Address: New York City, later Los Angeles and Sausalito, California, U.S.A.
Fiounder: Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone
Current Status: Active
The Record Plant is one of the most legendary recording studios in the world, known for revolutionising the way artists record music. Founded in 1968 by Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone, it transformed the traditional studio from a sterile, technical environment into a creative, musician-centred space. Over the next five decades, The Record Plant became synonymous with innovation, comfort, and some of the most important albums ever made, serving artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, and countless others. With locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Sausalito, The Record Plant helped shape the sound of modern recording and the culture of the professional studio.
Notable Recordings from The Record Plant
The first Record Plant opened in New York City in March 1968. Gary Kellgren, a highly respected engineer known for his work with Jimi Hendrix, and business partner Chris Stone envisioned a new kind of studio that felt like an extension of the artist’s creative space. Instead of a cold, clinical environment, Record Plant featured comfortable lighting, stylish décor, and lounge areas that encouraged collaboration.
The concept proved a success almost immediately. Jimi Hendrix recorded Electric Ladyland there, setting the tone for the studio’s future reputation. Encouraged by this success, Kellgren and Stone opened a second facility in Los Angeles in 1969 and a third in Sausalito in 1972. Each studio quickly became a centrepiece of its city’s music scene.
The Los Angeles Record Plant hosted sessions for Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, and the Eagles, while the Sausalito location became known for albums such as Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. The Record Plant New York played a major role in 1970s rock and soul before closing in 1987, but the Los Angeles facility continued to thrive, adapting to modern technology while retaining its historic charm.
The Record Plant’s influence extended beyond its recordings. It was one of the first studios to employ in-house maintenance engineers and to integrate artist hospitality into studio design, setting a new industry standard.