Right Versions: Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson must be one brave man. Not content with re-working Radiohead, the producer du jour is now releasing a whole album of cover versions stamped with his trademark brassy funk, aptly titled ‘Version’.  The project, which is the follow up to his 2003 debut ‘Here Comes The Fuzz’, was conceived after he reworked Radiohead’s ‘Just’ for the Exit Music compilation. Songs given the Mark Ronson treatment in the selection are a diverse lot; from ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears, to ‘God Put A Smile On Your Face’ by Coldplay to his brilliant current single, a cover of The Smiths’ ‘Stop Me.’ Gigwise duly caught up with the producer extraordinaire shortly before the album’s April release...

Keen to be respectful towards those who were involved in the original tracks, Ronson made sure that he had their approval before including his version on the album. “I think if somebody came back said I don’t like your version but I’m going to let you go ahead and do it anyway, I probably would have taken it off the record, because it’s like these are the people who wrote these songs and inspired me to make music, so if they’re not into it I might as well throw it in the trash,” says Mark.

As might be expected the people whose permission and approval he was most anxious were Morrissey and Johnny Marr of the Smiths, “because you just would imagine that they’re quite specific about what they like and what they don’t like and how people treat the legacy of their music”.  Mark also admits that ‘Stop Me’ featuring Aussie soul vocalist Daniel Merriweather was the most difficult track he found to rework.

“I must have redone the whole string arrangement twice. Like blew a shitload of money doing that because I didn’t think it was quite right and emotive enough. Also it took a long time to do the vocals, because Daniel’s a brilliant singer, but just to get that emotion exactly right so it has some of the same emotion as the original…,” he recalls. “Even though they’re such different singers - Daniel’s a soul singer, Morrissey, you can’t even define what kind he is ‘cause he has his own style, - but there still has to be that kind of same hurt and that thing that hits you right in the middle of your stomach when you hear the song.  That’s one of my favourite songs of all time, probably one of my top three songs of all time. That’s the one that took the longest to get perfect”.

Although based in New York, the London born turntablist, who has famously DJed at P Diddy’s birthday bash, keeps a keen eye on the British music scene. “I think it’s incredibly important. It’s way more important to me than the US music scene. I signed directly with a label in the UK with my record because I wanted to focus on here, and I prefer dealing with people, talking about music with people here,” he enthuses. “Maybe it’s just the kind of places I play in the US just aren’t as much fun or something, but it’s definitely more fun playing here. The crowds are more open and willing to go on a bit of a ride with you. It’s not like if I don’t know it, I’m not going to dance to it. Also with my music being bigger here, it’s fun to play stuff from the new album already, that’s not out yet and have people know it when it comes on and stuff”.