Sunset Sound sessions ?

[Stephen W. Desper]

Could be from around the era of this photo, which of course we can very accurately date:



Can somebody dig up a photo of the control room during a Doors session or something, to see a later view?

COMMENT:  Anyone notice Murry Wilson in the center of the photo (dark glasses). 

~swd

Stephen, that's actually either Richard or Robert Sherman (I should be able to tell them apart, but I can't).  The two Sherman Brothers are both there along with Annette and Tutti Camarata.  The Shermans, of course, wrote the song being worked on, Monkey's Uncle, which is why they are present.  They were Walt Disney's go to songwriters.  Perhaps you met them, Stephen?

COMMENT:  You are right. It's the pipe in the mouth that threw me.  I do know that it's a UA (Putnam designed) mixing board we are seeing the back of. Alan looks more like a dentist examining XRays then a singer going over a lead sheet.  Ha.    I wonder where Brian's thoughts are?    ~swd

[c-man]

...and Dennis looks EXTREMELY bored...or he's thinking "I can't believe we have to do this CHEESEY song!" (Carl too, for that matter...HE looks like he's nodding off).

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

The pictures got screwed up, still sending haha, they'll be up soon... really cool Pic of me in the booth!

[DonnyL]

Could be from around the era of this photo, which of course we can very accurately date:



Can somebody dig up a photo of the control room during a Doors session or something, to see a later view?

COMMENT:  Anyone notice Murry Wilson in the center of the photo (dark glasses). 

~swd

Stephen, that's actually either Richard or Robert Sherman (I should be able to tell them apart, but I can't).  The two Sherman Brothers are both there along with Annette and Tutti Camarata.  The Shermans, of course, wrote the song being worked on, Monkey's Uncle, which is why they are present.  They were Walt Disney's go to songwriters.  Perhaps you met them, Stephen?

COMMENT:  You are right. It's the pipe in the mouth that threw me.  I do know that it's a UA (Putnam designed) mixing board we are seeing the back of. Alan looks more like a dentist examining XRays then a singer going over a lead sheet.  Ha.    I wonder where Brian's thoughts are?    ~swd

ha, they look super exhausted !

And thanks for all your input, Mr. Desper ! always a thrill

[DonnyL]

sorry to resurrect this thread, but ...

I actually bought the original 8-track machine from Sunset Sound recently (the reason I started this thread) ... sold my Scully 4-track awhile back, and regret it.

Anyway, I'm now selling the Sunset Sound machine and looking to get a Scully 8-track or 4-track 280. If anyone is interested in seeing the photos, here's a link to the auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271083268569?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Anyway, this is likely the machine that recorded 'Got to Know the Woman', 'Celebrate the News', 'San Miguel', etc.

[hypehat]

How did you even buy that in the first place?!

[DonnyL]

How did you even buy that in the first place?!

long, personal story i can't really get into on a message board. cosmic habitforce.

[halblaineisgood]

How did you even buy that in the first place?!

long, personal story i can't really get into on a message board. cosmic habitforce.

why do you regret your purchase of the 8 track?

you prefer your 4 track?

I enjoy your technically spot on posts, I think your answer could be interesting.

[DonnyL]

How did you even buy that in the first place?!

long, personal story i can't really get into on a message board. cosmic habitforce.

why do you regret your purchase of the 8 track?

you prefer your 4 track?

I enjoy your technically spot on posts, I think your answer could be interesting.

Oh, I meant I regret selling the Scully. Basically sold the Scully to get an 8-track. This Ampex 8-track needs more work than I anticipated, and I don't really want to put more money into it. I'm kind of partial to Scullys.

[I. Spaceman]

sorry to resurrect this thread, but ...

I actually bought the original 8-track machine from Sunset Sound recently (the reason I started this thread) ... sold my Scully 4-track awhile back, and regret it.

Anyway, I'm now selling the Sunset Sound machine and looking to get a Scully 8-track or 4-track 280. If anyone is interested in seeing the photos, here's a link to the auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271083268569?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Anyway, this is likely the machine that recorded 'Got to Know the Woman', 'Celebrate the News', 'San Miguel', etc.

Neil Young would probably buy it. Get word to him.

[DonnyL]

sorry to resurrect this thread, but ...

I actually bought the original 8-track machine from Sunset Sound recently (the reason I started this thread) ... sold my Scully 4-track awhile back, and regret it.

Anyway, I'm now selling the Sunset Sound machine and looking to get a Scully 8-track or 4-track 280. If anyone is interested in seeing the photos, here's a link to the auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271083268569?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Anyway, this is likely the machine that recorded 'Got to Know the Woman', 'Celebrate the News', 'San Miguel', etc.

Neil Young would probably buy it. Get word to him.

ha! i'll give him a call.

seriously though, it does seem like something he would be into. i don't have any connections to him though. kelley stoltz wanted to buy it but his tech talked him out of it. 'more songs, less stuff', he told him. but he already has the tube version of this thing anyway, so i can't imagine what he would do with two !

[I. Spaceman]

Post a link to the auction on his official Facebook page. The people who run it will get word to him.

[SMiLE Brian]

That would be awesome to sell it to Neil Young, hell you might even get to meet the man!

[DonnyL]

Post a link to the auction on his official Facebook page. The people who run it will get word to him.

alright thanks, i posted the link.

[guitarfool2002]

This is very cool - keep us posted!

The Neil Young possibility is a great suggestion. In the past few years, if I recall, didn't they get Neil to lend his old UA tube console to UA, and they ran a session just like it would be done in the 60's using Neil's board/console and other UA outboard gear? I remember seeing and hearing it on the UA website, if I am really remembering it correctly that it was Neil's old UA console that they brought in. There aren't a heck of a lot of those floating around, and Neil from what I heard has people to meticulously maintain it and keep it in working order.

It stands as a great possibility he may add that tape machine to his "collection", especially with that photo of him working a Springfield mix/playback on the exact machine.

Damn, what a great suggestion to ask Neil! I hope something happens with this, maybe Mix magazine or something would even cover it if it does.

[I. Spaceman]

Yeah, Neil owns the famous Green Board. Cool link with video:

http://www.uaudio.com/blog/john-nowland-ua-interview/

[DonnyL]

This is very cool - keep us posted!

The Neil Young possibility is a great suggestion. In the past few years, if I recall, didn't they get Neil to lend his old UA tube console to UA, and they ran a session just like it would be done in the 60's using Neil's board/console and other UA outboard gear? I remember seeing and hearing it on the UA website, if I am really remembering it correctly that it was Neil's old UA console that they brought in. There aren't a heck of a lot of those floating around, and Neil from what I heard has people to meticulously maintain it and keep it in working order.

It stands as a great possibility he may add that tape machine to his "collection", especially with that photo of him working a Springfield mix/playback on the exact machine.

Damn, what a great suggestion to ask Neil! I hope something happens with this, maybe Mix magazine or something would even cover it if it does.

Yeh, that would be cool ... but I think he prefers tube equipment, and this tape deck is solid state ... actually the first solid state machine Ampex made. But a lot of folks also say it's the best sounding solid state Ampex deck (as opposed to the AG-440, which came about a year later as a panic reaction to the Scully 280).

If this thing were the tube version, it would probably be worth like $10,000 !

[DonnyL]

This is very cool - keep us posted!

The Neil Young possibility is a great suggestion. In the past few years, if I recall, didn't they get Neil to lend his old UA tube console to UA, and they ran a session just like it would be done in the 60's using Neil's board/console and other UA outboard gear? I remember seeing and hearing it on the UA website, if I am really remembering it correctly that it was Neil's old UA console that they brought in. There aren't a heck of a lot of those floating around, and Neil from what I heard has people to meticulously maintain it and keep it in working order.

It stands as a great possibility he may add that tape machine to his "collection", especially with that photo of him working a Springfield mix/playback on the exact machine.

Damn, what a great suggestion to ask Neil! I hope something happens with this, maybe Mix magazine or something would even cover it if it does.

yeh I remember seeing that video! that's cool, but too bad the recording they made on that video sounds like pure trash !

[guitarfool2002]

I think the danger of those kinds of projects is that the results are too often far less than both the concept and the execution. It was great PR, it was a cool video, it was great that Neil still maintains and allowed them to use that old board and everything, but ultimately you want it to produce a good recording, and I don't remember listening to it and being all that psyched about the results either!

I guess in this case the concept does really outweigh the result...and in the case of using Neil Young's board, and seeing it in action, I suppose it's not such a bad thing just to see it working.

Getting back to the tape machine, I think the accompanying photo showing Neil working on a mix is the "killer app" of this potential deal. It's a personal connection to the machine, it can be proven with the photo...it's just a matter of Neil either wanting it for historical value or wanting to reclaim it as part of his history, and something that appeared in that photo of him actually using it on a session. I doubt if actually using the tape machine itself would be a big factor, especially considered next to the sheer history behind it.

If not Neil...how about the R&R Hall Of Fame? I know the seller's fee is like a crazy 30-35 percent or higher, but even a rock memorabilia auction through Christie's or Sotheby's might turn something of a good deal on a sale based on how it's promoted. Consider...we're pretty focused about bands, but how about fans of Morrison and The Doors if this was documented and advertised as the machine that recorded Strange Days, and there was photo evidence of them at Sunset using it on a session? There are many avenues for such a piece of gear, that's if Neil Young doesn't want to get in on it.

They had a pretty big Les Paul auction of similar gear just this past year; recording equipment, etc and the prices some of the mundane items brought were much higher than I had expected. And some wasn't even his famous/infamous gear, just everyday stuff that any studio would have, yet it was promoted very well and the right buyers showed up to bid. Just something to consider.

[DonnyL]

I think the danger of those kinds of projects is that the results are too often far less than both the concept and the execution. It was great PR, it was a cool video, it was great that Neil still maintains and allowed them to use that old board and everything, but ultimately you want it to produce a good recording, and I don't remember listening to it and being all that psyched about the results either!

I guess in this case the concept does really outweigh the result...and in the case of using Neil Young's board, and seeing it in action, I suppose it's not such a bad thing just to see it working.

Getting back to the tape machine, I think the accompanying photo showing Neil working on a mix is the "killer app" of this potential deal. It's a personal connection to the machine, it can be proven with the photo...it's just a matter of Neil either wanting it for historical value or wanting to reclaim it as part of his history, and something that appeared in that photo of him actually using it on a session. I doubt if actually using the tape machine itself would be a big factor, especially considered next to the sheer history behind it.

If not Neil...how about the R&R Hall Of Fame? I know the seller's fee is like a crazy 30-35 percent or higher, but even a rock memorabilia auction through Christie's or Sotheby's might turn something of a good deal on a sale based on how it's promoted. Consider...we're pretty focused about bands, but how about fans of Morrison and The Doors if this was documented and advertised as the machine that recorded Strange Days, and there was photo evidence of them at Sunset using it on a session? There are many avenues for such a piece of gear, that's if Neil Young doesn't want to get in on it.

They had a pretty big Les Paul auction of similar gear just this past year; recording equipment, etc and the prices some of the mundane items brought were much higher than I had expected. And some wasn't even his famous/infamous gear, just everyday stuff that any studio would have, yet it was promoted very well and the right buyers showed up to bid. Just something to consider.

Hey Craig,

Those are cool suggestions, but I'm just a recordist looking for a good working recorder. I'm actually super bummed out that this deck isn't going to work for me ... if someone were to show up at my doorstep with a working Scully 8-track for a trade, it would be a deal !

[I. Spaceman]

The history of the thing is very important, if I had the spare scratch I would buy it just to put it in a corner and look at it.

[hypehat]

I don't mean this in a derogatory way, but the thing is clearly a museum piece in some respect - it's a historic piece of equipment. Again, not meaning to be rude, but it shouldn't be finding it's way to civilian types like you, DonnyL (unless I'm totally offbase and this is in fact your job/you have the proper facilities for such stuff - you've got a few of these things, so maybe I am!), but that's why I'm so amazed you have it in the first place! I thought they put these things in storage or destroyed them or something....


I'd still be curious to know how you got it, but I understand if it's not for public consumption or you can't be bothered to type it up or w/e

[DonnyL]

I don't mean this in a derogatory way, but the thing is clearly a museum piece in some respect - it's a historic piece of equipment. Again, not meaning to be rude, but it shouldn't be finding it's way to civilian types like you, DonnyL (unless I'm totally offbase and this is in fact your job/you have the proper facilities for such stuff - you've got a few of these things, so maybe I am!), but that's why I'm so amazed you have it in the first place! I thought they put these things in storage or destroyed them or something....


I'd still be curious to know how you got it, but I understand if it's not for public consumption or you can't be bothered to type it up or w/e

I don't really know how to respond to those comments. if it weren't for types like me, no one would even know or be able to identify that this was the deck from Sunset Sound. The 'music industry' threw these decks to the curb decades ago. Not sure what you mean by 'civilian types' and 'proper facilities'. And sorry but it would be a crime to put this machine in a museum. It should be used to record great sounding records. This machine is up there with the greatest sounding recording equipment of all time, the likes of which will never be made again. It should be put to use, as it will likely still be running after we're all long gone.

The story of how I got it is not appropriate for a public forum.

[hypehat]

I don't mean this in a derogatory way, but the thing is clearly a museum piece in some respect - it's a historic piece of equipment. Again, not meaning to be rude, but it shouldn't be finding it's way to civilian types like you, DonnyL (unless I'm totally offbase and this is in fact your job/you have the proper facilities for such stuff - you've got a few of these things, so maybe I am!), but that's why I'm so amazed you have it in the first place! I thought they put these things in storage or destroyed them or something....


I'd still be curious to know how you got it, but I understand if it's not for public consumption or you can't be bothered to type it up or w/e

I don't really know how to respond to those comments. if it weren't for types like me, no one would even know or be able to identify that this was the deck from Sunset Sound. The 'music industry' threw these decks to the curb decades ago. Not sure what you mean by 'civilian types' and 'proper facilities'. And sorry but it would be a crime to put this machine in a museum. It should be used to record great sounding records. This machine is up there with the greatest sounding recording equipment of all time, the likes of which will never be made again. It should be put to use, as it will likely still be running after we're all long gone.

The story of how I got it is not appropriate for a public forum.

I understand. I'm just marvelling at how that console is up for sale on ebay! I meant no disrespect at all, not knowing anything about you ofc (like I said, I don't know whether this is in fact your job and you own a studio etc or if you're just a ordinary guy!). It's a shame they threw them away, and obviously amazing that you're doing the good work. Let us know how it goes!

[DonnyL]

I don't mean this in a derogatory way, but the thing is clearly a museum piece in some respect - it's a historic piece of equipment. Again, not meaning to be rude, but it shouldn't be finding it's way to civilian types like you, DonnyL (unless I'm totally offbase and this is in fact your job/you have the proper facilities for such stuff - you've got a few of these things, so maybe I am!), but that's why I'm so amazed you have it in the first place! I thought they put these things in storage or destroyed them or something....


I'd still be curious to know how you got it, but I understand if it's not for public consumption or you can't be bothered to type it up or w/e

I don't really know how to respond to those comments. if it weren't for types like me, no one would even know or be able to identify that this was the deck from Sunset Sound. The 'music industry' threw these decks to the curb decades ago. Not sure what you mean by 'civilian types' and 'proper facilities'. And sorry but it would be a crime to put this machine in a museum. It should be used to record great sounding records. This machine is up there with the greatest sounding recording equipment of all time, the likes of which will never be made again. It should be put to use, as it will likely still be running after we're all long gone.

The story of how I got it is not appropriate for a public forum.

I understand. I'm just marvelling at how that console is up for sale on ebay! I meant no disrespect at all, not knowing anything about you ofc (like I said, I don't know whether this is in fact your job and you own a studio etc or if you're just a ordinary guy!). It's a shame they threw them away, and obviously amazing that you're doing the good work. Let us know how it goes!

cool ...

well Actually, after having this conversation with you last night, I got to thinking about how this thing could end up in the wrong hands (there are lots of people who like to 'part thing out' and chop $hit up) ... so I did some additional troubleshooting and decided to keep it. it seems like it may be less work than I thought to get it up and running. I've ended the eBay auction, but it should still stay up for awhile for those interested in taking a look.