Sigma Sound Studioswas an American independentrecording studioinPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,founded in 1968 byrecording engineerJoseph Tarsia.Located at 212 North 12th Street in Philadelphia, Sigma Sound is closely associated withPhiladelphia soul,and was the location of numerous recordings ofGamble and Huff'sPhiladelphia International Records,the group ofsession musiciansknown asMFSB,and producerThom Bell.
 Sigma Sound Studios in 1979 | |
| Industry | Recording studio |
|---|---|
| Founded | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1968) |
| Founder | Joseph Tarsia |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Closed |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ,U.S. |
Number of locations | 2 |
Sigma Sound is credited with well over 200 gold and platinum awards with an extensive client list that includesHarold Melvin & the Blue Notes,The O'Jays,The Spinners,MFSB,David Bowie,Teddy Pendergrass,Patti LaBelle,The Rootsand others.[1]
From 1977 through 1988, the studios also operated a New York City location in theEd Sullivan Theaterbuilding, which hosted recording projects by artists includingTalking Heads,Madonna,theRamones,Aretha Franklin,and theB-52s.
History
editBackground
editIn fall of 1967, Joseph Tarsia, who had worked as a service technician for various Philadelphia recording studios before becomingchief engineeratCameo-ParkwayStudios, leveraged all of his assets to secure a $40,000 loan, which he used to lease 212 North 12th Street in Philadelphia in a location formerly occupied by Emil Corson's Rec-O-Art Studios. Rec-O-Art was a mono-only recording facility with a 40-foot long room and a 6x12x40 footecho chamberwhere Tarsia had previously done service technician work.[2]
Sigma Sound Philadelphia
editTarsia opened his new recording studio, renamed Sigma Sound, in August 1968, hosting sessions forGamble and Huff,Weldon McDougal,andThe Delfonicson the first day.[2]From the beginning, Sigma Sound was strongly associated withPhiladelphia souland, in the 1970s, the sound ofGamble and Huff'sPhiladelphia International Records(PIR), as well as the classic, sophisticated productions ofThom Bell,[3]hosting recording sessions for PIR acts and others.
More than 30 residentsession musicians,known collectively asMFSB( "Mother Father Sister Brother" ), were based at this studio and backed up most of the recordings.[4]Some of the musicians also acted asarrangers,writers,orproducersfor Philadelphia International as well as for other labels recording in the city. They includedBobby Martin,[5]Norman Harris,Thom Bell,Ronnie Baker,Vince Montanaand, later, Jack Faith, Dexter Wansel, and John Usry.
The studios' large productions with strings and horns became known as "The Sound of Philadelphia," or "T.S.O.P.", a term which became trademarked.[6]In 1972, MFSB began recording as a named act for the Philadelphia International Label, and recorded the theme for the American musical TV showSoul Trainat Sigma Sound. The song, "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)",was the first television theme song to reach No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100.[7]
In 1969Dusty SpringfieldrecordedA Brand New Meand its hittitle trackat Sigma Sound. The following year,Wilson Pickettteamed up with Gamble and Huff at Sigma Sound forWilson Pickett in Philadelphiaand two of Pickett's most popular singles from the early 1970s - "Engine No. 9" and "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You". In 1971 Harry Chipetz, former general manager of Cameo-Parkway, joined Sigma as general manager.[8]The same year,Laura NyroandLabellerecordedGonna Take a Miracleat the studio. On April 15, 1972, singer-songwriter and pianistBilly Joeland his touring band played an hour-long concert at Sigma Studios. The recording of "Captain Jack"from this event received extensive radio play in the Philadelphia area, long before Joel became widely known, which helped him establish a national following.[9]
In 1972,the O'Jaysrecorded their breakthrough albumBack Stabbersat Sigma Sound, along with its hit single "Love Train",one of the firstdiscosongs. The same year,Billy Paulrecorded his best-selling hit song "Me and Mrs. Jones"at the studio.[10]Other artists who experienced commercial success working with Gamble and Huff, Philadelphia International, and Sigma Sound Studios includedHarold Melvin & the Blue Notes,The Spinners,andTeddy Pendergrass.
In 1974,David Bowievisited Sigma Sound Studios to work on recordings withAva Cherry,and returned to Sigma Sound for the initial recording sessions for his 1975 albumYoung Americans.Local fans, whom Bowie referred to as the "Sigma Kids", waited outside the studio over the course of the sessions. On the final day of tracking, these fans were invited into the studio to listen to rough versions of the new songs.[11]
In 1976,Lou Rawlsrecorded his first album for PIR at Sigma Sound,All Things in Time,including Rawls' most successful single, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine".The same year, following their tenure at Motown as" the Jackson 5 ",the Jacksonsrecorded theirself-titled 1976 albumand their subsequent album,Goin' Places,at the studios.[2]
In 1979, Tarsia purchased the former United Artists screening room and studio at 13th and Vine Streets in Philadelphia, which Sigma converted to 3 additional studios to meet demand.[12]
Sigma Sound was one of the first recording studios in the United States to offer 24-track recording and the first anywhere to successfully employconsole automation.[13]The varied list of artists attracted by the studios' success includedthe Trammps,The Manhattans,Robert Palmer,Melba Moore,theSalsoul Orchestra,The Ritchie Family,Grace Jones,Loleatta Holloway,Linda Clifford,Gloria Gaynor,John Travoltaand others.[14]
Sigma Sound New York
editIn 1977, Tarsia opened a second Sigma Sound studio location in New York City. Located in theEd Sullivan Theaterbuilding, this studio was used by theVillage Peoplefor their albumsMacho Man(1978) andCruisin'(1978).
Sigma Sound's New York location was a favorite ofTalking Headswho, beginning with 1980'sRemain in Light,recorded some or all of their albums at Sigma Sound in New York City.[15][16]
In 1983,Madonnaused the New York studios to record her 1983 debut album,Madonna.
Other artists who recorded at Sigma Sound's New York studios includeRick James,Aretha Franklin,the B-52s,theRamones,[17]Whitney Houston,Steely Dan,Roy Ayers,Ashford & Simpson,Paul Simonand others.[1][14]
Sale and closure
editTarsia sold the New York studios in 1988 and the Philadelphia location in 2003, but they still retained the Sigma Sound Studios name.[1]The 6,000 unclaimed tapes from Sigma's 35-year-old tape library are now part of TheDrexel UniversityAudio Archive.[1]In 2019, Drexel University'sMAD Dragon Music Groupreleased 14 formerly-lost tracks from funk-soul groupNat Turner Rebellionthat had been a part of the archive.[18][19]
The Philadelphia studio closed in 2014.[1]In March 2015, the building that housed Sigma Sound Studios was sold for $1.55 million, with plans to renovate the space for office, retail or residential use.[20]
Legacy
editOn October 15, 2015, the original building for Sigma Sound Studios was officially dedicated as a historic site by the City of Philadelphia. The historic site marker was placed at 212 N. 12th Street.[21]On November 13, 2020, the Philadelphia Historical Commission voted unanimously to add the building to thePhiladelphia Register of Historic Places.[22][6]
In 2016, Sigma Sound Studios founder Joseph Tarsia was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.[1]
Special Collections Research Center
editInformation on Sigma Sound Studios exists at the Special Collections Research Center atTemple Universityin Philadelphia. The memorabilia available includes newspaper and magazine clippings, collected ephemera and other publications. There are also photographs of both the New York City and Philadelphia studios, as well as advertising and promotional materials which include "AddZest" materials that are primarily inJapanese.Additionally, there is a limited selection of several types of studio records, and clippings.[23]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcdefYoung, Clive (November 4, 2022)."Studio Legend Joe Tarsia, 1934-2022".Mix.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
- ^abcCogan, Jim; Clark, William (2003).Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios.San Francisco, United States: Chronicle Books. pp. 151–163.ISBN0-8118-3394-1.
- ^Nite, Norm N. (1978).Rock On: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock N' Roll, 1964–1978.New York:Thomas Y. Crowell. p. 320.ISBN0-690-01196-2.
- ^Morrison, Jim (February 18, 2011)."Forty Years of Philadelphia Sound".Smithsonian Magazine.RetrievedJuly 18,2020.
- ^"R.I.P. Legendary soul music producer Bobby Martin".Soultracks.com.September 10, 2013.RetrievedOctober 4,2021.
- ^ab"TSOP Trademark of ERSKINE ENTERTAINMENT LLC - Registration Number 5649778 - Serial Number 87192472:: Justia Trademarks".
- ^Fred Bronson (2003).The Billboard Book of Number One Hits.Billboard Books. pp. 438–.ISBN978-0-8230-7677-2.
- ^"Who's Who at Sigma".Billboard.September 16, 1978.RetrievedJune 11,2024.
- ^Bego, Mark (2007).Billy Joel: The Biography.Thunder's Mouth Press. p.61.ISBN9781560259893.
- ^Cogan, Jim; Clark, William (2003).Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios.San Francisco, United States: Chronicle Books. p. 219.ISBN0-8118-3394-1.
- ^Beaumont, Mark (February 21, 2020). "Cocaine, No Sleep and Deep Soul: The Story of David Bowie's Young Americans".The Independent.London: Independent Digital News & Media.ProQuest2360500141.
- ^Nusser, Dick (June 2, 1979)."$2.5 Mil Expansion For Sigma Studios".Billboard.RetrievedJune 11,2024.
- ^Seay, Toby (June 1, 2012)."Capturing That Philadelphia Sound: A Technical Exploration Of Sigma Sound Studios".Journal on the Art of Record Production(6). Archived fromthe originalon January 5, 2015.RetrievedMay 31,2024.
- ^ab"Sigma Sound Studios: Recording Hits Since '68".Billboard.September 16, 1968.RetrievedJune 11,2024.
- ^Jackson, Blair (February 28, 2023)."Classic Tracks: Talking Heads'" Road to Nowhere "".Mix.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
- ^Buskin, Richard (November 2010)."Classic Tracks: Talking Heads 'Road To Nowhere'".Sound On Sound.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
- ^Buskin, Richard (March 2008)."Classic Tracks: The Ramones 'Pet Sematary'".Sound On Sound.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
- ^Kreps, Daniel (March 26, 2019)."How a College Music Department Helped Unearth a Long-Lost Philly Funk-Soul Classic".Rolling Stone.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
- ^"Decades Later, Nat Turner Rebellion Makes Its Debut With 'Laugh To Keep From Crying'".NPR.org.RetrievedMay 27,2022.
- ^Young, Clive (March 3, 2015)."Sigma Sound Studios Sold To Developers".Mix.RetrievedJune 10,2024.
- ^Roberts, Kimberly C."Historic marker honors Sigma Sound Studios".phillytrib.com.The Philadelphia Tribune.RetrievedNovember 10,2015.
- ^Simons, David (2004).Studio Stories: How the Great New York Records Were Made: from Miles to Madonna, Sinatra to the Ramones.Backbeat Books. pp. 182–185.ISBN0879308176.
- ^"Sigma Sound Studio Records, 1960-2011 | Temple University Libraries".library.temple.edu.RetrievedJanuary 28,2019.
