By Damo (217.34.239.25 - 217.34.239.25) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 04:37 pm:

Hi, I'm a record producer from London, England. And I am planning on coming over to Detroit next month to produce a (local) band.

I was wondering if anyone here could help me out with regard to detroit 'recording studios'. Are any of the famous 'soul' studios still in exsistence and functional too? Would be glad to capture some magic! If not, perhaps you could point me in the direction of a good modern alternative.

Also, I will be staying for a while (not sure where yet). And, would love to get a "must do" list from you guys! Thanks in advance D

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 04:59 pm:

Hi Damien

I should have mentioned in my e-mail that Pac3 is in Dearborn which is just west of Detroit. The Disc is in Eastpointe off north east Detroit. A picture of the premises is at the front of the studio tour.

I can tell you accommodation wise that I have found Motel6 to be very good. There is one at the airport which isn't too bad for Dearborn. I use Farmington Hills which is just outside North West Detroit. Both locations can be described as safe.

You must go to Hitsville, United Sound, Golden World. The latter two have no access but have masses of history. You will get the addresses from the SoulfulDetroit Tour.

If you are there on a Thursday visit Bomac's on Gratiot (approx no. 200?) in the evening. High quality jazz and even some Soul.

Still open from the old days is Bakers Keyboard lounge. Check the Metro Times web site for all forthcoming entertainment.

You may be a bit shocked/surprised by your first visit to Detroit. As long as you act sensibly and keep your wits about you should have no problem.

Visit the riverside area too which can be very beautiful.

For me Detroit is the most interesting and invigorating city in the world. It also has some of the friendliest people you could ever want to meet.

Have a great time!

By Damo (217.34.239.25 - 217.34.239.25) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 06:09 pm:

Thank you for the info. Much appreciated!

Why will I be shocked/surprised?
And why will I have to keep my wits about me?
Is it thugged out and ghetto-ugly??!

I am personally looking forward to visiting the place. And, of course, I will be sure to check out Hitsville. How could I not?! I hope United hasn't been demolished yet?

Keep the tips coming please. All are gratefully received

By Fury13 (12.2.196.14 - 12.2.196.14) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 06:15 pm:

United Sound is abandoned and boarded up, but still there. The Fortune building is gone, as was documented on this site late last year.

Some parts of Detroit ARE "thugged-out" and "ghetto-ugly." I say that as a proud, yet realistic, Detroiter. But some areas that look dangerous to the uninitiated outsider are simply desolate. As David said, Detroiters are generally friendly, and I think, very interested in helping/advising people visiting from overseas.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Thursday, August 15, 2002 - 06:21 pm:

To learn more about Detroit, visit my colleague Lowell's award winning website The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit.

http://www.bhere.com/detroit/index.html

By mixedbyDLM (66.122.54.215 - 66.122.54.215) on Friday, August 16, 2002 - 04:29 am:

Hey folks:

As a San francisco Bay Area native who's never been to Detroit (and I love to go there "just foorrr the funk of it") I've always wondered about United Sound a lot. Although it is across from Wayne state University, It would be a great blessing that WSU would start a music engineering program, unlike Berklee in Boston, at USS. Have the administration take pure poession of the building in itself, and have one of its ace alums (of USS) be the chief director.
What would be your input/output on this? Forget about Full Sail in Florida or in my neck of the bay, (the too damn expensive!!!) Ex'pression Media Centre,

Just asking for your input,
Derrald Leo Mote!

By David Meikle (213.122.65.234 - 213.122.65.234) on Friday, August 16, 2002 - 07:36 am:

That's a great suggestion Derrald.

The way things are looking this historical structure will ultimately be demolished.

Which is ludicrous!

By David Meikle (62.6.66.3 - 62.6.66.3) on Friday, August 16, 2002 - 01:20 pm:

Damo

Your tour should also incorporate the building which housed the Tera Shirma studios on Livernois.

Again, the address is on the SoulfulDetroit tour.

By mhc (172.172.210.5 - 172.172.210.5) on Friday, August 16, 2002 - 06:50 pm:

There is a GREAT studio in Detroit, and I mean right in Detroit, called the White Room. If I'm not mistaken, Kid Rock made all his hits there. Anyway, I was up there once and loved it. It has lots of vintage equipment, huge rooms with windows, and a one of a kind atmosphere. If you haven't already made other plans you should check them out, at www.vintageking.com (look on the left side of the page for a link to "white room".)

By M.McLeanTech (66.218.40.207 - 66.218.40.207) on Saturday, August 17, 2002 - 06:33 am:

Damien,

While you are in Detroit, don't forget to check out the home that I was born and raised in, and where I learned all about classical music, high fidelity, and being inhibited about sex:

13335 Prest
Detroit, MI 48227

This property is now owned by a Ms. Cole. If you can get her to let you in, she can take you down into the basement, where you will find the special circuit that I installed to power the two McIntosh MI-200AB 200 Watt tube type industrial amplifiers that once filled that living room with enough great sound to inspire me to become the Technical Engineering Department Head for Motown Record Corp.

I could go on and on, but this is enough. If you want to be consistant, you should visit this historic sight.

Sincerely,

Mike McLean

By Clay (66.73.178.19 - 66.73.178.19) on Saturday, August 17, 2002 - 08:35 am:

Hello Damo,
If you're looking to record analog(2 inch) you might want to consider checking out my private studio here in the heart of the city(Detroit) I normally do not rent it out to outsiders but all Forum members are a consideration. The studio is called "Love"n"Comfort Recording Studio and if you decide to cut here I might engineer some of the sessions,if you so desire. In the meantime, Take care and contact me if you interested.

All the best,
Clay McMurray

By M.McLeanTech (66.218.59.228 - 66.218.59.228) on Saturday, August 17, 2002 - 08:59 am:

Clay McMurray!

Now there is a big name! You should take another look at this. As I remember, Clay had a very fine reputation at Motown for being a decent person who played fair.

Mike McLean

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, August 17, 2002 - 01:25 pm:

Mike,
Regarding Clay....All that and MORE!