Welcome to 1979! What is “Welcome to 1979”? It’s my refuge from 2008. You see, I’ve been a freelance recording engineer for over 10 years, and have been engineering records using all the latest technology and production trends to ‘keep up with the Jones’. I decided to screw the Jones’ and put together a recording studio based on the state of the art technologies of the mid-seventies. Thus the name “Welcome to 1979” (Which is the average year of all the equipment I own was made.)
I spent the last few years finding just the right equipment to outfit my safe haven, including a vintage recording console (originally purchased by Porter Wagoner in 1978), vintage multi-track and mixdown analog tape decks (5 total) along with vintage mics and outboard gear. Please don’t think that “vintage” simply means “old”, this equipment was used to make the best records made in its era, and much of it is still used today. Its not just the equipment of 1979 that appeals to me; it’s the methods in which records were being made: musicians playing their instruments together in the same room working their asses off to capture the right groove and feel. Not staring and pointing at computer screens copy and pasting pieces of performances around in order to achieve some sort of fabricated “perfection”. The records that inspired me to be an engineer and producer were made on this equipment using these techniques, so I thought it was time that I dedicated a space to get back to my roots and offer it to like minded artists who are longing for the same escape from modern day recording as I am.
I have recently found just the right space to house my version of 1979. A 38,000 square foot record pressing plant here in Nashville recently went out of business, so i am the sole occupant of the entire building, including the existing mastering rooms (which i now use as vocal booths) - a total of over 6,000 square feet of creative recording space. This is a great building with a very cool history that ties in perfectly with my Welcome to 1979 plan to a T.
Welcome to 1979 offers great day, weekend, three and five day packages including lodging and secure parking for out of town artists.
If this type of recording experience is something that you’ve been hungry for, please get in touch with me to learn more about it. I’d love to share my vision and welcome you to 1979.
At the Basement? If so, that's awesome! Really pumped about it myself, as well... just have NO idea how I'm going to narrow the set list down to four songs. Yikes. Up set? Down set? New set? Old? We shall see.
Thank You! The small amount of time that we were able to spend down there was incredible! For those of us that, until last weekend, hadn't had the pleasure of recording analog, it made a great impact. Thanks again! Hopefully we'll be able to come down again next summer.
Hey Chris. Looks like you are still kicking ass! I've got a podcast online for independent music. If anybody is interested in some free exposure have them hit me up.
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT MAY 15TH THE STEAM BOARS, AND WHEATHOUSE. SHERLOCKS IN LEBANON. FREE ROCK SHOW. COME READY TO PARTY WITH WHEATHOUSE! Hope things are going good for you!