Interview with Artie Kaplan, September 12, 2005

Interview Summary

Kaplan talks about his age in 1973 when his album "Confessions of a Male Chauvinist Pig" was released. He talks about the impact of changing technology and performance on the unionized music recording business model. He says racial and gender relations were easier in music studios than elsewhere in society. He talks about the early years of male domination in the music recording business during the 1960s and 1970s, and his start in the business after his military service.

Kaplan talks about the transition in the music recording business from an older generation that specialized in jazz to a new, younger generation of rock and roll studio musicians. Kaplan talks about his introduction into booking recording sessions as a producer. He talks about musicians, engineers, and other music professionals with whom he worked. He talks about various studios and recording companies where he worked. He describes working with music union delegates and evading union recording rules. Kaplan talks about the changes in technology and financing in manufacturing musical recordings. He talks about the development of smaller, cheaper home-based studios. Kaplan talks about the facilities, engineers, and producers at his favorite recording studios. He talks about his working relationships and attributes easy relations to being prepared with a plan and personal consideration. Kaplan talks about the shift from the traditional central recording studios to smaller home-based recording studios. He talks about the older studios being converted into condominiums. He says this transition process is due to developments in technology and the unionized business model. He also says traditionally-minded sound engineers were not able to meet the needs of musicians to develop a harder sound.

Interview Keyword

Francis, Connie Streisand, Barbra. Race relations. Keller, Jack (Composer) Presley, Elvis, 1935-1977. Dylan, Bob, 1941- Rolling Stones. Madonna, 1958- Goffin, Gerry King, Carole, 1942- Ramone, Phil Arthur, Brooks Ian, Janis Miller, Mitch. Hammond, John, 1910-1987. Springsteen, Bruce. Minnelli, Liza Hamlisch, Marvin.

Interview LC Subject

Sound recording industry Sound recording industry--History Sound recordings Record labels. Music History of science and technology Sound--Recording and reproducing Sound--Recording and reproducing--History Columbia Records, Inc. Musicians--United States.

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Interview Usage

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