Criteria Studios
25°54′48″N 80°09′50″W / 25.913245°N 80.163905°W
Company type | Miami , |
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Criteria Studios is a recording studio in North Miami, Florida, founded in 1958 by musician Mack Emerman. Hundreds of gold, platinum, and diamond singles and albums have been recorded, mixed or mastered at Criteria, for many notable artists and producers.[1]
Facilities
Criteria has seven studios, each with its own letter designation. Studio A is Criteria's largest live room, designed to be large enough to record a symphony orchestra, with a ceiling outline of 3,000 square feet and a Solid State Logic 9096 J console, multitrack tape decks, and a Pro Tools HD3 system. Studio B is a Pro Tools suite with a Solid State Logic AWS900. Studio C has a 20 x 30 foot live room with 19 foot high ceilings, and the 40-input vintage Neve 8078 mixing console formerly in Criteria's Studio A. Studio D has an SSL ORIGIN, the John Storyk-designed Studio E with its 27-foot peaked ceilings also houses an SSL9096J. Studio F is a digital production suite, featuring an SSL Duality console. Lastly, the Studio M7 production suite has a Slate RAVEN.[1][2][3]
History
Background
In 1950, musician Mack Emerman, a former trumpet player with the
1958-1969 - Early years
Criteria's early sessions included jazz bands, commercial work, and small film work. When production for CBS The Jackie Gleason Show moved to Miami Beach in the early 1960s, Criteria Studios was hired to produce the show's music. Criteria expanded in 1965, building Studio A with a live room large enough to record a 72-piece orchestra, still Criteria's largest live room today. The same year, King Records owner Syd Nathan visited the studios with James Brown, and was so impressed by the sound of the studio's 8-channel custom recording console (cutting-edge technology at the time) that he booked an October recording session, during which Brown recorded his hit song "I Got You (I Feel Good)".[4] The Albert Brothers (Ron and Howard) established themselves as a production duo at Criteria in the late 1960s with their signature "Fat Albert" drum sound.[7] In 1969, Brook Benton recorded his hit song "Rainy Night in Georgia" with Atlantic Records producer Arif Mardin.[8] Wilson Pickett and Betty Wright were also among the artists to record at Criteria in its early days.[7]
1970-1975 - "Atlantic South"
In the 1970s, Atlantic Records' executive
The Allman Brothers Band recorded Idlewild South with Dowd at Criteria, leading to Duane Allman playing with Eric Clapton on all but 3 tracks of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.[12] The Allman Brothers Band returned to Criteria to record tracks that would be released on Eat a Peach, and Clapton took up residence at 461 Ocean Boulevard in Golden Beach, Florida to record his 1974 solo album by the same name at Criteria. Clapton and his manager Robert Stigwood later suggested to RSO label mates the Bee Gees that relocating to the house to record at Criteria may similarly benefit from a change of scene.[13]
In 1973,
1975-1979 - The Bee Gees
In 1975, on the advice of Eric Clapton and Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees rented 461 Ocean Boulevard in Miami to again record with Arif Mardin, this time at Criteria Studios. Working with Criteria's Karl Richardson, Main Course marked a change of direction that would become the template for numerous successful projects at the studio for the remainder of the decade.[18] The Bee Gees' next album Children of the World and its hit single, "You Should Be Dancing", was the first to feature the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team consisting of Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten, and Criteria's Karl Richardson.[19] The combination of Galuten, Richardson, and one or all of the Gibb brothers would become responsible for a record-breaking string of hit recordings produced at Criteria, including several songs on the chart-topping Saturday Night Fever soundtrack album, Andy Gibb's Flowing Rivers (1977) and Shadow Dancing (1978), and the Frankie Valli title song "Grease" from the musical motion picture of the same name, culminating in six songs topping the Billboard Hot 100 in the first six months of 1978, breaking records previously set by the Beatles. At the time, Criteria was Florida's largest independent studio facility.[20][21]
The Bee Gees recorded at Criteria again for their 1979 album, .
In 1978 and 1979, Criteria was utilized by Ted Nugent, AC/DC during the recording of Highway to Hell, and Bob Seger for 3 tracks from Against the Wind. Emerman and Dowd began planning an additional John Storyk-designed studio complex in Southern California at the former Walter Lance Animation Studios, which was going to be called Criteria West, but in light of a drop in demand and rising interest rates, plans for a west coast location were abandoned.[23] Grayson Hugh's self-titled, first studio album was mixed here in 1979 by Ron Scalise.
1980-1998 - Changing times
In 1981, Criteria utilized John Storyk's design expertise to expand the original location, adding Studio E, a large space with 27-foot peaked ceilings, decorated with Cuban tile, stained glass, and even a waterfall. Studio E was outfitted with a custom 56-channel MCI console and twin 24-track machines.[24] It was in the brand-new Studio E that Criteria staff producer-engineer Don Gehman helped John Mellencamp record "Jack & Diane" during the sessions for his 1981 commercial breakthrough album, American Fool.[25][26] The following year, Bow Wow Wow recorded "I Want Candy" at Criteria,[27] and The Romantics recorded their 1983 album, In Heat at the studio. In 1984, Criteria was the first studio in the southeastern US to install a Solid State Logic mixing console.
In 1987,
1999-2012 - Hit Factory Criteria Miami
In 1999, in an effort to tap into the growing popularity of Latin music, The Hit Factory purchased Criteria Studios and, after 9 months of extensive remodeling and rebuilding all of its five existing studios, as well as the addition of a sixth studio space, Studio F,[3] re-opened the studios under the new name "The Hit Factory Criteria Miami".[7] In 2003, Monica recorded her hit song "So Gone" at Hit Factory Criteria,[30] and the following year, CeeLo Green recorded Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine at the studio.[31] Maná recorded their 2006 album Amar es Combatir at Criteria[32] Other artists recording at the studio in the 2000s included Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Cliff Richard, and Nelly Furtado.
In 2005, Lil Wayne relocated to Miami and established semi-residency at Hit Factory Criteria, doing production work on numerous projects for various artists and recording his own material at the studios, including his 2008 commercial breakthrough Tha Carter III.[33][34][35][31]
In 2017, the facility once again reverted to the original Criteria Studios name.[2]
Selected artists
Artists who have recorded singles or albums at the studio include:
- 2 Live Crew
- 10,000 Maniacs
- ABBA
- AC/DC[7]
- Adele
- Aerosmith
- AGNEZ MO
- Alejandro Sanz
- Alicia Keys[2]
- The Allman Brothers Band[15]
- Andy Gibb[22]
- Aretha Franklin[15]
- Austin Mahone
- The Baskerville Hounds
- Bee Gees[18][19]
- Beach Boys
- The Bellamy Brothers
- Bertín Osborne
- Betty Wright[7]
- Billy Joel
- Black Sabbath[17]
- Bob Dylan
- Bob Marley[1]
- Bob Seger
- Bootsy Collins
- Bow Wow Wow[27]
- Brandy
- Brook Benton[8]
- Buddy Guy
- Candy
- Cardi B[2]
- CeeLo Green[31]
- Charred Walls of the Damned
- Chicago[22]
- Christina Aguilera[36]
- Collective Soul
- Comateens
- Creed
- Cristian Castro
- Crosby, Stills and Nash[7]
- Daliah Lavi
- David Bowie[28]
- Delaney & Bonnie
- Derek and the Dominos[15]
- Donny Hathaway
- Don Johnson
- Drake[2]
- Dr. Dre
- Dr. John
- Duane Allman[12]
- Eagles[1]
- Eddie Money
- Elvin Bishop[25]
- Enrique Iglesias
- Eric Clapton[12]
- Exposé
- Fleetwood Mac[15]
- Firefall
- Game
- Gang of Four
- Gloria Estefan
- Godsmack
- Grand Funk Railroad[14]
- High Point University Chamber Singers
- Ivano Fossati
- Jackie Gleason
- Jaco Pastorius
- James Brown[15]
- Jay-Z
- Jennifer Lopez[2]
- Jimmy Buffett
- Joe Cocker
- Joe Vitale
- John Cougar Mellencamp[25]
- John Denver
- John Lee Hooker
- Julio Iglesias
- Justin Bieber
- Soy)
- Leaves of Grass
- Lenny Kravitz
- Less Than Jake
- Lil Wayne[31]
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Maná[32]
- Manassas
- Manowar
- Mariah Carey
- Marilyn Manson
- Meat Loaf
- Mink DeVille
- Michael Jackson[37]
- Mickey Thomas[25]
- Monica[30]
- Nelly Furtado
- Nicki Minaj
- The Nails
- N.O.R.E.
- Ozuna[2]
- Pat Martino[38]
- Petula Clark
- PISO 21
- R.E.M.[28]
- REO Speedwagon
- R. Kelly
- Riggs
- Rod Stewart
- Ronnie Hawkins
- The Mothers of Invention
- The Romantics
- Sam Samudio
- Soda Stereo
- Shakira[2]
- Six Feet Under
- Stephen Stills[10]
- Vida Blue
- Will to Power
- Wilson Pickett[7]
- Wishbone Ash
- Wisin & Yandel[2]
- Yngwie J. Malmsteen
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Bieger, Hannes (May 2014). "Hit Factory Criteria, Miami". soundonsound.com. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Shultz, Barbara (31 January 2018). "Checking in With Criteria". mixonline.com. Future Plc. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Daley, Dan (1 May 2000). "The Merger of Two Classic Facilities: The Hit Factory Criteria Miami". mixonline.com. Future Plc. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-8118-3394-1.
- Palm Beach Post. p. G1. Archived from the originalon 12 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Biography: Mack Emerman". Mixonline. Future Plc. 1 October 1999. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j McDonnell, Evelyn (22 July 2008). "Miami sound machine". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-8118-3394-1.
- ^ Halberstadt, Alex (5 September 2000). "Jerry Wexler". salon.com. Salon.com, LLC. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-0306809743.
- EAN 5010791106060.
- ^ a b c "100 Greatest Guitar Solos: 14.) Layla (Eric Clapton, Duane Allman)". Guitar World. 28 October 2008. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ISBN 9780857120045. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ a b Myers, Paul (January 2020). "Phil Thornalley: I Want it to Sound Like This". tapeop.com. Tape Op. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Weber, Bruce (28 May 2013). "Mack Emerman, Founder of Criteria Recording Studios, Dies at 89". New York Times. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Richard Buskin (September 2010). "The Eagles 'Hotel California' Classic Tracks". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Runtagh, Jordan (December 8, 2016). "The Eagles' 'Hotel California': 10 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- ^ a b Joseph Brennan (2013). "Gibb Songs : 1975". Retrieved 2023-01-15.
- ^ a b Joseph Brennan (2013). "Gibb Songs : 1976". Retrieved 2023-01-15.
- ^ McCullaugh, Jim (8 July 1978). "Industry Discovers "Gold Coast"". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ McCullaugh, Jim (8 July 1978). "Sunshine State Is Producer's Paradise". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Joseph Brennan (2013). "Gibb Songs : 1978". Retrieved 2023-01-15.
- ^ Johnston, William (July 1987). "Criteria" (PDF). Studio Sound and Broadcast Engineering. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ "Criteria Recording Studios Miami, FL - Carla Harned's newspaper clippings collection". historyofrecording.com. History of Recording. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d Buskin, Richard (September 2011). "Classic Tracks: John Cougar 'Jack & Diane'". soundonsound.com. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-85712-843-0.
- ^ a b Reesman, Bryan (1 October 2007). "Classic Tracks: Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy"". mixonline.com. Future Plc. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d Daley, Dan (April 1995). "Criteria Recording" (PDF). Studio Sound and Broadcast Engineering. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ Wiederhorn, Jon. "23 Years Ago: Marilyn Manson Issues 'Portrait of an American Family'". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Billboard Production Credits". Billboard. 26 July 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4408-7488-8. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ a b Levin, Jordan (3 January 2008). "50 golden years for Criteria Recording Studios". thehour.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ Daley, Dan (March 2013). "Off The Record". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Meadows-Ingram, Benjamin (7 July 2012). "The Bosses of all Bosses" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ Barat, Nick (2007). "Lil Wayne: Eats Tapes". Fader.com. The Fader, Inc. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Criteria Recording Studios on Twitter: "#tbt and a hearty congratulations to @xtina on all the nominations..."". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-10-25.
- ^ Hall, Jermaine (2009-09-05). "V EXCLUSIVE: Rodney Jerkins Talks MJ's Last Studio Album, Invincible". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
- ^ Joyous Lake (1976 album)