Compass Point Studios
Encyclopedia
Compass Point Studios were founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell
, the owner of Island Records
.
In the late 1970s and mid-1980s, many musical artists from across the world came to the Bahamas to record music at its facilities. Many producers, including Chris Blackwell
himself, used the studio to produce recordings. AC/DC
's Back In Black
, the second largest selling album ever, was just one of the many albums recorded there. Other well known artists who recorded there include: The Rolling Stones
, Grace Jones
, Shakira
, Celine Dion
, U2
, Robert Palmer, Thompson Twins
, Talking Heads
, Dire Straits
, Electric Light Orchestra
, Bob Marley
, Eric Clapton
, James Brown
, Iron Maiden
and David Bowie
.
As Chris Blackwell
's other business interests steadily increased, he was forced to spend less of his time directly looking after the studio. With producer and manager Alex Sadkin
's death in 1987, the studio began a period of decline. With no one overseeing the studio, studio equipment began to suffer from lack of proper maintenance and upgrading.
In 1992, Blackwell took action to save the studio by hiring Terry and Sherrie Manning
, the owners and operators of a recording studio and video production house in the US. The couple now oversee all aspects of Compass Point Studios. Upon their arrival in late 1992, the Mannings began restoring the two large studios, tearing them apart and completely rewiring them with modern recording equipment.
After reopening in late 1992, many artists have recorded at the studio.
Terry Manning
recently announced in a pro audio discussion board where he has been moderating that, as of September 2010 Compass Point Studios ceased its operations in Nassau, due to "a series of incidents which had occurred in the recent past, socio-political-based happenings which made it untenable to continue doing business in The Bahamas. All involved agreed that we could no longer bring our friends and clients into an atmosphere which we knew to be threatening. The incidents shall remain private at this time."
According to Manning, "The reason was not one of economics, or of a lack of business...in fact at the time, we had most of 2011 booked by very high end artists..."
"All involved in Compass Point Studios will continue to work within the music business, just as always before...simply, not in The Bahamas. Until a final location for operations is decided, musical work will be carried out at personal and third-party locations."
"One thing is sure, no more islands!"
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
, the owner of Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
.
In the late 1970s and mid-1980s, many musical artists from across the world came to the Bahamas to record music at its facilities. Many producers, including Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
himself, used the studio to produce recordings. AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's Back In Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
, the second largest selling album ever, was just one of the many albums recorded there. Other well known artists who recorded there include: The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, model and actress.Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and...
, Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Robert Palmer, Thompson Twins
Thompson Twins
The Thompson Twins were a British pop group that were formed in April 1977 and disbanded in May 1993. They achieved considerable popularity in the mid 1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kingdom, the United States and around the globe. The band was named after the two bumbling detectives...
, Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
, Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
, Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
.
As Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
's other business interests steadily increased, he was forced to spend less of his time directly looking after the studio. With producer and manager Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start in the music industry as a saxophonist for the Las Olas Brass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
's death in 1987, the studio began a period of decline. With no one overseeing the studio, studio equipment began to suffer from lack of proper maintenance and upgrading.
In 1992, Blackwell took action to save the studio by hiring Terry and Sherrie Manning
Terry Manning
Terry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
, the owners and operators of a recording studio and video production house in the US. The couple now oversee all aspects of Compass Point Studios. Upon their arrival in late 1992, the Mannings began restoring the two large studios, tearing them apart and completely rewiring them with modern recording equipment.
After reopening in late 1992, many artists have recorded at the studio.
Terry Manning
Terry Manning
Terry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
recently announced in a pro audio discussion board where he has been moderating that, as of September 2010 Compass Point Studios ceased its operations in Nassau, due to "a series of incidents which had occurred in the recent past, socio-political-based happenings which made it untenable to continue doing business in The Bahamas. All involved agreed that we could no longer bring our friends and clients into an atmosphere which we knew to be threatening. The incidents shall remain private at this time."
According to Manning, "The reason was not one of economics, or of a lack of business...in fact at the time, we had most of 2011 booked by very high end artists..."
"All involved in Compass Point Studios will continue to work within the music business, just as always before...simply, not in The Bahamas. Until a final location for operations is decided, musical work will be carried out at personal and third-party locations."
"One thing is sure, no more islands!"