Former Famed Recording Studio in L.A. Sells for a Figure That Will Astound You

Once a local feed store, this midcentury modern building in woodsy Topanga, CA, was converted into a prominent recording studio, where artists like Sting and Jackson Browne created iconic hits.

Add to that list of rock stars who reportedly recorded in what was known as Topanga Skyline Studio:  Bobby McFerrin, Chicago, The Bangles, T Bone Burnett, Alison Krauss, Rickie Lee Jones, Billy Preston, and The Band. You name it, if an artist was prominent in the 1970s, there’s a good chance they made music there.

“The property has a storied history, made famous in the 1970s by Sir Douglas Quintet drummer Johnny Perez, who lived and worked at the studio,” says listing agent Brian Linder, of Compass. “Household names like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Robert Plant, Little Feat, and many, many more have produced and recorded hit songs in the studio on the property,”

But that was almost 50 years ago. Today, it’s a one-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home with an open kitchen, a great room, and preserved vintage recording spaces, all tucked away on a .32-acre lot.

It is no longer zoned for commercial purposes, however, which mostly means that the only artists who can professionally record there are its residents. No more recording gigs for massive stars—unless they happen to live in the modest pad.

Updated abode

Having been built in 1957, the facilities were in need of some updating, and the current owners stabilized the building, cleared out debris, opened the floor plan, waterproofed the retaining wall, and added a new roof, electrical, plumbing, and septic lines. They also refinished the kitchen and bathroom.

The result of their efforts is what the listing describes as “textured minimalism,” with exposed roof rafters and sand-finished plaster walls, like an art compound.”

In fact, it’s been suggested that the facility could be used as an art studio, architecture office, a fine arts gallery, recording studio, and more—with the caveat the someone resides there.

There seemed to be additional value in the street-to-street and mostly flat lot. With a vintage trailer, an old hunting cabin, and potential space for an accessory dwelling unit, the property was listed at the end of June for $1,450,000. The owners, who bought the place in 2013, paid $440,000.

A moldy discovery

Shortly the property was listed, mold was discovered in the ceiling over the studio, according to Linder. Until that issue and others were resolved, traditional banks would be reluctant to loan on the property—and buyers would likely have to pay cash.

To remediate or not to remediate? That was the question. And the issue of the facility not having air conditioning or heating was also a factor, considering they were selling in one of the hottest Julys on record.

Linder and his clients decided to make the bold move of letting the market decide the property’s value. They reduced the asking price to $925,000 and gave hopeful buyers about a week to submit their bids.

Bids poured in

Note that almost any property in this part of Los Angeles—particularly of this potential, provenance and location—is sure to raise eyebrows.

And indeed it did. The bids poured in quickly—nearly a dozen—all of them substantially above asking price.

The winners? A young couple—the wife is a musician and a therapist, and they plan to live and work there, with music therapy being a key part of the wife’s practice. They made an all-cash offer of $1,375,000, which was accepted. The listing is marked as contingent.

“We trusted in the market, and the market responded,” says Linder.

In the Topanga Skyline Studio, the beat goes on.

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