In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, host Jack Hodgins interviews Grammy Award-winning recording engineer David Rivkin, tracing his remarkable career in the music industry.
Dave’s passion for music began with folk artists like The Kingston Trio and deepened when he first heard the electric guitar. His early involvement in the Minneapolis music scene included performing with The Chancellors and engineering local recordings, which sparked his interest in the technical side of music production. By the mid-1970s, he was working professionally at ASI Studio, where he recorded early demos for Prince. These sessions led to tracks on Prince’s debut album For You, including his first single “Soft and Wet.”
Rivkin’s career continued to rise with his work on the international disco hit “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc., which he engineered and performed on. He later played a pivotal role in capturing Prince’s iconic Purple Rain during a live concert in 1983, unaware that this version would become the definitive release. In 1987, Rivkin joined Prince’s Paisley Park studio, where he produced major hits like Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy,” known for its distinctive snare drum sound. Still active in the industry, Dave has recently worked on albums for Jonathon Long and remixed several Prince tracks.
Throughout the episode, Dave reflects on his journey, the evolution of his sound, and the unexpected impact of the music he helped create.