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United Western Recorders

34°5′52.19″N 118°19′13.49″W / 34.0978306°N 118.3204139°W / 34.0978306; -118.3204139

United Western Recorders
6000 Sunset Boulevard in 2019, the former site of Western Studio
IndustryRecording studio
Predecessor
Founded1961 (1961) in Los Angeles, California
FounderBill Putnam
Defunct1984 (1984)
FateSold
Successor
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
U.S.
Number of locations
2

United Western Recorders was a two-building recording studio complex in Hollywood that was one of the most successful independent recording studios of the 1960s. The complex merged neighboring studios United Recording Corp. on 6050 Sunset Boulevard and Western Studio on 6000 Sunset Boulevard.

In 1984, United Western Recorders was renamed and succeeded by Ocean Way Recording. Starting in 1999, the complex was divided into two establishments: Ocean Way Recording (now United Recording Studios) at 6050 Sunset and Cello Studios (now EastWest Studios) at 6000 Sunset.

Some of the biggest hits of the 1960s were recorded at United Western. According to the book Temples of Sound, "No other studio has won more technical excellence awards, and no studio has garnered as many Best Engineered Grammys".[1] Western's Studio 3 is considered iconic for its use by Brian Wilson for the Beach Boys' albums Pet Sounds (1966) and Smile (unreleased).[2]

Structure edit

The complex's two buildings, United Recording and Western Studio, operated more or less independently despite being located only one block apart. United consisted of two large rooms; the larger United 'A' was approximately 45 × 65 × 22 feet, with United 'B' being slightly smaller. Western copied the layout of United, with the very large Western 1 and the somewhat smaller Western 2. Both buildings also had a third, smaller recording room, as well as several dubbing and mastering suites. The small rooms provided a sumptuous sound, with Western Studio 3, measuring just 34' × 15', being Brian Wilson's preference.[3][4]

History edit

Active years (1961–84) edit

Prior to his move to California, Bill Putnam had founded the Universal Recording Corporation studio in Chicago. A pioneer of modern recording technique, Putnam became known for his UREI recording equipment and custom-made Universal Audio mixing consoles, which were bought by major recording studios. After relocating to Hollywood in 1957, and with the backing of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Putnam first established the United Recording Corp.[5] studio complex at 6050 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.[6] By 1958, Studio B was completed, including two reverb chambers. The facility grew to three recording studios, three mastering rooms, a mixdown room and a small-scale record manufacturing plant. The new studios were booked around the clock, busy with TV and movie voiceovers and soundtrack recordings as well as with popular artist's recordings. Hanna-Barbera used the studios to record voices for The Flintstones; Ricky Nelson recorded Poor Little Fool, the first-ever Billboard Hot 100 #1 song in 1958 along albums such a Rick Is 21 from 1961 which includes songs like Hello Mary Lou and Travelin' Man.

In 1961, Putnam purchased the neighboring Western Studio at 6000 Sunset, remodeling and incorporating the building into the complex.[7] The buildings were then renamed United Western Recorders,[8][9] and catered to some of the biggest artists of the era,[10] including Frank Sinatra,[11] the Beach Boys, and Elvis Presley.[12]

Putnam assembled a talented staff, some of whom became major names in their own right, such as Bones Howe, John Haeny, Lee Hershberg, Chuck Britz, and Wally Heider, one of the pioneers of mobile recording and later of Wally Heider Studios. United was initially favored by older artists such as Crosby, Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Ray Charles, as well as the young Fleetwoods, while Western soon became a favored recording venue for the new generation of pop-rock musicians and producers, such as Sam Cooke, the Beach Boys, Phil Spector and the Mamas & the Papas.

In the early sixties, Putnam scored a significant coup when major US record labels began to release stereophonic recordings in large numbers. According to Allen Sides, when stereo first appeared in the late 1950s, the cost-conscious major labels were initially uninterested, feeling that the market for the new format was limited, and that stereo mixdowns were a waste of time and money. Putnam however foresaw the coming importance of stereo and, at his own expense, he began making simultaneous mono and stereo mixdowns, storing away the stereo versions of these recordings, which at the time were released only in mono. When stereo took off in the early sixties, Putnam had amassed a stockpile of more than two-and-a-half years' worth of stereo recordings by scores of major acts. The value of this stockpile can be estimated from Sides' statement that United Western was at this time bringing in around US$200,000 per month in studio billings—equivalent to perhaps US$1 million per month today. The major labels approached Putnam hoping to buy the stereo tape stockpile, but he struck a far more lucrative deal, in which the labels repaid him for the (far more expensive) studio time he had used in making the stereo mixes.[13]

In 1970, Jack Herschorn purchased the Universal Audio mixing console and other pro audio equipment from that studio, including Universal Audio LA-76A and LA-76B limiting amplifiers, Universal Audio vacuum tube power amplifiers (which were actually Dynakit Stereo 70 and 50-watt mono amplifier kits assembled into rack-mount chassis), Fairchild Conax sibilance controllers, Langevin graphic equalizers and Cinema Engineering filters, all originally installed in United Studio A in 1957. Herschorn had this equipment installed under the supervision of Charlie Richmond at Herschorn's Aragon Studios in Vancouver, Canada. The studio would later become Mushroom Studios.

In 1982, Eddie Van Halen purchased the UA console out of Western Studio 2 and used it as his 5150 Studio console. 1984 and the next two Van Halen albums were made with it.

Management changes edit

Ocean Way Recording edit

In 1984, Putnam sold the studio complex to Allen Sides, who renamed the buildings Ocean Way Recording, as they would both be known until 1999.[14]

Cello Studios edit

In 1999, Sides sold the Western half of the complex to computer magnate Rick Adams, who renamed it Cello Studios. Cello Studios operated at the 6000 Sunset complex from 1999–2005.[15] During that period, the studios hosted high-profile rock artists such as Blink-182, Rage Against the Machine, Tool, System of a Down, Weezer, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Audioslave, and the Mars Volta. Cello Studios closed in 2005.[15]

When Allen Sides sold Western to Rick Adams, the equipment inventory was also purchased from Ocean Way Recording, including a collection of rare vintage microphones, as well as vintage outboard gear including valuable studio effects units such as the Fairchild 670 limiters, no longer made, which were a crucial element of the sound of many classic pop recordings of the Fifties and Sixties. While the building was modified to accommodate the new facility's needs, the studios themselves have not been altered since Putnam's original design. During this period, the studio played host to artists such as Alanis Morissette, Natalie Merchant, Elton John, R.E.M., Bette Midler, Barenaked Ladies, Stone Temple Pilots, Matthew Sweet, Mötley Crüe, Green Day, Vonray and Blink-182.

EastWest Studios edit

At the beginning of 2006, Cello Studios (originally Western) was purchased by EastWest producer Doug Rogers and renamed EastWest Studios. Rogers extensively remodeled the non-technical areas of the studio complex with designer Philippe Starck, but the studios themselves, with their untouched acoustics, remain as originally built by Putnam in the 1960s and continue to operate to this day. Since 2012 EastWest Studios has racked up 130 Grammy nominations, more than any other recording studio in the world.[16]

United Recording Studios edit

In 2013, Ocean Way Recording was sold to Hudson Pacific Properties, and in 2015 it was renamed back to United Recording Studios.[17]

Timeline edit

Legacy edit

Frank Sinatra made his Reprise recordings—including hits like "It Was a Very Good Year", "That's Life"—in United A, and "Strangers in the Night"—in Western 1, and his Reprise records offices were located upstairs. Ray Charles cut his epoch-making country-soul crossover hit "I Can't Stop Loving You" and the LP Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music at United B. As well as the classic Pet Sounds, Western 3 was the venue for the recording of many other chart-topping pop hits, including the Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday", the Grass Roots' "Let's Live for Today" and "Midnight Confessions"[18] and "Hair" by the Cowsills. As well as those mentioned above, other artists who have recorded there include Blondie, Elvis Presley, Bobby Vee, the 5th Dimension, the Righteous Brothers, Barbra Streisand, Petula Clark, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Tom Petty, R.E.M., k.d. lang, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Glen Campbell, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and Walter Wanderley.[19]

Many film and television theme songs have been recorded in the studios at 6000 Sunset. The theme songs for Hawaii Five-O,[20] The Partridge Family,[21] The Beverly Hillbillies, and Green Acres were all recorded at Western Recorders.[22]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Cogan, Jim (2003). Temples of Sound. San Francisco: Chronicle Books LLC. pp. 30–41. ISBN 0-8118-3394-1.
  2. ^ Fact (July 15, 2015). "Animal Collective finish recording new album in iconic Pet Sounds studio". Factmag.
  3. ^ "Western Studios - Hollywood (1966)". December 6, 2004.
  4. ^ Temples of Sound - Inside the Great Recording Studios By Jim Cogan and William Clark
  5. ^ "Phill Sawyer - recollections". precambrianmusic.com. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  6. ^ Galvin Preservation Associates. "LA City Planning - Historic Resource Report, Emerson College" (PDF). LA City Planning Website.
  7. ^ "Studio Espresso".
  8. ^ liquid-blue.com. . Archived from the original on February 15, 2004. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  9. ^ Jim Cogan. . Mix Magazine. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  10. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew: the inside story of rock and roll's best kept secret. Thomas Dunne Books. pp. throughout. ISBN 978-0-312-61974-9.
  11. ^ "Wrecking Crew Contracts" (PDF).
  12. ^ Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special
  13. ^ Cogan, Jim (November 1, 2003). . Mix. NewBay Media. ISSN 1403-8927. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009.
  14. ^ "Discogs United Western".
  15. ^ a b "Discogs Cello".
  16. ^ "EastWest Sounds - About Us". soundsonline.com. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  17. ^ Seetoo, John (March 29, 2021). "United Recording Studios: An Industry Legend". PSAudio.com. PS Audio. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "The Grass Roots at Western Recorders Photo".
  19. ^ "Walter Wanderley • Batucada".
  20. ^ "Wrecking Crew Contracts Hawaii Five-O" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Wrecking Crew Contracts Partridge Family" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Joe Sidore Interview".

External links edit

  • The United Affiliates Newsletters

united, western, recorders, 0978306, 3204139, 0978306, 3204139, 6000, sunset, boulevard, 2019, former, site, western, studioindustryrecording, studiopredecessorunited, recording, corp, western, studiofounded1961, 1961, angeles, californiafounderbill, putnamdef. 34 5 52 19 N 118 19 13 49 W 34 0978306 N 118 3204139 W 34 0978306 118 3204139 United Western Recorders6000 Sunset Boulevard in 2019 the former site of Western StudioIndustryRecording studioPredecessorUnited Recording Corp Western StudioFounded1961 1961 in Los Angeles CaliforniaFounderBill PutnamDefunct1984 1984 FateSoldSuccessorOcean Way RecordingUnited Recording StudiosHeadquartersLos Angeles California U S Number of locations2United Western Recorders was a two building recording studio complex in Hollywood that was one of the most successful independent recording studios of the 1960s The complex merged neighboring studios United Recording Corp on 6050 Sunset Boulevard and Western Studio on 6000 Sunset Boulevard In 1984 United Western Recorders was renamed and succeeded by Ocean Way Recording Starting in 1999 the complex was divided into two establishments Ocean Way Recording now United Recording Studios at 6050 Sunset and Cello Studios now EastWest Studios at 6000 Sunset Some of the biggest hits of the 1960s were recorded at United Western According to the book Temples of Sound No other studio has won more technical excellence awards and no studio has garnered as many Best Engineered Grammys 1 Western s Studio 3 is considered iconic for its use by Brian Wilson for the Beach Boys albums Pet Sounds 1966 and Smile unreleased 2 Contents 1 Structure 2 History 2 1 Active years 1961 84 2 2 Management changes 2 2 1 Ocean Way Recording 2 2 2 Cello Studios 2 2 3 EastWest Studios 2 2 4 United Recording Studios 2 2 5 Timeline 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksStructure editThe complex s two buildings United Recording and Western Studio operated more or less independently despite being located only one block apart United consisted of two large rooms the larger United A was approximately 45 65 22 feet with United B being slightly smaller Western copied the layout of United with the very large Western 1 and the somewhat smaller Western 2 Both buildings also had a third smaller recording room as well as several dubbing and mastering suites The small rooms provided a sumptuous sound with Western Studio 3 measuring just 34 15 being Brian Wilson s preference 3 4 History editActive years 1961 84 edit Prior to his move to California Bill Putnam had founded the Universal Recording Corporation studio in Chicago A pioneer of modern recording technique Putnam became known for his UREI recording equipment and custom made Universal Audio mixing consoles which were bought by major recording studios After relocating to Hollywood in 1957 and with the backing of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra Putnam first established the United Recording Corp 5 studio complex at 6050 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood 6 By 1958 Studio B was completed including two reverb chambers The facility grew to three recording studios three mastering rooms a mixdown room and a small scale record manufacturing plant The new studios were booked around the clock busy with TV and movie voiceovers and soundtrack recordings as well as with popular artist s recordings Hanna Barbera used the studios to record voices for The Flintstones Ricky Nelson recorded Poor Little Fool the first ever Billboard Hot 100 1 song in 1958 along albums such a Rick Is 21 from 1961 which includes songs like Hello Mary Lou and Travelin Man In 1961 Putnam purchased the neighboring Western Studio at 6000 Sunset remodeling and incorporating the building into the complex 7 The buildings were then renamed United Western Recorders 8 9 and catered to some of the biggest artists of the era 10 including Frank Sinatra 11 the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley 12 Putnam assembled a talented staff some of whom became major names in their own right such as Bones Howe John Haeny Lee Hershberg Chuck Britz and Wally Heider one of the pioneers of mobile recording and later of Wally Heider Studios United was initially favored by older artists such as Crosby Sinatra Nat King Cole and Ray Charles as well as the young Fleetwoods while Western soon became a favored recording venue for the new generation of pop rock musicians and producers such as Sam Cooke the Beach Boys Phil Spector and the Mamas amp the Papas In the early sixties Putnam scored a significant coup when major US record labels began to release stereophonic recordings in large numbers According to Allen Sides when stereo first appeared in the late 1950s the cost conscious major labels were initially uninterested feeling that the market for the new format was limited and that stereo mixdowns were a waste of time and money Putnam however foresaw the coming importance of stereo and at his own expense he began making simultaneous mono and stereo mixdowns storing away the stereo versions of these recordings which at the time were released only in mono When stereo took off in the early sixties Putnam had amassed a stockpile of more than two and a half years worth of stereo recordings by scores of major acts The value of this stockpile can be estimated from Sides statement that United Western was at this time bringing in around US 200 000 per month in studio billings equivalent to perhaps US 1 million per month today The major labels approached Putnam hoping to buy the stereo tape stockpile but he struck a far more lucrative deal in which the labels repaid him for the far more expensive studio time he had used in making the stereo mixes 13 In 1970 Jack Herschorn purchased the Universal Audio mixing console and other pro audio equipment from that studio including Universal Audio LA 76A and LA 76B limiting amplifiers Universal Audio vacuum tube power amplifiers which were actually Dynakit Stereo 70 and 50 watt mono amplifier kits assembled into rack mount chassis Fairchild Conax sibilance controllers Langevin graphic equalizers and Cinema Engineering filters all originally installed in United Studio A in 1957 Herschorn had this equipment installed under the supervision of Charlie Richmond at Herschorn s Aragon Studios in Vancouver Canada The studio would later become Mushroom Studios In 1982 Eddie Van Halen purchased the UA console out of Western Studio 2 and used it as his 5150 Studio console 1984 and the next two Van Halen albums were made with it Management changes edit Ocean Way Recording edit Main article Ocean Way Recording In 1984 Putnam sold the studio complex to Allen Sides who renamed the buildings Ocean Way Recording as they would both be known until 1999 14 Cello Studios edit In 1999 Sides sold the Western half of the complex to computer magnate Rick Adams who renamed it Cello Studios Cello Studios operated at the 6000 Sunset complex from 1999 2005 15 During that period the studios hosted high profile rock artists such as Blink 182 Rage Against the Machine Tool System of a Down Weezer Muse Red Hot Chili Peppers Audioslave and the Mars Volta Cello Studios closed in 2005 15 When Allen Sides sold Western to Rick Adams the equipment inventory was also purchased from Ocean Way Recording including a collection of rare vintage microphones as well as vintage outboard gear including valuable studio effects units such as the Fairchild 670 limiters no longer made which were a crucial element of the sound of many classic pop recordings of the Fifties and Sixties While the building was modified to accommodate the new facility s needs the studios themselves have not been altered since Putnam s original design During this period the studio played host to artists such as Alanis Morissette Natalie Merchant Elton John R E M Bette Midler Barenaked Ladies Stone Temple Pilots Matthew Sweet Motley Crue Green Day Vonray and Blink 182 EastWest Studios edit Main article EastWest Studios At the beginning of 2006 Cello Studios originally Western was purchased by EastWest producer Doug Rogers and renamed EastWest Studios Rogers extensively remodeled the non technical areas of the studio complex with designer Philippe Starck but the studios themselves with their untouched acoustics remain as originally built by Putnam in the 1960s and continue to operate to this day Since 2012 EastWest Studios has racked up 130 Grammy nominations more than any other recording studio in the world 16 United Recording Studios edit In 2013 Ocean Way Recording was sold to Hudson Pacific Properties and in 2015 it was renamed back to United Recording Studios 17 Timeline editLegacy editFrank Sinatra made his Reprise recordings including hits like It Was a Very Good Year That s Life in United A and Strangers in the Night in Western 1 and his Reprise records offices were located upstairs Ray Charles cut his epoch making country soul crossover hit I Can t Stop Loving You and the LP Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music at United B As well as the classic Pet Sounds Western 3 was the venue for the recording of many other chart topping pop hits including the Mamas amp the Papas California Dreamin and Monday Monday the Grass Roots Let s Live for Today and Midnight Confessions 18 and Hair by the Cowsills As well as those mentioned above other artists who have recorded there include Blondie Elvis Presley Bobby Vee the 5th Dimension the Righteous Brothers Barbra Streisand Petula Clark Ella Fitzgerald Whitney Houston Dean Martin Sammy Davis Jr the Rolling Stones Elton John Tom Petty R E M k d lang Madonna Rod Stewart Glen Campbell Eric Clapton Bonnie Raitt and Walter Wanderley 19 Many film and television theme songs have been recorded in the studios at 6000 Sunset The theme songs for Hawaii Five O 20 The Partridge Family 21 The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres were all recorded at Western Recorders 22 See also edit nbsp Los Angeles portalUniversal Recording Corporation Ocean Way Recording EastWest StudiosReferences edit Cogan Jim 2003 Temples of Sound San Francisco Chronicle Books LLC pp 30 41 ISBN 0 8118 3394 1 Fact July 15 2015 Animal Collective finish recording new album in iconic Pet Sounds studio Factmag Western Studios Hollywood 1966 December 6 2004 Temples of Sound Inside the Great Recording Studios By Jim Cogan and William Clark Phill Sawyer recollections precambrianmusic com Retrieved February 17 2017 Galvin Preservation Associates LA City Planning Historic Resource Report Emerson College PDF LA City Planning Website Studio Espresso liquid blue com Western Recorders Archived from the original on February 15 2004 Retrieved February 17 2017 Jim Cogan Bill Putnam Mix Magazine Archived from the original on August 16 2009 Retrieved March 13 2008 Hartman Kent 2012 The Wrecking Crew the inside story of rock and roll s best kept secret Thomas Dunne Books pp throughout ISBN 978 0 312 61974 9 Wrecking Crew Contracts PDF Elvis Presley s 68 Comeback Special Cogan Jim November 1 2003 Mix Online Extras Bill Putnam Mix NewBay Media ISSN 1403 8927 Archived from the original on August 16 2009 Discogs United Western a b Discogs Cello EastWest Sounds About Us soundsonline com Retrieved February 17 2017 Seetoo John March 29 2021 United Recording Studios An Industry Legend PSAudio com PS Audio Retrieved November 16 2021 The Grass Roots at Western Recorders Photo Walter Wanderley Batucada Wrecking Crew Contracts Hawaii Five O PDF Wrecking Crew Contracts Partridge Family PDF Joe Sidore Interview External links editThe United Affiliates Newsletters Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title United Western Recorders amp oldid 1174584881 United Recording Studios, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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