Ep466: Eddie Kramer - The Making of Electric Lady Studios
Legendary producer Eddie Kramer shares the history and legacy of Electric Lady Studios, the revolutionary space built for Jimi Hendrix’s creative genius - from its groundbreaking design, Hendrix’s final sessions, to the incredible impact this iconic studio had on rock music history.
Topics Include:
- Electric Lady wasn’t just a studio; it was Jimi Hendrix’s creative sanctuary.
- Back in the ‘70s, having your own studio as a rock artist was unheard of—Jimi changed that.
- They transformed a basement nightclub into a cutting-edge studio, unlike anything else at the time.
- Jimi lived just blocks away—he’d walk over with his guitar and just dive into creating.
- The vibe at Electric Lady was pure Jimi—his vision made it an extension of himself.
- Eddie and the team prepped the studio for 24-tracks, even though it started at 16.
- The studio had custom innovations, like seating designed to keep friends out of sightlines.
- Hendrix loved working fast, and Electric Lady let him capture that energy in every session.
- Hendrix recorded there for four months before heading to Europe—and never returned.
- The documentary gives a glimpse of that magical time, full of outtakes and alternate mixes.
- Kramer talks about how they audited tapes and recorded new songs, blending old and new ideas.
- Fun fact: The round windows in the studio doors? Jimi’s idea. He loved to keep things unique.
- The Village was Jimi’s playground—he could walk around without being bothered.
- Eddie recalls marathon sessions with Jimi, cracking jokes between takes, always keeping it light.
- Hendrix was a master at balancing creativity and fun—there was always laughter in the room.
- Eddie mixed a lot of iconic music at Electric Lady, including tracks from David Bowie and Zeppelin.
- Hendrix wanted to expand his sound with strings and horns—his musical vision kept growing.
- The final sessions at Electric Lady were intense, but full of joy and excitement.
- Electric Lady still has the same vibe, with a layout that’s barely changed in over 50 years.
- The five LP box set coming out captures the magic of those original sessions—essential listening.
- Hendrix built Electric Lady to be his personal space, and it became a landmark for music history.
Order the movie and 5-LP boxset here
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