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United Western Recorders

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

United Western Recorders
IndustryRecording studio
Predecessor
FoundedLos Angeles, United States (1961 (1961))
FounderBill Putnam
Defunct1984 (1984)
FateSold
Successor
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
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.

United Western Recorders was renamed and succeeded by Ocean Way Recording in 1984. 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 in 1999.

The United Western complex produced some of the biggest hit records of the pop era. "No other studio has won more technical excellence awards, and no studio has garnered as many Best Engineered Grammys as this complex of studios on Sunset Boulevard."[1] Its Studio 3 room is considered iconic and was used by Brian Wilson for the Beach Boys' albums Pet Sounds (1966) and Smile (unreleased).[2]

Structure

6000 Sunset Boulevard in 2019, the former site of Western Studio

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' × 14'-- Brian Wilson's preference.[3][4]

History

Further information: Universal Audio

Active years (1961–84)

Bill Putnam founded the prestigious Universal Recording studio in Chicago. Putnam was a pioneer of modern recording technique and became well known for his UREI recording equipment and custom-made Universal Audio mixing consoles which were bought by major recording studios. With the backing of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra Putnam established the United Recording Corp after relocating to Hollywood in 1957.[5] The studio complex was located at 6050 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.[6] He purchased the neighboring Western Studio at 6000 Sunset in 1961-- remodeling and incorporating the building into the complex.[7] The buildings, renamed United Western Recorders,[8][9] 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 went on to become major names in their own right, notably: Bones Howe, John Haeny, Lee Hershberg, Chuck Britz, and Wally Heider. United was initially favored by 'older' artists such as Crosby, Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Ray Charles, 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.

Putnam scored a significant coup when major US record labels began to release stereophonic recordings in large numbers in the early Sixties. Putnam had amassed a very valuable stockpile of more than two-and-a-half years' worth of stereo recordings by scores of major acts. 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]

Management changes

Ocean Way Recording

Main article: Ocean Way Recording

Bill Putnam sold the studio complex to Allen Sides in 1984. Sides renamed the buildings Ocean Way Recording.[14]

Cello Studios

Sides sold the Western half of the complex to computer magnate Rick Adams who renamed it Cello Studios in 1999. Cello Studios operated at the 6000 Sunset complex from 1999-2005.[15] 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 purchased from Ocean Way Recording. It included a collection of rare vintage microphones as well as vintage outboard gear including valuable studio effects units such as the legendary Fairchild 670 limiters. The building was modified to accommodate the new facility's needs but the studios themselves have not been altered since Bill Putnam's original design.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 and Blink-182.

EastWest Studios

Main article: EastWest Studios

Cello Studios was purchased by EastWest producer Doug Rogers and renamed EastWest Studios in 2006. Rogers extensively remodeled the non-technical areas of the studio complex with designer Philippe Starck. The studios themselves remain as originally built by Putnam in the 1960s. EastWest Studios has racked up 130 Grammy nominations-- more than any other recording studio in the world since 2012.[16]

United Recording Studios

Ocean Way Recording was sold and renamed United Recording Studios in 2015.[citation needed]

Timeline

Legacy

Frank Sinatra made all his famous Reprise recordings including hits like: "It Was a Very Good Year" and "That's Life" in United A, and "Strangers In The Night"—in Western 1. 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. Western 3 was the venue for the recording of many 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"[17] as well as "Hair" by The Cowsills in addition to Pet Sounds. Other famous recording artists have included: 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 and Bonnie Raitt.

The theme songs for Hawaii Five-O,[18] The Partridge Family,[19] The Beverly Hillbillies, and Green Acres were all recorded at Western Recorders.[20] Film soundtracks recorded at the studios include: “That Thing You Do,”[21] “The Way We Were,”[22] “Roots,”[23] and “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”[24] "My Love" by Petula Clark was the first Billboard number one song recorded at Western Studios.

References

  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. ^ https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2004/06/western-studios-hollywood-1966.html
  4. ^ Temples of Sound - Inside the Great Recording Studios By Jim Cogan and William Clark
  5. ^ "Phill Sawyer - recollections". precambrianmusic.com. Retrieved 17 February 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. "Western Recorders". Archived from the original on 15 February 2004. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  9. ^ Jim Cogan. "Bill Putnam". Mix Magazine. Archived from the original on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  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. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2008-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Discogs United Western".
  15. ^ a b "Discogs Cello".
  16. ^ "EastWest Sounds - About Us". soundsonline.com. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  17. ^ "The Grass Roots at Western Recorders Photo".
  18. ^ "Wrecking Crew Contracts Hawaii Five-O" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Wrecking Crew Contracts Partridge Family" (PDF).
  20. ^ "Joe Sidore Interview".
  21. ^ "That Thing You Do soundtrack discography".
  22. ^ "The Way We Were soundtrack discography".
  23. ^ "Roots discography".
  24. ^ "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil soundtrack discography".
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