American Sound Studio facts for kids
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| Industry | recording studio |
|---|---|
| Successor | American-Recording-studio.com |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Defunct | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Memphis, Tennessee |
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Key people
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Chips Moman Don Crews |
The American Sound Studio was a famous place in Memphis, Tennessee, where many hit songs were recorded. It was open from 1964 to 1972. Chips Moman started this studio.
There were actually two main studios. One was at 827 Thomas Street, called American North. The other was at 2272 Deadrick Street, known as American East or "The Annex." More than 100 hit songs were made here. The studio had its own group of musicians called "The Memphis Boys." They were also known as the "827 Thomas Street Band."
Many famous artists recorded at American Sound Studio. These included Elvis Presley, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett, Bobby Womack, Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield, and The Box Tops.
Contents
What is American Sound Studio?
The American Sound Studio began in 1964. It was located in North Memphis. Producer Chips Moman and Don Crews started it. Between 1967 and 1971, about 120 hit songs were produced there. These songs made it into the top 100 of Billboard magazine.
At one point, a huge 25% of Billboard's top 100 songs came from this one studio. All these songs featured the same band, The Memphis Boys. The Memphis Boys recorded 122 Top 10 songs. They were also called the "827 Thomas Street Band." This name came from the studio's address.
American Sound Studio closed in 1972. The original building was torn down in 1989. Now, a Family Dollar store stands there. There is also a historical marker to remember the studio.
The Second Studio: American East
The American Sound Studios and The Memphis Boys were very busy. They often had to use other studios in Memphis. These included Royal Studios and Ardent Studios. To handle all the work, Chips Moman and Don Crews bought a second studio. This new studio was called American Recording Studio East. It was also known as "The Annex."
The studio was located at 2272 Deadrick Avenue. It was the first studio in Memphis built just for recording. It was first called "ONYX" in 1967. Steve Sholes of RCA Records asked for it to be built.
Chips Moman and Don Crews bought it in December 1968. They renamed it American Recording Studio East. This studio was designed with special stereo echo chambers. It had a large recording floor. This made it great for bigger recordings. These included sessions with horns and orchestras. For example, Elvis Presley's "Kentucky Rain" was arranged here. Wayne Jackson recorded his trumpet part for Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" here. The studio was also close to the Memphis International Airport.
American East helped finish many recordings started at the North studio. Both studios had similar equipment. This made it easy to move tapes between them. They could work day and night to keep up with demand. Chips Moman liked to work quietly during these years. The East location helped him do that.
In 1972, Moman and Crews ended their partnership. Moman moved away and later reopened American Sound Studios in Nashville. The Thomas Street studio closed. Don Crews turned the Deadrick location back into "ONYX."
Later, in 1990, the studio was leased to producers Doug Easley and Davis McCain. From 1990 to 2005, it was known as Easley McCain Recording. Many artists used this studio. These included The White Stripes, Loretta Lynn, and Jeff Buckley. In 2005, a big fire damaged the studio. Easley McCain moved to a new place in 2009.
After the fire, a developer bought the studio. Brad Dunn worked to get the studio reopened. He was supported by his father, Robert, and his uncle, Donald "Duck" Dunn. They wanted to save this important Memphis landmark. A trust was set up by the new owner, David Gicking, to protect the studio's future. The first part of the restoration was finished in 2011.
Brad Dunn, Matt Martone, and Will Gilbert reopened the studio in 2011. They called it American Recording Studio. This studio is the only physical place left from the original American Sound Studios.
Who Recorded at American Sound Studio?
Many famous musicians recorded at American Sound Studio. In January 1969, Elvis Presley recorded his last number one hit, "Suspicious Minds" here. At this time, American Sound Studio was very successful. Over three years, it produced more than 100 hit records.
The Memphis Boys: Studio Musicians
The Memphis Boys were the studio's main band. They were very talented. The band included:
- drummer Gene Chrisman
- Bass players Tommy Cogbill and Mike Leech
- Guitarist Reggie Young
- Pianist Bobby Wood
- Organist Bobby Emmons
They could play many different styles of music. They played on hits like Joe Tex's "Skinny Legs and All" and "I Gotcha." They also played on Wilson Pickett's "I'm in Love." Other songs include Merrilee Rush's "Angel of the Morning" and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." They also played on Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto."
The Memphis Boys were also the band on flutist Herbie Mann's 1969 album Memphis Underground. In 2007, they were honored. They were put into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
Bobby Womack's Success
Bobby Womack worked at American Sound Studio. He played on songs for Joe Tex and The Box Tops. Before this, he hadn't had much success as a solo artist. But at American, he started recording many hit songs. These included "What Is This" (his first chart hit) in 1968.
He also became known as a great songwriter. He wrote many songs for Wilson Pickett. These included "I'm in Love." Bobby Womack also played guitar on three of Aretha Franklin's hit songs. These were part of her Lady Soul album. He also played on "Chain of Fools."
Joe Tex's Big Hits
Joe Tex recorded his major hit, "Skinny Legs and All" (1967), at American Sound Studio. He also recorded "I Gotcha" (1972) there. "I Gotcha" was first meant for another artist, King Floyd. But Floyd never recorded it. So, Joe Tex recorded it himself.
He decided to re-record the song in late 1971. He released it as the "B-side" of another song. But radio DJs liked "I Gotcha" better. They started playing it. This made "I Gotcha" a huge hit. It reached number one on the R&B chart. It also reached number two on the Pop chart. It sold about three million copies.
Elvis Presley's Comeback
In early 1969, Elvis Presley recorded many songs at the studio. This time is known as his comeback. One important song was "In the Ghetto." This song was special because it talked about poverty and crime. This was unusual for Elvis. Then came "Suspicious Minds," which became a favorite in his live shows.
Four hit songs came from these recordings: "Suspicious Minds," "Don't Cry Daddy," "In the Ghetto," and "Kentucky Rain." Two popular albums were also released in 1969. These were From Elvis in Memphis and From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis. The strings and horns for these songs were added at American East Studio.
B. J. Thomas's Famous Songs
B. J. Thomas became famous in the mid-1960s. He had easy-listening hits like "Hooked on a Feeling." He also recorded "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" at American Sound Studio. This song was written for the 1969 movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
B. J. Thomas's version of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" was number one on the Billboard chart. It stayed there for four weeks in January 1970. It was the first number one song of the 1970s. The song was recorded in seven tries. The songwriter, Burt Bacharach, wasn't happy with the first six.
Dusty Springfield's Soulful Album
In the mid-1960s, pop music changed a lot. Female singers like Dusty Springfield were less popular. To show she was a great soul artist, Dusty went to Memphis, Tennessee. She recorded an album of pop and soul music at American Sound Studio.
The album, Dusty in Memphis, was very successful. It earned Dusty a Grammy Award nomination in 1970. It also received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2001. Many polls list this album as one of the greatest of all time. The song "Son of a Preacher Man" from the album was a Top 10 hit around the world in 1969.
The Box Tops' Big Hits
The Box Tops recorded "The Letter" at the studio. This song was less than two minutes long. It became a worldwide hit in late 1967. It reached number one on Billboard and stayed there for four weeks. The song sold over four million copies. It also received two Grammy Award nominations.
Their song "Cry Like a Baby" was another big hit in 1968. It reached number two on Billboard. Some of their songs had instruments played by studio musicians. These included Reggie Young and Bobby Womack.
Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"
"Sweet Caroline" was recorded at American Sound Studio. This was Neil Diamond's first big hit after a quiet period. Wayne Jackson of The Memphis Horns recorded his trumpet part for the song at American East, also known as The Annex.
Images for kids
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The logo for American Sound Studio.
See also
In Spanish: American Sound Studio para niños
