Dave Grohl is filming a movie about "Sound City" Studios...
Did Manson really record there??
Article below by Max Evry - May 2, 2012
Thus is the transformative power of one of the great recording houses of the modern rock era, and while it closed its doors as a commercial studio in May 2011, Foo Fighters frontman Grohl has announced (via AintItCool) that he will direct a documentary tale of how "Sound City" shaped Nirvana's breakthrough album, "Nevermind," and a slew of others.
The storied studio was integral in the birth of legendarily boss albums by Neil Young ("After the Gold Rush"), Fleetwood Mac ("Rumors"), Tom Petty ("Damn the Torpedos") and, um, Charles Manson, many of whom will appear in the doc to recount all the tracks (and lines) they did there. Not Manson, though.
Yet the doc is not Nirvana-centric, and covers the gamut of Guns and Roses, Rage Against the Machine, Slipknot, Nine Inch Nails, and Metallica, as well as the aforementioned old fogey rockers.
Grohl writes:
"SOUND CITY is a film about America's greatest unsung recording studio. It was witness to history. It was home to a special few, intent on preserving an ideal. An analog church, a time capsule, the last bastion of a craft defied by technology. It was rock and roll. Hallowed ground. And it was our best kept secret… like the dark hallways of Sound City Studios itself, it might not be pretty… but it's for f**cking real."
http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/dave-grohl-nirvana-sound-city-doc/
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Lynyrd Responds...
This article was sent in, by one of our regulars. Being the eternal skeptic, I set out to confirm Manson's participation at "Sound City" studios, before posting this article.
A few things fueled my skepticism regarding Manson's participation at Sound City Studios:
#1) The news regarding Grohl's movie is everywhere on the internet. There's probably 100 articles circulating. Only a small portion (such as this one) mention Manson at all.
#2) A small portion of video spots regarding this movie mention Manson... but Grohl's offical movie trailer, does not.
#3) Manson was recorded at "Universal Studios" in North Hollywood by Gary Stromberg in November of 1967.
Manson was again recorded in the summer of 1968, at the home studio of Brian Wilson by engineer Stephen Despar.
Yet... I've never heard the name "Sound City Studios" mentioned in regards to Manson's music before.
Possible solution:
Admittedly, my geography of California sucks. Could it possibly be, that "Universal Studios" Los Angeles...later became known as "Sound City" Studios, Cabrito Rd, Van Nuys, CA?
California geography buffs? Anyone?
#4) On the official "Sound City Studios" website...there's a chronological list (by year)... of musicians who have recorded at "Sound City".
The list is pretty extensive... and Manson is not on their list.
More strange... is that the list begins in 1970.
Manson would have been there before 1970, No?
Here's the list: http://soundcitystudios.net/recordings-by-year
#5) I did find a few leads... which strongly suggest (see video below) that some tracks on Manson's famous "LIE" album, were overdubbed from recordings made at "Sound City".
This was my best lead for confirming Manson's participation at "Sound City".
Unfortunately... although the "LIE" album is for sale everywhere... finding specific information regarding where the tracks were recorded (or the recording engineer) is impossible to find.
Anyone own this album? Anyone care to check the recording information for us?
I'm not saying that Manson did not record at "Sound City".
But... try as I might... I couldn't confirm his presence there either. I found this fascinating... which made me dig deeper. Much-a-do about nothing really... but interesting none-the-less.
Here's a video clip which mentions Manson in regards to this Project:
Here's Dave Grohl's widely circulated "Official Trailer", which doesn't mention Manson at all:
===============================================================
Shots of MattP's Vinyl "LIE" Album from 1987
According to this video:
---The "LIE" album was originally released on the “Awareness Records” Label.
(As of 1987... it was still on Awareness Records)
(As of 1987... it was still on Awareness Records)
This suggests to me... there probably isn't more information on the original pressings.
---Squeaky states that the album was NOT recorded by Melcher.
(We already knew that)
(We already knew that)
---She states that 2,000 copies were pressed.
Drum Roll Please:
---Squeaky is asked 3 times, “who recorded the album?”… once at 30 seconds… and twice VERY DIRECTLY at 1:55...
She doesn’t answer all three times. LOL : (
Such is life in Mansonland!
(Video Courtesy of Backporch Tapes)
"Click" Below to view the "Sound City" website's list of musician's (who recorded there). Manson is not mentioned. The list begins at 1970.
Recordings By Year
| Year | Artist | Album | Producer |
| 2011 | Arctic Monkeys | Suck It And See | James Ford, eng: James Brown |
| 2011 | Everclear | Return to Santa Monica | Nathaniel Kunkel/Art Alexakis |
| 2011 | Mastodon | The Hunter | Mike Elizondo, eng: Adam Hawkins |
| 2010 | Deathcab For Cutie | Codes and Keys | Chris Walla/Deathcab |
| 2010 | Josh Groban | Illuminations | Rick Rubin |
| 2009 | Wolfmother | Cosmic Egg | Alan Moulder |
| 2009 | Kid Rock | Born Free | Rick Rubin |
| 2008 | Elvis Costello | Momo Fuku | Elvis Costello/Jason Lader |
| 2008 | Nine Inch Nails | The Slip | Trent Reznor |
| 2008 | Metallica | Death Magnetic | Rick Rubin |
| 2007 | Mavis Staples | We Will Never Turn Back | Ry Cooder |
| 2005 | Ry Cooder | Chavez Ravine | Ry Cooder |
| 2005 | Nine Inch Nails | With Teeth | Trent Reznor |
| 2005 | Wolfmother | Wolfmother | Dave Sardy |
| 2005 | Queens of the Stone Age | Lullabies to Paralyze | Joe Barresi |
| 2004 | Bad Religion | Empire Strikes First | Brett Gurewitz |
| 2003 | Matchbook Romance | West For Wishing | Brett Gurewitz |
| 2001 | Slipknot | Iowa | Ross Robinson |
| 2000 | Queens of the Stone Age | Rated R | Chris Goss |
| 2000 | A Perfect Circle | Mer De Noms | Maynard James Keenan |
| 1998 | Queens of the Stone Age | Queens of the Stone Age | Joe Barresi |
| 1998 | Foo Fighters | Godzilla (SDTRK) | Foo Fighters |
| 1996 | Tonic | Lemon Parade | Jack Joseph Puig |
| 1996 | Weezer | Pinkerton | Joe Barresi |
| 1996 | Johhny Cash | Unchained | Rick Rubin |
| 1996 | Carl Perkins | Go Cat Go | Various/Eddie Kramer |
| 1996 | Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers | She’s the One (SDTRK) | Tom Petty |
| 1995 | Kyus | And the Circus Leaves Town | Chris Goss |
| 1995 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | One Red Hot Minute | Rick Rubin |
| 1994 | The Black Crowes | America | Jack Joseph Puig |
| 1994 | Tom Petty | Wild Flowers | Rick Rubin |
| 1993 | Tom Petty | Greatest Hits | |
| 1993 | Rancid | Rancid | Brett Gurewitz |
| 1993 | Tool | Undertow | Sylvia Massey |
| 1992 | Green Jelly | Cereal Killer | Sylvia Massey/ C.J Buscaglia |
| 1992 | Rage Against the Machine | Rage Against the Machine | Garth Richardson |
| 1992 | Masters of Reality | Sunrise on the Sufferbus | Chris Goss, Ginger Baker |
| 1992 | Blind Melon | Blind Melon | Rick Parashar/Blind Melon |
| 1991 | Nirvana | Nevermind | Butch Vig |
| 1988 | Fleetwood Mac | Greatest Hits | |
| 1985 | Loudness | Thunder in the East | |
| 1985 | Tom Petty | Southern Accents | Tom Petty/Jimmy Iovine |
| 1984 | Rick Springfield | Hard to Hold | Bill Drescher |
| 1984 | Ratt | Out of the Cellar | Beau Hill |
| 1983 | Ronnie James Dio | Holy Diver | Ronnie James Dio |
| 1982 | Rick Springfield | Living in Oz | Bill Drescher |
| 1982 | Barry Manilow | Here Comes the Night | Bill Drescher |
| 1982 | REO Speedwagon | Good Trouble | Kevin Beamish |
| 1982 | Pat Benatar | Precious Time | Keith Olsen |
| 1981 | Santana | Zebop | Keith Olsen |
| 1981 | Tom Petty | Hard Promises | Rick Rubin |
| 1981 | Rick Springfield | Working Class Dog | Keith Olsen, Bill Drescher |
| 1980 | Pat Benatar | Crimes of Passion | Keith Olsen |
| 1979 | Tom Petty | Damn the Torpedos | Jimmy Iovine |
| 1978 | Foreigner | Double Vision | Keith Olsen |
| 1978 | Walter Eagan | Not Shy | Lindsay Buckingham, Richard Dashut |
| 1978 | Cheap Trick | Heaven Tonight | Tom Werman |
| 1977 | REO Speedwagon | You Can Tune a Piano But | John Boylan |
| 1977 | Fleetwood Mac | Rumors | Ken Caillat/ Richard Dashut |
| 1977 | Grateful Dead | Terrapin Station | Keith Olsen |
| 1975 | Nils Lofgren | Nils Lofgren | David Briggs |
| 1975 | War | Why Can’t We Be Friends | Jerry Goldstein |
| 1975 | Fleetwood Mac | Fleetwood Mac | Keith Olsen |
| 1974 | Bill Cosby | At Last Bill Cosby Really Sings | Stu Gardner |
| 1974 | Bachman Turner Overdrive | Not Fragile | Randy Bachman |
| 1974 | Elton John | Caribou | Gus Dudgeon |
| 1974 | Evel Knievel | Snake River Canyon Jump | |
| 1973 | Buckingham Nicks | Buckingham Nicks | Keith Olsen |
| 1972 | Dr. John | Dr. John’s Gumbo | Jerry Wexler |
| 1970 | Neil Young | After the Gold Rush | Neil Young, David Briggs, Kendall Pacios |
| 1970 | Spirit | Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus | David Briggs |
If anyone has Manson's famous "LIE" album... please check the fine print, and see if any tracks were recorded at "Sound City Studios" for us.
ReplyDeleteIf so... I just learned something new (about Manson's music)... which is always cool.
Thanks!
Lynyrd
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18966856?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com
ReplyDeleteHi Patty.
ReplyDeleteAs I said... there are a smattering of news articles in regards to this movie project, which mention Manson as a footnote.
Your link (and mine + video)... are but a few examples.
I'd like to know exactly what Manson songs were actually recorded at Studio City.. and if those songs actually ended-up on albums.
I'm pretty sure some "overdubs" from Sound City, were used on Manson's "LIE" album.
That's my best lead.
But alas...
I don't own the album, and the details for that album, are proving difficult to find.
I'll take another look later...
Something tells me, there's more history to this location, than the chart on the Sound City website... which begins in 1970... suggests.
ReplyDeleteThe article Patty submitted, has a section titled: "Ghost from Big Band Era".
Wasn't the "Big Band Era" like 1940's or 50's?
Was the building open back then?
Why would they joke about a ghost from the big band era, if the building opened in 1970?
And again... wouldn't Manson have HAD to be there before 1970?
Am I missing something... or am I just thinking WAY too far into this??
Probably BOTH! LOL
Time for lunch and a short road trip...
ReplyDeletePeace...
OK...
ReplyDeleteYou're not going to believe this folks... LOLOL
I just dug through all my "Manson stuff"... and I DO have a copy of Manson's "LIE" album! : )
Alcohol... it's not for everyone. LOLOL
Anywho... "LIE" was right behind my "Family Jams" 2-CD set.
The Bad News:
There's absolutely NO information listed on there, regarding recording locations or engineers.
The front cover is the famous black and white photo.
The back cover is a basic track listing... with a foolish write-up about how Manson threatened everyone who ever recorded him with death.
The disc itself has the same photo of Manson (only).
There's an insert...
The insert (when opened) has a typed-up interview with Manson... and some of his scribbled handwriting and art on the back.
Zero...
HERE'S THE RUB THOUGH:
The copy I have is a CD.
It's copyrighted 1987 "Awareness records"... all over it.
This is obviously a second... or fourth... or tenth... issue.
Truth be told... it really looks like a cheap bootleg to me.
Who knows how many times this album has been sold and reproduced? ...and by whom?
I think I bought this off Amazon for like 5 bucks.
The original vinyl album was clearly released around 1970... NOT 1987.
I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts, that the original 1970-71 (limited run) vinyl pressings, would offer more information on their jacket.
Ya know... the vinyl copy that Squeaky cleans with spit and elbow grease in that video... while simultaneously shouldering a baby. LOL
Anyway... who knows...
I put out an APB with a few close Manson expert/collector friends.
We'll see what comes back... if anything...
PEACE...
it looks like the one lynnette is holding in the video has a paper cover.
ReplyDeleteprobably an acetate or a promo copy but from what i can see from the grainy video looks like the back cover has the same layout as the vinyl i have which is also 1987
no recording info as to where or when.
chances are they printed very few in the original run of pressings.
probably quite the collectors item!
first pressing was 2000 copies of which only 300 were sold
ReplyDeletewiki says it was recorded 9-11-67 with overdubs done on 8-9-68
my distrust of wiki led me to dig a little more.
ReplyDelete9-11-67 was the date of the unplugged sessions which don't sound like lie to me soundwise.
charlie manson.com says that lie was recorded 11 months after the unplugged sessions which would put it in august of 68 but theres no mention of stephen despar anywhere on my copy so i doubt it was recorded at brian wilsons studio and i think those recordings at wilsons studio were destroyed before the trial
my copy says produced by phil 12258cal
phil kaufman im assuming.
Thanks Matt.
ReplyDeleteThose original pressings must be worth major bucks among collectors!
I'd give my left arm, to know exactly what happened to that original copy, which Squeaky held in her hands that day.
I'd love to have it... saliva juice and all. LOL
Anywho...
Back to business...
I'm pretty sure the 9-11-1967 recordings referenced in Wiki are the Gary Stromberg recordings made at "Universal Studios".
They often reference that recording as anything from september to november of '67.
Sometimes they even just list "fall 1967".
BUT... the point here is this:
If Manson recorded in 1967 OR 1968 (doesn't matter which really) at "Sound City"... it still doesn't add up to what I just found on the front page of the "Sound City" website:
"Sound City Studios
Founded in 1969, Sound City is the birthplace of many of the greatest recordings in rock and roll history. In each decade of operation, from the late sixties until now, our vintage analog equipment has captured the sounds of some of the world’s most important and best-loved music.
Founded in 1969?
How the hell does Manson record in 1967 OR 1968, when the place is founded in '69??
Something doesn't add up.
Of course, we must remember that WIKI is not the foremost authority on anything...
So, back to square one.
Anyone got a vinyl "LIE" album from 1986 or earlier?? LOL
Sanders has the unplugged sessions at November 12 (give or take a day) of 1967.
ReplyDeleteEleven months after that, would put us at October of 1968.
That's pretty damn close to 1969.
Maybe they "founded" the place, just 2 months after Manson walked out the door? LOL
Gotta wonder what the hell the place was like, before it was "founded"?
AHahahaha
(The kind of place that would record Charles Manson evidently) LOL
>>>Lynyrd said: Squeaky is asked 3 times, “who recorded the album?”, once at 30 seconds… and twice VERY DIRECTLY at 1:55...
ReplyDeleteShe doesn’t answer all three times. LOL : Such is life in Mansonland!>>>
Squeaky was very adept at not answering certain questions that she might later have to prove as accurate. I wonder who she learned that from??? HA HA.
She states that Melcher was "scared of us". When asked why, she says "I imagine so, if he believes everything he reads, like everybody else does".
Well, the facts are the facts. It doesn't matter what you read or who said it, the fact remains that certain members of the Manson Family killed Gary Hinman, Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Steven Parent, Rosemary & Leno Labianca and Shorty Shea.
It's not something anyone made up. Not even Bugliosi. It happened.
And you know the most puzzling thing for me is why people keep saying Charlie wasn't in charge.
Well....one question.
Who shaved his head and cut an "x" on his forehead and ALL the others followed suit?
Strangely, the only one in the inner circle who didn't was Tex.
I don't think that Tex was under Charlie's influence as much as he claims. He came and went as he pleased.
BUT....it was Charlie who said "go with Tex and do what Tex says".
Charlie was ALWAYS in charge of the others.....
I hope that Squeaky can make some semblance of what's left of her life. I don't think she ever even had a child. She just took care of other people's babies.
Sad.....
Some people like to say that Tex was in charge. Not in the least.
ReplyDeleteTex was only in charge of himself.
Then why did he kill so viciously?
I personally think it was because when he went out on his own those times away from the family, he was scared that he couldn't make it. He needed the "family" influence and he didn't want his own bible-belt mother telling him what to do. It was easier to listen to Charlie.
Tex didn't mastermind the murders, he just went along with them because he felt that Charlie would be "pleased" with him.
Tex Watson should just stay right where he is until he dies. Because it doesn't matter how many times he says he's "saved", I don't believe him.
BTW, was Tex involved in the Family Jams??? I don't think he has a musical bone in his body.
The list of people who recorded at Sound City isn't complete by any means. They most likely just listed the best known/most successful bands/albums recorded there. Since Manson isn't exactly someone they'd be proud to be associated with he didn't make the list.
ReplyDeleteAny idea where the "Family Jams" tracks were done?
I don't know Katie...
ReplyDeleteI get the impression from this video footage, that Squeaky honestly didn't know where the recordings were made (at that time).
I detect no intentional deception.
In fact...
I get the distinct impression that Squeaky hadn't even lisened to the music on the album, before this interview was conducted.
Case in point:
When asked about the contents (songs) contained therein... she looks baffled... and starts searching the album jacket herself for a track list.
She responds:
"You'll have to listen to it yourself".
What does that tell ya?
One gets the impression, that the album and microphone were thrust at her almost simultaneously... and she's just muddling through this interview, as best she can.
She also looks as though, she could be high on something.
I really don't think she was being deceptive intentionally on the recording location point.
On the "Melcher fear" thing... it's more likely.
Although...
She probably would have been more saavy to not say anything like that at all.
It's actually never crossed my mind, that Tex hadn't shaved his head or carved the "X".
ReplyDeleteI just never really thought about it.
Too focused on the girls, I guess. : )
I wonder if there's any major significance to that?
In my mind...
That would imply, that Tex was operating more independently than the others.
Is Katie becoming a "Tex operated independently" theorist?
Wow...
LOLOL
Hi Lurch!
ReplyDeleteI have the "Family Jams" CD's downstairs.
I'll see if there's anything listed for ya (regarding the recording location), tomorrow.
I'm all "researched-out" for today! LOL
katie, tex committed the murders so brutally because it would impress the girls. he was jealous of the control manson had over the girls and wanted it for himself.
ReplyDeletekatie, tex committed the murders so brutally because it would impress the girls. he was jealous of the control manson had over the girls and wanted it for himself.
ReplyDeletetex was at best a parttime manson family member.
ReplyDelete>>>Beauders said: katie, tex committed the murders so brutally because it would impress the girls. he was jealous of the control manson had over the girls and wanted it for himself.>>>
ReplyDeleteHi Beauders.
Really?? And how do you know this?
Was there an indication that Tex was jealous of Charlie? It seems to me that Tex was getting plenty of poon-tang so why would he be jealous of Charlie?
Would you think that maybe...Tex was doing what Charlie said....
According to Tex, this is what Charlie told him:
"Then he laid out how he wanted the murders themselves done. He apparently didn't know who was living in the house or how many people we might find, but whoever and however many it was we were to kill them all, mutilate them ("Pull out their eyes and hang them on the mirrors!"), and write messages on the walls in their blood. When he started listing what he wanted written-things like HELTER SKELTER and RISE-I told him I couldn't remember all that. But he said it was okay; the girls would know what to write. Just before he went off to get the women, he handed me the .22 Buntline pistol he'd been given by old Randy Starr, but he said to use knives whenever possible, not the gun."
Charlie ordered the murders. Tex did what he was told. "Mutilate them".
Doesn't sound to me like Tex was trying to "impress the girls".
watson admitted he wanted the same power over the girls that manson had. he also said he didn't know how runty manson got the devotion of the girls, but he wanted it. i believe he said in his book he was trying to impress the girls.
ReplyDeleteAnother tidbit from Mr. Schreck's book -
ReplyDeleteHe states that when Phil Kaufman was putting together the "Lie" album, he took recordings from the 1967 Stromberg session at Universal and added material from songs recorded at a Van Nuys recording studio on August 8, 1968.
Page 130 in the new book.
There were 3,000 pressings made, 1500 were stolen from his home (Kaufman) during a creepy crawl. Harold True helped finance the Lie album, but all in all, they never recouped the investment.
Dear Readers,
ReplyDeleteManson recorded his demos in Sound City Studio B in the Summer of 1968. Please see the new Sound City website https://www.soundcitystudios.com/ourhistory/ and click on "see the full list" which has 500+ albums that were recorded here. Our previous website only had the top-sellers recorded at Sound City.
The connection was an actor named Joey Vieria, who was doing work at Sound City. He was friendly with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys and Vieria met Manson at a beach party and said "I understand you have a friend with a recording studio."
I made Joey Vieria tell me the story so that I could retell the story accurately.
Thank you and best regards,
Sandy Skeeter
Sound City, Inc.