The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey guys,

I know that some of you know all about this kinda stuff.... what classic LA studios are still in use and can be booked for studio dates? Any info wuld be greatly appreciated. A side note of what hit records were cut at said open studios would be great too!   ;D

There's a difference between studios that are still operational and studios that you can book.

What once were Western and United, are now EastWest and Ocean Way.  Both are theoretically open for business, and EastWest actually is looking pretty good, but Ocean Way always seems to be on long term lockout.  In other words, you have to be Brian Wilson to record there.

Sunset Sound is still operational, I think Radio Recorders is too, I don't remember if its called something else now, probably.  Don't know if any sort of working studio is left inside the RCA building at 6363 Sunset (Where Dance, Dance, Dance and a lot of Monkees were recorded.)

Gold Star is gone.  CBS is still there but I have no idea if the studio is intact in any way, doubtful, at least.

There are others...there's a studio on every street corner in LA, it seems.

I should mention, also, that when I become an eccentric billionaire, I expect to create as close to an exact replica of Gold Star circa '65 as I can, in LA somewhere, and hire top jazz musicians to come in and cut pop songs for me.

Are you going to have living history days where "phil spector and the wrecking crew" cut records like "river deep mountain high"

I think that would be wise.

Thanks man, I'll have to investigate. Its kinda like when I cut in Nashville, took some insider advice to lead me to the right place. I'm hoping to record a 45 in a room with a nice vintage reverb set-up

Well, in theory you could rent the reverb chambers of some studios over a phone line and not even have to book the studio.

But you should investigate EastWest--it looks like they've done a very good job of whipping it into shape after years of disrepair.  I could do without the VIP lounge that looks to be inspired by the worst pieces from Aerosmith's wardrobe, but Studio 3 looked good from the photos on their site.

Western Studio 3!!!  ;D Excellent call. Thanks man. Looking for session work in LA lol?

I'll take it but I'm on the east coast. Always up for session work... ;D

Remember Western 3 is just a room, and it has been renovated and redone several times over since the photos of Brian working there in the 60's...but it is still Western 3, and the mojo must be dripping out of those walls...

I'm up for session work as well, but I'd have to be flown in too.

From what I can ascertain, they've had a pretty light touch when remodeling Western when it comes to the interiors of the studios.  The control rooms and lounges and stuff are totally new, but, as far as sound goes, I think there would be a substantial similarity (if you knew what you were doing, of course.)

The Village Recorder is still there...and A&M, now called Henson.  Plus, 4th Street (formerly Sound Solutions) in Santa Monica is close to where Brother was.

Sweet man. Thanks for the recommendations. And to the guys re: getting flown in -- probably can't afford anyone's airfare if I'm booking Western haha

I'll take a train. :)

Pretty sure Capitol studios are still up and running.

seems like there are a bunch still going!

Hey roll plymouth rock...if you need any help on guitar...lemme know...I'm in LA!

I can make it down from the bay ... 12-string, organ, etc ... if you're serious, it would be way cool

Dude, Radio Recorders is a goner :(. I think it changed about two years ago.

Well, there you go.  At least I saw it before it went!

Wait, by "changed" does that mean it's the same rooms and building but under a new ownership? If so that's not like saying it's gone because Western/United, and several others I've been to in NYC have done the same thing with numerous owners, but the actual rooms are still there.

If Radio Recorders has been demolished or turned into a dental office, then *that* would be unfortunate...

@Justin/DonnyL PM me some of your work and references!

According to google it's a CPA's office.  When I lived out there, it was still a studio in some capacity, which was, shockingly, 5 years ago...  The address is 7000 Santa Monica Blvd at Orange.  Some nice street level google map view of the building, which is located in this weirdly leafy enclave.