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 Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8