Unique Recording Studios

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40°45′33″N 73°59′03″W / 40.7592°N 73.9843°W / 40.7592; -73.9843

Unique Recording Studios
Company typeRecording Studio
IndustryAudio
Founded1978
Defunct2004[1]
Headquarters
New York City
,
U.S.
Key people
  • Bobby Nathan
  • Joanne Georgio-Nathan
ProductsURS plugins
Websiteuniquerecording.com

Unique Recording Studios was a five-room recording studio operating near Times Square in New York City from 1978 until 2004. Founders and co-owners Bobby Nathan and Joanne Georgio-Nathan installed the first Otari 24-track tape deck in New York. The studio was known for its extensive collection of synthesizers, which attracted Steve Winwood, who jammed for many hours in the process of creating his multi-Grammy winning album Back in the High Life (1986) at Unique.[2][3]

Founders

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Bobby Nathan was born in New York, and learned to play guitar at age 11. In 1965 in his late teens, he played clubs on the Jersey Shore with his band the Pipers. In September 1973, Bobby met Joanne Georgio and they formed a band called Uptown, playing the Tri-State area, shifting to steady gigs in New York City. Georgio and Nathan married. In 1976 Uptown broke up and the Nathans formed another band called Strawberry, playing disco clubs, and backing disco singers such as Gloria Gaynor.[4] In 1977 Strawberry became a trio with a drummer supporting Joanne and Bobby both on keyboards. In 1978 while playing at Disco Sally's on 55th and Seventh Ave, the Nathans asked former Gaynor guitarist John Fetter to join the band, and Strawberry was renamed Unique "The Disco Experience". It was during these touring years that the Nathans began hauling around a larger-than-usual number of synthesizers for both to play, which would become a signature attraction of Unique Recording Studios.[2]

Studio history

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Studio C in 1998 showing the Solid State Logic 9064J series console with 64 inputs

Unique Recording Studios started as a one-room rehearsal studio with a Tascam 8-track recorder in 1978, catering to new wave and hip hop artists. Early customers included Polyrock and Bill Laswell. In May 1980, the facility quickly expanded to 16 tracks and a 28 Input Sound Workshop series 30 console. In September 1980, Ian McDonald co-founder of Foreigner came to Unique to record a 16 track solo project. By November 1980, McDonald ran out of tracks and became the catalyst for the studios jump to 24 tracks with the first Otari MTR-90 tape recorder. In 1981 the facility upgraded with a 36 input MCI JH-600 series mixer with automation[2] and Tommy Boy Records began asking for lengthy bookings to accommodate their artists, especially Planet Patrol. Planet Patrol's Arthur Baker also started to produce other artists, and his bookings eventually required a second room. Into this larger space Baker brought New Edition, which recorded Candy Girl at Unique during 1982, with Baker and Maurice Starr co-producing.[2] Candy Girl reached number 90 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 33 weeks.[5]

The studio complex was located in Manhattan just off of Times Square in the top three floors of the Cecil B. DeMille Building,[6] adjacent to music-store row. The business was owned and operated by husband and wife team Joanne and Bobby Nathan.[1] The Nathans described themselves as "the pioneers in drum machines, samplers and digital recording on personal computers.[1]

Unique Recording Studios is credited for opening the first MIDI recording room in 1983 called "Midi City" which was later named Studio C, located upstairs from Studio A.[1] The studio could hold 30 synthesizers, with room left over for sequencers and interfaces. Wall jacks made wiring easier and neater.[7] The innovative concept gained Unique a nomination for the 1985 TEC Awards in the recording studio category.[8]

 
Producer Jack Douglas in 1995 posing in Studio D behind the vintage Neve 8068 console

The studio was well known for its large collection of synthesizers and drum machines. Unique was one of the first studios to own a Polymoog synth, as well as the Minimoog, the ARP 2600, the Oberheim OB-X and 8-voice, and a Prophet 5. When Steve Winwood showed up in 1985 to get further inspiration for his project Back in the High Life, he booked all-nighters at Unique and played every synth, jamming with any other studio clients who were willing to join.[2] Back in the High Life was recorded largely at Unique by Tom Lord-Alge with assistance from his brother Chris; Tom remembers taking an impromptu drum break played between songs by drummer John Robinson, and moving it to the beginning of "Higher Love", which satisfied producer Russ Titelman as the album opener.[3] Titelman recalls that Winwood had been recording the album for a year at other studios but had reached a point where he needed more inspiration. Titelman brought the project to Unique for the variety of MIDI-connected synthesizers and for the familiar mixer – a Solid State Logic SL 4000E identical to the one at Winwood's home studio. Titelman obtained a huge drum sound by recording Robinson's drum kit in the center of Unique's main studio, surrounded by eight extra ambient microphones.[9] The song "Higher Love" won a Grammy Award for the best single record of 1987, and the album won a Grammy for the best engineered album, honoring Tom's mix: his first time as head engineer.[10] Chris recalled that the Lord-Alge brothers' status at Unique was raised after the success of the album: "Even though I'd had hits [before Unique], Bobby and Joanne Nathan insisted that I start out as an assistant, and they worked me really hard. But once Back in the High Life hit, it made it a lot easier for Tommy and me to do no wrong at Unique."[3]

In early 1986 before Back in the High Life was released, Unique reported to Billboard that they had renovated their main studio with a larger control room so that more outboard processing gear and MIDI synthesizer modules could be placed next to the SSL 4000E 48-channel mixer with Total Recall automation. Recording units included two linked Otari MTR-90 Mk II decks each with 24 tracks, and one Studer A-80 half-inch 2-track for stereo mastering. Video decks were installed to feed a video projector so that audio-for-television projects could be accommodated. The studio also owned a 32-channel Neve 8068 mixer that had been in Electric Lady Studios.[11] Unique was nominated a second time for a TEC Award in 1987.[12]

Unique kept pace with technology developments by adding Pro Tools digital audio workstation (DAW) rigs to their studios, connected to 24-channel interfaces made by Digidesign and Focusrite. A total of five DAWs were installed by 1998.[1]

After 2001, all of the music industry in New York City was in a slowdown. The vintage Neve console was removed from Studio D in 2002 for sale to Glenwood Place, a new studio fitting out in Burbank, California. Nathan said that a vintage Neve in the tracking room was more of a trend in California. Studio D continued as a Pro Tools rig with Neve and API preamps.[13] In 2003, Unique introduced a suite of plugins for Pro Tools, called Unique Recording Software (URS). The plugins offered emulation of classic analog equalizers.[14] Through the URS plugin package, Unique picked up a third nomination for a TEC Award in the Software and Signal Processing category in 2004.[15] However, this industry honor was not enough to keep the business afloat, and Unique was shuttered in June 2004. Major clients were no longer renting time on a Pro Tools rig, they were instead buying one for the artist's home studio.[1]

The URS plugin products continued to be developed and sold after Unique closed. In 2008, a plugin named Classic Console Strip Pro was nominated for a TEC Award.[16]

Notable recording and mixing projects

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Artist Album Year released Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Certification
Material Discourse - Single 1980
Material Temporary Music 1981
Peter Tork & the New Monks (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone[17] 1981
Johnny Copeland Make My Home Where I Hang My Hat 1982
Man Parrish Hip Hop Be Bop (Don't Stop) 1982
Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force Renegades of Funk[18] 1983
Freeez I.O.U.[19] 1983
Hashim "Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)"[20] 1983
Johnny Copeland Texas Twister[21] 1983
Jonzun Crew Lost In Space 1983
Malcolm X No Sell Out[22] 1983
MC G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid "Play That Beat Mr. DJ"[23] 1983
New Edition Candy Girl[24] 1983 90 1
Planet Patrol Planet Patrol 1983 64
Shannon Let The Music Play 1983 32 11 Gold
Cameo She's Strange 1983 27 1 Gold
Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown Unity 1983 87
Billy Ocean Suddenly 1984 9 9 2× Platinum
Force MDs "Love Letters" 1984 185 28
La Toya Jackson Heart Don't Lie[25] 1984 149 65
Melba Moore Read My Lips[26] 1984 130 24
Pet Shop Boys West End Girls 1984
Cheap Trick Standing on the Edge[27] 1985 35
Force MDs Chillin'[28] 1985 69 14
Freddie Jackson Rock Me Tonight[29] 1985 10 1 Platinum
James Brown Rocky IV (soundtrack)Living In America[30] 1985 10 10 Platinum
Michael Bolton The Hunger 1985 46 2× Platinum
Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force Planet Rock: The Album 1986
Bob James & David Sanborn Double Vision 1986 50 16 Platinum
Carly Simon Coming Around Again[31] 1986 25 Platinum
Chaka Kahn Destiny[32] 1986 67 24
Don Johnson Heatbeat[32] 1986 17 Gold
Pointer Sisters Hot Together[33] 1986 48 39
Pretty In Pink Soundtrack Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark If You Leave (song) 1986 5 Gold
Steve Winwood Back in the High Life[34] 1986 3 3× Platinum
Ice-T Rhyme Pays 1987 93 23 Gold
Stephanie Mills If I Were Your Woman[35] 1987 30 1 Gold
The Fat Boys Crushin' 1987 8 4 Platinum
Al B Sure In Effect Mode[36] 1987 20 1 2× Platinum
Ramones Halfway to Sanity[37] 1987 172
Information Society Information Society (album) 1988 25 78 Gold
Run DMC Tougher Than Leather[38] 1988 9 2 Platinum
Tommy Page Tommy Page[39] 1988 166
Heavy D & The Boys Big Tyme[40] 1989 19 1 Platinum
Public Enemy Do the Right Thing Fight the Power[41] 1989 68 11 Gold Single
Keith Sweat Keep It Comin' 1991 20 1 Platinum
Kool Moe Dee Knowledge Is King 1989 25 2 Gold
Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine[42] 1989 75 3× Platinum[43]
Al B. Sure! Private Times...and the Whole 9![44] 1990 20 4 Gold
Madonna The Immaculate Collection Justify My Love[45] 1990 2 42 Diamond
Celine Dion Unison[46] 1990 74 Platinum
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming Out of There Shells[47] 1990 Platinum
Color Me Badd C.M.B. I Wanna Sex You Up[48] 1991 3 1 3× Platinum
Kool Moe Dee Funke, Funke Wisdom[49] 1991 72 19 Gold
Heavy D & The Boys Peaceful Journey[50] 1991 21 5 Platinum
Naughty By Nature Juice (soundtrack) Uptown Anthem[51] 1991 17 3 Gold
Naughty By Nature Naughty By Nature (album) O.P.P.[51] 1991 16 10 Platinum
Miles Davis Doo-Bop[52] 1992 1 Jazz 25
Naughty By Nature 19 Naughty III[52] 1992 3 1 Platinum
SWV It's About Time[53] 1992 8 2 3× Platinum
LL Cool J 14 Shots to the Dome[54] 1993 5 1 Gold
Queen Latifah Black Reign[55] 1992 60 15 Gold
2Pac Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...[56] 1993 24 4 Platinum
Aaron Hall The Truth[57] 1993 47 7 Platinum
Poetic Justice Usher Call Me a Mack[58] 1993 23 19 Gold
Run-DMC Down with the King[59] 1993 7 1 Gold
2Pac Me Against The World[60] 1994 1 1 2× Platinum
Anita Baker Rhythm of Love[60] 1994 3 1 2× Platinum
Nas Illmatic[60] 1994 12 2 2× Platinum
Junior M.A.F.I.A. Conspiracy[61] 1993 8 2 Gold
Mobb Deep The Infamous[62] 1995 18 10 Gold
Madeleine Peyroux Dreamland[63] 1996
Lil Kim Hard Core[62] 1996 11 3 2× Platinum
Capone-N-Noreaga The War Report[64] 1997 21 4 Gold
KRS-One I Got Next[65] 1997 3 2 Gold
Big Pun Capital Punishment 1998 5 1 Platinum
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star Black Star[66] 1998 58 13
Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz Make It Reign Deja Vu[67] 1998 38 8 Platinum single
Mary J. Blige Mary "Give Me You" 1999 2 1 2× Platinum
Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Vol. 1 1999 1 1 Platinum
Nelly Country Grammar[68] 2000 1 1 Diamond
Pink Can't Take Me Home[69] 2000 26 23 2× Platinum
Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor[70] 2001 1 1 6× Platinum
Brian McKnight Superhero Groovin' Tonight (featuring St. Lunatics)[70] 2000 7 4 Gold
St Lunatics Free City[71] 2001 3 1 Platinum
DMX Cradle 2 the Grave Soundtrack "X Gon' Give it to Ya" 2003 6 3 Gold
Joe Bonamassa Blues Deluxe[72] 2003 8 Blues
Joe Bonamassa Had to Cry Today[73] 2004 5 Blues

Grammy, AMA, MTV Awards

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Grammy Awards earned by artists for projects that passed through Unique.[74]

Year Artist Album Award Category Status
1985 Billy Ocean Suddenly Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) Grammy Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Won
1985 Shannon (American singer) Let The Music Play Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Nominated
1985 Melba Moore Read My Lips Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Won
1986 Freddie Jackson Rock Me Tonight Grammy Best New Artist Won
1986 Jimmy Cliff Cliff Hanger Grammy Best Reggae Album Won
1986 Steve Winwood Back in the High Life Grammy Album of The Year Nominated
1986 Steve Winwood Back in the High Life Higher Love Grammy Song of The Year Nominated
1986 Steve Winwood Steve Winwood & Russ Titelman Grammy Non- Classicical Producer of The Year Nominated
1986 Steve Winwood Back in the High Life Grammy Record of The Year Won
1986 Steve Winwood Back in the High Life Higher Love Grammy Best Pop Performance – Male Won
1986 Steve Winwood Back in the High Life Grammy Best Engineered Non- Classical Album Won
1987 Bob James and David Sanborn Double Vision Since I Fell For You Grammy Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male Won
1987 Bob James and David Sanborn Double Vision (Bob James and David Sanborn album) Grammy Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental Won
1987 James Brown Rocky IV (soundtrack) Living in America Grammy Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male Won
1988 Joe Cocker Unchain My Heart Grammy Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, Male Nominated
1988 Joe Cocker Unchain My Heart Grammy Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance Nominated
1987 Anita Baker Compositions Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Won
1990 Public Enemy Fight the Power Grammy Best Rap Performance Nominated
1991 Naughty By Nature Naughty by Nature (album) O.P.P. Grammy Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated
1992 Color Me Badd C.M.B. I Wanna Sex You Up Grammy Best New Artist Nominated
1992 Color Me Badd C.M.B. I Wanna Sex You Up Grammy Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Nominated
1992 Naughty By Nature Naughty by Nature (album) O.P.P. AMA Favorite New Artist – Rap / Hip-Hop Won
1993 Inner Circle (band) Bad Boys Grammy Best Reggae Album by a Duo or Group Won
1993 Miles Davis Doo-Bop Grammy Best R&B Instrumental Performance Won
1993 Naughty By Nature 19 Naughty III Hip Hop Hooray Grammy Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated
1994 Toni Braxton Toni Braxton (album) Grammy Best New Artist Won
1994 Toni Braxton Toni Braxton (album) Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Won
1994 Toni Braxton Toni Braxton (album) AMA Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist Won
1994 Toni Braxton Toni Braxton (album) AMA Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist Won
1994 Toni Braxton Toni Braxton (album) AMA Favorite Soul/R&B Album Won
1995 Anita Baker I Apologize Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Won
1996 Naughty By Nature Poverty's Paradise Grammy Best Rap Album Won
1996 Naughty By Nature Feel Me Flow Grammy Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Nominated
1996 SWV It's About Time Grammy Best New Artist Nominated
1997 Get Shorty Soundtrack Grammy Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Nominated
1999 Big Pun Capital Punishment Grammy Best Rap Album Nominated
1999 Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Vol.1 Ruff Ryders' Anthem MTV VA Best Rap Video Nominated
2001 Nelly Country Grammar Grammy Best Rap Album Nominated
2001 Nelly Country Grammar Grammy Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated
2001 Pink Can't Take Me Home AMA Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist Nominated
2002 Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor Fallin' (Alicia Keys song) Grammy Song of the Year Won
2002 Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor Fallin' (Alicia Keys song) Grammy Best R&B Song Won
2002 Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor Fallin' (Alicia Keys song) Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Won
2002 Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor Grammy Best New Artist Won
2002 Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor Grammy Best R&B Album Won
2002 Nelly Country Grammar Ride wit Me Grammy Best Rap Solo Performance Won

References

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