Guys who worked in New York recording studios in the 1960's / 70's worked to a rigid structure. Everything was pre-planned [[pretty much). Not much room left to improvise [[unless it was a jazz session).
BUT ELSEWHERE, things were done so differently.
At Stax, tracks like "Green Onions" were the result of a studio jam session.
Likewise, tracks evolved in other southern studios such as those in Muscle Shoals. When NYers on Atlantic's staff went to Memphis & Muscle Shoals, they were amazed at the way sessions were run.
I'd say, in Chicago studios, things worked more on the NY system [[correct me if I'm wrong).
In Detroit [[@ Motown) the musicians would be given the music for a particular song & [[being jazz guys) would initially 'play around' with it. The results of their improv would many times be incorporated into the final track.
But generally, Motown sessions were tightly controlled affairs [[as I understand it).
I've no idea how 60's sessions were run in Philly, LA and New Orleans but again I'd guess they unfolded more to a NY system style than in a Stax fashion.
BUT THEN THINGS CHANGED in the 70's ... Studios now had 8 & 16 track desks, so even the musicians would do their work at different times [[not the likes of MFSB I guess). The singers would add their input to an almost finished track, backing vocals would also come at a different time. Horn sections could be added afterwards as well, if it was decided a track would benefit from adding brass.
So things gradually became more planned / structured & the 'developing a groove' a guitar player or keys player had been toying with became more of an isolated occurrence.
I'd say both the structured N.Y. way of doing things & the southern way of doing things both had their place HOWEVER for me, the Stax method certainly led to the creation of many soul gems that wouldn't have happened in a N.Y. studio.
Anyone here got actual hands on experience of the different way studio sessions unfolded ?