Record Plant Studios in Sausalito

Today, Isabel and I went to see "The Record Plant" studios in Sausalito, a European-style village, located directly across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

"The Record Plant" studios are three famous studios, founded and opened by Gary Kellgren (creative genius, producer and studio designer of "The Record Plant") and Chris Stone. The first Record Plant studio had been opened in New York City in 1968. The next year, they opened a studio in Los Angeles. In 1972, they also opened this studio in Sausalito.

Many of the legendary, top-selling albums of all time were recorded at those studios (e.g. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland in New York City, John Lennon: Imagine also in New York City, Queen: The Works in Los Angeles...).

Well-known albums recorded or mixed at this studio in Sausalito:

• Supernatural by Carlos Santana
• Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
• Graffiti Bridge by Prince
• Load by Metallica
• ReLoad by Metallica
• Music Box by Mariah Carey
• Sports by Huey Lewis and the News
  

We tried to call the studios to have a look behind the scenes – nothing but a recorded greeting, but we went to see, even if they weren’t going to answer their phone for us. But when we came there, we stand in front of closed doors. The letters were still in the mailbox, the doorbell was covered with tape, the phone, with which the doorman can be called, was dead. The legendary Plant Studios looked empty, deserted and closed. Some old couches and chairs stood behind the building, which is totally coated with wood. Old couches from the Studios? When we tried to ring the doorbell, no one answered. We asked the neighbours - but nobody had any idea, what happened to the Plant Studios.

A photo of the run-down building: Isabel infront of "The Record Plant Studio" in Sausalito

We contacted Mari Tamburo from the Plant Studios via E-Mail. She said to us, that the Plant Studios was forced out of their Sausalito location earlier this year. They are still trying to retrieve the remainder of their property. We will stay in contact with Mari - maybe we can figure out an interesting story about that topic. So stay tuned!

How can you help? - You can sign the online petition to support the efforts to preserve the building and restore the studios, as it is currently in danger of development.

Help Preserve The Plant's Music Legacy: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/PreserveThePlant

The alternate National Anthem?

Ralph Nader is given a musical salute by Tom Morello

Tom Morello, the well-known guitarist of “Rage Against the Machine” and the disbanded band “Audioslave”, supported Ralph Nader with a musical salute at The Open the Debates Rally on August the 27th in Denver - held on the same night as other big Democratic events in Denver.

Tom Morello assists Ralph Nader to help save the South Central Farm - an urban farm and community garden located in an industrial area of South Los Angeles. The city of Los Angeles sold the land out in 2002 to real estate developer Ralph Horowitz for $5 million, who plans to demolish the farm and build a series of warehouses in its place - the farmers and immigrants are forced to remove.

Tom sang, driven by his dolefulness of this issue, the original, unedited version of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land”. This version includes content about the rights of people which had been censored. Woody Guthrie wrote this song in 1940 in response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”. Morello sang the “secret, censored” verses in his version:

”As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.”

“In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumbling and some are wondering
If this land’s still made for you and me.”

That’s a full-length version that you will not find anywhere.

For more information, go to:

http://www.votenader.org/

http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/

"This Land is Your Land"

"john.he.is"

"Yes We Can" is a song that was inspired by a speech from the democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obamas after the pre-election in the state New Hampshire in January 2008. It is intended to support Obamas presidential candidacy and includes performances by 37 well-known stars, mostly musicians, singers, actors, but also a former basketball player (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Obama's quotes are sung or spoken by the artists, combined with excerpts of the speech itself. The song was released on February 2, 2008 by the Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am on Dipdive.com and also on YouTube under the username 'WeCan08'.

"Yes We Can"

Some kind of video response to the original video "Yes We Can" is called "john.he.is" which refers back to the name of will.i.am. The video can no be taken that seriously, but have a look on that. It shows that many people participate on the elections and support their favourite candidate. I found this video on YouTube - watch it and have fun!

"john.he.is"

McCain and Palin ignore “Heart’s” plea to stop playing their song

When McCain and Palin took a bath in the crowd, shaking hands and kissing babies, after delivering their speech at the Republican National Convention, it was Heart’s 1977 hit ‘Barracuda’ blaring in the background. While it may have delighted Sarah ‘Barracuda’ Palin – as she is affectionaley known for ‘going after the good ol’ boys’ that were taking advantage of her citizens back in chilly Alaska - it got the Wilson sisters and their backing band pretty hot under the collar.

Had they or the band been asked permission to use the song they would have denied the request. A member of the band also added that he had already planned “poetic justice” for its use.

http://www.heart-music.com/news/news.asp?item=112960 - if you visit this page, you will see how upsetting the use of their song it is to the ladies. They have voiced their opinion and the use of their song is continuing. If the song is used any longer I am only curious to see the “poetic justice” that is spoken of, and to see if the several other big names band furious that their songs have been used without direct permission, take the same action.

“Barracuda”

Political Anthem for John McCain

While Barack Obama has the support of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Bright Eyes and many other musicians (see the video clips at my blog and find artists and videos exclusively at - http://lafp60smusicproject.com/), John McCain has his own country singer.

John Rich, the American country music artist, is proud to be well-known as one of McCain’s supporting artists who played at the Republican National Convention.
Rich, 34, released his campaign song “Raisin’ McCain” on his website (http://www.johnrich.com/) to support the Republican presidential candidate – he performed it at the closing ceremony of the Republican Convention on September 3, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Rich plans to continue his musical support for John McCain during the elections in November:

“I respect McCain for his heroism over the years. He stands for the things I value and there aren’t many young conservatives like me who make it into the media, so I’m trying to do my part.”

“Raisin’ McCain” is focusing on the five and a half years McCain spent in a POW (Prisoner of War) camp in Hanoi, North Vietnam:

“Well he got shot down in a Vietnam town

Fighting for the red, white and blue

And they locked him up in the Hanoi Hilton

Thinking they could break him in two”

"Raisin' McCain"

All the way for Barack Obama

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe sported a Barack Obama T-Shirt as the band made their first live appearance of this year at the Langerado Festival in Big Cypress, Florida on March the 8th.
All band members are well known as democrats. R.E.M. also took part at the "Vote For Change" tour in 2004.

Michael Stipe pointed out:

"I'm for Barack Obama all the way. The Clinton campaign has took a desperate turn and has, I think, shown its true colors. How dare they use fear against Americans after these past seven years? I'm really tired of politicians telling me what to be afraid of. On the other hand, Obama is hopeful, grounded and clearly intelligent. He is, relatively, an outsider to the beholden D.C. club, and I think that is what America is calling out for; not a career politician but a true outsider candidate. He represents I think the true spirit of the beginning of the 21st century."

"Looking back," Stipe continues, "I feel like we've all had enough of the fear and the arrogance, and losing our place in the world. Our very big idea of a country and democracy has been brought to a near end by very small people."

Michael Stipe's disaffection becomes obvious in R.E.M.'s latest release "Accelerate". You can listen to his sociopolitical enragement especially in songs like "Man-Sized Wreath" and "Living Well is the Best Revenge".

"Man-Sized Wreath"




“Living Well is the Best Revenge”

“Rock around Barack”

This rock band wants Obama for president: It’s Pearl Jam. Well, not exactly. Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, wasn’t involved.
“Rock around Barack” is a cover from Bill Haley’s “Rock Around The Clock” from 1955. Only the words “the Clock” has been replaced by “Barack”.
Stone Gossard, Pearl Jam’s guitarist and “Barack” vocalist, says this about the tribute:

“This is a track I’ve been thinking about for a while. “Rock Around The Clock” was the first mainstream rock and roll hit in 1955 and it had a transforming effect on American music. At that time, rock and rhythm and blues music was traditionally only played on black radio. I am, by no means, an expert on the history of rock & roll, but this was a big deal. The rhythm of rock music and its energy were so overwhelming that traditional barriers of race and culture broke down with an enormous crash. So here’s to new energy, rock and the breaking down of cultural barriers: Barack Around The Clock!”

No one knows exactly why Eddie Vedder refused to play that song. Probably Eddie isn’t quite sure yet because he always supported Ralph Nader. For Example: Eddie Vedder rallied for Nader in 2000 performing Steven Van Zandt’s “I Am A Patriot “ and Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changing” in NYC and Chicago.
But maybe he is afraid that Pearl Jam is morphing into the world’s worst cover band for Barack Obama.