LEANNE UNGAR

Independent Engineer and Producer

"I started in the studio in New York in 1972. The place was called Sound Ideas, on 46 Street, and it doesn't exist anymore. The cheif engineer was Geoff Daking, who now makes the consoles and compressors. While I was there I worked as an assisitant on two James Brown records, the Brecker Brothers, Manhattan Transfer, and I first worked with Leonard Cohen on New Skin for the Old Ceremony. I went to Le Studio Morin Heights as a full engineer in 1975. I was there a year and worked on the first of several projects with Cat Stevens. In 1976 I returned to New York, and got a job at A&R recording. (Also not there anymore!) Did more Cat Stevens, Louden Wainwright, Janis Ian. Went freelance in 1977. More Janis Ian, film scores with Mason Daring, a series of records and a movie with Laurie Anderson... I started working with Leonard again in 1984, on Various Positions, then I'm Your Man in 1987, The Future in 1993, and Cohen Live in 1994. Field Commander Cohen is the 5th I've worked on him, and the new studio album will be the 6th. Other projects I've done include 3 records with Holly Cole, 3 with Perla Batalla, and film scores with Cliff Martinez. Many others, not famous." - Leanne

Discography

Laurie Anderson: “Home of the Brave” (1986; remote recording, film mix, soundtrack),
“Mister Heartbreak” (1984; recording and mix), “Big Science” (1981; recording and mix)

Perla Batalla: "Heaven and Earth" (2000; recording and mix), "Mestiza" (1998; recording),
“Perla Batalla” (1995; recording, mix, and co-production)

Carlene Carter: “I Fell In Love” (1990; recording)

Leonard Cohen: “Field Commander Cohen” (2001; engineering and production),
“Leonard Cohen Live” (1994; recording and co-production), “The Future” (1992; recording
and mix), “I’m Your Man” (1988; mix), “Various Positions” (1985; recording and mix)

Holly Cole: “Dear Dark Heart” (1997; recording), “It Happened One Night”
(1996; remote recording and mix for long-form video and enhanced CD), “Greatest Hits” (1995; mix),
“Don’t Smoke in Bed” (1994; recording and mix)

Janis Ian: “Night Rains” (1980; recording and mix).

History

1987-2001:

Freelance L.A.: Work included Fishbone, Michael Martin, Wade Biery, Joe Henderson, Adam Cohen, Joy Askew, The Temptations, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Big Mountain, 3T, Billy Joel, Luther Vandross, Natalie Cole, Guster, The Brite Brothers, Vonda Shepard, Aaron Neville, Tom Jones, Cowboy Mouth, and Trisha Yearwood. Movie scores for "The Limey", “The Underneath”, “King of the Hill”, “Passion Fish”, “Kafka”, “Pump Up the Volume”, and “Bloodhounds of Broadway”. TV scores for “thirtysomething”, “The Wonder Years”, “Full House”, “Family Matters”, TV themes for “Nova” and “Frontline”.

1978-1987:

Freelance New York: Work included Bill Staines, “Wild, Wild Heart”; “Lost Tropics”, “Gary Portnoy”, and “Leata Galloway”, David Van Tieghem, The Paul Winter Consort, Nile Rodgers, Peter Gabriel, Bill Laswell, Peter Gordon, Peter Criss, The Roches, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Deadly Nightshade, and Clarence Clemmons. Movie scores for “Matewan”, “The Bell Jar”, “The Keep”, and “Working Girls”.

1976-1977:

Staff Engineer, A&R Recording, New York. Work included Loudon Wainwright III, Millie Jackson, Billy Essex, Mike Stoller, Janis Ian, and Cat Stevens. Movie scores for “A Star Is Born” and “Hair”.

1975:

Staff Engineer, Le Studio Morin Heights, Quebec. Work included Cat Stevens, Art Garfunkle, Jean Pierre Ferland, Rand Bishop, and Lewis Furey.

1973-1974:

Assistant Engineer, Sound Ideas, New York. Work included James Brown, Manhattan Transfer, The Brecker Brothers, Sonny Terry, Martin Mull, Michael Kamen, and Laura Nyro.