School Day by Chuck Berry: studio, gear and credits

School Day by Chuck Berry: recorded at Universal Recording Corporation, 46 E. Walton St., Chicago, IL (Studio A). See the credits and gear, then recreate the sound in your DAW.

Details

Song: "School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)"
Artist: Chuck Berry
Genre / Style: Rock and Roll / Rhythm & Blues
Date(s) Recorded: January 21, 1957
Original Record Company & Catalog #: Chess Records – Chess 1653 (Single)
Release Date: March 1957
YouTube Search: Listen on YouTube

Personnel and session credits

Musicians & Session Performers:

Chuck Berry - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Electric Guitar

Studio and recording technology

Tracking Studio & Room: Universal Recording Corporation, 46 E. Walton St., Chicago, IL (Studio A)

Reported gear and setup (not independently verified)

Mixing / Overdub Studio: Universal Recording Corporation, Chicago
Mixing Console / Desk: Custom 12-input rotary tube console designed by Bill Putnam
Multitrack Tape Machine & Format: Ampex Model 300 1/4-inch Mono (or early 2-track) at 15 IPS
Studio Monitors: Custom Altec 604 duplex speakers in Putnam-designed cabinets
Key Outboard Processors & Hardware Units:

Custom Bill Putnam / Universal Audio Tube Limiters (Pre-175b designs), Pultec EQP-1 EQs, Universal Acoustic Echo Chamber

Signal chains covered in the full track sheet

Instrument-by-instrument recording pathways, including: Lead Vocals (Chuck Berry), Lead / Rhythm Electric Guitar (Chuck Berry), Piano (Johnnie Johnson), Upright Bass (Willie Dixon), Drums (Fred Below).

Want to sound like School Day?
Get the full signal chains and a step-by-step plugin recreation for Logic Pro, Ableton, Pro Tools and more.
Open the full track sheet

More from the archive