A & R Recording Inc. was an American major independent studio recording company founded in 1958 by Jack Arnold and Phil Ramone.
Contents
History
Before founding A & R Recording in 1958, Arnold and Ramone had been working at JAC Recording, Inc.; Arnold had been a partner at JAC. The "A" and "R" initials were derived from their surnames. But also, Arnold and Ramone relished the idea that their initials and company name matched the industry acronym for "artist and repertoire," an important avocation in the recording industry.
Jack Arnold ended his association with A & R Recording shortly after co-founding it, due to health issues.
Original A & R studio — 112 West 48th Street
The original studio was in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on the 4th floor of Mogull's Film & TV building at 112 West 48th Street. The studio was named "Studio A1." The "A" stood for "Arnold." Manny's — a famous music instrument retailer — was one-half of the first 3 floors; Mogull's Film & TV was the other half. Jim and Andy's Bar, an important hangout for studio musicians was next door at 116 West 48th Street. Ramone installed an intercom from the studio to Jim & Andy's to call for musicians if someone didn't show-up.
In the first studio, Ramone quickly gained a reputation as a good sound engineer and music producer, in particular for his use of innovative technology. According to David Simons, author, the original studio at 112 West 48th St., which was started on a shoestring budget, remains Ramone's greatest legacy.
The studio was designed for the purpose of doing demos. According to Ramone, the room, 11.5 metres (38 ft) by 12 metres (39 ft), had an incredibly unique sound. He attributed much of it to the height of 3.6 metres (12 ft) and before long clients were requesting to do their final tapes there and in no uncertain terms letting it be known that this was no mere demo studio. In a short period of time, Ramone felt the need to upgrade the equipment.
Second studio, Studios A-1 and A-2 — 799 7th Avenue
In October 1967, A & R purchased Columbia's Studio A on the 7th floor at 799 7th Avenue at 52nd Street and leased the space, which consisted of about 10,000 square feet (929.0304 m2) Columbia had owned the studio since the 1930s.
Capacities, as published in 1974:Studio A-1: 40 x 50 feet; height 30 feet – 1,600 square feet (148.6449 m2) – accommodated 90 peopleStudio A-2: 25 x 30 feet; height 12 feet – 750 square feet (69.6773 m2) – accommodated 20 peopleThird studio, Studios R-1 and R-2 — 322 West 48th Street
A & R added a third studio in the Leeds Music Corporation building at 322 West 48th Street. A & R became part owner of the building, a 6-story building, and designed recording studios on the first and second floors, named R1 and R2, respectively. The "R" stood for "Ramone." A & R also occupied the basement. 322 West 48th Street is currently the home of American Federation of Musicians Local 802, the New York City musicians' union and the Jazz Foundation of America.
Capacities, as published in 1974:Studio R-1: 38 x 28 feet; height 13-3/4 feet – 1,064 square feet (98.8488 m2) – accommodated 26 peopleStudio R-2: 20 x 25 feet; height 13 feet – 500 square feet (46.4515 m2) – accommodated 12 peopleLaunch of A & R Records
In February 1970, A & R Recording launched A & R Records, a company that produced albums of artists that included Paul Simon, Billy Joel, George Barnes (musician) and Bucky Pizzarelli.
Satellite studios
In 1970, A & R Recording formalized two partnerships to build two satellite studios, one with Brooks Arthur (né Arnold Brodsky; born 1936) in Blauvelt, New York, just across the Hudson River, north of the George Washington Bridge, and one with Norman (Norm) Fuller Vincent (1930–2014) in Jacksonville, Florida.
914 Sound Studios
The partnership with Arthur was named "914 SRS" and was located at 34 NY Route 303, Blauvelt, New York. "SRS stood for "Sound Recording Studios." The legal structure of the partnership was in the form of a New York corporation operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of A & R Recording Inc. The entity name was "914 Sound Recording Studios, Inc." The studio, a converted gas station, opened October 1970. Arthur owned one-half, Ramone, Don Frey, and Arthur Downs Ward (1922–2002) owned the other half. They sold it in 1978 and the corporation — 914 Sound Recording Studios, Inc. — dissolved in 1982.
Vincent SRS
The partnership with Norman Vincent, et al. was named "Vincent SRS" and was located in Jacksonville, Florida, and opened November 1970. Vincent was the operator.
Closing
A & R Recording closed in 1989.
Selected artists
Artists produced by Ramone include
Neighborhood
In a 10-block area of midtown Manhattan during the disco era, there was "Media Recording, Hit Factory, Sony, and A&R Recording had two buildings.
Personnel
In 1972, management of A & R included Robert Gerics (general manager & studio manager), Nick Diminno (studio manager), and Irving Joel (chief engineer). The studio was located at 322 West 48th Street.
Management and shareholders
A & R Recording Inc.
A & R Records (subsidiary)
Engineers
Studio managers