Sources & Research
This page lists the published sources, primary documents, and oral histories that inform the work on this site. The list grows as research continues. Send corrections or additions to tom@2200studios.us.
Books
- BookVerified May 2026Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant StudiosMartin Porter and David Goggin·Thames & Hudson·2024
Definitive published history of the Record Plant studio system. Built from a decade of research, the personal archive of co-founder Chris Stone, and interviews with hundreds of former staff, producers, and artists.
- BookVerified May 2026
Audio Recording for Profit: The Sound of Money
Chris Stone, with Appendix I by David Goggin·Focal Press·2000First-person account from Record Plant co-founder Chris Stone. Goggin's appendix documents Kellgren's specific technical innovations including the monitor mixer and U.S. flanger.
- BookVerified May 2026
The Ambient Century: From Mahler to Moby
Mark Prendergast·Bloomsbury Publishing·2003Establishes Tom Wilson's role in connecting Hendrix to Kellgren and helping open the New York Record Plant.
- BookVerified May 2026
Hendrix
John McDermott with Eddie Kramer·Warner Books·1992Kramer's firsthand account of the Electric Ladyland sessions and the founding of the New York Record Plant.
- BookVerified May 2026
Grateful Dead Gear: The Band's Instruments, Sound Systems, and Recording Sessions from 1965 to 1995
Blair Jackson·Backbeat Books·2006Contains detailed coverage of the Dead's Sausalito Record Plant sessions, including the August 1973 lockout that produced Wake of the Flood.
- BookVerified May 2026
If These Halls Could Talk
Heather Johnson·Course Technology·2006Bay Area studio history including extensive Record Plant Sausalito coverage.
- BookVerified May 2026
Jimi Hendrix: The Ultimate Experience
Johnny Black·Thunder's Mouth Press·1999Includes Mitch Mitchell's first-person account of the Record Plant founding.
- BookVerified May 2026
No Commercial Potential: The Saga of Frank Zappa
David Walley·Da Capo Press·1972Covers Kellgren's work with Zappa at Mayfair on Lumpy Gravy.
Trade Press and Long-Form Journalism
- Long-form journalismVerified May 2026Running the Record Plant (four-part series)Richie Unterberger·KQED Arts·2016 (updated 2024)
The most detailed online history of the Sausalito studio specifically. Cross-reference for almost every Sausalito session before 1985.
- Magazine featureVerified May 2026
Inside the Hotel California
Lucian K. Truscott IV·New Times·June 1977The richest character portrait of Kellgren in any single source.
- Trade press retrospectiveVerified May 2026
The '70s
Blair Jackson·Mix Magazine·November 2004Sausalito-focused retrospective covering the studio's first decade.
- Trade press columnVerified May 2026
L.A. Grapevine
Maureen Droney·Mix Magazine·December 2001Establishes Record Plant as the originator of the client-service studio model.
- Oral history / interviewVerified May 2026
Chris Stone Interview
David Schwartz, interviewer·The Mix·September 1978First-person Stone account of the partnership with Kellgren and early business strategy.
- Oral history / interviewVerified May 2026
Independent Engineers Forum
Jimmy Robinson contribution·The Mix·September 1978First-person account of Astro-mixing being invented at the Sausalito Record Plant during the Paris (Bob Welch) sessions in 1975.
- Magazine featureVerified May 2026
Guitar World
Guitar World·September 2008Confirms the Record Plant NY opening date and details of the Hendrix era staff.
- Magazine featureVerified May 2026
Hi-Fi News
Hi-Fi News·March 2025 and May 2025"The Record Plant" (March 2025) and "The Record Plant Returns" (May 2025).
- Industry archiveVerified May 2026Mix Foundation TECnology Hall of Fame — Record Plant Mobile TruckMix Magazine·2008
Mix Foundation citation for the Record Plant remote truck — corroborates the company's role in defining mobile multitrack recording.
- Artist interviewVerified May 2026Stevie Nicks on writing 'Dreams' at the Record PlantRolling Stone·2017
Nicks' own retelling of writing 'Dreams' on Sly Stone's bed in Studio B, plus session detail from the Rumours anniversary feature.
- Producer interviewsVerified May 2026Bob Rock and Lars Ulrich on Load / ReLoad at the PlantTape Op Magazine·Various
Producer and engineer interviews documenting Metallica's mid-90s lockout in Studio A and the room modifications that followed.
Broadcast Recordings
- Broadcast recordingVerified May 2026KSAN "Live at the Record Plant" surviving broadcastsYouTube archive
Preserved KSAN broadcasts from the Sausalito Record Plant in the 1970s. A primary audio source for confirmed Sausalito sessions including Bob Marley & The Wailers.
- Broadcast archiveVerified May 2026KQED public radio & television archiveKQED
Public broadcaster covering Bay Area music history. Holds the four-part Running the Record Plant series and related on-air interviews with former staff.
- Broadcast archiveVerified May 2026Internet Archive — KSAN 95 FM live recordingsInternet Archive
Open-access archive of KSAN 95 FM 'Jive Radio' airchecks and live broadcasts from the 1970s — overlaps with the Live at the Record Plant tapes.
Online Resources
- Companion siteVerified May 2026recordplantdiaries.com
The Record Plant Diaries Facebook page and companion site, maintained by Martin Porter and David Goggin.
- Family archiveVerified May 2026garykellgren.com
Fan archive maintained by the Kellgren family. Contains verbatim quotes from twelve primary publications about Gary Kellgren's life and work.
- Discography databaseVerified May 2026Discogs — Recorded at Record Plant, Sausalito
Crowd-curated discography database. Used to cross-check engineer, producer, and studio credits printed on original LP and CD sleeves.
- Reference databaseVerified May 2026AllMusic — Record Plant credits
Editorial reference for album credits, release dates, and personnel. Useful for triangulating session dates against Discogs and label-issued metadata.
- Institutional archiveVerified May 2026Library of Congress — National Recording Registry
Federal registry of culturally significant recordings. Source of record for the canonical status of titles tracked at 2200 Bridgeway, including Rumours and Hotel California.
- Institutional archiveVerified May 2026Recording Academy / GRAMMY Awards database
Official GRAMMY winners and nominees database, used to verify award wins for records cut at the Plant — including Santana's 1989 Best Rock Instrumental for 'Blues for Salvador.'
- Filmography databaseVerified May 2026IMDb — film and television soundtrack credits
Used to cross-reference film/TV soundtrack credits and music-supervisor sessions tracked at 2200 Bridgeway.
Archival Sources (Internal)
- Primary documentVerified May 2026
The 1990–1991 client list
Mounted on the walls of 2200 Bridgeway. A primary-source roster of artists who worked at the building during the late Sausalito Record Plant era.
- Physical mediaVerified May 2026
KSAN broadcast tape boxes
Physical tape and reel inventory held at 2200 Bridgeway.
- On-site artifactsVerified May 2026
Plaques, gold/platinum awards, and wall installations
RIAA-certified awards, framed posters, and Bill Graham Presents prints displayed throughout 2200 Bridgeway. Photographed on site for use across the Journal.
- Institutional archiveVerified May 2026Sausalito Historical Society
Local historical society holding waterfront, Marinship, and post-war records relevant to 2200 Bridgeway's pre-studio history as a wartime shipyard office.
- Institutional archiveVerified May 2026Marin History Museum
County-level archive of Marin photographs, deeds, and oral histories. Used to corroborate building-history claims about 2200 Bridgeway and surrounding waterfront.
- Concert archiveVerified May 2026Bill Graham Archives — Wolfgang's / Fillmore poster collection
Digitized Bill Graham Presents posters, tickets, and handbills. Source of the period concert artifacts referenced in the Santana and Journey pieces.
Contributing
If you have firsthand knowledge of a session, broadcast, or event at 2200 Bridgeway, or if you can correct or expand anything on this site, please email tom@2200studios.us. Original photographs, recollections, and documents from former staff and artists are especially welcome.
