Former type Recording Studio Founded 1979 | Industry Audio | |
Defunct New York City, New York, United States (2004) Key people Bobby Nathan, Joanne Nathan (founders) Headquarters New York City, New York, United States | ||
Unique Recording Studios was a technologically innovative five room recording studio operating in New York City from 1978 until 2004. The business got off the ground as a rehearsal studio with a Tascam 8 track recorder in 1978, but soon expanded to 16, and then 24 tracks with the first Otari MTR-90. Some of the biggest names in the music world recorded at Unique. The still operating Unique Recording Studio website lists the following among their former clients: Madonna. Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Anita Baker, Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, Billy Ocean, [Maniquin, [Michael Bolton]], Michael McDonald, James Ingram, Donna Summer, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Danny Gatton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Billy Idol, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Aztec Camera, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Pet Shop Boys, Cheap Trick, James Brown, George Clinton, Bee Gees, Arthur Baker, Stevie Nicks, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Al B. Sure! New Edition, New Kids on the Block, Jimmy Cliff, Queen Latifah, Run–D.M.C., The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Nas, Kanye West and Alicia Keys.
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Location
The studio complex was located just off of Times Square in the top three floors of the Cecil B. DeMille Building, adjacent to music-store row. The business was owned and operated by husband and wife team Joanne and Bobby Nathan. Many Grammy-winning albums were recorded at Unique over the years.
MIDI revolution
Unique was famous for having the latest keyboards, drum machines, and samplers, and was on the cutting edge of the MIDI revolution during hip-hop's infancy. The studio was practically a laboratory for the latest technology, with many musical instrument manufacturers sending their first units of the latest gear to Unique.
Unique Recording Studios is credited for opening the first Midi recording room in 1983 called "Midi City" and was later named Studio C.
Hip hop history
Rap and hip hop was born at Unique Recording Studios with Tom Silverman's Tommy Boy Records featuring Arthur Baker and John Robie - Planet Patrol, Soul Sonic Force, Freeze and Afrika Bambaataa. Run DMC, LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Kool Moe D, Public Enemy, The Fat Boys, ODB, Wu-Tang Klan, Eazy-E, Melle Mel, Marley Marl, Grand Master Flash, Sugar Hill Gang and later Queen Latifah, Heavy D, Nas, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G - Biggie Smalls Puff Daddy, Naughty By Nature, Mobb Deep, KRS-One, MOP, DMX, Jay-Z, Raekwon, Moby, Pink and Kanye West
Engineers
Engineers who started their careers at Unique Recording Studios include:
Closure
The explosion of high quality home and project studio recording systems such as Digidesign's Pro Tools, along with declining album sales and skyrocketing Manhattan commercial leases helped contribute to the demise of a number of major New York studios, including Unique Recording Studios.