There were some pretty great sounding records tracked on MCI 400 and 500 series. I have been told that the 600 was the one that was substandard.... I like the sound of the 500 series modules (the only ones I have heard).
Some records done on the MCI-
Margaritaville-Buffet
Celebration- Kool and the Gang
Derek and the Dominoes
Talking Heads-Speaking in Tongues, 1983
Van Morrison- throughout the 70's and 80's
Spirit- 12 Dreams
A list of people that have recorded on the 416 when it was at FAME in Muscle Shoals....
Aretha Franklin -- Liza Minnelli
Wayne Newton -- Wilson Pickett
Tom Jones -- Otis Redding
Jerry Lee Lewis -- Percy Sledge
Little Richard -- George Jones
The Osmonds -- Donny Osmond
Marie Osmond -- Paul Anka
Andy Williams -- Charlie Daniels
Lynyrd Skynyrd -- Mac Davis
Lou Rawls -- Ray Stevens
Jerry Reed -- Travis Wammack
Marty Stuart -- Dobie Gray
Bill Medley -- Solomon Burke
The Drifters -- Bobbie Gentry
Duane Allman -- Joe Tex
Billy Joe Royal -- Eddie Hinton
Etta James -- Tommy Roe
Bill Haley's Comets -- Clyde McPhatter
Clarence Carter -- Arthur Conley
Johnny Jenkins -- King Curtis
Joe Simon -- Wet Willie
Paul Hornsby -- Otis Rush
Boz Skaggs -- Johnny Sandlin
Wild Cherry Lobo -- Johnny Wyker
Arthur Alexander -- Don Covay
Ronnie Hammond-- Berry Oakley
The Tams -- The Soul Survivors
Vern Gosdin -- Hourglass
John Hammond
The Sweet Inspirations
To paraphrase, I don't think too many people have listened to those projects and thought "only if we didn't have to use that MCI 500 preamp on guitar!".
However, I am not one to take any validity away from someone's experience. It is all about what works for you, and makes your life easier.
Wwitman, don't you think that the advent of outboard pre use had a little more to do with the rise of "
Sounds
So
Little"?