchasing, managing, inventory planning, and his current gig with Kraft Heinz as retail analyst.
On the other side of his brain, Baxter owns and runs Second Story Sound, where he serves as house engineer and producer, as well as playing on a variety of recordings for his friends and clients. Get him started talking about audio gear and he may never stop, as names like Neve, Neumann, Shure, Mackie, Klipsch and others come tumbling out. “It’s nerdy stuff,” he says with a laugh.
At Second Story Sound: Baxter with Alex Austin.
It all started when a local music equipment retailer went out of business and Baxter bought much of the inventory, reselling it online. “I ended up keeping a couple Tascam decks, learned about recording,” he says.
At the same time, he was playing in local bands, learning about that side of the business. Today he’s put those aspects together at Second Story Sound, located on the second floor of his Grand Rapids home (hence the name). He’s worked with a number of musicians from across the region, including Mark Lavengood, Chain of Lakes, Alex Austin, Lynn & The Moonshine Runners and Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, a group in which he’s a member.
“It’s a great music scene on the west side, from Traverse City to Kalamazoo,” he says.
Plus there’s a musician on call behind the glass. “If I’m producing a track and it needs something, I’ll get out my guitar.”
1. Tommy James and the Shondells, “The Best of Tommy James and the Shondells” (1969) – I stumbled on this box of records for sale for $1 (each) at the end of a summer festival in Springfield, Ill. (his childhood home). None of those records was as captivating as this, (with) hit after hit. We listened to boring adult contemporary at home. The details … a hard pan left to right – it was a late ’60s early ’70s production, like the Beatles and Dylan. It had the checkerboard label. I listened to it this past week.
Listen: “Crimson & Clover”
2. R.E.M., “Fables of the Reconstruction” (1998) – Growing up, my older sister worked for the station at MSU. She was into all this alternative stuff. She was doing a radio interview with R.E.M. and I gave her a ride to Kalamazoo where R.E.M. was playing at the State Theatre. This was more lo-fi, with jangly guitar, the vocals buried in the mix. We went to the show and had backstage passes, interviewed Bill Berry pre-show. It was a really cool experience. This was my first CD. It’s been remastered and it’s a little spooky.
Listen: “Feeling Gravity’s Pull”
3. Bruce Springsteen, “Born in the USA” (1984) – Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, I didn’t know how poignant it was. Politics, the pardon (of Nixon by President Ford), inflation, interest rates at 13 percent. This has a lot of nostalgia, like “Glory Days,” and a lot of realism, like what veterans from Vietnam faced (on returning). It’s such a good record. Bob Clearmountain mixed it. You look back with a sense of history: Farmers borrowing on their future, (like) John Mellencamp’s “Scarecrow” – the economy wasn’t working for everyone.
Listen: “Born in the U.S.A.”
Currently Loving: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Weathervanes” (2023) – I’ve seen him a number of times. Dominic Davis got the call to play when his bassist couldn’t (Jimbo Hart eventually left the band). He’s such a great writer, like John Prine. He puts you in the room without a lot of cliches. I attended his first Ryman (Auditorium in Nashville) show 10 years ago.
Listen: “King of Oklahoma”
ALBUMS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: Greg Baxter’s Playlist on Spotify
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