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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Top Recording Studios of the Rock Era: The Record Plant

Its name is contained in countless liner notes that too often are ignored by owners of a record album or CD.  People that know music, however, recognize The Record Plant as one of the top recording studios in the last 40 years.  No less than five of The Top 100 Albums of the Rock Era* were recorded at Record Plant studios, along with many other noteworthy releases, as chronicled below.   The Record Plant opened up first in New York City, then opened a second studio in Los Angeles, then a third in Sausalito, California. These are just a sample of the great albums that have been recorded at The Record Plant:  
The #1 Guitarist of the Rock Era* reserved time to record his 1968 album Electric Ladyland at The Record Plant in New York.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Blues king B.B. recorded Indianola Mississippi Seeds at The Record Plant in Los Angeles in 1970.  It is not only one of B.B.'s best, but one of the great blues crossover albums of all-time.
 
 
 
 
 Sly & the Family Stone's #1 Platinum album There's a Riot Goin' On was recorded in Sausalito in 1970-71.




 
 

One of the most timeless classics ever written was recorded on the album of the same name by John Lennon at The Record Plant in New York City in 1971.





 
 

Another of the all-time classics written by Don McLean was the title of his 1971 album, recorded in New York City. 






America recorded their 1972 album Homecoming at The Record Plant in Los Angeles. 



 
 
 

After the deaths of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, the Allmans recorded the great album Brothers and Sisters, which included studio time at The Record Plant in New York.






 

America recorded Hat Trick in Los Angeles in 1973.





 
 

Billy Joel's breakthrough album Piano Man was recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles in 1973.




 
 

On The Border reflected several changes that would lead to the Eagles becoming one of The Top Artists of the Rock Era*.  They moved to more of a rock sound, they hired Bill Szymczyk as producer for the first time, and an invitation to Don Felder to play on the album resulted in Felder becoming a permanent member of the group.  The Eagles recorded the album at The Record Plant studios in L.A.

 
 

Aerosmith scored their first big hit with "Walk This Way", featured on the biggest studio album of their career--Toys in the Attic, recorded in Los Angeles in 1974-75.



 
 

The Outlaws recorded their debut album at The Record Plant in 1975.



 
 
 
 

Boston recorded one of The Top Debut Albums in History* at L.A.'s The Record Plant in 1975-76.




Springsteen's breakout album was recorded at The Record Plant in New York City in 1975.





 
 

The #1 Album of the Rock Era* was recorded at The Record Plant's studios in Los Angeles and Sausalito.



 
 
 

The #2 Album of the Rock Era*, Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder, was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito.






 

 Blondie recorded this album in 1978 at the original Record Plant.




 
 

The Patti Smith Group recorded their acclaimed Easter album in New York in 1978.






 

  Cheap Trick recorded Dream Police in Los Angeles in 1979. 





 
 

Jefferson Starship recorded their great rock album Freedom at Point Zero at The Record Plant in Los Angeles in 1979.





 
  After their four solo albums, Kiss chose The Record Plant in New York to record their comeback album, Dynasty. 






 

The last album John Lennon recorded was done so at The Record Plant in New York City.






 

Fleetwood Mac recorded their album Mirage in Los Angeles in 1982.






 
 

Cyndi Lauper introduced herself to us with the album she recorded at The Record Plant in NYC in 1983, She's So Unusual, one of The Top 10 Albums of 1984*.



 
 

Another of The Top 10 Albums of 1984*, Sports by Huey Lewis & the News, was recorded in Sausalito in 1983.





 
 

Another of The Top 100 Guitarists of the Rock Era* chose to record his debut album, Rising Force, at The Record Plant in Los Angeles.





 
 

Survivor finally made it big thanks to their Vital Signs album, recorded in Los Angeles in 1984.





 
 

1984. Heart's self-titled comeback album was recorded at Record Plant studios in both Los Angeles and Sausalito.






 
 

Mariah Carey's great album Emotions was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito. 








 
 
 
 
 
Guns N' Roses recorded their famous Use Your Illusion I and II at The Record Plant in 1991.







 
 

One of Mariah Carey's top career albums (Music Box) was recorded in Sausalito in 1993. 








 Nine Inch Nails worked their magic on the Quadruple Platinum release The Downward Spiral at The Record Plant studio in Los Angeles in 1994. 







 

Metallica recorded Load in 1996


 
 

  and Reload in 1997 






 
 

The album that knocked the "Titanic" Soundtrack from #1 was Before These Crowded Streets by the Dave Matthews Band, recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito in 1998.  




 
 

Santana's landmark album Supernatural was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito in 1999.

 
 
Kanye West's Grammy nominee for Album of the Year, Late Registration, was recorded in Los Angeles in 2005.  It has now gone over the three-million mark in sales.








 Christina Aguilera's album Back to Basics that reached #1 in 15 countries was recorded at the L.A. Record Plant. 








Lady Gaga recorded The Fame in L.A. in 2008.  









The Fray recorded their self-titled release at The Record Plant in Sausalito in 2009. 








Beyoncé recorded her #1 album 4 in Los Angeles in 2011.

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