Record Plant Studios

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Record Plant Studios (also known as just "The Record Plant") is a famous recording studio, first opening in New York City at 321 West 44th Street map, in 1968. The next year, they opened a studio in Los Angeles. In 1972, the studio also opened up in Sausalito, California. Originally all 3 locations were run under the same company. In the 1980s, the New York and Sausalito studios ended up under different management and the Los Angeles studio became the main studio. The Los Angeles and Sausalito studios are currently owned and managed separately, and the New York studio has closed down. The Los Angeles studio is known as "The Record Plant", and the Sausalito studio is known as "The Plant."

The first album recorded at the Record Plant in New York was Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released in 1968. Through the years, hundreds of albums were first cut there. During the 1970s, house engineers Shelly Yakus and Roy Cicala gave many local bands their start by donating session time and materials to upcoming artists, engineering and producing their demo tapes.

A long list of Award winning American music has been written and recorded in the Sausalito studio, more than any other singular structure in Sausalito and/or Marin County. The Plant Studios has hosted musical artists in virtually all musical genres: Rock-and-roll, reggae, country music, jazz, punk, blues, folk, soul, zydeco, hip-hop and rockabilly.

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[edit] Management Changes

The Sausalito studio was possessed by the government in the 1980s and was purchased from the government by Bob Skye in 1986. The Sausalito studio has been managed separately from the Los Angeles studio since then. The Sausalito studio changed its name to "The Plant Studios."

In 1987, the New York studio was sold to Sir George Martin and closed soon afterwards.

[edit] Selected list of albums recorded at Record Plant New York (by year)

Note: The Who initially recorded their album Who's Next at the Record Plant, but the recordings weren't useful for release. Ultimately The Who recorded Who's Next at the Olympic Studios in London.

[edit] Producers and engineers associated with Record Plant New York

  • Gary Kellgren (co-founder and engineer)
  • Shelly Yakus (house engineer)
  • Roy Cicala (house engineer)
  • Andy Abrams (house engineer)
  • Mitchell Plotkin (studio manager)
  • Ray Colcord (producer)
  • Jack Douglas (producer)
  • Jimmy Iovine (engineer and producer)
  • Jay Messina (engineer)
  • Frank Hubach (engineer)
  • Jason Sapan (associate engineer)
  • Richie Apuzzo (associate engineer)
  • Rod O'Brien (associate engineer)
  • Corky Stasiak (associate engineer)
  • David Thoener (associate engineer)
  • Tom Rabstenek (mastering engineer)
  • Greg Calbi (mastering engineer)
  • Paul Prestopino (maintenance technician)
  • Kooster McCallister (remote recording engineer)
  • David Hewitt (remote recording engineer)

[edit] Selected list of albums recorded at Record Plant Los Angeles (by year)

[edit] Well-known albums recorded at The Record Plant Studios Sausalito

Some notable albums recorded and/or mixed at The Plant Studios include:

  • Supernatural by Carlos Santana (1999)--Also tracked at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California
  • Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1976)--Tracked at The Village, W. Los Angeles, CA
  • Graffiti Bridge by Prince (1990)
  • Centerfield by John Fogerty (1985)
  • Emotions by Mariah Carey (1991)--Co-tracked at Tarpan Studio, San Rafael, California
  • Music Box by Mariah Carey (1993)
  • Sports by Huey Lewis and the News (1983)--One track recorded at The Automatt, San Francisco, CA
  • Before These Crowded Streets and Busted Stuff by Dave Matthews Band (1998, 2002)
  • Load by Metallica (1996)
  • ReLoad by Metallica (1997)
  • White Pony by Deftones (2000)
  • The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem (2000)
  • Live Lycanthropy by Papa Wheelie (2002)
  • For You--Prince 1978
  • Rick James: "Fire It Up" (1979), "Garden Of Love" (1980), "Street Songs" (1981; tracking also at Motown/Hitsville, W. Hollywood, CA)
  • Joy And Pain Maze featuring Frankie Beverly (1980) Odd note, 2nd Engineer was noted as "Sick Ranchez" on the vinyl copy, instead of Rick Sanchez.

[edit] Bay Area musicians recorded at The Record Plant Studios Sausalito

The Plant Studios has been the choice for many of the San Francisco Bay Area's recording artists, both locally grown and transplanted, world-renowned and not, including:

  • Sly and the Family Stone
  • Tower of Power
  • Santana
  • Metallica
  • Train
  • Jefferson Starship
  • 4 Non Blondes
  • Huey Lewis and the News
  • Van Morrison
  • John Lee Hooker
  • The Doobie Brothers
  • Too Short
  • Kronos Quartet
  • Sammy Hagar
  • Journey
  • John Fogerty
  • The Donnas
  • Chris Isaak
  • Roy Rogers
  • Primus
  • Charles Brown
  • Ronnie Montrose
  • Bob Weir
  • The Grateful Dead
  • Tony! Toni! Tone!
  • Tracy Chapman
  • Papa Wheelie
  • Zero
  • Michael Franti / Spearhead
  • E-40
  • Crystal City
  • Rick James

[edit] Artists from around the world

Some of the more famous names who have made the pilgrimage to this historic studio to record and/or mixed albums at The Plant Studios Sausalito are:

  • Bob Marley
  • Aretha Franklin
  • Dave Matthews Band
  • Luther Vandross
  • Candlebox
  • The Blind Boys of Alabama
  • Andrea Bocelli
  • Peabo Bryson
  • Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
  • Zakir Hussain
  • Dan Fogelberg
  • Joe Satriani
  • Faith No More
  • Oysterhead
  • Echobrain
  • Papa Wheelie
  • Rusted Root
  • Big Head Todd and the Monsters
  • The Breeders
  • The Deftones
  • Mariah Carey
  • Elisa Toffoli ("Then Comes the Sun", recorded spring/summer 2002)
  • Michael Bolton
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Sonia Dada
  • American Music Club
  • Zucchero Forniciari
  • Kenny Wayne Shephard
  • Kenny G
  • Prince
  • Mother Love Bone
  • String Cheese Incident
  • Drivin' and Cryin'
  • Peter Frampton

[edit] Charitable causes

The Plant Studios is known for supporting numerous charitable causes, especially music-related endeavors, like:

  • hosting recording sessions for children in the Little Kids Rock program
  • donating tracks to benefit albums like KFOG radio station's long-running Live From The Archives series which raises funds for the Bay Area Food Bank and homeless shelters.
  • hosting recording sessions for relief efforts (Hurricane Katrina)
  • organizing a "Hair Harvest" from the long-haired musician types for Locks of Love, who provide wigs for children who have lost their hair due to illness.

[edit] External links