1930s-50s
From TheStudentWiki
Music Production Analysis Index
The idea of a studio (like a film studio, TV studio, artists studio) is central to the recording industry. In the early days, studios were operated by the main labels such as Columbia and EMI but towards the end of the 1950s, independent studios opened. Their inclusion here is not so much to add technical details but to acknowledge that during this period, each studio had its own individual sound created either through natural acoustics or by virtue of locality (Memphis, New Orleans, Nashville....)
Contents |
The golden age of the studio
The 1930s to the 1950s represented an important time where the studio system developed. The idea of a 'golden age' of the studio is a term borrowed from film history which notes that from the 1930s until the end of the 1950s, the studio system was the major force for creating cinema. In the music industry, a number of large studios including Abbey Road (1931) were opened to facilitate recording of a wide variety of musical styles. [more studio information needed]
Abbey Road
content needed
30th Street Studios
Columbia Records 30th Street Studio was opened in 1949. The studios were originally an Armenian church which had been converted. Part of the studio's success was in its natural acoustics which, like other studios of the time, gave it a particular quality.
Independent Studios
During the 1940s and 50s a number of independent studios were created. These were local studios recording local talent and these factors produced distinctive production sounds.
Sun Studio
Opened in 1950 by Sam Phillips, the studio recorded Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats in 1951 which had a distinctive rock 'n' roll sound. Sun Studio was most famous for the recordings of Elvis. [more information needed]
Cosimo Matassa's Recording Studios
Cosimo Matassa opened the J&M Recording Studio in 1945 which operated for 10 years before he moved to the Cosimo Recording Studio in 1955. Matassa worked with producer Allen Toussaint and was responsible for capturing the New Orleans sound of Fats Domino, Little Richard (Tutti Frutti), Lee Dorsey and The Meters.
Contents Music Production Analysis Index
Home PageMusic Production Analysis
