Remembering Hollywood’s Record Plant as the ‘Epicenter’ of Hit Songs by Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Fergie and More

With news of the imminent closing of Hollywood’s Record Plant recording studio, Grammy-nominated producer Ron Fair, who relocated to Nashville, recalls his time at the facility working on songs by Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Lady Gaga and more in the 2000s.

I had a hellacious ten-year run of success at Interscope Geffen A&M – under the wing of the Zeus of Record Men – Jimmy Iovine. The first five years (2001 to 2006), I was president of A&M followed by five more years as chairman of Geffen records. But to Jimmy’s somewhat conflicted dismay (himself, an esteemed record producer), I spent far too many hours in the studio.

That studio was Record Plant. Not the original building, with the infamous “hot tub” — scene of many classic debauchery rock and roll nights — but the cleaned-up, souped-up, teched-up version in Hollywood.

Slums and a concrete plant lived dangerously close by. The Hollywood needle exchange program was next door, and more than a few crimes, fights and moments of dubious despair took place in the parking lot across the street.

The Record Plant crew was under the tight stewardship of Rick Stevens, a former A&R man, manager, producer and musician himself. The studio manager — one of the towering females in the male-dominated studio era — was Rose Mann. She was firm, fair, righteous and beautiful inside and out.

Record Plant had a few female assistants and runners, who would usually come into the rooms (there were four ) and help grab food for the non-stop, all-day, all-night sessions. That’s where I met my incredible assistant and now-well established executive Buffy Hubelbank — a singer, graduate of Berklee College — and a polymath in spirit and skills. Of course, I immediately enlisted Buffy and we rolled for another five years.

My A&R practice and office was a $79 drafting table in the corner of the control room of Studio 2. I conducted a non-stop music and vocal recording session, A&R meeting, artist support group and bitching session, promotion, marketing, creative meetings all from that little table.

We went from noon to 2 a.m. every day for five years.

Things got slim for the Record Plant for a while. I was their only paying client. Jimmy covered the bill. His bet was on Ron Fair.

Here’s what happened:

Black Eyed Peas’ Elephunk (17 million albums sold) and Monkey Business (11 million); Fergie’s The Dutchess (4 million); Mary J. Blige (nine millions); Vanessa Carlton (3 million); Pussycat Dolls (a few million); Keyshia Cole (more millions).

And more… Johnny Lang and Snow Patrol; and that was just my room. Next door was Will.i.am ; Pharrell Williams; Kanye West; Alicia Keys; Missy Misdemeanor Elliot; Chris Brown; Timbaland; Robin Thicke…

There were cars lined up in the street. Fans and entourages surrounded the building. Record Plant was the epicenter.

Then, as Jimmy always said, “The Ball Moves.”

Finally it was time to return to Santa Monica, where Jimmy had built me a studio 12 seconds from his office one floor below, so we could be closer and rock even harder. (The Boiler Room.)

When my Record Plant era came to an end; I assembled all the engineers; all the runners, all the back office staff, gave an emotional speech and passed around hundred-dollar bills to the entire crowd assembled. My gold plaques hung in the hallway. Christina Aguilera at the top of the list.

Off the top of my head – here’s some of the hit records from my era at Record Plant. (And this is far from a complete list.) Some I produced. Some I arranged. Some I A&R’d. Some I ordered the pizza.

“Where Is The Love”- Black Eyed Peas
“Don’t Funk With My Heart” – Black Eyed Peas
“Loosen Up Your Buttons” – Pussycat Dolls
“Stickwitu” – Pussycat Dolls
“Let’s Get It Started “ – Black Eyed Peas
“Doncha” – Pussycat Dolls
“Love” – Keyshia Cole
“I Changed My Mind” – Keyshia Cole
“Speechless” – Lady Gaga
“I Should Have Cheated” – Keyshia Cole
“Ordinary People” – orchestra version – John Legend
“Daughters” – John Mayer – orchestra version
“Big Girls Don’t Cry” – Fergie
“Be Without You” – Mary J. Blige
“Reflection” – Christina Aguilera

We lived, dreamed, fell down, burned out and rose from the ashes at Record Plant every hour of every day. We drove the staff to the brink of exhaustion. We were powered by love of music, our success, the moment in time — surrounded by extraordinary musicians, executives and artists.

Being “in the studio” was like going to church or being in a holy place. It was a completely private world where all things were possible with great studio monitor speakers blasting at any hour. (Most usually after midnight.)

I am not in any way nostalgic about the studio closing. Everything in our world is transitory. Newton’s law. The march of time. The gentrification and clean-up of our beloved Hollywood.

Finally, much love to Rose Mann. She was the mama bear, the chief of the tribe, the understanding big sister. Record Plant was her child.