Our Colorful History

Providence: The landmark space with a rock star past

From a first glance around Providence, it should be evident that the space embodies a rich and colorful history. The Manhattan Baptist Church was established here in the 1920s and enjoyed a four decade long stay, until the space became the world-famous Media Sound Studios. Next came Le Bar Bat which was the quintessential NYC nightlife hot spot of the 1990s.

Performers like Jimi Hendrix, Billy Joel, John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand (to name a few) have come here to enjoy the room’s superior acoustics as they recorded and developed some of the most important albums in musical history.

As a tribute to the venue’s past we have commissioned acclaimed artist collaborative George H. Potter to create interpretations of the classic album covers from the music recorded here before Providence came to be.

Please feel free to walk through the restaurant to enjoy this permanent installation, along with the original covers of the albums displayed on our walls. Original hand-pulled silkscreens of this series are available through Naff Gallery.

If these walls could sing... A selection of landmark records produced here 1971-89:
	Meatloaf Album: “Bat Out of Hell” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: February 1978 Certified: 07/20/78
	Ramones Album: “Rocket to Russia” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1977
	‘Til Tuesday Album: “Voices Carry” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: March 1985 Certified: 09/11/85
	Guns n’Roses Album: "Appetite for Destruction" Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: July 1987 Certified: Sales of 8 Million+ 07/26/89
	Aerosmith Album: "Night in the Ruts" Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1979
	Billy Joel Album: “Glass Houses” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1980 Certified: 10/19/84
	Billy Joel Album: “The Nylon Curtain” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1982 Certified: 12/07/82
	Billy Joel Album: “The Nylon Curtain” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1981 Certified: 12/30/81
	Jimi Hendrix Album: “Midnight Lightning” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1975
	James Taylor Album Title: “JT” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: June 1977 Certified: 07/05/77
	Luther Vandross Album Title: “The Night I Fell In Love” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: March 1985 Certified: 05/21/85
	The Rolling Stones Album Title: “Dirty Work” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: March 1986 Certified: 06/10/86
	The Rolling Stones Album Title: “Tattoo You” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: August 1981 Certified: 10/30/81
	Kool & The Gang Album Title: “Wild and Peaceful” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: August 1973 Certified: 05/10/74
	Stevie Wonder Album: “Music of My Mind” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1972
	Stevie Wonder Album: “Talking Book” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1972
	Stevie Wonder Album: “Innervisions” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1973
	Stevie Wonder Album: “Original Musiquarium” Album: “Innervisions” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1982 Certified: 07/09/82
	John Lennon Album Title: “Walls and Bridges” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: September 1974 Certified: 10/22/74
	Marlo Thomas Album Title: “Free To Be...You and Me” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: December 1972 Certified: 10/28/76
	Lou Reed Album Title: “Coney Island Baby” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1976
	Barbara Streisand Album: “Guilty” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: September 1980 Certified: Sales of 5 Million+ Copies 08/09/89
	Judy Collins Album: “Bread & Roses” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1976
	Sly & The Family Stone Album Title: “There’s A Riot Goin’ On” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: October 1971 Certified: 11/08/71
	Van McCoy Album Title: “Disco Baby” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: April 1975 Certified: Single “The Hustle” 06/26/75
	Roger Daltrey Album: “Parting Should Be Painless” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1984
	Frankie Valli Album: “Lady Put The Lights Out” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1977 Album: “Closeup” Released: October 1974, 1977 Certified: Single “My Eyes Adored You” '75
	Barry Manilow Album: “Live” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1987 Certified: Sale of More Than 3 Million '87
	Barry Manilow Album: “Barry Manilow II” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1974 Certified: 1987
	Barry Manilow Album: “Trying To Get The Feeling” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1975 Certified: 1987
	Barry Manilow Album: “Even Now ” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1976 Certified: 1987
	Barry Manilow Album: “Even Now ” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1976 Certified: 1987
	The Isley Brothers Album: “3 + 3” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: August 1973 Certified: 11/09/73
	Aretha Franklin Album Title: “Jump To It” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: July 1982 Certified: 02/01/83
	Gloria Gaynor Album: “Never Can Say Goodbye”, “Experience”, “I’ve Got You”, “Love Tracks”, “Glorious” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978 Certified: “Love Tracks” 03/27/79
	Dr. Buzzard’s Orignial Sabannah Band Album Title: “Dr. Buzzard’s Original Sabannah Band” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: June 1976 Certified: 12/14/76
	Peter Frampton Album: “Breaking All The Rules” Recorded: Media Sound Studios Released: 1981