Iconic Recording Studios Part II
Last week we discussed some famous recording studios and why they are important and well known. Here is a look at a few more world-renowned music recording studios that helped to put our favorite artists on the map!
Sound City Studios
The studio was founded in 1969 in an area called Van Nuys which is in Los Angeles, California. Joe Gottfried and Tom Skeeter decided to go into business together and record music while also managing various artists. What they ended up creating was one of the most successful studios of the 70’s and “the birthplace of many of the greatest recordings in rock and roll history.” A key component that set this studio apart was a “state-of-the-art recording console” that really no one else in the industry had: the Neve 8028. There was only four of these consoles in existence, it has 28 inputs, and costed Tom Skeeter $75,175 in 1969! Another aspect that set Sound City apart was the sound quality of the drums in their recordings. According to studio drummer Jeff Porcaro “you only had to set up the drums in order to get a get a good drum sound.” Their signature analog sound “contributed to more than a hundred gold and platinum albums.” Also, the studio was the subject of a documentary with Dave Grohl called Sound City. The movie centers around the ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighter’s front man purchasing the iconic Neve console and bringing it to his own studio.
Notable Recordings/Artists
Neil Young: “After The Gold Rush”
Dr. John: “Dr. John’s Gumbo”
Elton John: “Caribou”
Nirvana: “Nevermind”
Weezer: Pinkerton
Fleetwood Mac
War
Grateful Dead
Foreigner
Santana
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Rage Against the Machine
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Queens of The Stone Age
Wolf Mother
And More!
Electric Lady Studios
The location of this studio could not get any better. It is located in Greenwich Village in New York City. Before it was a recording studio though, it was a hopping nightclub called The Generation that hosted jam sessions boasted acts like B.B. King, Chuck, Berry, Sly and the Family Stone, oh yeah and Jimi Hendrix. With the urging of his manager Michael Jeffery, Hendrix converted the venue into a highly professional recording studio, and would be “the only artists-owned recording studio in existence at the time.” Electric Lady Studios grand-opened in August of 1970, with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and Ron Wood on the guest list. Hendrix only spend “about four weeks recording in the studio,” but a few of his posthumous albums were mixed and produced here. The studio is still in production and participates in artist management for a few modern musicians.
Notable Recordings/Artists
Led Zeppelin: “Physical Graffiti”
KISS: “Dressed To Kill” and “Destroyer”
David Bowie
AC/DC
John Lennon
Larry Coryell
Bob Dylan
The Clash
John Mayer
The Roots
The Rolling Stones
U2
Santana
And More!
Capitol Studios
This is a “complex of studios” situated in Capitol tower in Los Angeles, California. Production has been going strong since 1956, marking its 60-year anniversary! The studio is owned by Capitol Music Group, who runs the famous Capitol Records and is a parent of Universal Music Group. Needless to say, these guys know what they are doing and have recorded some of the biggest names in music, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and the Beach Boys. Their motto is “Keeping Artisan Craft Alive, since 1956.”
Notable Recordings/Artists
Prince: “Around the World in a Day”
George Benson: “Breezin’”
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: “Ella and Louis”
Oasis
Stan Kenton
Diana Krall
Paul McCartney
Michael Jackson
And More!
Hans Zimmer’s Home Studio
Music for great movies often become some of the most popular tunes ever recorded. Oftentimes, most of us forget that this music was composed by either a group or just one person. This takes a lot of patience, time, and great talent. One fabulous composer of film scores is Hans Zimmer. Zimmer was born in Germany and briefly lived in the United Kingdom before settling in the United States. He currently is the head of the film music division at Dreamworks studios. “His works are notable for integrating electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements.” He even has won four Grammy Awards, three Classical Brit Awards, Two Golden Globes, and An Academy Awards. “He also was named on the list of top 1000 living geniuses by the Daily Telegraph.”
Notable Works
The Lion King
Mission Impossible II
Gladiator
Black Hawk Down
Pearl Harbor
The last Samurai
Madagascar
Batman Begins
Kung Fu Panda
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Rises
Inception
Man of Steel
And Much More!
Hitsville U.S.A
A studio in Detroit, Michigan that was known as “Motown’s first headquarters,” and was established by Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1959. Eventually, after major success, the label was moved to Los Angeles and a studio was established there as well. The building remains as a museum that has been in operation since 1985.
Notable Recordings/Artists
Stevie Wonder: “The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie” and others
Smokey Robinson
Diana Ross
Marvin Gaye
The Miracles
The Supremes
And More!
By Patrick Ortiz
