Recording and mastering studio located in Los Angeles, California (USA), owned by Motown founder Barry Gordy. The studio was known as Motown Recording Studios between 1974 and 1980 and as Hitsville Recording Studios between 1980 and 1986. However, releases often credit both interchangeably.
For the original Motown 'Hitsville' studio in Detroit, please see Hitsville USA Studios, Detroit.
Name variations
- Motown/Hitsville U.S.A.
- Motown Recording Studios
- Motown Recording Studio, West Hollywood, CA
- Hitsville West Studios
- Hitsville Recording Studios.
- Hitsville
History
Built as Poppi Studios, a recording and mixing studio, the facility was acquired circa September 1971 by Berry Gordy's Motown Records and named MoWest Studios, coinciding with the launch of the MoWest record label. In 1974, the label was shuttered and the studio renamed Motown Recording Studios. This completed the move from Detroit to Los Angeles.
Originally a two-story state-of-the-art studio complex, it boasted an atrium and an al fresco conference room on the roof. Gordy even moved parts of Motown’s famous Detroit studio A (a.k.a, “the Snake Pit”) to Los Angeles in hopes of recreating the Detroit studio's classic sound. Guy Costa was the studio's managing director. By 1979, the facility had expanded to 4 studios, named "Sunset", "Sunrise", "Twilight" (for mastering), and "Dawn".
Around 1980, the studio name was changed to Hitsville Recording Studios. Gordy sold the studio in 1988, coinciding with the sale of Motown to MCA Records. The studio was then renamed Signet Sound Studios. Mastering engineer John Matousek subsequently bought all the mastering equipment and kept operating the Twilight studio until 1992/3, renting the space from first Signet and later Soundworks West. He afterwards founded Masterworks, Los Angeles, where the mastering gear was installed.
Engineers
Chief: Cal Harris.
Mastering: Jack Andrews, John Matousek, Michele Stone.
Recording: Art Stewart, Russ Terrana, Glen Jordan, Michael Johnson (4), Bob Robitaille, James Green (35), James Johnson (36), Ginny Pallante.
