Hmmm, where to start?
In 1946, Aragon Recording Studios was opened in Vancouver at 615 West Hastings St. The three-room space was one of Canada's first recording studios. Built mainly by Al Reusch, it was used by the country and folk artists of the time. In 1947, the label Aragon Records was spawned. Reusch acquired sole ownership of Aragon Studios and the record label from his other partners in 1954.
Al Reusch was a musician, big band leader, and a broadcaster. He was one of Vancouver's first DJs, hosting "The Al Reusch Show" in the mornings on CKMO Vancouver in the 1940s, and "Name It, Play It" in the afternoons. A true pioneer in Vancouver recording, he is a member of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
1966 saw the construction of the current facility Hippowest/Mushroom Studios is housed in, located at 1234 West 6th Avenue in Vancouver. Built by Aragon from the ground up (the only studio in the city built for the sole purpose of being a stand alone recording studio) as a first class audio recording studio, it was a orchestral recording room for special sessions by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Howard Tremaine, (author of the audio cyclopedia) consulted on the original acoustic design and equipment installation.
One of the first clients was Diana Ross and the Supremes, who tracked there session in the winter before any heating had been installed in the building. Led Zeppelin is said to have done a session here for tracks on Led Zeppelin II, but is not credited on the album.
As the studio progressed, so did the prominent styles of music. Al, by this time was into his mid-50s and didn't like the idea of recording post-Beatles rock and roll. In the spring of 1970, he sold the building to Jack Herschorn, who had previously co-founded Studio 12 on West 12th Avenue in Vancouver with Tom Northcott. Jack appointed Mike Flicker as Chief Engineer, and Charlie Richmond as Head Technical Advisor.
Jack bought his famous Universal Audio vacuum tube console from United Western Recorders in 1971. Custom built by Bill Putnam, it had been housed in United Studio A at 6050 Sunset Boulevard since 1957, and recorded hundreds of hits by such artists as Bing Crosby, Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles. Jack had the console, along with other purchases, shipped to Vancouver and installed in Aragon with Charlie supervising. The preamps and from that board still remain in use even though the console has since been replaced. Herschorn, later in 1971 became in need of some additional funding for studio due to financial restraints, Can-base, a raw minerals company out of Northern B.C. became the unlikely saviour....that is until there stock took a nose dive and creditors took over the mining company and all of it's assets(including the Studio). During the Can-base years some amazing songs and artists graced the studio, such as Bachman Turner Overdrive, recording there massive hit "Takin' Care of Business" and Terry Jacks who recorded his hit "Seasons in the Sun" which sold over 10 million copies.
After the studio had been repo'd, two of the creditors who had been incharge of siezing Can-Bases assets saw the potential to make a decent profit of the property by turning it into Condo's. Former CBS record exec. Shelly Siegel who had been interested in the property for some time convinced the two creditors, Wink and Dick (yes those are there real names) Vogel to start a new recording studio. Siegel also had a record label in the works and with the new found investors and his expertise from CBS Mushroom Records was born.
One of the first signings and hits to be produced by Mushroom Records was Hearts 1975 Debut release "Dreamboat Annie". Based on this great success, the label and the band had come into the big time. This pushed Shelly to open a Mushroom Records office on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles, which became the launching ground for acts such as Chilliwack and Jerry Doucette. In 1977 things began to go down hill. A well documented fallout between Heart and Mushroom records arose causing the beginning of the end for both Mushroom Records and Shelley Siegel. On January 17, 1979, Shelly Siegel died at a L.A. Hospital from a massive rupture of a blood vessel in his brain, he was 32 years old. Not long after Shelley's death Mushroom Records and the Studio fell into bankruptcy.
Through all of this, Charlie Richmond who had been the Technician for the studio since 1971, had remained with Mushroom. Richmond, in July of 1980 purchased the studio before it completely folded. At this time Mushroom Studios and Mushroom Records had become divorced from one another and Charlie began to make upgrades gearwise to an already impressive room. For the next 19 years Richmond owned and operated Mushroom Studios, seeing acts such as Skinny Puppy, Loverboy, Sarah McLachlan, The Odds, 54-40, Spirt of the West and hundreds more recorded there albums here.
In February of 1999, Richmond sold the studio after nearly 20 years of ownership to Marcy Playground frontman John Wozniak. Wozniak as well renovated the space, adding a excellent selection of vintage outboard gear along with a amazing Neve 8068 console that still remains. Wozniak's tenure lasted nearly 7 years, selling the Studio in January of 2006. During Wozniak's time the studio saw acts like Fear Factory, Sam Roberts, Matt Good, Mudhoney, Bif Naked and of course Marcy Playground.
Which brings us to the present!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob Darch owner of Hipposonic Studios in Vancouver purchased the site of Mushroom Studios in January 2006 embarking the Historic venue on yet another path. So far the Studio (currently known as Hippowest) is doing great. Hot Hot Heat just finished up recording their latest album with Producer Butch Walker and Engineer Stuart Sikes. We Are Scientist, Sam Roberts along with up and coming acts such as Eileen Rothe,Tenant,Elias The Villains and Seventh Angel have been working hard recording new material and ensuring a new generation of great talent gets to record in this historic landmark.
Here is a sweet interview with Cevin Key of Skinny Puppy from 1988 that took place @ Mushroom......Enjoy
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