Gold Star Studio

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The Gold Star Studios were independent recording studios in Hollywood , where important productions for pop music took place from 1950, some of which became evergreens .

Foundation phase

The founders Stanley "Stan" Herbert Ross (* December 15, 1928, † March 11, 2011) and David S. Gold (* 1929) were trained sound engineers . Ross worked as a salaried sound engineer for the Electro-Vox -Studios (founded in 1931) from 1946 . Here he was responsible for T. Texas Tyler's recording of Deck of Cards in December 1947. When studio owner Bert B. Gottschalk denied him a raise in 1949, Ross began setting up his own studio. In October 1950, Ross and co-founders located at 6252 Santa Monica Blvd. , just off Route 66 , a former dental office for $ 175 a month. Sound engineer Larry Levine joined in 1952. Gold constructed studio technology such as mixing consoles and two echo chambers , each 5.50 m long. From the beginning of 1956 there was Studio A, which was intended for the large sound recordings, and Studio B, which was designed more for simple and demo recordings . In professional circles, Gold Star Studios (name formed from the surname and first name of the partner) developed the reputation of the King of the Demos.

Some of the early jazz recordings in the new studios were made for the Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker Quartet when they were here on June 15th and 16th. October 1952 had six titles leveled out. They returned on February 24, 1953 to complete the LP The Original Mulligan Quartet . The Bobby Troup Quintet recorded a total of 12 tracks for the LP Bobby Troup Sings Johnny Mercer here on January 28, 1955 . Bobby Troup, composer of the widely covered road song (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 , sang here near Route 66.

Eddie Cochran (incorrectly referred to as "Eddie Cockern") - demo recording from April 1956

On April 4, 1956, Eddie and Hank Cochran and Jerry Capehart appeared in the studio to make 5 demo recordings. The studios became a musical focal point for Chochran's career, because here they stood in front of the microphones in 43 recording sessions - preferably in the smaller Studio B because of its acoustics. The combination of a high standard of recording technology and low studio fees was very important for Cochran. The first demos caught the attention of Liberty Records , who offered him a recording contract on September 8, 1956. By December 1956, Gold Star and Cochran created the tracks Teenage Cutie , Never , Sweetie Pie and Mighty Mean , in March 1957 One Kiss / Mean When I'm Mad were recorded. Cochran recorded under various pseudonyms, such as Lee Denson on April 27, 1957 New Shoes ; but then between May and August 1957 15 titles were created, including Drive-In Show and Twenty-Flight Rock . In September 1957, he took 32 takes for Ah, Pretty Girl , which was then unreleased. In November 1957, Al Casey - later a member of the studio musician The Wrecking Crew - recorded the rockabilly title Willa Mae with Cochran under his name .

The first million-seller Summertime Blues for the studio was created with strong echo effects on March 28, 1958 based on the ideas of Eddie Cochran and Capehart in Eddie's apartment. They paid $ 350 for 3 hours of studio time with Earl Palmer on drums, and delivered a real summer hit in terms of content and timing . Cochran's group consisted of Connie "Guybo" Smith (double bass) and alternating drummers (Earl Palmer). C'mon Everybody was created on October 9, 1958 , on October 10, 1958, 15 takes were necessary for Let's Get Together , and in November 1958 his hit Nervous Breakdown was immortalized. This was followed by the hits Teenage Heaven (January 17, 1959), Somethin 'Else / Boll Weevil Song (June 23, 1959), Strollin' Guitar (August 26, 1959), Little Angel / My Love to Remember (August 29, 1959) , Hallelujah! I Love Her So (August 31, 1959) or Little Angel (October 23, 1959). Cochran's last studio recording before his death was on January 8, 1960 at Gold Star, when three tracks were immortalized with Three Steps to Heaven / Cherished Memories / Cut Across Shorty (21 takes).

Also, Ritchie Valens was granted a short career. He was discovered in May 1958 and crashed in an airplane in February 1959. In May 1958, Valens recorded a total of 19 tracks in the studio of its discoverer Bob Keane. Valens first came to Gold Star Studios on June 28, 1958 for Come on, Let's go / Framed . In July 1958 he sang Donna here as overdub because the backing track had previously been made in Bob Keane's studio. It was the first recording with a flanger (automatic double tracking); La Bamba and Now You're Gone followed on Gold Star (September 23, 1958). In La Bamba looked Ernie Freeman (piano), Rene Hall (Danelektrobass), Buddy Clark (bass), Carol Kaye (rhythm guitar) and Earl Palmer (drums) with. Cry Cry Cry (September 25, 1958), In A Turkish Town (November 25, 1958; Take 15) followed. Also Rockabilly -Star Johnny Burnette was up here when he in 1958 on December 11, Me And The Bear did level off.

Phil Spector first entered Gold Star Studios in May 1958 as the performer of Teddy Bears . Stan Ross recorded the vocal trio on May 20, 1958 with the title Don't You Worry My Little Pet , which was intended as a demo tape. They returned on July 10, 1958 to record To Know Him is to Love Him in a 2-hour session for $ 75 . The track recorded first was selected as the A side and the second track was used as the B side. It wasn't until a radio disc jockey played the B-side To Know Him ... in September 1958 that a distribution company in Minneapolis ordered 18,000 copies of the single, and on October 29, 1958, the Teddy Bears appeared in American Bandstand - the road to becoming a million seller free. Spector, whose group broke up in 1959, would return a few years later as a music producer .

On December 23, 1957, the Champs first appeared in the Gold Star Studios and recorded 4 tracks, including the instrumental recording Tequila (released January 15, 1958; # 1), and since then they have been permanent guests at another 32 sessions. Except for El Rancho Rock (February 24, 1958; # 30), no more hits came out. Jerry Wallace first entered the studios on January 29, 1958 and returned for 5 more sessions. Country singer Bobby Bare stood here in front of the microphones on June 13, 1958 to record the single Tender Years / Vampira .

Bobby Day's only rock-in hit 'Robin' (September 1958; # 2) was also made here. A technical milestone was the phasing of Miss Toni Fisher and her unusual sounding hit The Big Hurt (November 1959; # 3), which gives the impression of listening to radio reception via shortwave with strong fading . This impression is created by the audio effect of phasing through flanging , used for the first time . In July 1961, Spector entered the studio with the Paris Sisters to produce I Love How You Love me . Chris Montez had the backing track for his dance record Let's Dance (August 1962 # 4) produced by Gold Star and went to Western recorders for the vocal overdubs . Dick Dale & His Del-Tones recorded his surf instrumental music with the signature Fender Stratocaster at Gold Star and Original Sound Studios Hollywood from November 1961. The Cascades were accompanied on their world hit Rhythm of the Rain by Glen Campbell (guitar), Carol Kaye (bass) and Hal Blaine (drums), musicians of the Wrecking Crew. The mixed thunder and rain sounds were the brainchild of producer Barry De Vorzon of the recording released in November 1962.

Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound

In the music industry, the term Wall of Sound is closely associated with Gold Star Studios , specifically with Studio A and the Ampex 350. Spector was one of the first music producers to see a recording studio as an independent musical instrument. Spector's first recording with Gold Star as part of the Wall of Sound was He's a Rebel by the Crystals on July 13, 1962. It was Jack Nitzsche's first arrangement for Spector and first number one hit for the newly formed Philles record label. With Stan Ross on vacation, Larry Levine worked as a sound engineer - a role that Nitzsche and Levine kept for Spector.

From July 5, 1963, the Wall of Sound 's best product , Be My Baby, was recorded by the Ronettes. With Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer, two drummers were present, Carol Kaye and Ray Pohlman played bass, four guitars ( Billy Strange , Tommy Tedesco , Barney Kessel and Bill Pitman) and four keyboards ( Leon Russell , Larry Knechtel , Al De Lory and Don Randi ) led to a previously unknown sound density. Completed with castanets and maracas, the song is the first in which Spector also used a full violin section. It took 42 takes in a four hour session to keep Spector happy. After its release in August 1963, the hit sold more than 2 million records in 1963 alone.

Spector produced symphonic ballads for the Righteous Brothers . You've Lost That Lovin 'Feelin' was recorded between August and November 1964, Unchained Melody followed on March 2, 1965; both recordings are among the Wall of Sound's most important productions . Spector's production method, but also the contributing The Wrecking Crew, were the basis for the Wall of Sound . Not a single recording was made by Spector that did not have at least one member of the session musicians present. The listening impression of those recordings gave music consumers a studio size that was not really available. Studio A was 7 × 10.60 meters and 2.10 meters high. Last recording of the Wall of Sound under Spector was on March 7, 1966 with Ike & Tina Turner and entitled River Deep - Mountain High . In a 4 ½ hour session, Tina Turner's vocal intensity and the spatial sound and density of the song were convincing. In addition to the core of the wrecking crew Barney Kessel / Glen Campbell (guitars), Leon Russell (keyboards), Jim Horn (saxophone), Carol Kaye (bass) and Hal Blaine / Earl Palmer (drums) there were 19 other members. The song had earned a better position in the international charts (US: 88th place, Great Britain: 3rd place); The lack of airplay was responsible .

Famous recordings after 1966

One of Jimi Hendrix's first appearances as session guitarist on record was for Rosa Lee Brooks in June 1965 on her insignificant single My Diary / Utee (Revis 1013) at Gold Star Studios ' mastering. Hendrix made his first ever recordings with the Isley Brothers in June 1964.

Sonny & Cher recorded their big hits I Got You Babe (June 7, 1965 with Warren Webb // Oboe) and The Beat Goes on (December 13, 1966 with the distinctive bass intro by Carol Kaye) here. The Beach Boys used the studios less often . They first entered the studios on January 8, 1964 ( Why do Fools Fall in Love ). A year later they stood in front of the microphones for Do You Wanna Dance (January 11, 1965). In particular, her million seller Good Vibrations (created between February 17, 1966 and September 21, 1966 in 4 recording studios, including Gold Star in April 1966) was created through the participation of the studios that have meanwhile become an authority. Bobby Darin renewed his career with Reason to Believe (October 19, 1966) and If I Were A Carpenter (August 15, October 1 and November 30, 1966), Buffalo Springfield recorded their LP of the same name here (April 1967). The British rock band Who traveled here specifically to have the final mix of I Can See For Miles performed here ( the backing track was recorded in May 1967 at CBS Studios in London and the vocals at Talent Masters New York on August 6/7, 1967 and at Gold Star on September 10, 1967 the final mix); and Call Me Lightning came here (28 February 1968). Hugh Masekela came for the instrumental hit Grazing in the Grass (March 12, 1968; # 1 and million seller).

The psychadelic rock formation Iron Butterfly had their debut album Heavy (October 1967; published January 22, 1968) produced here as well as the legendary follow-up album Inna Gada da Vida with the 17:05 minute title song. This was however "one take" on May 27, 1968 in the Ultrasonic Studios , Hempstead / NY, the remix at Gold Star. The Joe Cocker -LP Mad Dogs & Englishmen was - among other recording studios - even with Gold Star on 17./27./28. Taken March 4th, April 4th and December 23rd 1970. The LP Our Times by Homestead & Wolfe was recorded here between 1973 and 1975 ("The Gold Star Tapes") and was not released until 1975. Art Garfunkel's first solo LP Angel Clare was made with The Wrecking Crew (September 1973). Stanley Turrentine's jazz LP Pieces of Dreams was partially released here on 30./31. Recorded May 1974. Leonard Cohen came to the studios for his album Death of a Ladies' Man (June – July 1977). This was followed by the jazz trio Lou Levy for the LP A Touch of Class (February 18/19, 1978), the Ramones for the LP End of the Century (produced from May 1, 1979 by old master Phil Spector; released on February 4, 1980 ), the CH3 for the LP Fear of Life (recorded May 1981 to March 1982 by Brian Elliott Recording , final mixing with Gold Star) with Stan Ross as the sound engineer.

End of the studios

The last recording session took place in February 1984 with Maurice Gibb for the soundtrack A Breed Apart . Shortly afterwards, the now legendary studios were closed. They created over 120 top 40 hits. Between 1950 and 1984, Gold Star Studios garnered more Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) "Songs of the Century" and Grammy Hall of Fame nominations than any other independent studio in the United States. Stan Ross confessed that you don't work with Phil Spector, you have to get along with him. A fire destroyed the studios only a little later and the furniture could be saved. Stan Ross died in March 2011. Not to be confused with the Gold Star Recording Studios by Bill Quinn, which were founded in October 1941 in Houston / Texas .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Home Recording, The Building Blocks in Spector's Wall of Sound , May 2003, p. 53.
  2. ↑ Home Recording, The Building Blocks in Spector's Wall of Sound , May 2003, p. 47.
  3. ↑ July Mundy / Darrell Higham, Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story , 2001, p. 47.
  4. ↑ in the booklet accompanying the CD "The 25th Anniversary Album", Adam Komorowski dates the recording date to March 28, 1958, while other sources assume May 1958
  5. ↑ Classic Tracks: The Ronettes Be My Baby , SoundonSound from April 2007.
  6. ^ Richard Williams Phil Spector: Out of His Head , 1989, p. 64
  7. ↑ Jack Doyle, Be My Baby , ThePopHistoryDig, January 2010.
  8. ^ Spouse Ike Turner was not present
  9. ^ David Moskowitz, The Words and Music of Jimi Hendrix , 2010, p. 5.
  10. ^ Overdub the vocals on Gold Star, Nashville West Hollywood backing track
  11. ^ Gold Star Recording Studios
  12. ↑ Hollywood Soulkitchen
  13. ^ Richard Williams, Phil Spector: Out of His Head , 1989, p. 191.