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The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Ep466: Eddie Kramer - The Making of Electric Lady Studios

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Nate Goyer

Music, Music History, Music Interviews

4.7 • 579 Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2024

⏱️ 44 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Legendary producer Eddie Kramer shares the history and legacy of Electric Lady Studios, the revolutionary space built for Jimi Hendrix's creative genius - from its groundbreaking design, Hendrix's final sessions, to the incredible impact this iconic studio had on rock music history.

Topics Include:

  • Electric Lady wasn't just a studio; it was Jimi Hendrix's creative sanctuary.
  • Back in the '70s, having your own studio as a rock artist was unheard of—Jimi changed that.
  • They transformed a basement nightclub into a cutting-edge studio, unlike anything else at the time.
  • Jimi lived just blocks away—he'd walk over with his guitar and just dive into creating.
  • The vibe at Electric Lady was pure Jimi—his vision made it an extension of himself.
  • Eddie and the team prepped the studio for 24-tracks, even though it started at 16.
  • The studio had custom innovations, like seating designed to keep friends out of sightlines.
  • Hendrix loved working fast, and Electric Lady let him capture that energy in every session.
  • Hendrix recorded there for four months before heading to Europe—and never returned.
  • The documentary gives a glimpse of that magical time, full of outtakes and alternate mixes.
  • Kramer talks about how they audited tapes and recorded new songs, blending old and new ideas.
  • Fun fact: The round windows in the studio doors? Jimi's idea. He loved to keep things unique.
  • The Village was Jimi's playground—he could walk around without being bothered.
  • Eddie recalls marathon sessions with Jimi, cracking jokes between takes, always keeping it light.
  • Hendrix was a master at balancing creativity and fun—there was always laughter in the room.
  • Eddie mixed a lot of iconic music at Electric Lady, including tracks from David Bowie and Zeppelin.
  • Hendrix wanted to expand his sound with strings and horns—his musical vision kept growing.
  • The final sessions at Electric Lady were intense, but full of joy and excitement.
  • Electric Lady still has the same vibe, with a layout that's barely changed in over 50 years.
  • The five LP box set coming out captures the magic of those original sessions—essential listening.
  • Hendrix built Electric Lady to be his personal space, and it became a landmark for music history.

Order the movie and 5-LP boxset here

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey there, vinyl lovers, listen up. It's time to take your vinyl experience to the next level

0:04.9

with sidetracked workshop.com. Sightract Workshop has gorgeous handcrafted record storage,

0:10.7

exquisitely cool turntable furniture, all made with beautiful hardwood out of the USA.

0:15.7

Sightract Workshop blends style, functionality, and durability. You spend a small fortune on records, don't keep them in a

0:22.4

crate, store and display in style with a console or cabinet from sidetracked workshop.com. Elevate

0:28.5

your vinyl setup at sidetracked workshop.com. And now on with the show. Welcome to the vinyl guide,

0:37.4

the podcast for record collectors and music nerds.

0:40.4

Here's your host, the biggest record nerd of them all, Nate Goyer.

0:43.9

Ah, well, hey, everyone, it's Nate.

0:46.2

Welcome to episode 466 of the Vinyl Guide, the podcast for record collectors and music nerds.

0:52.4

And ladies and gentlemen, this week we are welcoming back to the show,

0:57.0

legendary producer, Mr. Eddie Kramer.

1:00.0

Eddie and I are going to deep dive into the history and legacy of Electric Lady Studios,

1:05.9

the revolutionary studio space built for Jimmy Hendrix's creative genius. Now today, Eddie and I are going to

1:12.8

talk all about the groundbreaking design, Jimmy's involvement, including his final sessions

1:18.2

in Electric Lady, and of course the incredible impact this iconic studio has had on rock music history.

1:24.9

Now, this is all sparked by the incredible documentary Electric Lady Studios, a Jimmy Hendrix

1:30.4

vision.

1:31.1

That doco is now screening and select theaters, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the creation

1:36.3

of this groundbreaking studio.

1:38.4

It includes rare interviews, rarely seen pictures, and a lot more.

1:42.8

You can check it out and see if it's playing near you at jimmy hendricks.com.

...

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