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Studio X

Coordinates: 47°36′54″N 122°20′35″W / 47.615023°N 122.343072°W / 47.615023; -122.343072
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Studio X
Company typeRecording studio
IndustryMusic
Founded1979; 45 years ago (1979)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
FounderSteve and Debbie Lawson
SuccessorSteve Lawson Productions
Websitewww.badanimals.com

Studio X (formerly known as Bad Animals Studio and Kaye-Smith Studios[1]) is a music and media recording studio on 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. Originally part of the Kaye-Smith Enterprises media conglomerate founded by Lester Smith and actor Danny Kaye, the studio was used to record commercials and musicians. The studio was re-launched as Steve Lawson Productions by Steve and Debbie Lawson in 1979.[1] The sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of the band Heart owned the studio from 1991 until 1997, and named it Bad Animals after their 1987 album of the same name. Artists such as Heart, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Queensrÿche, Mad Season, Foo Fighters, Audioslave, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, Jerry Cantrell, Eddie Vedder, Duff McKagan, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Radiohead, R.E.M., Deftones, Soulfly, Steve Vai, KMFDM, and Neil Young have recorded at the studio.[2]

History

In 1991, Nancy and Ann Wilson of the band Heart entered into a partnership with Steve Lawson, who owned Kaye-Smith Studios where many of their 1970s hits, as well as their 1980 album Bébé le Strange, had been recorded.[3] They upgraded the facility to the state-of-the-art, and renamed it Bad Animals Studio. The studio was named after Heart's 1987 album, Bad Animals.[4] Ann and Nancy sold the studio back to the Lawsons in 1997, and it was renamed Studio X.[5]

Several of the Humongous Entertainment games were also recorded by Bad Animals Studios.

In May 1993, Nirvana entered Bad Animals Studios to remix the songs "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies" for their album In Utero.[6]

The music video for Soundgarden's 1994 single "Fell on Black Days" was filmed at the studio.[7]

In 1997, Steve Lawson sold Bad Animals to Mike McAuliffe, Dave Howe, Charlie Nordstrom and Tom McGurk.[8]

In 1998, the Spice Girls recorded vocals for the song "Boyfriend/Girlfriend", their contribution to the South Park soundtrack at the studio.[9]

In 2001, Bill Brown recorded all of the music for Microsoft's Windows XP operating system with a live orchestra at the studio.[10]

On September 1, 2003, Seattle radio station KNDD 107.7 The End hosted a solo acoustic performance by Thom Yorke at Studio X.[11]

In October 2017, the studio was purchased for $21.6 million by Skanska, which plans to build a 346-unit multifamily tower with ground-floor retail in the building.[12]

On October 31, 2018, Studio X, now managed by Reed Ruddy, moved its location from Belltown to Capitol Hill.[12] Alice in Chains' 2018 album Rainier Fog was the last album recorded at the original studio.[12]

Albums recorded at Bad Animals/Studio X

Partial list.

Film scores recorded at Bad Animals/Studio X

Video game scores recorded at Bad Animals/Studio X

References

  1. ^ a b Phalen, Tom (November 25, 1995). "Seattle's history as studio Mecca predates grunge". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 47. p. 69. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018..
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Clients - Studio X". studioxinc.com.
  3. ^ "Heart". Mix. 22 (1–6). Mix Publications: 169. ISSN 0164-9957.
  4. ^ Updike, Robin (October 7, 1991). "Recording Studio Just A 'Heart' Beat Away". The Seattle Times.
  5. ^ "Bad Animals, Inc". Moby Games.
  6. ^ Azerrad, 1994. p. 337–38
  7. ^ "SOUNDGARDEN were working hard on the SUPERUNKNOWN album at Bad Animals studios in Seattle in the autumn of 1993". Instagram. June 23, 2018.
  8. ^ Kelly, Brian (June 17, 1999). "Hear, Hear: Sound Effects Win Emmys -- 'Nye The Science Guy' Team Go To Great Lengths". The Seattle Times.
  9. ^ "Studio Action". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 37 (published September 12, 1998). September 12, 1998. p. 66.
  10. ^ Brown, Bill (July 4, 2013). "Almost 14 years ago I wrote the music for Windows XP…". Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via Facebook.
  11. ^ "Studio X - Seattle, WA USA September 1, 2003". greenplastic.com.
  12. ^ a b c Brodeur, Nicole (August 24, 2018). "Belltown's Studio X, witness to some of Seattle's greatest music milestones, makes way for the wrecking ball". The Seattle Times.
  13. ^ "Bette Midler – Bette Midler". Radio.Video.Music. November 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Dionne Warwick – Track Of The Cat". Discogs.
  15. ^ "Little Queen – Heart". AllMusic.
  16. ^ "M.I.U. Album". albumlinernotes.com.
  17. ^ "Bébé le Strange – Heart". AllMusic.
  18. ^ "Heart – Greatest Hits / Live". Discogs.
  19. ^ "Private Audition – Heart". AllMusic.
  20. ^ Metal Church (LP sleeve). Metal Church. Elektra Records. 1985. 60471-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ "R.E.M. – Automatic For The People". Discogs.
  22. ^ "Tad – Inhaler". Discogs.
  23. ^ "Four classics recorded at Seattle's Studio X, aka Bad Animal". Metal Hammer. July 19, 2018.
  24. ^ "The Oral History of Soundgarden's 'Superunknown'". Spin. June 5, 2014.
  25. ^ "Hole – Live Through This". Discogs.
  26. ^ "23 Years Ago: Pearl Jam Overcome Internal Strife on 'Vitalogy'". Loudwire. December 6, 2017.
  27. ^ "Above – Mad Season". AllMusic.
  28. ^ "Mirror Ball – Neil Young". AllMusic.
  29. ^ "Heart – The Road Home". Discogs.
  30. ^ "Adrenaline – Deftones". AllMusic.
  31. ^ "Candlebox – Lucy". Discogs.
  32. ^ "Alice in Chains – Alice in Chains". AllMusic.
  33. ^ "Down on the Upside – Soundgarden". AllMusic.
  34. ^ "New Adventures in Hi-Fi – R.E.M." AllMusic.
  35. ^ "Yield – Pearl Jam". AllMusic.
  36. ^ "Boggy Depot – Jerry Cantrell". AllMusic.
  37. ^ "Heart Presents A Lovemongers' Christmas". AllMusic.
  38. ^ "13 Ways to Bleed on Stage – Cold". AllMusic.
  39. ^ "Riot Act – Pearl Jam". AllMusic.
  40. ^ "Audioslave – Audioslave". AllMusic.
  41. ^ "Deftones – Deftones". AllMusic.
  42. ^ "Savages – Soulfly". AllMusic.
  43. ^ "Transatlanticism – Death Cab for Cutie". AllMusic.
  44. ^ In Between Evolution - The Tragically Hip | Album | AllMusic, retrieved July 15, 2024
  45. ^ "Catch Without Arms – Dredg". AllMusic.
  46. ^ "Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam". AllMusic.
  47. ^ a b "Into the Wild [Original Soundtrack] – Eddie Vedder". AllMusic.
  48. ^ "Ukulele Songs – Eddie Vedder". AllMusic.
  49. ^ "Fanatic – Heart". AllMusic.
  50. ^ "The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis". AllMusic.
  51. ^ "King Animal – Soundgarden". AllMusic.
  52. ^ "Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam". AllMusic.
  53. ^ "Satyricon – Satyricon". AllMusic.
  54. ^ Beaudoin, Jedd (August 27, 2018). "Destroy Or Be Destroyed: Alice in Chains Confronts Ghosts, Past on 'Rainier Fog'". PopMatters.
  55. ^ "Big Fish [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Danny Elfman". AllMusic.
  56. ^ Dietrich, Heidi (May 5, 2005). "Seattle scores in Hollywood". Pudget Sound Business Journal.
  57. ^ "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic.
  58. ^ "Orphan [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic.
  59. ^ "Carter Burwell - The Blind Side". carterburwell.com.
  60. ^ "Eat Pray Love [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic.
  61. ^ "Carter Burwell - Carol". carterburwell.com.
  62. ^ "Carter Burwell - The Founder". carterburwell.com.
  63. ^ G., Andrew (July 30, 2016). "An Oral History of the Halo 2 E3 2003 Demo". Medium.
  64. ^ Staff (September 20, 2007). "Interview with Halo 3 Composer Marty O'Donnell". Music4Games. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  65. ^ Van Zelfden, Alex (June 6, 2008). "The Music of The Incredible Hulk". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  66. ^ Usher, William (September 12, 2010). "Halo: Reach Soundtrack Available For Musically Inclined Gamers". Cinema Blend.
  67. ^ "Making the secret symphony of Peggle 2". Polygon. December 11, 2013.

47°36′54″N 122°20′35″W / 47.615023°N 122.343072°W / 47.615023; -122.343072

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