By acooolcat (210.201.192.218) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 10:34 am:

On another thread Ed mentioned that Cool Jerk was recorded at Golden World's studio and I'd like him to elaborate...I wonder why Ollie would have gone there, as opposed recording it completely at United Sound.
Graham

By Ed Wolfrum (165.247.228.73) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 12:15 pm:

Hello Graham,

George McGregor, the drummer on the COOL JERK session reminded me when we were discussing this earlier this year that this was the last "OUTSIDE" session recorded at Golden World. I guess you could call that going out with a "BANG." Perhaps "JERK" would be appropriate.

As George and I can best reconstruct (this was 30+ years ago), it was George, Bobby Jones, Johnny Griffith, Babbitt, Dennis Coffee and Don Davis and Mike Terry. Bob

He recollected, and I seem to remember in the dim 30+ year corners of my mind, that Don Davis made a comment at the end of the session, something to the effect that "we have just cut a session in Motowns new studio."

I knew that Berry was making the purchase as he had come Golden World on a couple of Saturdays, when I came up from the Seminary and was doing equipment maintainance, and we had talked. "Cool Jerk" was recorded just before I left St. Charles Seminary so it was in the fall, as George and I remember.

I can only assume, as I was not privy to booking other than being informed that we had an outside session on whatever day and time and I was booked for it, that the session was booked prior to the official sale and Berry Gordy, being the honorable man that he was honored that booking.

The session must of sat around a while with Ollie, as I was working on the construction of the Theme Productions/BA Starr studio and worked there for a while before I was made the offer at United. He did the vocal overdub and horns at United with Danny at United while I was at Theme.

I was doing music sessions at United and optical sound transfers when Ollie booked the time there for the mix. All three of the United music mixers, Bill Beltz, Danny Dallas and myself worked alot with Ollie. Why I ended up doing the mix on Cool Jerk is a mystery. Danny may have done one too. Just the luck of the draw I guess? Danny had done the Dion Jackson overdubs and mixes, with Bill Beltz having done the sessions.

When I did the stereo mix here at Audio Graphic Serv. in the 80's for the Solid Smoke project, I asked Ollie about the session and why and he said that he was not even aware that the studio had been sold to Motown at the time. To the clients the transition was pretty seemless I gather.

Ollie was wonderful to work with. There were no "FISHING EXPEDITIONS" with Ollie. He knew what he wanted and went for it. Artie Fields and I were just talking about him last night (22 Nov 2002) at dinner. He worked with Artie on many occasions as well and I did a few sessions with him there as well.

Pax,

Ed Wolfrum

By steve w (205.188.209.38) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 04:17 pm:

Ed, fantastic piece thanks, the sleeve notes on one of the solid smoke LPs ollie states the horn section never shown for the cool jerk session they just worked the rhythm!!! must have been something else. also do you have any recollection of engineer Jerry Masters, his name appears on a few of my favourite united sound LPs, I just wondered if you worked with him

By larry (12.141.160.25) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 05:21 pm:

Hey Ed, I'd like to hear what Artie Fields remembers of Sheldon Rott - if anything at all. If you don't mind I'd appreciate a name drop so I can learn more about my Uncles history in the biz.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.87) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 05:29 pm:

Hey Larry.
so would I,
I think he is well worthy of a mention.
Mel.(that guy in the UK)Ho,Ho.

By Ed Wolfrum (165.247.228.73) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 06:05 pm:

Hello Steve:

There was no Jerry Masters at United in my time there (1668-1976 or so), he must have been there when Jim Vitti was in charge. The saga of chiefs goes....Jimmy Siracuse (owner and founder until purchase by Don Davis), Harvey Dodge, Les Cooley, Bill Beltz, Ed Wolfrum, Jim Vitti,...

When I was there the crew was: Tony, Jim and Joe Siracuse, Jim Hartsel later Dave Hummel, Bill Herdon, Danny Dallas, Brian Dombrowski (part time), and myself.

It was a great crew of guys to work with.

Ed

By Bradburger (172.179.80.132) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 07:11 pm:

Ed

You must be the oldest recording engineer(and human being around).

What sort of equipment did they have in those early days?

Cheers

Paul

By Ralph the Elder (209.240.198.62) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 07:57 pm:

Geeez Brad.....Yeah the recorders were steam powered in those days.

By Ed Wolfrum (165.247.228.73) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 10:24 pm:

Paul,

I was 21 or when I was at Golden World. I'm an old FART now!!!

Look at the Fred Bridges thread for a picture of the United Sound Studio A control room and the 8 track recorder there. This was a STEMCO 8 track, an Ampex knockoff with electronics made in the same plant that made the Ampex electronics. The transport was larger and more rugged than the Ampex transport was. (The steam boiler powering it was in the basement of United. At Terra Shirma I believe the boiler was on the first floor as the control room was on the 2nd story. Is that right Ralph?) You will also see a very tired looking engineer at the Custom Built United console (desk to you limies). (I had probably pulled an all nighter studying or with a session
the night before and was runnning on 2 hours of sleep.) Oh, to be able to do that again!!!

Ed

By Bradburger (172.186.224.245) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 10:43 pm:

Thanks for the info Ed & Ralph.

Always wondered about those steam powered jobs!

And it's not everyday you get to talk to someone who worked for a company for over 300 years.

Ok enough of the funny stuff.

I will checkout the Fred Bridges thread.

Btw Ed, did you ever see my Darrell Banks "Hear To Stay" thread I posted a while back? It's probably in the archives now but you'd be the person to answer it.

Cheers

Paul

By Ed Wolfrum (165.247.228.73) on Saturday, November 23, 2002 - 10:45 pm:

Hello Paul,

I did not even notice the typo. I must be just as tired now.

Ed

By acooolcat (210.201.192.218) on Sunday, November 24, 2002 - 10:21 am:

Hi Ed, and thanks for your detailed reply. Golden World was bought by Berry in September of 1966.
I was playing another Capitols 45 yesterday... "We've Got A Thing That's In The Groove." It's soooo close to "Cool Jerk" that I wonder if it's actually the same track... maybe I need one of your charts! Does anyone have both 45s to do a comparison?
Graham

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.54) on Sunday, November 24, 2002 - 11:19 am:

Graham,
that was my first ever Capitols track that I ever heard in 1970/71,
We got a thing thats in the groove,
its so hip it will make you move etc,
Still have it today.
Mel.

By Garry J Cape (80.1.26.97) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 08:11 am:

Jerry Masters is now engineering at Malaco in Jackson MS where I have been in regular contact with him regarding the Grapevine CD compilations of vintage Malaco tracks (www.grapevine-soul.com)

Prior to that he was at Criteria and Muscle Shoals Sound - he told me that although he had never worked at United in Detroit, he had worked with Don Davis at MSS and Don had taken the tapes back to Detroit - which is how Jerry came to get credits on that stuff.