User:KatieRob27/Capricorn Records

Capricorn Records was an independent record label founded by Phil Walden and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia. Capricorn Records is often credited by music historians as creating the southern rock genre.[1]

Label History

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Label and Studio Founding

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In the early 60s, Phil Walden and his brother Alan Walden had made a family business of managing and representing R&B performers including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Al Green, and Percy Sledge.[2] As Redding's fame grew internationally, the partners founded Redwal Music, purchased a four-building block in downtown Macon,[3] and opened a small office space a few blocks away on Cotton Avenue.[4] After Otis Redding’s death in 1967, Phil Walden continued their shared dream for a recording studio, but the initial plan for an R&B driven label no longer held its original appeal without Redding.[5]

Walden and Frank Fenter approached Vice President of Atlantic Records Jerry Wexler about funding the project. Wexler liked Walden’s idea of a studio with studio musicians but thought the studio should also include a record label[6]. They decided to call the label and studio “Capricorn” after their shared astrological sign. With a monetary investment from Wexler and a distribution deal with Atlantic Records,[5] Capricorn Records was close to completion in 1969 with a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. Walden began looking for talent, both musicians and engineers.[6]

First Incarnation - the 1970s:

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Between the time Redding and the Walden brothers purchased the studio property and Phil Walden’s partnership with Wexler, the studio was called the Otis Redding Memorial Studio.[7] Under both names, the space blended into its surroundings and from the outside looked like an old, abandoned storefront with no outside signage among other similarly vacant buildings. The inside of the space was reminiscent of a warehouse - high ceilings and open space.[8]

Jim Hawkins originally designed the main recording studio, [9] and a redesign followed in 1972 by Tom Hidley. According to docents at the Mercer Music at Capricorn, the Hidley redesign changed the studio walls from soundproof tiles to walls with a fabric-covered upper half and a stone and wood bottom half. Strips of cedar shingles placed strategically throughout the room covered lights and further diffused sound. Four echo chambers built under the studio connected directly to the control room to create popular vocal and instrumental echo effects.

Musicians fondly remember the atmosphere of the studio referring to it as “home” or recollecting that anything could happen or anyone could stop by. Elvin Bishop called Capricorn Records “the only thing happening in town that was different from anything in a thousand other towns around the South at the time.”[8]

Walden planned to model the studio after Stax Records and FAME Studios by offering an intimate recording experience with state-of-the-art equipment and a backing studio band.[10] The Capricorn Rhythm Section provided a distinctive full-band sound to artists or on tracks needing accompaniment.[8] Often referred to as CRS, the studio band members were drummer Johnny Sandlin, keyboardist Paul Hornsby, guitarist Pete Carr, and bassist Robert “Pops” Powell.[11]

When it came time to start recruiting talent, Walden tracked down Duane Allman, a guitarist who he heard on a FAME Studios recording of Wilson Pickett's cover of "Hey Jude,"[5] ultimately purchasing Allman's contract.[2] Allman would go on to help Walden build what would become the Allman Brothers Band. Though the Allman Brothers 1969 self-titled first release wasn't a best-seller, critics praised the effort for its mixing of country, jazz, blues, and rock genres. Music historians cite the group's third release, At Fillmore East, as the impetus of the rise of southern rock as a popular music genre. (Mason Crest Pub) Fillmore East was the first gold album for both the band and label. The partnership would garner more top-charting releases with Eat a Peach, Brothers and Sisters, and Win, Lose or Draw.

Between the years of 1969 and 1979, Capricorn produced 9 platinum albums, 17 gold albums, and 5 gold singles.[5] Other Capricorn-signed artists had chart-topping songs and albums, but the studio also held sessions for other artists including Razzy Bailey, Martin Mull, the Charlie Daniels Band, and Livingston Taylor just to name a few.

Other notable Capricorn artists during this era included:

Closing/Bankruptcy

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When Warner Brothers could not successfully negotiate a buyout of the label in 1975, Capricorn made a new distribution deal with PolyGram.[2] In the following year Capricorn's most successful and prolific act, the Allman Brothers Band, would split up.

The 1970’s recession impacted Capricorn record sales, especially later in the decade. Between July and September 1979, the label faced numerous foreclosure and debt charges including a possible buyout and contract renegotiation from PolyGram[12] forcing the label to close its Los Angeles office and cut positions in Macon.[13] When renegotiations were unsuccessful, PolyGram filed a lawsuit[12] seeking all label and studio assets as collateral on a $5 million loan[14] made to the company in 1977.[13]

At this point, many artists terminated their contracts with Capricorn including Sea Level, Stillwater, and Dixie Dregs[15] and the Allman Brothers filed suit to stop the release of a greatest hits album.[13]

Together, Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and the reorganization of Capricorn Records took a total of 18 months.[16] The reorganization allowed Walden to retain the label name, studio, Cotton Avenue office, and both Rear Exit and No Exit Music Companies.[17] Polygram received all master recordings, musical copyrights, existing tapes, records, and other property.[16] Another stipulation of the final agreement was the creation of a special fund to pay off other creditors over the next seven years.[17] Walden received 100% of the company stock after reorganization, leaving Fenter out.[17]

In 1983, Walden announced that Capricorn was releasing its first record in 3 years with the CBS Columbia Label album Sweet Young Thing by Rick Christian.[18] The album, unfortunately, did not revive the label’s name recognition like Walden hoped.

A Capricorn Records liquidation sale event at the Macon Coliseum in the summer of 1986 saw the sale of assets including gold records, personal effects, and filing cabinets containing financial documents, press, and promotional pieces, and contracts.[19]

Second incarnation: The 1990s

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The label relaunched in Nashville, Tennessee as a joint venture with Warner Brothers, this time through the partnership of Walden and his son. The first act to sign onto the resurrected label was Athens, Georgia's Widespread Panic and they released their first album on the label in the summer of 1991.[20]

Cake and 311 were the most commercially successful artists to come out of Capricorn during this period with Cake’s third album Prolonging the Magic going platinum and 311’s Soundsystem going gold.[21] Capricorn’s Nashville division signed a then-unknown Kenny Chesney[22] while the Atlanta division signed various rock acts including jam band favorites like Gov't Mule and Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit.[23]

Throughout the label's run in the '90s, distribution changed from Sony Music's independent RED Distribution[24] network to PolyGram by way of its flagship label Mercury Records. In 1997, Capricorn closed its Nashville office moving all operations to its downtown Atlanta office.[25] Walden sold Capricorn to Volcano Records in 2000 for $13 million and began work on a new independent label project, Velocette Records,[26] which featured Georgia artists including Vic Chesnutt, Kevn Kinney, and Jucifer.[27]

Economic and cultural impact

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From the early to mid-70s, Capricorn’s economic impact on Macon and the surrounding area included more than just the studio and label. The small southern town had gained notoriety as having a vibrant music scene, keeping small venues like Grant’s Lounge, historic halls like the Grand Opera House and the Macon City Auditorium, and large venues like the Macon Coliseum filled with internationally known acts and up-and-coming talent. As a company, Capricorn invested in local real estate including Capricorn Park on Cotton Avenue.[28]

Further putting Macon and Capricorn Records in the spotlight was Phil Walden's involvement in the 1976 presidential campaign of then Georgia governor Jimmy Carter.[29] Capricorn label bands including the Allman Brothers Band and Marshall Tucker Band played rallies and benefit concerts and Carter chose "The South's Gonna Do It" by the Charlie Daniels Band to be his campaign song.[30]

Walden's interest in politics wasn't the only activity bringing attention to his company or hometown. His annual Barbecue and Summer Games held at his lakeside home[29] from 1972 to 1978, attracted both fans and stars.[31] Notable attendees throughout the years included Don King, Bette Midler, Andy Warhol, and President Jimmy Carter.[29]

Internationally, a special production of the Old Grey Whistle Test called "Macon Whoopee" featured performances by the Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, Bonnie Bramlett, Stillwater, and others.[32]

Capricorn Today: Studio Renovation and Reopening

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In 2010, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation listed the Capricorn Recording Studio among its annual “Places in Peril.” Leading up to this announcement, the Capricorn Sound Studios sat vacant during the decades after the label declared bankruptcy, surviving a fire that destroyed neighboring buildings.[33] The studio remained untouched while the rest of the property fell into further disrepair throughout the early 2000s. [34] Studio tours were available to fans through special reservations as featured in an episode of NPR's All Things Considered.[35]

In 2015, a multi-million dollar renovation project through a partnership between Mercer University, NewTown Macon, Sierra Development, and Southern Pines Plantations announced plans to fully restoring the original studio space, early plans included a large recording studio for film score and orchestral recordings, a Capricorn museum, and loft apartments on the upper floors.[36]

While the record label is defunct, the legacy of Capricorn lives on through Mercer Music at Capricorn. On December 3, 2019, on the 50th anniversary of the original studio opening, the original studio space reopened. Grants from the Peyton Anderson Foundation and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation[37] along with historic tax credits and donations made up the $4.3 million project's funding.[38]

In addition to the loft apartments on the upper floors, the four-building remodel includes a small bar and lounge-style entrance, a museum with interactive kiosks, a music incubator space designed for musicians to collaborate creatively or store equipment, rental office space, and two recording studio spaces. Studio B is both a performance venue and large studio space designed acoustically for choirs, orchestral recording, and film scoring. Studio A, the original historic Capricorn recording studio, remains unchanged from Hidley's 1972 studio redesign.[39] The main control room remains mostly unchanged except for a custom 40-channel API console based on the original soundboard.[40]

Bibliography

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  • Associated Press (April 24, 2006). "Capricorn Records founder Phil Walden dies". Today. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  • Associated Press (September 2, 1979). "Firm Seeks Capricorn Record Assests". Atlanta Journal Constitution.
  • Beasley, David (January 8, 1983). "Capricorn Will Release First Record in 3 Years". Macon Telegraph.
  • Bevins, Bill (November 22, 1979). "Capricorn Goes to Bankruptcy Court". Macon Telegraph.
  • Bills, Steve (November 8, 1980). "Bankruptcy Court Approves Plan to Reorganize Walden's Companies". Macon Telegraph.
  • Bomar, Scott B. (2014). Southbound: An Illustrated History of Southern Rock. Backbeat Books. ISBN 9781480355194.
  • B, R (May 20, 2000). "Capricorn Records". Billboard. p. 40.
  • Cronin, Peter (May 6, 1995). "Capricorn is Back on Track at RED". Billboard.
  • Dyer, Candice (2008). Street Singers, Soul Shakers, Rebels with a Cause: Music from Macon. Indigo. ISBN 9781934144091.
  • Eggertsen, Chris (December 2, 2019). "Birthplace of Southern Rock' Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia, Celebrating Grand Re-Opening". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  • Freeman, Scott (June 2001). "Timing is Everything". Atlanta.
  • "Fund Honoring Capricorn Records Co-founder to Benefit New Music Business Program". University of Georgia. August 28, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  • Huff, W.A. Kelly (June 6, 2017). "Capricorn Records". New Georgia Encyclopedia.
  • Harvey, Steve (February 7, 2020). "Mercer Music at Capricorn: Revitalizing a Studio for the Next Generation". Pro Sound News. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  • Hiralger, Madeleine (February 27, 1977). "Capricorn Recording Studio's Impact Big". Macon Telegraph. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |acces-date= (help)
  • Jeffrey, Don (April 30, 1994). "Capricorn signs distribution deal with Relativity". Billboard.
  • Kaufman, Gil (May 2, 2017). "Jam Band Icon Col. Bruce Hampton Dies at 70 After Birthday Concert". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  • Kemp, Mark (2006). Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New South. Univerisy of Georgia Press. ISBN 0820328723.
  • King, Bill (September 9, 1979). "Capricorn Fighting to Show it's Not a Ruined Ram". Atlanta Journal Constitution.
  • King, Bill (October 5, 1979). "A Swan Song for Capricorn". Atlanta Journal Constitution.
  • Knudson, Dewey (August 18, 1977). "Capricorn Fest A Day for Musicians and Fans". Macon Telegraph.
  • "Mercer Music at Capricorn". maconmusictrail.com. VisitMacon. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  • McLellan, Dennis (April 25, 2006). "Phil Walden, 66; Ran Capricorn Records, Home to Allman Brothers, Southern Acts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  • "Mercer Music at Capricorn". Mercer Music at Capricorn. 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  • Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780865545045.
  • Morris, Chris (December 3, 1994). "Caprircorn gets blues via deal with Fat Possom". Billboard.
  • Morris, Chris (February 19, 1994). "Warner, Capricorn declare an end to joint venture". Billboard.
  • Newman, Melinda (January 6, 1996). "Outlook is Low for Capricorn Staff". Billboard.
  • Popson, Tom (July 19, 1991). "Capricorn Records and Phil Walden Back in the Game". Chicago Tribune.
  • Ragusea, Adam (October 16, 2014). "Capricorn in Retrograde: Macon's Endangered Musical History". NPR. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  • Ruggieri, Melissa (November 26, 2019). "Legendary Macon studio will celebrate rebirth". Atlanta Journal Constitution.
  • Sandlin, Anathalee (2012). A Never-ending Groove: Johnny Sandlin's Musical Odyssey. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881462760.
  • Sarig, Roni (July 25, 2001). "Ramblin' Clan". Creative Loafing. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  • Savage, Randall (November 20, 1980). "Walden is Determine to Make a Comeback". Macon Telegraph.
  • Sears, Kyle (December 10, 2015). "Mercer Announces Partnership to Restore Historic Capricorn Studio, Launch Music Incubator as Part of Major Downtown Developement". Mercer University. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  • Sears, Kyle (April 8, 2019). "Mercer University to Reopen Capricorn Records by End of 2019". Mercer University. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  • Smith, Michael Buffalo (2014). Rebel Yell: An Oral History of Southern Rock. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881464955.
  • Smith, Michael Buffalo (2019). The Road Goes on Forever: Fifty Years of the Allman Brothers Band Music. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881467123.
  • Walden, Katherine (October 15, 2016). ""Capricorn Studios – Preserving a Legendary Past"". Macon Telegraph.
  • Whitaker, Sterling (June 30, 2018). "Remember When Kenny Chesney Signed His First Record Deal?". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  • Wilkinson, Jack (July 3, 1986). "Era of Macon's Capricorn Records Ends on the Auction Block". Macon Telegraph.
  • Woodward, Garret K. (December 8, 2019). "Inside the Rebirth of Capricorn Sound Studios, Ground Zero for Southern Rock". Rolling Stone.


  1. ^ "Capricorn Records founder Phil Walden dies". Today.com. April 24, 2006. Retrieved February 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. p. 297. ISBN 9780865545045.
  3. ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (November 26, 2019). "Legendary Macon studio will celebrate rebirth". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  4. ^ Sears, Kyle. "Mercer University to Reopen Capricorn Records by End of 2019". Mercer University. Retrieved July 2019. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Popson, Tom (July 19, 1991). "CAPRICORN RECORDS AND PHIL WALDEN BACK IN THE GAME". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 12, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Sandlin, Antahalee (2012). A Never-ending Groove: Johnny Sandlin's Musical Odyssey. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881462760.
  8. ^ a b c Smith, Michael Buffalo (2014). Rebel Yell: An Oral History of Southern Rock. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881464955.
  9. ^ Walden, Katherine (October 15, 2016). "Capricorn Studios – Preserving a Legendary Past". Macon Telegraph. Retrieved February 26, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Smith, Michael Buffalo (2019). The Road Goes on Forever: Fifty Years of the Allman Brothers Band Music. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881467123.
  11. ^ Bomar, Scott B. (2014). Southbound: An Illustrated History of Southern Rock. Backbeat Books. p. 64.
  12. ^ a b King, Bill (September 9, 1979). "Capricorn Fighting to Show it's Not a Ruined Ram". Atlanta Journal Constitution.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ a b c King, Bill (October 5, 1979). "A Swan Song For Capricorn". Atlanta Journal Constitution.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Associated Press (September 2, 1979). "Firm Seeks Capricorn Record Assets". Atlanta Journal Constitution.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Bevins, Bill (November 22, 1979). "Capricorn Goes to Bankruptcy Court". Macon Telegraph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ a b Savage, Randall (November 20, 1980). "Walden is Determined to Make a Comeback". Macon Telegraph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ a b c Bills, Steve (November 8, 1979). "Bankruptcy Court Approves Plan to Reorganize Walden's Companies". Macon Telegraph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Beasley, David (January 8, 1983). "Capricorn Will Release First Record in 3 Years". Macon Telegraph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Wilkinson, Jack (July 3, 1986). "Era of Macon's Capricorn Records Ends on the Auction Block". Macon Telegraph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Popson, Tom (July 19, 1991). "CAPRICORN RECORDS AND PHIL WALDEN BACK IN THE GAME". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 12, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ B, R (May 20, 2000). "CAPRICORN RECORDS". Billboard Magazine. 112: 40.
  22. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (June 30, 2018). "Remember When Kenny Chesney Signed His First Record Deal?". Taste of Country. Retrieved February 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Kaufman, Gil (May 2, 2017). "Jam Band Icon Col. Bruce Hampton Dies at 70 After Birthday Concert". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2020.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Cronin, Peter (May 6, 1995). "Capricorn Back on Track at RED". Billboard.
  25. ^ Sarig, Roni (July 25, 2001). "Ramblin' Clan". Creative Loafing. Retrieved February 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ McLellan, Dennis (April 25, 2006). "Phil Walden, 66; Ran Capricorn Records, Home to Allman Brothers, Southern Acts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "Fund Honoring Capricorn Records Co-founder to Benefit New Music Business Program". University of Georgia. August 28, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ Hiralger, Madeleine (February 27, 1977). "Capricorn Recording Studio's Impact Big". Macon Telegraph.
  29. ^ a b c Popson, Tom (July 19, 1991). "CAPRICORN RECORDS AND PHIL WALDEN BACK IN THE GAME". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 12, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ Bomar, Scott B. (2014). Southbound: An Illustrated History of Southern Rock. Backbeat Books. pp. 240–241. ISBN 9781480355194.
  31. ^ Knudson, Dewey (August 18, 1977). "Capricorn Fest a Day for Musicians and Fans". Macon Telegraph.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ Smith, Michael Buffalo (2014). Rebel Yell: An Oral History of Southern Rock. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881464955.
  33. ^ [1]
  34. ^ [2]
  35. ^ Ragusea, Adam (October 16, 2014). "Capricorn in Retrograde". NPR - All Things Considered.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ [3]
  37. ^ [4]
  38. ^ [5]
  39. ^ "Mercer Music at Capricorn". Mercer Music at Capricorn. 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ^ Harvey, Steve (February 7, 2020). "Mercer Music at Capricorn: Revitalizing a Studio for the Next Generation". Pro Sound News. Retrieved February 22, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)