Sunset Sound Recorders

Not to be confused with Sound Recorders Studio, a different Hollywood studio that was active from 1965 to 1974.

Sunset Sound Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California, United States, located at 6650 Sunset Boulevard.

Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, circa 2014

Background

The Sunset Sound Recorders complex was created by Walt Disney's Director of Recording, Tutti Camarata, from a collection of old commercial and residential buildings. At the encouragement of Disney himself, Camarata began the project in 1958, starting with a former automotive repair garage whose sloping floor would tend to reduce unwanted sonic standing wave reflections. Soon, the audio for many of Disney's early films was being recorded at the studio, including Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, and 101 Dalmatians^[1]

Over 200 Gold records have been recorded at Sunset Sound,^[2] including hit albums for Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Toto, parts of Prince's Purple Rain, the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St., Neil Young's After the Gold Rush, the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Linda Ronstadt's Don't Cry Now, parts of Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy and Janis Joplin's posthumously-released Pearl. In addition, the Doors recorded their first two albums, The Doors and Strange Days, at the studio.^[3] Idina Menzel recorded her vocal track for the song "Let It Go" for Disney Animation's 2013 film Frozen at the studio.^[4][5]

In 1981, Sunset Sound Recorders owner Camarata purchased The Sound Factory, another Los Angeles recording studio founded by Moonglow Records and later purchased and developed by David Hassinger.^[6]

With many people experiencing homelessness camped nearby, the studio expressed their frustration with the situation in 2024.^[7] The city program, Inside Safe, had the unhoused residents accept services and housing in mid-2024.^[8]

References

1. Bieger, Hannes. "Studio File: Sunset Sound, Los Angeles". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
2. "Sunset Sound". Sunset Sound. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
3. Cogan, Jim; Clark, William (2003). Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios. San Francisco, California, United States: Chronicle Books. p. 49. ISBN 0-8118-3394-1.
4. Tingen, Paul (April 2014). "Inside Track: Disney's Frozen". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
5. Appleford, Steve (June 7, 2023). "34 best recording studios (for every budget) in Southern California". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
6. Gelt, Jessica (February 20, 2024). "Commentary: Sunset Sound is one of the last great L.A. recording studios. To lose it would be a disaster". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
7. Flay, Sophie (February 13, 2024). "Will the homeless crisis drive a legendary Hollywood recording studio out of business?". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
8. Rice, Lynette (June 2, 2024). "Sunset Sound Cleared Of Homeless Encampment; Some Had Lived Outside Recording Studio For Years". Deadline. Retrieved June 2, 2024.

External links

• Los Angeles portal

• Official website
• 2019 video tour of Sunset Sound by engineer Warren Huart
• Archive of 2009 Sunset Sound and Sound Factory website

34.09797°N 118.334973°W / 34.09797; -118.334973