New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Famous albums produced and recorded in Conn.
You’d be hard pressed to find a music fan that wasn’t quick to tell you that John Mayer got his start in Connecticut or that Meat Loaf lived in the state for a number of years. But it’d be much harder to find someone that knew that one of the most influential metal albums was produced in Connecticut.
Though Bridgeport is known for its robust vinyl pressing industry with Columbia Records, the state also boasts a hidden history of iconic albums that were either produced or recorded here — facts that are hidden deep in the liner notes of albums. Some of those popular artists include the Pixies, Trey Anastasio of Phish and even Queen Bey, Beyonce.
‘School’s Out’
Release date: June 1972 Notable tracks: “School’s Out,” “Gutter Cat Vs. The Jets,” “Public Animal #9,” “My Stars”
The fifth studio album from the The Godfather of Shock Rock,” Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” became one of Cooper’s most successful albums due to the popularity of its title track. It has been certified platinum, and at one point reached No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. In the early 70s, Cooper and his band rented the “Galesi Estate” in Greenwich, where he spent his time recording and writing songs for two of his biggest albums, “Billion Dollar Babies” and “School’s Out,” according to the Wall Street Journal. “School’s Out” was also recorded at the Record Plant in New York City.
‘Hard Again’
Release date: January 1977 Notable tracks: “Mannish Boy,” “I Want to Be Loved,” “I Can’t Be Satisfied,” “Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock & Roll (#2)”
Cited as one of the most prolific blues guitarists of all time, Muddy Waters is the musician’s musician. After departing from Chess Records, the label that made him a household name, Waters signed to Blue Sky Records and recorded “Hard Again” as his first album for the label, according to a 1977 article from Billboard. Produced by Johnny Winter, the album featured a mix of new material and re-recorded works that were previously recorded at Chess Records, such as the seminal “Manish Boy.” The album was recorded at The Schoolhouse recording studio in Westport, which Winters had also recorded at for his own solo effort in 1977.
“Hard Again” won the Grammy for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording in 1978.
Doolittle
Release date: April 1989 Notable tracks: “Here Comes Your Man,” “Monkey Gone to Heaven,”
“Debaser,” “Hey”
Heralded often as one of the best albums of all time, the Pixies’ “Doolittle” is the group’s sophomore album that delves into dark subject matter pertaining to religion and death. Initially recorded in the group’s hometown of Boston, the band moved down to Connecticut to produce the record as well as record new tracks at Carriage House Studios in Stamford, according to Caryn Ganz, author of “Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called Pixies.” Songs like “Wave of Mutilation,” “Debaser” and “There Goes My Gun,” which went on to become Pixies classics, were all reworked when the band came to Stamford.
Since its release over 30 years ago, the album has been certified platinum in the United States. Today, Pixies continue to tour with almost the same exact lineup as the one that burst onto the Boston music scene in the late 80s sans Kim Deal, who has been replaced with bassist Paz Lenchantin.
‘Cowboys from Hell’
Release date: July 1990
Notable tracks: “Cowboys from Hell,” “Cemetery Gates,” “Domination,” “Psycho Holiday”
Before recording their magnum opus, “Vulgar Display of Power,” Pantera paved the way for “groove metal” with 1990’s “Cowboys from Hell.” The band made its major label debut with “Cowboys from Hell,” signing with ATCO Records after failing multiple times to get the
support of a major label. Writing and recording of the project took place at Pantego Sound Studio in Texas, though the album was mixed at Stamford’s Carriage House Studios. Pantera worked with Terry Date on the production of the album, who previously had a history with Carriage House Studios after recording and producing records there with Liege Lord and Overkill, according to Discogs.
Pantera has reunited as of 2022, despite the deaths of Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, and will be supporting Metallica on its upcoming world tour.
‘Antics’
Release date: September 2004 Notable tracks: “Evil,” “C’mere,” “Slow Hands,” “Narc”
If “Turn On the Bright Lights” was the album that made Interpol recognizable, “Antics” was the album that ignited the indie rock phenomenon of the mid-2000s. Working once again with Bridgeport producer Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios, Interpol found success with a number of songs on the album, such as “Evil” and “Slow Hands,” which climbed the Billboard US Modern Rock Tracks and are at the top of the band’s most listened to Spotify songs. “Antics” would be the last album that the band would work on with Katis and as well as its last before its first departure from Matador Records.
‘Boxer’
Release date: May 2007
Notable tracks: “Fake Empire,” “Mistaken for Strangers,” “Apartment Story,” “Slow Show”
Bridgeport’s Peter Katis has been a longtime producer and mixer for The National. The esteemed producer, whose Tarquin Studios has produced some of the most influential indie albums of the 21st century, was even shouted out by the band during its 2022 performance at Sound On Sound in Bridgeport. And while some of the other band’s albums that were recorded in Bridgeport have gone on to become more revered such as “High Violet,” “The Boxer” can be argued as the band’s catalyst for mainstream success.
“[Katis] has been a big part of the band for awhile, at least in the recording of the records. He kind of jumps in as a seventh member,” lead singer Matt Berninger said in a 2007 interview with The Scenestar.
The album’s famous cover photo was also taken of the band when they performed at Katis’ wedding reception in Greenwich.
‘Traveler’
Release date: October 2012 Notable tracks: “Pigtail,” “Let Me Lie,” “Clint Eastwood,” “Architect”
For Phish fans, it is always the assumption that any recording material done by lead singer Trey Anastasio is done at “The Barn” near Burlington, Vt. However, “Traveler” is among the very few examples of work that saw Anastasio traveling around to complete the album. Co-produced with Peter Katis, Anastasio recorded the album at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, according to Anastasio’s website. The album even featured appearances by members of other bands that Katis has worked with including The National, Samuli Kosminen and Connecticut’s own Mates of State.
Anastasio would return back to “The Barn” to record 2014’s “Fuego,” Phish’s 13th studio album.
‘Renaissance’ Release date: Notable tracks:
July 2022
“CUFF IT,” “ALIEN SUPERSTAR,” “BREAK MY SOUL,” “ENERGY”
“Queen Bey’s” first studio effort since 2016’s “Lemonade,” “Renaissance” exploded onto the music scene in 2022, earning a number of accolades including being named Rolling Stone’s number one album of the year. The dance-leaning album had Beyonce working alongside the likes of Grace Jones, Skrillex, Tems and Nile Rodgers, the latter of which opened his Westport, Conn. studio to the recording of the album. According to MusicBrainz, which serves as a database for music writing and recording credits, “CUFF IT” was recorded in part at Rodger’s Le Crib in Westport.
Whether or not Beyonce herself recorded in Connecticut is unknown, but the studio is credited on the album.