Recording and mastering/ lacquer cutting studios in London, England. Operating under this name from 1964 to 1989.
Also known as: CBS Recording Studios, London; C.B.S. London; CBS Mastering Studios; CBS Mastering Lab; C.B.S. Mastering Service.
Originally established by Morris and Jacques Levy as label in the 1930s and operating at Regent Street and New Bond Street.
In September 1964, CBS bought the Levy's label and label. The studios were subsequently renamed to CBS Studios and Levy's operations and labels became part of CBS.
In 1967, CBS Studios moved to Theobalds Road, London.
In 1970, a cutting room was installed.
In October 1972, the studios moved to a new purpose-built, three storey building in Whitfield Street, London. The studios had two recording studios with MCI desks (studio 1 with 275 sq m and Studio 2 with 70 sq m), and a third, 50 sq m studio with a Neve desk (in the 1980s replaced by an SSL). There also was one cutting room, a dubbing suite, two cassette mastering rooms, offices and studio leisure areas.
In 1979, a second cutting room with the very first Neumann VMS-80 lathe in the UK (fitted with a SX74 cutter-head and operating with a pair of SAL74 drive amplifiers and a SP79c control console, as well as an MCI JH-110M programmable master tape machine) was installed. In 1985, a second VMS 80 replaced the old lathe with an Ortofon VMS30 configuration.
In summer 1984, the name was changed to Whitfield Street Recording Studios, then later became The Hit Factory, London, then label, and in 2004 became label under Robin Millar's ownership. However, the name "CBS Studios" was still used for mastering / lacquer cuts until 1989. Releases crediting the named studios after 1989 do not belong here.
Identification:
TimTom CBS or TY CBS: Lacquer Cut By Tim Young + ANVs, Lacquer Cut At - CBS Studios, London.
Phonodisc Ltd.: between 18 March 1969 and January 1979, lacquer cuts from CBS London were credited with "//# C" (e.g. 2383475 A // 1 C). Credit with Lacquer Cut At.
PRS Ltd.: between February 1979 and 1983, lacquer cuts were credited with ▽E C (e.g. KISS 5 A//2 ▽420 C).
And between 1983 and mid-1988, lacquer cuts were credited with ▽420 C (e.g. POSP 104 A//1▽EC). Credit with Lacquer Cut At.
Lyntone Recordings Ltd.: lacquer cuts were credited with CBS or C (e.g. LYN-15584-ICBS). Credit with Lacquer Cut At.
Known engineers include:
Tim Young
artist,
Andy Da Costa,
Steve Shin,
Laurence Diana,
Beryl Richie,
George Balla,
Mike Ross-Trevor,
Walter Samuel,
Andy Todd (2),
Mark Chamberlain,
Steve Levine (as tape op),
Allen Landau,
Arun Chakraverty .