Capitol Studios

The legendary recording studios located in Hollywood, California since 1956.
(1)

10/24/2025

It's always peace and love with Ringo Starr in Studio A!

10/20/2025

Cannonball Adderley recorded "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy!" at Capitol Studios on October 20, 1966. While the album was titled "Live At The Club," it was actually recorded at Capitol's Hollywood studio with an invited audience and an open bar.

10/15/2025

Capitol Studios amplified the Bakersfield Sound, turning honky-tonk rebellion into a chart-topping revolution.

While Nashville was polishing country music into the smooth "Nashville Sound," two thousand miles west in California's San Joaquin Valley, a different kind of country music, unafraid of its rough edges, was coming out of the smoky dance halls of Bakersfield.

Capitol Studios became instrumental in capturing and refining the Bakersfield sound of Buck Owens and Wynn Stewart, giving their electric guitars, prominent drums, and twangy vocals the professional polish needed for national airplay.

10/13/2025

In 1958, Dean Martin recorded his entire "Sleep Warm" album in just three late-night sessions between October 13-15. This was Dean Martin's first stereo release, and Capitol's state-of-the-art recording technology captured every detail of what the liner notes described as "a beguiling set of lullabies for moderns."

Frank Sinatra conducted the orchestra on the record, making this his fourth overall performance as album conductor and third on the Capitol Label. The recording proved so enduring that Capitol re-released it in 1963 under the title "Dean Martin Sings/Sinatra Conducts". Sleep Warm became one of Martin's most critically acclaimed projects, demonstrating how artistic risks taken in those late Hollywood nights could yield timeless results.

10/10/2025

Picture Day at Capitol Studios! Even our mics know how to pose for the camera. Say 'frequencies!' 📸

10/08/2025

Al Schmitt once said, “If I could only use one microphone – just one mic – it would be a Neumann U67.” His favorite was a Capitol Studio's U67 tuned by Klaus Heine, which he used on Diana Krall's 2002 Grammy winning album, "Look of Love".

10/06/2025

Yes, Capitol Records Tower is the most photogenic building in LA. No, this is not up for debate.

10/03/2025

Capitol Studios' Studio B houses a vintage, custom Neve 8068 56-input recording console. The console was originally a 32-channel frame, but Capitol's chief engineer expanded it by adding another 24-channel bucket, plus a new center section and other custom modifications. This particular 8068 features "flying faders", which are automated motorized faders that remember and replay mix moves.

What makes this console legendary isn't just its technical specifications, but its sonic fingerprint. The Neve 8068 series became synonymous with the warm, punchy sound that defined rock and pop records of the 1970s. Studio B's 1,023 square feet makes it ideal as a rock studio, yet sonically responsive enough to handle orchestral sessions. The Neve 8068 serves as the perfect sonic translator, capturing everything from intimate vocals to thunderous drums with equal precision.

10/01/2025

Elliott Smith recorded portions of ""Figure 8"" at Capitol Studios in Hollywood between 1998 and 2000, alongside sessions at Sunset Sound, Sonora Studios in Los Angeles, and Abbey Road Studios in London. This would become his final completed album, released on April 18, 2000.

Capitol Studios provided the perfect environment for Smith's most ambitious sonic experiment. Unlike his earlier lo-fi recordings, Figure 8 featured lush orchestral arrangements, all written by Smith himself. The studio's renowned echo chambers and acoustic properties allowed him to layer intricate string sections, Chamberlin textures, and "dirty blues reverb" that gave the album its distinctive cinematic quality.

At Capitol, Smith could seamlessly blend intimate whispered vocals with sweeping orchestral flourishes. Songs recorded during these sessions showcased his evolution from bedroom pop songwriter to sophisticated arranger, using the studio's capabilities to create what critics called his most "large-hearted" work.

The Capitol sessions represented a crucial chapter in Figure 8's creation, allowing Smith to realize his vision of turning pop music inside out. Within those Hollywood walls, he transformed personal vulnerability into grand musical statements, proving that the most private emotions could be expressed through the most expansive sonic landscapes. Twenty-five years later, that combination of intimacy and orchestral ambition still sounds revolutionary.

Photo Credit:

09/29/2025

Our 1945 Steinway Model B with a U47 for vocals. When it comes to a perfect sound, you can't ask for much else!

09/26/2025

The great Al Jarreau is one of the many legendary artists who have recorded at Capitol Studios. The six-time Grammy winner recorded and mixed "Glow" in 1976 and "Accentuate the Positive" in 2000. From his signature scatting to a vocal range spanning jazz, R&B, and pop, Al Jarreau's artistry was always on full display within Capitol Studios!

09/24/2025

Studio A has been a staple of recording history since the day Capitol Studios opened in April, 1956. Check out these historical shots from 1963, the year the Beach Boys recorded Surfin' USA!

Address

1750 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA
90028

Telephone

+13238715001

Website

https://www.capitolstudios.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Capitol Studios posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company in Los Angeles?