History
Little Mountain Sound Studios was started in 1972 as a 50/50 partnership between Western Broadcasting (CKNW radio) and Griffiths, Gibson Productions (GGP). Geoff Turner, an unnamed partner with GGP, designed, built and managed the studio. Turner was a long-time audio engineer and studio designer from England by way of New York. CKNW required large recording spaces to record radio jingles, sometimes with a full orchestra. Geoff designed a facility with two large recording studios, and several small recording and production spaces.
In 1974, Geoff left Little Mountain to found and operate Pinewood Studios, an audio post production facility named after the famous English recording stages. It is said that his departure was due to a personality conflict between him and the partners of GGP. Turner would also go on to design and build several other music recording studios including Crosstown Studios, Profile Studios, and London Bridge Studios.
After Turner's departure, Bob Brooks was hired to manage Little Mountain. Brooks was an independent producer working out of an office at CKWX after having left Homer Street Studios. In 1977, Western Broadcasting bought out GGP to become sole owner. In 1982, Western Broadcasting sold the studio to Bob Brooks. Brooks owned Little Mountain until the sale in 1992 to the Levens.
Bruce Fairbairn started recording at Little Mountain Sound Studios with Prism, a band in which he played trumpet. Bruce Fairbairn would go on to do the bulk of his work there as an independent producer. Bob Rock worked for Little Mountain and engineered for Bruce Fairbairn for several years before becoming a major music producer himself.
In addition to the high profile music clients, Little Mountain did a significant amount of other audio recording. Through the 1970s and 1980s the facility was an equal balance of music and audio post clients. Little Mountain was home to GGRP, a major Vancouver based jingle house. The studio also did film work.
In 1985, Vancouver's then municipal transportation company, BC Transit, recorded the distinctive three-tone chime and original voice announcement system for the then-newly built advanced light rapid transit system, SkyTrain.
Brooks would turn over the running of the studio to a manager in the late 1980s. The front lobby and Studio A were upgraded at the request of clients. The audio post companies would leave the facility during this time period. The upgrade of Greenhouse Studios to an SSL console combined with poor management saw Bob Rock move to Greenhouse Studios for a year. Bob Brooks then replaced the old manager with Bruce Levens to manage Little Mountain.
The Levens would purchase Little Mountain after managing for 6 month they continue to own the company to this day. The first day of management for the Levens saw the bailiff hauling out the leather couches, with a Jimmy Page guitar on board. Days later, SSL sent in their rep under the guise of doing console work; he tried unsuccessfully to remove the channel strips into his vehicle. The financial problems were ultimately resolved during the next couple of years.
The late 1980s and early 1990s were creative and sales high points for both Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock. In 1991 they were considered 2 of the 5 best music producers in the world. Bob Rock recorded the most successful albums of both Metallica (the Black Album) and Mötley Crüe (Dr. Feelgood) during this time. Bruce Fairbairn also recorded Aerosmith's top seller Get a Grip.
In 1993 the 20-year lease expired and the lease went into overhold. The landlord was looking to double the rent and Little Mountain chose not to renew the lease and moved out the equipment and extensive gold record collection. The facility remained empty for several years. Studio A was converted into rehearsal rooms called Vancouver Rockspace.
In 1995 The Factory Studios leased the beautiful Studio B and C plus the Loading Bay .They put a beautiful Neve console in and hosted such artists as The original Bad Company,Marilyn Manson,Rob Halford,Billy Talent,Ocean Machine,Devin Townsend, New Pornographers to list a few. In 2011 after16 years (like in 1993) the Owner asked for a ridiculous increase in the lease.Rather then pay the owner way too much for that location and also looking at the dwindling studio market in Vancouver,The Factory closed.
Little Mountain relocated to Burnaby after closing in Vancouver at the end of 1993. For the next decade Little Mountain would be an equipment and services company to various producers, engineers, studios and bands. The Levens who owned Little Mountain would continue to provide sound recording services through Greenhouse Studios, their other music recording studios. Little Mountain would relocate operations back to Vancouver in 2008.
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