Ocean Way Recording is the name of a series of recording studios in Hollywood, California and Nashville, Tennessee. Ocean Way Studios is well known in the recording industry due to the award-winning albums that were produced there.[1]
The original United Western studios, constructed in 1952, was the home of many major recording sessions in the 1960s and 1970s, including Ray Charles' version of "I Can't Stop Loving You", The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations", Frank Sinatra's "It Was a Very Good Year", and The Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin'". Bill Putnam, the original owner, sold it to Allen Sides in 1985, who renamed it Ocean Way Recording. In 1999, the original Ocean Way/Western Recorders facility at 6000 Sunset Blvd. was sold to Cello Recording Studios, and Sides retained the building next door at 6050 Sunset Blvd.[2]
Two additional studios were later added to the Ocean Way Family; Record One studios in Sherman Oaks in 1988, and Ocean Way/Nashville opened on famed Music Row in 1997. The Ocean Way Nashville facility was later sold to Belmont University. Ocean Way recording now carries on business at two locations - Hollywood and Sherman Oaks. Additionally, Ocean Way Audio manufactures and markets Allen Sides’ highly regarded monitor speaker systems. Ocean Way Drums, in partnership with producer Steven Miller, is creating musical instrument plugins.
Some high profile artists to have used the studios include: Paula Abdul, AC/DC, Steve Perry, Whiskeytown, Deborah Allen, Bob Seger, Tori Amos, B.B. King, Biffy Clyro, Bon Jovi, B'z, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, No Doubt, Counting Crows, Dr. Dre, Bob Dylan, Fishbone, Amy Grant, Green Day, Elton John, Miles Davis, Waylon Jennings, Weezer, R. Kelly, k.d. lang, Luis Miguel, Maná, Eminem, Meshell Ndegeocello, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Tom Petty, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Richard Marx, Rolling Stones, Rush, Joe Sample, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Tool, Travis, Wallflowers, XTC, Namie Amuro, Avril Lavigne, The Mars Volta, Toto, and Billy Thermal (Record One), Australia's You Am I.