Western Recorders
From The Smile Shop
United Western Recorders was a renowned recording studio complex in Hollywood, California, which became one of the most successful independent recording studios in the world in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Established in the late 1950s by audio engineer Bill Putnam, the complex operated as United Western Recorders from 1957 to 1985, when Putnam sold it to partner Allen Sides, who renamed it Ocean Way Recording.
Prior to his move to California, Putnam had founded the prestigious Universal Recording studio in Chicago, Illinois. A pioneer of many modern recording techniques, Putnam built Universal into one of the most sought-after studios in the country and became well-known for his UREI recording equipment and custom-made Universal Audio mixing consoles, which were bought by many major recording studios.
After relocating to Hollywood in 1957, and with the backing of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Putnam first purchased the United Studio at 6050 Sunset Boulevard. In 1961 he purchased the neighbouring Western Studio at 6000 Sunset, creating the United Western complex.
The two studio complexes, separated by a parking lot, operated more or less independently. United was favoured by 'older' artists such as Crosby, Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole and Ray Charles, while Western soon became a favoured recording venue for the new generation of pop-rock musicians and producers, such as Sam Cooke, The Beach Boys, Phil Spector and The Mamas And The Papas.
United consisted of two large rooms; the larger United 'A' was approximately 45' x 65' x 22', with United 'B' being slightly smaller. Western copied this layout, with of the very large Western 1 and the somewhat smaller Western 2. Both buildings also had a third, smaller recording room, as well as several dubbing and mastering suites. But even the small rooms provided a sumptuous sound -- Western 3, which measures only 34' x 14', was used by Brian Wilson for much of the recording of The Beach Boys' masterpiece, Pet Sounds.
