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Compass Point Studios was a music recording studio inthe Bahamas, founded in 1977 byChris Blackwell, the owner ofIsland Records.[1] The concept of the studio was of a recording facility supported by in-house sets of artists, musicians, producers and engineers, all dedicated to a specific and recognisable sound and style. The session band at the studios, as well as visiting recording artists, became known as theCompass Point All Stars.
Located on the island ofNew Providence, 16 kilometres west of Nassau, the studio attracted musical artists from around the world to record at its facilities during the 1970s and 1980s.[2]AC/DC'sBack In Black, one of thebest-selling albums of all time, was one of many albums recorded there.[3] The studio closed in September 2010.
Compass Point Studios was built in 1977 inNassau, Bahamas, byChris Blackwell, founder ofIsland Records.[3] In 1980, Blackwell assembled a recording band with Jamaican reggae foundations, based aroundSly and Robbie, who had been signed to Island Records in the 1970s. The band consisted ofSly Dunbar (drums),Robbie Shakespeare (bass),Mikey Chung (guitar),Uziah "Sticky" Thompson (percussion), and British guitaristBarry Reynolds, formerly a session forMarianne Faithfull, another Island Records artist, along with synth-keyboards from French-AfricanWally Badarou (later ofLevel 42), and thenTyrone Downie (formerly ofThe Wailers). Under Blackwell's direction, and with co-producer, engineer and mixerAlex Sadkin, the group created the "Compass Point Sound", providing backing for albums includingWarm Leatherette,Nightclubbing andLiving My Life byGrace Jones andSheffield Steel byJoe Cocker.[4] This backing band later became known as the "Compass Point All Stars" (CPAS). Blackwell said that he "wanted a new, progressive-sounding band, a Jamaican rhythm section with an edgy mid-range and a brilliant synth player. And I got what I wanted, fortunately".[5]
One resident musician in the early period of the studios wasRobert Palmer, who provided backing vocals on Joe Cocker's "Sweet Little Woman", along withJimmy Cliff. Sly and Robbie used some of the CPAS forBlack Uhuru andGwen Guthrie projects, eventually adding Darryl Thompson,Spaceman Patterson, and Monte Brown (guitars) to the core of the band. An attempt to record a CPAS album ended up as Sly and Robbie'sLanguage Barrier. Compass Point residents later includedChris Frantz (drums) andTina Weymouth (bass) ofTalking Heads, who went on to startTom Tom Club with co-producerSteven Stanley engineering and mixing.[2][3] British engineer Andy Lyden came to the studios to work on a Wally Badarou solo project, and became a resident engineer. The core musicians ofCPAS lived in a condominium called "Tip-Top", at the top of a hill behind the studio.James Brown came to record with the CPAS, but the project did not work out due to publishing disputes.[6]
The studios developed into a musical community,[7] and through the 1980s, the label of "Compass Point All Stars" was given to many creative projects recorded at or simply connected to the studio, including productions byBill Laswell, remixes byLarry Levan andFrançois Kevorkian, and resident or non-resident artists of various genres, such asthe B-52's. This community is showcased on the compilationFunky Nassau/The Compass Point Story/1980-1986 released by Strut Records, including tracks fromChaz Jankel,Cristina,Will Powers, andGuy Cuevas, as well as extensive interviews byDavid Katz.
In 1987, for Island Records' 25th belated anniversary, some of the initial CPAS performed live for the first time atPinewood Studios in London, backingEric Clapton on "I Shot the Sheriff". Mikey Chung and Sticky Thompson did not participate. A video was released asIsland 25: Alright Now.
Artists who recorded at Compass Point Studios includedthe Rolling Stones,[8]AC/DC,[3]the Tragically Hip,[9]Grace Jones,[2]Brian Eno,[10]Talking Heads,[11]Madness,[12]Iron Maiden,[13]The B-52's,[14]David Bowie,[15]Emerson, Lake & Palmer,[16]Dire Straits,[17] andMick Jagger in his solo career.[18]
As Blackwell moved into other business ventures towards the end of the 1980s, he spent less time on the studio. After producer and managerAlex Sadkin died in a car crash in 1987, the studio began a period of decline into the early 1990s.[2]
In 1992, Blackwell hiredTerry and Sherrie Manning, the owners and operators of a recording studio and video production house in the US, to manage Compass Point Studios. After their arrival in late 1992, the Mannings began a complete renovation of the two large studios, rewiring them with modern recording equipment. The studios were subsequently used by artists includingJulio Iglesias,Diana Ross,Celine Dion,Sade,Mariah Carey andBjörk.[19]
In September 2010, Compass Point Studios closed.[20] According to the Compass Point web page, "Compass Point Studios ceased operations in Nassau as of the end of September 2010 because of a series of incidents, socio-political based happenings which made it untenable to continue business in The Bahamas".[21]
Members of CPAS collaborated remotely on half a dozen projects after the mid-2000s, includingWarrior by ex-Black UhuruMichael Rose, and Grace Jones'Hurricane.
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