Record Plant facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Record Plant

The Plant
The former Record Plant studio in Sausalito, California
Address	1032 N. Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, California 90038 321 W 44th St, New York City, New York 10036 2200 Bridgeway, Sausalito, California 94965
Location	New York City, New York, US (1968–1987) Los Angeles, California, US (1969–2024) Sausalito, California, US (1972–2008)
Type	Recording studio

The Record Plant was a famous group of recording studios where many legendary musicians created their hit albums. The first studio opened in New York City in 1968, with others later opening in Los Angeles and Sausalito, California.

These studios were special because they were designed to feel like comfortable living rooms, not boring offices. This creative space helped artists produce some of the most famous albums in music history.

Some of the classic albums recorded at the Record Plant include Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen, Hotel California by the Eagles, and Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. More recent artists like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber also recorded songs there.

The studios were founded by Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone. While the New York and Sausalito locations closed in 1987 and 2008, the Los Angeles studio continued until 2024. The Sausalito location has since reopened as "2200 Studios."

A New Kind of Studio

Before the Record Plant, most recording studios were plain and boring. They often had bright fluorescent lights, white walls, and hard floors. Founders Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone wanted to change that.

They created a space that felt like a cozy living room. This helped artists feel relaxed and more creative. They even added fun features like a Jacuzzi and a billiard table at their California locations.

Kellgren is often credited with transforming studios into the comfortable spaces they are today. His vision made the Record Plant a favorite spot for the world's biggest music stars.

The New York Studio

Getting Started

In 1967, Gary Kellgren was a talented recording engineer in New York City. His friend, Chris Stone, saw his genius and believed they could build a better kind of studio. With a loan of $100,000, they started the Record Plant.

They opened their first studio at 321 West 44th Street in 1968. It was one of the first studios to have a 12-track recording machine, which was a big deal at the time. This machine allowed engineers to record many different instruments and vocals separately.

One of the first major artists to use the new studio was Jimi Hendrix. He recorded much of his famous album Electric Ladyland there. The studio soon became a hot spot for musicians.

Famous Moments in New York

In 1969, the studio's engineers were given the huge task of mixing the audio from the Woodstock music festival. It was a difficult job because the recordings were made in challenging outdoor conditions.

The studio was also a pioneer in technology. In 1970, it became the first to be designed for mixing quadraphonic sound, an early form of surround sound.

Many famous albums were made at the New York location. Aerosmith recorded parts of Get Your Wings and Toys in the Attic there. The hit song "Walk This Way" was inspired by a line from the movie Young Frankenstein, and the lyrics were written on the studio's stairwell walls.

John Lennon was recording at the Record Plant on December 8, 1980, the day of his death. In 1987, the New York studio was sold and closed shortly after.

The Los Angeles Studio

The opening party in Los Angeles on December 4, 1969. From left to right: Tom Butler, producer Tom Wilson, investors Ben Johnson and Ancky Johnson, and founders Chris Stone and Gary Kellgren.

After their success in New York, Kellgren and Stone opened a studio in Los Angeles in 1969. It was located on West Third Street and quickly became known as "Record Plant West."

This new studio was even more advanced. It had a 24-track tape recorder, which was very rare at the time. This technology attracted many top artists.

The Jim Keltner Fan Club

Having fun in 1974. Gary Kellgren is second from the right.

Starting in 1973, the L.A. studio hosted famous jam sessions on Sunday nights. Led by drummer Jim Keltner, these events were called the "Jim Keltner Fan Club Hour."

Many legendary musicians would show up to play together. Famous guests included George Harrison, Mick Jagger, and Ronnie Wood. These sessions were a place for artists to experiment and have fun.

One famous session was led by John Lennon and featured Mick Jagger on vocals. The recording, called "Too Many Cooks," was officially released many years later in 2007.

Later Years in L.A.

In July 1977, co-founder Gary Kellgren tragically passed away in an accident at his home. His partner, Chris Stone, was deeply affected but continued to manage the studios.

Studio C was damaged by a fire in January 1978.

In 1978, a fire damaged one of the L.A. studios. Musicians and staff rushed to save the priceless master tapes of famous albums. They rescued recordings by artists like Stevie Wonder and John Lennon.

The studio was rebuilt and became the first in the U.S. to use digital recording for a major artist. In 1979, Stephen Stills recorded a song there using the new technology.

In 1986, the Record Plant moved to a new Hollywood location at 1032 Sycamore Avenue. This building was historic, as artists like Elvis Presley had recorded there. The new space was updated with private lounges and other cool features.

The L.A. studio remained a popular spot for decades. Artists like Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Ariana Grande all recorded hit songs there. In July 2024, it was reported that the studio would close.

The Sausalito Studio

The front door featured fun carvings of animals playing instruments.

In 1972, a third Record Plant opened in Sausalito, a city near San Francisco. The idea was to create a getaway studio, far from the busy cities of New York and L.A.

The Sausalito location was just as unique as the others. It had a conference room with a waterbed floor and two guesthouses for artists to stay in. It even had a speedboat for musicians to use in the nearby harbor.

The studio hosted a popular radio show called "Live From the Plant." It featured live performances from artists like the Grateful Dead, Peter Frampton, and Fleetwood Mac.

The Pit: A Unique Recording Room

One of the most unusual features of the Sausalito studio was a room called "the Pit." It was designed for the musician Sly Stone.

The room was small and soundproofed, with the engineer's controls sunk 10 feet into the ground. The walls, floor, and ceiling were covered in bright red carpet. There was even a bunk bed that could be reached by climbing through a giant pair of red lips.

While it looked amazing, the Pit was not used very often. It was mostly a fun curiosity that new visitors were shown.

Famous Albums from Sausalito

Guitarist Bob Welch and producer Jimmy Robinson at the studio in 1979.

The Sausalito studio produced many famous albums. In 1976, Fleetwood Mac recorded most of their legendary album Rumours there. The band spent months in the studio crafting the songs.

Stevie Wonder worked on his masterpiece, Songs in the Key of Life, at the Sausalito location. In 1977, a young Prince recorded his very first album, For You, at the studio.

In the 1980s, the studio became known as "The Plant." Huey Lewis and the News recorded their hit album Sports there.

Changes and Reopening

The Sausalito studio went through many changes in ownership over the years. In the 1990s, it was remodeled for the band Metallica, who recorded their albums Load and ReLoad there. Santana also recorded their huge comeback album, Supernatural, at The Plant.

By the 2000s, many bands started building their own home studios. The Plant found it hard to compete and closed in 2008.

However, the story wasn't over. In 2020, a group led by Ken Caillat, the co-producer of Rumours, bought the building. In 2024, the historic studio reopened for business under the new name "2200 Studios."

Selected list of albums recorded at Record Plant New York (by year)

Selected list of albums recorded at Record Plant Los Angeles (by year)

Selected list of albums recorded at Record Plant Sausalito (by year)

Side door, opens onto Marinship Way, across from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model

Some notable albums recorded and/or mixed at the Plant Studios include: