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Former Location –
This is where legendary producer Phil Spector created his famous “Wall of Sound” approach to recording: the dense, layered, echo-filled sound that surrounded songs like “He’s a Rebel,” “Be My Baby,” “Baby, I Love You,” and “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” among others.
Gold Star is also where Brian Wilson created Pet Sounds, the critically-acclaimed 1967 Beach Boys album. Also, one of the most famous rock albums of all time, Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” was recorded here in 1969. The studio was well known for its custom-designed recording equipment, which was designed and built by David S. Gold, one of its founders, and for its echo chambers, also built by Gold.
Gold Star was the studio used for hundreds of recordings by scores of leading pop and rock artists. Besides the Beach Boys and Phil Spector, the following acts have recorded there including: The Buffalo Springfield, Eddie Cochrane, The Ramones, The Cascades, Meat Loaf, Sonny & Cher, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, The Ronettes, Dick Dale, The Righteous Brothers, Joan Jett, Cheri Currie, The Champs, The Who, The Monkees, Tommy Boyce, The Band, The Go-Go’s, The Association, Art Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.
Notable Recordings Made At Gold Star Recording Studios:
End Of The Century by Ramones
Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Hawks & Doves by Neil Young
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
Buffalo Springfield by Buffalo Springfield
The Who Sell Out by The Who
Headquarters by The Monkees
Black Oak Arkansas by Black Oak Arkansas
La Bamba by Ritchie Valens
Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
Babylon by Dr. John
Mad Dogs & Englishmen by Joe Cocker
Music From Big Pink by The Band
The studio was closed in 1984 as bands shifted to newer technologies. After the studio closed, a fire destroyed the building and a mini-mall occupies the site now.
Gold Star Recording Studios
6252 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90038
Hello, this is Ty Wagner. A documentery is being made on me and my life and we have noticed that there is no mention on any GOLD STAR sites about me, or my hits recorded by DON RALKE, such as “Slander” and ” Im a no count”.
” Im a no count” had much success locally and internationally. This song is covered by many artists to this day, and an original vinyl 45 produced by Don Ralke sells for thousands online, and is an international Rebel theme to this day.
My Mother formed a record label in the mid 60s called FIMAG Records. Her name was Cassie Rotter. I will never forget the Black and Gold Virgin acetates and how they smelled. A young actor/singer named David “Zooey” Hall sang on one of her records called “Trancendental Meditation” in 1966. The last record she made was of Richard Greene, the Violinist called Orange Blossom Special. Obviously there is more to this story, but I am very glad to see that the rich historical past of Gold Star Studios is alive and well.
Does anyone know of recordings apparently made by The Upsetters (Little Richard’s 1950s road band) NOT Lee Perry’s band of the same name?
I remember Goldstar Studios very well….I worked for a few years across the street at Paramount Recording Studios…it was in the late ’60’s…and Hollywood was buzzing with Pop…Rock…Folk/Rock music…Soul…R & B…at so many studios…I met many members of the wrecking Crew when they did sessions at our stdio….our Echo chamber wasn’t as sophisticated as Goldstars…but we had our share of great results….