Quadrafonic or Quad Studios, Round Hill Music

By the late 1960s, Nashville was well-established as the center of the country music industry. Word spread about the city’s stellar studio musicians, spawning an influx of folk, rock, and pop artists — many of whom were inspired by the cross-pollination of genres featured on Johnny Cash’s weekly ABC television series. These artists included Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, and others. 

Quadraphonic Studios began on Music Row in 1970 when producer Elliot Mazer of Neil Young fame formed a partnership with studio musicians Norbert Putnam and David Briggs. A quick anecdote: The “Putt” Elvis is referring to when he says “Wake up, Putt!” in “Merry Christmas, Baby” is a reference to Norbert Putnam. The three partners named their business Quadraphonic Studios because it was the first private studio capable of mixing four channel audio. This advanced technology cost over $100,000 at the time, which was almost triple the $35,000 price of studio.

Fortunately for the owners of Quadraphonic, their recording studio was extremely profitable and popular. The first hit recorded was Joan Baez’s version of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” but this success was quickly outpaced by Neil Young's recording of “Harvest.” In addition to Baez and Young, artists such as Dan Fogelberg and Jimmy Buffet recorded in Quadraphonic Studios. Jimmy Buffet even wrote some of the lyrics to his famous song “Margaritaville” in this very house. The studio was expanded in the early 1980s after a change in ownership. 

Quadraphonic Studios was sometimes abbreviated locally as Quad, which makes it rather confusing that Quadraphonic Studios was sold in 1999 to a New York-based company called Quad Studios. Nashville’s Quad Studios and New York’s Quad Studios had no relation other than the coincidental name. Today, the studio is owned and operated by Round Hill Music Publishing, based in New York City.

This tour does not include a stop for Compass Records, but if you are out for an adventure you can go around the corner to 916 19th Avenue South. Compass Records is best known as the former home of Glaser Brothers Productions (a.k.a. “Hillbilly Central”) where the likes of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kinky Friedman and Tompall Glaser gave rise to country music’s “Outlaw” movement. Compass Records still operates today as a premier recording studio.

From Round Hill Music follow Grand Avenue back to Eighteenth Avenue South and turn RIGHT. In one block you will see Scarritt Bennett Center on your right.