Record One
Company typeRecording studio
IndustryMusic
Founded1979; 45 years ago (1979) in Los Angeles, U.S.
FounderVal Garay
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
Key people
Dr. Dre

Record One is a recording studio complex in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally founded in 1979, the studio has been the site of numerous commercially successful and award-winning recordings. Since 2015, Record One has been under the ownership of Dr. Dre and his business partner Larry Chatman.

History

1979–1988

Recording engineer and record producer Val Garay co-founded Record One in 1979 with the financial backing of Melvin Simon.[1] The 7,000 square foot facility located at 13849 Ventura Boulevard in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles included recording studios and rehearsal space.[2]

Record One established notoriety with the success of Kim Carnes' 1981 album, Mistaken Identity and its lead single, "Bette Davis Eyes",[3] which won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year the same year. Other albums recorded at Record One under Garay's ownership included the Tubes 1980 album, The Completion Backward Principle,[4] James Taylor's 1981 album, Dad Loves His Work, Olivia Newton-John's 1982 album, Physical, The Motels' 1982 album, All Four One, Steve Perry's 1984 album, Street Talk, Dolly Parton's 1984 album The Great Pretender, Lita Ford's 1987 album, Lita, and portions of Don Henley's 1984 album, Building the Perfect Beast. Other artists recording at Record One during this era included Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg, Roy Orbison, Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand, and Toto.

1988–1996

In 1988, Bruce Swedien and Quincy Jones approached Ocean Way Recording founder Allen Sides about an upcoming album project that would have a multitude of high-profile guest artists. Needing additional studio facilities to accommodate such a project, Sides acquired Record One, making it part of the Ocean Way Recording Group.[5] Sides rebuilt the studio's control room, installing a custom Neve mixing console consisting of two 48-input consoles combined with George Massenburg Labs automation.[6] Over the course of the next year, Jones recorded Back on the Block at Ocean Way's Record One. The album went platinum, and won seven Grammy Awards at the 33rd Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

For approximately one year between 1989 and 1990, Michael Jackson arranged to rent out Record One for $4,000 per day while recording Dangerous, and Bruce Swedien engineered and mixed all but 3 of the songs on the album at the studio.[7][8][9][10]

Prior to beginning work on Michael Jackson's next project, HIStory, Jackson and Swedien wanted an even larger console, so Sides completely revamped Record One Studio A,[11] upgrading the console to a 100-input SSL 8000 G Plus with custom modifications—the largest of its kind in the world at the time—and Studio B to an 80-input SSL 9000 J console,[12] selling the studio's original API console to Herb Alpert.[6][13] The same year, Quincy Jones recorded his 1995 album, Q's Jook Joint, at the studio.[5]

Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Q's Jook Joint were all completed by Bruce Swedien at Record One, with all four albums winning the Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical. Together, the four albums have sold in excess of 65 million copies.[6]

Record producer Glen Ballard recorded Wilson Phillips eponymous 1990 debut album in Studio A at Record One. Other artists who recorded at Record One between 1988 and 1996 included Barry White and Earth, Wind & Fire.

1997–present

In 1997, hip hop supergroup, The Firm's recorded portions of The Album at Record One. The following year, Rob Cavallo produced two hit songs for the City of Angels (soundtrack) at the studio: "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, and "Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette.[6][5] Also in 1998, Brandy and Monica recorded the hit song, "The Boy Is Mine" at Record One.[14]

In 2001, Record One was the studio where Busta Rhymes recorded "Break Ya Neck" and where Mary J. Blige recorded "Family Affair".[15] Other artists recording at the studio that same year included Janet Jackson.

Dr. Dre became a long-term client of Record One while launching Aftermath Entertainment,[16][17] eventually securing all available studio time for approximately five years beginning in 2004.[18] During this time, the studio was the location of production for Dr. Dre's own material like 2001, as well as such albums as 50 Cent's The Massacre, The Game's The Documentary,[19] Jay-Z's Kingdom Come, and Busta Rhymes' the Big Bang.[20] Other artists utilizing Record One for recording, production, or mixing services during this timeframe included Eminem and D12, Snoop Dogg, Eve, and Gwen Stefani.[21]

In 2009, Record One's studios were remodeled and updated again, replacing the SSL G Plus recording console that had been in use in Studio A since 1988 (the console would later be acquired by Mad Muse Studios).[22]

In 2015, long-term Record One client Dr. Dre and his business partner Larry Chatman purchased the studio.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ Vare, Ethlie Ann (19 October 1985). "Producer Profile: Garay Wonders Why He's No Longer Hot". Billboard Magazine. Vol. 97, no. 42. New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 61. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  2. ^ McCullaugh, Jim (14 July 1979). "Record One Going Up As Suburban L.A. Complex". Billboard Magazine. Vol. 91, no. 28. Los Angeles: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 77. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  3. ^ Jackson, Blair. "Classic Tracks: Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes"". Mix. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014.
  4. ^ Morsch, Mike (23 October 2019). "The Tubes enthusiastically moving forward with 'The Completion Backward Principle' tour". The Vinyl Dialogues Blog. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Walsh, Christopher (5 October 2002). "Ocean Way Mixes Latest Gear With 'A Vintage Vibe'". Billboard. p. 89. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Vdovin, Marsha (May 2007). "UA Heritage: Allen Sides, Part Two: The History of Ocean Way Recording". uaudio.com. Universal Audio. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  7. ^ Buskin, Richard (August 2004). "Classic Tracks: Michael Jackson 'Black Or White'". Sound On Sound. Cambridge, England: SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ Weiss, Jeff (7 August 2016). "Michael Jackson: Dangerous". pitchfork.com. Condé Nast. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  9. ^ Knopper, Steve (28 June 2016). MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson. Scribner. p. 192. ISBN 9781476730387.
  10. ^ "Michael Jackson: The Making of 'The King of Pop'". Rolling Stone. January 9, 1992. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  11. ^ Verna, Paul (10 August 1996). "Allen Sides Sets Sights On Nashville". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  12. ^ Walsh, Christopher (28 September 2002). "Top-Performing Studios". Billboard. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  13. ^ Swedien, Bruce; Jackson, Michael (2009). In the Studio with Michael Jackson. New York: Hal Leonard. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-4234-6495-2.
  14. ^ "Production Credits". Billboard. 13 June 1998. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Production Credits - No. 1 Singles (November 17, 2001)". Billboard. 24 November 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  16. ^ Peabody, Zanto (5 September 2000). "Rock 'n' Rap Mecca". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  17. ^ Crane, Larry. "The History of Ocean Way Studios & Beyond: Allen Sides' Endless Quest for Quality". Tape Op. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Ocean Way's Record One Studios Reopen After Five-Year Lockout". www.mixonline.com. Mix. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  19. ^ Coker, Theo Hodari (February 2005). "Compton's Most Wanted". Vibe. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  20. ^ Coker, Theo Hodari (June 2006). "Mouth Almighty". Vibe. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  21. ^ Hilburn, Robert (23 September 2007). "The Dr.'s Always In". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  22. ^ Harvey, Steve (30 September 2020). "Studio Showcase: L.A. Studio Follows Its Muse". prosoundnetwork.com. ProSound News. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  23. ^ Hiatt, Brian (11 September 2015). "N.W.A: American Gangstas". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  24. ^ Fitzgerald, Kiana (28 February 2019). "The Story Behind J. Cole's "Middle Child" Video, Explained By Director Mez". complex.com. Complex Networks. Retrieved 13 December 2021.


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