Golden State Recorders was a San Francisco recording studio owned by Leo De Gar Kulka. Some of the albums recorded at the studio were Brewer & Shipley's second album Weeds in 1969, sessions for The Beau Brummels originally recorded between 1964–1966 and released as San Fran Sessions in 1996, and The Grateful Dead's Birth of the Dead, recorded in 1965 and released in 2003.
History The recording studio was opened by Kulka when he came to San Francisco in 1964.Billboard Magazine April 20, 1974 Page 6 -General News- National Approval Expected San Fran's NARAS Chapter Organized It was located at 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA.Jerry's Brokendown Palaces Sunday, April 22, 2012 Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA It has been alleged in a Rolling Stone article that The Great Society were doing sessions in Golden State for what would be the release of "Somebody to Love" b/w "Free Advice", it took 286 takes to get it right. The producer was Sly Stone.Rolling Stone COVERWALL | Sly and the Family Stone: Everybody Is a Star By Ben Fong-Torres | March 19, 1970
Some of the artists to come through the studio in the 1960s were Mike Bloomfield, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick and Sly Stone.J. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol 45, No 5 May 1988 Page 496 In 1966, the Syndicate of Sound recorded their national hit Little Girl (Syndicate of Sound song) at Golden State Recorders Don Baskin recalls "Hey Little Girl" recording
In 1967, some of the emerging acts geared towards the modern sound of the day to be recorded at the studio were, Bristol Boxkite, the Incorporates, Living Children, Poor Souls, Rear Exit, Stone Hinge and Ticket Angents. The producers that were working with him on these acts were Marty Cooper, Larry Goldberg, Jim Marino, Hank Levine and Don Ralke.Billboard Magazine May 20, 1967 Page 26 Talent MORE OF NEW POP BREED IN SAN FRANCISCO
In the mid-1970s, the studio had acquired a Neumann disc mastering facility which according to Kulka was the most advanced in the area. In addition, most of what was taking place at the studio were connected with Kulka's College for the Recording Arts which was being used to teach students the aspects of sound recording.Billboard Magazine November 15, 1975 Page 76 Bay Studios Action
Founder Kulka died on March 17, 1998, at age 77.Moose Roots Grave & Cemetery Records, Leo De Gar Kulka - Grave Record1921 - 1998: Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, CaliforniaJ. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol 45, No 5 May 1988 Page 496 Chief engineer David Tonelli died on January 14, 2014, aged 65.Caffe Trieste Trieste Music Events - Concert Schedule STUDIO 65ALegacy.com David TonelliCaffe Trieste Trieste Music Events Archive, IN MEMORIAM: David Tonelli, 1948-2014San Francisco Chronicle Feb. 9, 2014
Staff Leo De Gar Kulka – OwnerGrammy Pulse, 2-3 National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, 1984 Brad Miller – Vice president, general managerBillboard Magazine April 22, 1967 Page 10 executive Turntable Cher – Receptionist (rumored)Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording Please help us save an endangered species - the analog tape recorderJ. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol 45, No 5 May 1988 Page 496 Vance Frost – Assistant engineer 1968, Chief engineer and manager 1971–78Jerry's Brokendown Palaces Sunday, April 22, 2012 Golden State Recorders, 665 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA David Tonelli – Chief Engineer Rob Masud – ?Caffe Trieste Trieste Music Events - Concert Schedule STUDIO 65Acaffetrieste.ypguides.net More About Our Music Marty Cooper – Producer Larry Goldberg – Producer Jim Marino – Producer Hank Levine – Producer Don Ralke – ProducerBillboard Magazine May 20, 1967 Page 26 Talent MORE OF NEW POP BREED IN SAN FRANCISCO
Album highlights The Love Exchange (1968) – The Love ExchangeDead Disc Golden State Recorders Discography Weeds (1969) – Brewer & ShipleyMichael Brewer & Tom Shipley Weeds Credits Loosen Up Naturally, The Sons (both 1969) – Sons of ChamplinDead Disc Golden State Recorders Discography
Later releases of early recordings Birth of the Dead – Grateful Dead; Autumn Sessions, November 1965Birth of the Dead at the Grateful Dead Family Discography Slyfest Freshest Funkiest Rarest Cuts – Sly and the Family Stone; four tracks recorded in 1966; Michael Briggs was the co-producer; released 1995All Music Sly & the Family Stone Slyest Freshest Funkiest Rarest (CD - Magical Mystery #2)avxhome Sly & The Family Stone - Slyest Freshest Funkiest Rarest Cuts (1995)avxhome Sly & The Family Stone - Slyest Freshest Funkiest Rarest Cuts (1995)Drums San Fran Sessions – The Beau Brummels; originally recorded 1964–1966, released 1996 Oaxaca – Vince Guaraldi; originally recorded March 1971, released 2004
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