How It Was Recorded

Bryan Adams · Album, 1984

Reckless

This is an album-level record: the sources describe how the album as a whole was recorded, not one song. Where a detail belongs to a single song, the row says so.

Songs this record stands for: Run to You, Somebody, Summer of '69. We found nothing specific to these songs, so this album record is the closest account we have.

Lead vocalRhythm guitarBassDrum kitCasio keyboardBasic tracks setupVerified4Reported9

What the sources do and do not say

Single Sound On Sound Classic Tracks piece (Richard Buskin, July 2006) with Bob Clearmountain. Almost everything describes the Reckless sessions in general, so this is an album record; drum miking is Clearmountain's best recollection and is marked hedged. The only Run to You-specific gear is the direct Casio keyboard; the vocal delay on the song is mentioned but no unit is named.

Lead vocal

Bryan Adams

Microphone

Shure SM58

Verified

Chosen as the lead vocal microphone on a couple of the album's tracks where an edgy sound was wanted; the text does not say which tracks.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.

Neumann U 87

Reported

Used for the album's less edgy lead vocals, and by his account usually the favoured choice, with the FET 47 named as the alternative. (recalled with uncertainty)

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.

Neumann U 47 fet

Reported

Named as an alternative to the U87 for the album's less edgy lead vocals; the text does not say which songs. (recalled with uncertainty)

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.

Rhythm guitar

Keith Scott

Amplifier

Marshall Amplifier (model not stated)

Verified

Keith Scott's guitar amplifier during the sessions.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5

amp and cabinet simulator

An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator covering this style of amplifier. Whether this exact model is included was not checked).

Microphone

Shure SM57

Verified

Microphone placed in front of Keith Scott's Marshall amp.

Position
In front of the amp

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.

Bass

Dave Taylor

Amplifier

Ampeg SVT

Reported

Amplifier used alongside the direct signal for Dave Taylor's bass; Clearmountain believes it was an SVT.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Plugin Alliance Ampeg SVT-VR Classic

bass amp simulator

Officially licensed model of the SVT head and its 8x10 cabinet.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Universal Audio Ampeg SVT-VR Bass Amp (Officially licensed SVT model for UAD and Apollo systems).

Drum kit

Mickey Curry

Microphone

AKG D12

Reported

Bass drum microphone on the album's basic tracks, as Clearmountain best recalls.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.

Sennheiser MD 421

Reported

Tom-tom microphones, one above and one below each tom, as Clearmountain best recalls.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The MD 421 is still made.

Shure SM57

Reported

Snare top microphone, as Clearmountain best recalls.

Position
On top of the snare

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.

Neumann U 87

Reported

Room microphones for the drums, as Clearmountain best recalls.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.

Casio keyboard

Tommy Mandel

Amplifier

Recorded direct (DI), no amplifier

VerifiedOne song

Tommy Mandel's small Casio keyboard was recorded direct; its tinkling sounds can be heard on Run to You, especially out of the solo section.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

No plugin suggested. Recorded direct, so there is no amp to model. Leave the amp simulator off.

Basic tracks setup

Input chain

Neve 8048

Reported

Console at Little Mountain, Vancouver, where the album's basic tracks were recorded.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Approximate

Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer

console emulation

A console-summing plugin that includes one Neve desk. It gives a Neve flavour, not this console's channels.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Studer A80

Reported

Tape machine at Little Mountain for the album's basic tracks; Clearmountain adds that its motors were underpowered for two-inch tape.

Source: Sound On Sound, accessed 15 Nov 2026

Emulation of this unit

Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines

tape

Models a Studer A827 multitrack and an A80 mastering machine.

Get the plugin ↗What else it stands in for

Also worth a look: Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder (Models the related Studer A800).

Sources

  1. Classic Tracks: Bryan Adams 'Run To You', Sound On Sound, 2006-07. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
Verified

Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.

Reported

Stated by a reputable secondary source.

Inferred

An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.

Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.