TTG Studios is a recording studio in Los Angeles, California, co-founded in 1965 by recording engineers Tom Hidley and Amnon "Ami" Hadani.

TTG apparently stands for “Two Terrible Guys”

History The studio is located in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Originally the home of the Hollywood Knights of Columbus, the building was built in 1927, an active period in Hollywood, as nearby buildings Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Hollywood Athletic Club all date from the same period. In 1960, Radio Recorders converted the ground floor billiards room and half the lounge into a recording studio to form their Sunset-Highland Division (Studio 10H), which had formerly housed the Blue Network and other entertainment-related companies.

TTG was co-founded by Tom Hidley and Amnon "Ami" Hadani, who had both previously worked for Phil Ramone at A & R Recording in New York before relocating to Los Angeles in 1965 to found TTG. TTG converted the second story main hall into a large recording studio that could accommodate up to 100 musicians. Meticulously and innovatively designed by Hidley with a high decibel level threshold, the studio became popular with the up-and-coming rock musicians of that time, including The Monkees, Eric Burdon, Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, and Alice Cooper. Burdon introduced Jimi Hendrix to the studio and Hendrix "raved" about the studio's sound.

TTG installed one of the first 16-track tape recorders, which was custom built by co-owner Hidley, at a time when 4- or 8-track recording was still the norm. Jimi Hendrix used this machine at TTG in October 1968.

Personnel Tom Hidley

TTG Studios' co-founder was Tom Hidley. He was born May 27, 1931, in Los Angeles, California. As a teen, he spent long hours playing the saxophone, clarinet, and flute, until ordered to cease by his physician after a physical breakdown. He then turned to non-performance aspects of music, and spent nights recording at clubs and days working at loudspeaker and tape-machine companies.

In 1959, "Madman Muntz" hired Hidley to assist in the development of the first car stereo. Among the first to own a Muntz car stereo was Frank Sinatra, the famous singer and actor. Through Sinatra's purchase, Hidley became known to a Sinatra associate Val Valentin, who invited Hildley to assist in the building of a new recording studio in New York. In 1962, they built the MGM/Verve studio. In 1964, Phil Ramone hired Hidley to work at his A&R studio as the audio technical manager. Also employed at that time by A&R was Ami Hadani. Hidley went on to found Westlake Recording Studios in the 1970s, a facility which was highly influential in standardizing acoustic design in the recording industry and which has been used by a large number of prominent vocal artists.

Ami Hadani TTG co-founder Amnon "Ami" Hadani was born August 19, 1929. He was credited as Omi Hadan on some records. Hadani's association with MGM/Verve artists preceded TTG and his work with rock groups. He engineered albums by jazzmen Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, actress Lainie Kazan, and location recording for standup comic Shelley Berman.

Ami Hadani was married to actress/screenwriter Ellen Weston and they had one child, Jonathan Hadani (Jon Weston), also a Sound Engineer and Theatrical Sound Designer. They were divorced when their son was six years old. Ami remarried Christine Ermacoff, a studio cellist. Ami Hadani died on September 22, 2014, in Los Angeles.

Albums recorded at TTG Studios Album Artist Release datePopsicleJan and DeanMarch 1966Filet of Soul (album)Jan and DeanMarch 1966The Golden SwordGerald Wilson1966Freak Out!The Mothers of InventionJune 27, 1966AnimalismThe AnimalsNovember, 1966Songs for Rainy Day LoversClare Fischer1967 (reissued in 1978 as America the Beautiful)Winds of ChangeEric Burdon and The AnimalsSeptember, 1967Early Morning Blues and GreensDiane HildebrandJune, 1967Goodbye and Hello (Tim Buckley album)Tim BuckleyAugust, 1967Big Boss BonesTrombones UnlimitedJune, 1967Absolutely FreeThe Mothers of InventionMay 26, 1967The Velvet Underground & NicoThe Velvet Underground & NicoMarch 12, 1967The Love GenerationThe Love GenerationJuly, 1967Love IsEric Burdon & The AnimalsDecember, 1968Mirror ManCaptain BeefheartApril, 1971Basie Straight AheadCount BasieJanuary, 1968A Generation of LoveThe Love GenerationJanuary, 1968Those Were the DaysErnie HeckscherMarch, 1968The Sound of the SeventiesTommy Vig OrchestraJuly, 1968Patterns of RealityAndy RobinsonAugust, 1968Hal FrazierHal FrazierNovember, 1968Waiting for the SunThe DoorsJuly 3, 1968The Jimi Hendrix Experience (archival recordings)Jimi HendrixOctober 29, 1968 (released September 12, 2000 )West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology (archival recordings) Jimi Hendrix October 20, 21 and 23, 1968 (released November 16, 2010)TTG Studios October 1968 (unauthorized)Jimi HendrixOctober 1968Peace in Mississippi (First Rays of The Rising Sun Album)Jimi HendrixOctober 24, 1968Red House (song)Jimi HendrixOctober 29, 1968Hand Sown ... Home GrownLinda RonstadtMarch, 1969"Yes I Need Someone" / "Let Me Stay" (Buddah Records single, circa September 1968)Eire ApparentAugust 26, 1968Follow Me (Original Soundtrack Album)Stu PhillipsMay, 1969Sun Rise (featuring Jimi Hendrix)Eire ApparentDecember, 1968The AssociationThe AssociationAugust, 1969Hot RatsFrank ZappaOctober 10, 1969The Velvet Underground (album)The Velvet UndergroundMarch 1969Neil YoungNeil YoungNovember 12, 1968Right OnPhil Moore Jr.December, 1968A.B. SkhyA.B. SkhyDecember, 1968Crow by CrowCrowFebruary, 1970Lover ManJimi HendrixMarch 23, 1970Longbranch PennywhistleLongbranch PennywhistleApril, 1970So Young (Love Theme From "Zabriskie Point")Roy OrbisonMarch 18, 1970Sweet Gingerbread ManThe Mike Curb CongregationApril 3, 1970I Call Your Name (from the MGM film "Zigzag" Soundtrack)Bobby HatfieldApril 3, 1970All You Did Was Smile (from the MGM film "Zigzag" Soundtrack)Bobby HatfieldApril 3, 1970CopperfieldsThe DillardsMay, 1970Take It and SmileEveJune, 1970Our Front PorchRalph Carmichael and the Young PeopleJuly, 1970Weasels Ripped My FleshThe Mothers of InventionAugust, 1970Theme From "Medical Center"Lalo SchifrinSeptember 18, 1970Spill the WineLalo SchifrinSeptember 18, 1970Chunga's RevengeFrank ZappaOctober, 1970Sunday's ChildSunday's ChildOctober, 1970Slow DownCrowJanuary, 1971The Last Time I Saw HerGlen CampbellJuly, 1971Rainbow BridgeJimi HendrixAugust, 1971I'm Gon' Git Myself TogetherJimmy SmithOctober, 1971ReformationThe California EarthquakeNovember, 1971Sailin' ShoesLittle FeatFebruary, 1972Let Love LiveJeremiah PeopleOctober, 1972Doing What Comes NaturallyCharles WrightJanuary, 1973SonlightSonlightMarch, 1973Vital BlueBlue MitchellJune, 1973Beginning TodayThe Dameans1973Killing Me SoftlyFerrante & TeicherSeptember, 1973The Waltons' Christmas AlbumThe Holiday SingersJanuary, 1974Dino Plays Folk Musical ThemesDino with the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra and ChorusMarch, 1974The EntertainerMarvin HamlischMay, 1974...Beautiful...BeautifulFerrante & TeicherAugust, 1974Tommy ButlerTommy ButlerDecember, 1974Fly OnAir PocketFebruary, 1975A Southern MemoirBing CrosbyApril, 1975Tales of a Courtesan (Oirantan)Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big BandJanuary, 1976Inside AmericaJuggy Murray JonesApril, 1976Concert in BluesWillie HutchOctober, 1976We Have This Moment...TodayRichard Roberts and Patti RobertsDecember, 1976BahianaDizzy GillespieFebruary, 1977A RetrospectiveLinda RonstadtJune, 1977'Twas Only YesterdayMarch, 1979DualityClare FischerJune, 1980Straight AheadPoncho SanchezAugust, 1980I Lead a Charmed LifeRussell GarciaSeptember, 1980Carl Burnett Quintet Plays Music of Richard Rodgers Vol. 1Carl Burnett QuintetNovember, 1980Turning to SpringHoward RobertsJanuary, 1981Road Work AheadBob Magnusson featuring Peter Sprague, Bill Mays, and Jim PlankFebruary, 1981WestlakeBob FlorenceMarch, 1981LomelinGerald WilsonApril, 1981Jazz QuintetRobert Conti feat. Mike WoffordApril, 1981Hoy-Hoy!Little FeatOctober, 1981Two Generations of MusicBob Magnusson featuring Daniel MagnussonJune, 1982Summer StrutAndy SimpkinsJuly, 1984Nothing’s About to Happen to MeMitskiFebruary, 2026StoveLana Del ReyTBA

References

External links WICK Studios website WAX LTD website