Former Location –
Previously the home of RCA Records from April 21, 1964 through January 1977, it was also the west coast home of the German music conglomerate BMG for a while. The recording studios downstairs are where the Rolling Stones recorded many of their early hits including “19th Nervous Breakdown” and their album “Aftermath
“.
The Jefferson Airplane recorded “Surrealistic Pillow” here and The Grateful Dead recorded their debut album “The Grateful Dead
” here in 1967.
“Headquarters“, the third studio album by the Monkees, was also recorded here in 1967.
RCA moved to this location from their previous building at 1510 Vine Street where it stood since March, 1959.
BMG Records
6363 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90028
Rca Victoria still owns it San Fransico,California,the corporate office demands payment sent to the corporate office in San fransico,Califonia
Won legal court case case in San Francisco,ca
In 1968 Jose Feliciano recorded here RCA LP “Feliciano!” with hits “Light My Fire” and “California Dreamin'” and in 1970 Christmas classic LP and single “Feliz Navidad”
Some people may not know that the office of DELTONE Records was also located here ( after their move from Gardena )
In early 1964 during one of my many visits to the building, I noticed the label was listed on the ‘key’ in the lobby…
I tool the elevator up to the floor ( I think it was on the fourth ) and went into the glass-fronted office suite.
I met Jim Monsour ( father of Dick Dale ) and we spent some time looking through clippings and photos.
He seemed extremely proud of his son and I thought Mister Monsour could have gone on the rest of the day !
I also found it a bit strange that DELTONE was pressed and distributed by CAPITOL RECORDS, but here they were in the RCA Building
( No room in the ‘Tower ‘ up on Vine I guess )
In later years, there was a rent-a-cop posted in the lobby of RCA, so access was very limited ( thank God for Grelun Landon at RCA ! )
In-fact, after the ” Hippie Invasion ” access to labels and studios became extremely limited unless one had ” a business related appointment ” )
It was only because of Michael Ochs of COLUMBIA Records ( West Coast Publicity ) that I was still able to to make my visits to some of wonderful Hollywood-based labels and recording studios.
So glad I lived through all that – what a place to be born and raised – Southern California !