We were in the midst of a recording session by a well known artist. During a break, I asked the engineer if he knew how to recreate Phil Spector’s, “Wall of Sound”?
He responded, “I have no idea how to do that!”
A bit later the button-pusher (An engineer in training) whispered to me, “I can get you that sound!”. I couldn’t believe my ears. His name was Gary. Imagine an unprofessional fellow could get a unique sound that a twenty year professional engineer could NOT???
Gary asked me to come back to the same studio at 6:00 pm that evening. Of course, being curious and if I could target my goal, I had to return. Gary had already set up a number of junction boxes, which led to a microphone which was lowered over the piano. I was told to go out to the studio and rumble on a chord and keep on doing that for 30 seconds. I did so and returned to the engineer’s booth.
INCREDIBLE .. HE DID IT .. it was Spector’s “Wall of Sound”. The Righteous Brothers, The Ronettes and all of the Spector recordings had the exact same sound!!! I was totally amazed.
NOW for the REST OF THE STORY:
I had heard some years later, that Gary Kellgren found an investor named, Chris Stone and together they created a new, innovative concept in recording studios. In the early days, there were demo studios (making demonstration records) and Master Studios … Gary and his partner had come upon an idea of having a studio which had lounge chairs instead of benches and indirect lighting which gave a much more relaxed atmosphere. It felt more like a spa rather than a waiting room in a doctor’s office. The music was soft and relaxing which allowed waiting musicians a chance to rest up before a session. Further it was a 12 track studio when all others had only 8 tracks.
Gary and his partner named it “Record Plant”. This studio, only a two minute walk from Times Square, became the “home” of artists such as Jon Lennon, Bob Dylan, J Geils Band, Manowar, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Grand Funk Railroad and more! Unfortunately, after Record Plant Two and then Three (Los Angeles locations) became going operations, Gary had a minor surgery and one afternoon, he dove into his pool and never came up. He passed away before I could thank him for his fine work, his first recording session as an engineer for the recording, “Down By the Ocean” by George & Sunny Sands. (On YouTube)
By the way, the arrangements were created by a mentor of mine, Artie Schroeck!
Further, the night of the Lennon assassination, Jon had been finishing up his “Imagine” Album.
Now the twist of this story is : The same building to which, Jon was returning was called “The Dakota House”was also the home of Bob Crewe!
Imagine a connection with my boss and songwriting partner, Bob Crewe, and the superstar of the Beatles, Jon Lennon living in the same building.
And then my giving a start to a amateur studio engineer who recorded some of the biggest names in the twentieth century! All 100% true …. imagine? .. Hey! That was Jon’s title!!!