Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles
Gold Star Studios tends to fly below the radar of most non-Americans. Many Americans too do not seem to be aware of its role in recorded music history. Part of the reason is because it has been closed for 27 years but also in general music fans tend not to notice the studio or, to a lesser extent, the label. When we talk about Elvis we are aware of Memphis, of Colonel Tom Parker but Sun Studios does not feature so highly. Perhaps that’s just the way it is.
David Gold (left) and Stan Ross
Anyway Gold Star Studios was formed in 1950 by David Gold and Stan Ross (the name is a combination of theirs) and from the very first days Gold’s custom built equipment and echo chambers garnered a receptive and appreciative following. By the mid 1950s they had worked with an enormous array of contemporary recording artists who appreciated Stan Ross’s creativity and indeed, this innovation was what Gold Star became famous for.
The Wall of Sound described……
In 1960 Phil Spector, who had been connected with the studio since its early days, recorded probably his most famous album – Wall of Sound. Before and after Spector the names who recorded at Gold Star are far too numerous too mention but include Neil Young, John Lennon, Jimmy Hendrix, Leonard Cohen, The Beach Boys and The Monkees.
During this prolific period, Gold Star produce records which won Grammy Awards, more National Endowment of the Arts Awards and Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Songs of the Centurythan any other independent record label. Neil Young eventually insisted that all his recording should be mastered by David Gold.
By the 1980s, Gold Star Studios (and many other independent studios) had begun to struggle against the age of personal computing which allowed bands to set up studios for minimal costs in their own premises. In 1984 it finally closed and a mall now stands in its place.
Stan Ross passed away on 11th March 2011, aged 82. David Gold said that “…his heart just gave up.”