User's Manual

Apollo Solo Manual Universal Audio History 257
Moving West- United Recording Corp. With his Chicago studio so successful, Putnam’s
clients began urging him to open a facility on the West Coast, and finally he was
convinced. In 1957 he sold his interest in Universal Recording, started a new company
called United Recording Corp. and moved to Hollywood, taking over a building at 6050
Sunset and starting construction on new studios. Stereo was taking off, and Putnam
was determined to incorporate as many technological innovations into the complex as
possible.
In 1958, Studio B was completed along with two reverb chambers. The facility soon grew
to three studios, a mixdown room, three mastering rooms including one with stereo, and
a small manufacturing plant, all in 15,000 square feet. The studios were busy around
the clock, with projects from Ricky Nelson to voice-overs for Hanna Barbera cartoons like
the Flintstones.
In the early 60s Western Recorders, one block away at
6000 Sunset, was acquired and remodeled. The studio
was renamed United Western, and business continued to
grow. The talent behind and in front of the glass in those
days reads like a who’s who of classic recording: Bones
Howe, Wally Heider and Lee Hirschberg were on staff.
During the 60s and 70s the studios were jumping 24
hours a day, seven days a week with artists like Frank
Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mercer and
Ray Charles. Charles classic “I Can’t Stop Loving You” was recorded there, as well
as Sinatra’s “It Was A Very Good Year,” and The Mamas and The Papas’ “California
Dreamin.’” The United Western studios, still in existence today as both Cello Studios and
Allen Sides’ Ocean Way Recording, are still considered to be some of the best sounding
rooms ever built.