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Sunset Sound Studios

Prince regularly recorded at Sunset Sound over a ten-year space between 1981 and 1991, having been introduced to the facility by his management firm, Robert Cavallo, Joseph Ruffalo and Steve Fargnoli. The studio complex was founded by Walt Disney executive Tutti Camarara in 1958, as a commercial space for hire. A converted garage, it is located at 6650 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and is comprised of three studios. Sunset Sound quickly became a staple of the LA recording scene, attracting bookings from many of the major bands it grew in fame through the 1960s and 70s. Its clients tended to favour particular a studio; for example, The Rolling Stones opted for Studio 1. Michael Jackson, Rick James and Led Zeppelin preferred Studio 2. Prince always booked Studio 3, the preferred choice also for Fleetwood Mac and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Prince was most active at Sunset Sound between 1981 and 1987 and would spend much of the year here recording in long sessions that routinely began at mid-morning and continue right into the early hours of the next day, aided by Peggy “Mac” McCreary as recording engineer. An avid basketball player, Prince often took advantage of the hoop in the studio’s yard. Studio 3 is formed of five rooms – the largest, the performance space, is 38ft by 18ft and has a height of 12ft. Its adjoining control room is equipped with a Frank DeMedio custom API-550 console, this room is 21ft by 16ft and is 10ft high. There is a smaller piano room, 15ft by 9ft, as well as two similar sized vocal and isolation booths.

The first sessions Prince did here was for the Controversy album during August 1981. He recorded Private Joy here, as well as used the facility to mix the final touches into that album. Even once his Kiowa Trail home studio became operational Prince kept to this practice, mixing his subsequent albums 1999, Purple Rain and part of Around The World In A Day at Sunset Sound also. Key tracks recorded here include Moonbeam Levels in 1982 – some of the outtakes from these sessions were later included in the Graffiti Bridge album of 1990. Another lonely Christmas and Manic Monday were recorded at Sunset Sound in 1984, as was much of the Parade album during April 1985. Prince continued to use the facility to lay down Camille and parts of Sign O’ The Times throughout 1986 and The Black Album in 1987, flitting between here and his new home studio at Galpin Blvd., Minnesota. Some of this material was later released in his Crystal Ball compilation, in 1998.

It was at Sunset Sound Prince was introduced to Sheena Easton – the pair recorded U Got The Look in Studio 3 in December 1986. Prince’s various side-projects were also worked on at the Sunset Sound; The Time, Sheila E, Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6. Prince stopped recording at Sunset Sound once Paisley Park Studios came on stream in 1987, however he returned in 2008 when living in LA for a brief spell, to record part of the LotusFlow3r album that summer.