Decca Studios: Difference between revisions
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'''Decca Studios''' was a recording facility |
'''Decca Studios''' was a recording facility at 165 Broadhurst Gardens, [[West Hampstead]], North [[London]], England, <!-- Owned would imply Freehold, whereas Leasehold is common in London. -->controlled by [[Decca Records]] from 1937 to 1980. The building was once West Hampstead Town Hall, and had been converted to a recording studio by [[Crystalate Manufacturing Company|Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing]] in 1928. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 1928, Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing took over West Hampstead Town Hall at 165 Broadhurst Gardens in London and moved its recording studio there. In 1937, Decca took over Crystalate's record division. Decca closed its existing studio in Upper Thames Street and moved to the Broadhurst Gardens studio.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://westhampsteadlife.com/2013/09/20/making-music-in-west-hampstead-and-kilburn/5073 |title=Making Music in West Hampstead and Kilburn |first1=Dick |last1=Weindling |first2=Marianne |last2=Colloms |date=20 September 2013 |work=West Hampstead Life |access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | From British Decca's beginnings in 1929, its earliest recordings were made at two locations, the Chenil Galleries Studios in Chelsea, and later in Lower Thames Street. Auditory evidence from the time suggests that these setups were rather rudimentary affairs, with the recording quality mediocre at best, although from about 1933 onwards, with technological and acoustic changes to these studios, recording quality gradually improved, but was still a long way short of the standard being produced at [[Abbey Road Studios]]. It was only with the opening of new purpose built facilities at Broadhurst Gardens that Decca was finally able to compete for acoustic quality.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} |
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[[The Beatles]] failed [[The Beatles' Decca audition|their Decca audition]] at the location on 1 January 1962,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.music.indiana.edu/som/courses/rock/misc.html |title=London Studios and Clubs |publisher=Music.indiana.edu |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> and subsequently signed with [[Parlophone]] instead. |
[[The Beatles]] failed [[The Beatles' Decca audition|their Decca audition]] at the location on 1 January 1962,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.music.indiana.edu/som/courses/rock/misc.html |title=London Studios and Clubs |publisher=Music.indiana.edu |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> and subsequently signed with [[Parlophone]] instead. |
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==Recording artists== |
==Recording artists== |
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Many popular songs and albums were recorded at Decca Studios. [[John Mayall]]'s 1968 ''[[Blues from Laurel Canyon]]'' was recorded there, along with five albums by the [[Moody Blues]]. [[David Bowie]] recorded his first single, "Liza Jane", at the studio in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teenagewildlife.com/info/faq/22.html |title=David Bowie FAQ: Early On |publisher=Teenagewildlife.com |date=1966-01-14 |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> The studios also saw the formation of the original [[Fleetwood Mac]], under the aegis of then-Bluesbreakers guitarist [[Peter Green (musician)|Peter Green]], after John Mayall bought him studio time as a birthday present, recording the tracks "First Train Home", "Rambling Pony" and the instrumental "Fleetwood Mac".<ref>{{cite web|author=Martin E. Adelson |url=http://discog.fleetwoodmac.net/discog.php?pid=171 |title=The Original Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac |publisher=Discog.fleetwoodmac.net |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> [[Marc Bolan]] recorded his debut single "The Wizard" at the studio in 1965.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2013/sep/22/archive-george-melly-marc-bolan|title=From the Observer archive, 26 September 1965: life's a gas for the latest pop sensations|last=Melly|first=George|date=2013-09-21|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> [[Marmalade (band)|Marmalade]] recorded most of their Decca hits in Studio 2, including "[[Reflections of My Life]]". [[Adam and the Ants]] recorded full band demos of their then live repertoire at the studio in August and December 1978. These have been widely bootlegged among [[Adam Ant]] fans prior to their commercial release.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://antmusic.simondaw.me.uk/demos.htm |title= |
Many popular songs and albums were recorded at Decca Studios. [[John Mayall]]'s 1968 ''[[Blues from Laurel Canyon]]'' was recorded there, along with five albums by the [[Moody Blues]]. [[David Bowie]] recorded his first single, "Liza Jane", at the studio in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teenagewildlife.com/info/faq/22.html |title=David Bowie FAQ: Early On |publisher=Teenagewildlife.com |date=1966-01-14 |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> The studios also saw the formation of the original [[Fleetwood Mac]], under the aegis of then-Bluesbreakers guitarist [[Peter Green (musician)|Peter Green]], after John Mayall bought him studio time as a birthday present, recording the tracks "First Train Home", "Rambling Pony" and the instrumental "Fleetwood Mac".<ref>{{cite web|author=Martin E. Adelson |url=http://discog.fleetwoodmac.net/discog.php?pid=171 |title=The Original Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac |publisher=Discog.fleetwoodmac.net |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> [[Marc Bolan]] recorded his debut single "The Wizard" at the studio in 1965.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2013/sep/22/archive-george-melly-marc-bolan|title=From the Observer archive, 26 September 1965: life's a gas for the latest pop sensations|last=Melly|first=George|date=2013-09-21|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> [[Marmalade (band)|Marmalade]] recorded most of their Decca hits in Studio 2, including "[[Reflections of My Life]]". [[Adam and the Ants]] recorded full band demos of their then live repertoire at the studio in August and December 1978. These have been widely bootlegged among [[Adam Ant]] fans prior to their commercial release.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://antmusic.simondaw.me.uk/demos.htm |title=Demos 1977-1979 |website=Antmusic |access-date=13 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226222344/http://antmusic.simondaw.me.uk/demos.htm |archive-date=26 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[The Zombies]] recorded "[[She's Not There]]" at the facility. |
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Many classical recordings were made at the studios.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.cch.kcl.ac.uk/charm/liv/pubs/DeccaComplete.pdf |title=Decca Classical, 1929-2009 |author=Philip Stuart |year=2009 |publisher=Images.cch.kcl.ac.uk |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> Britain's leading Big Band, [[Ted Heath (bandleader)|Ted Heath]] and his Orchestra recorded a succession of big band recordings at Broadhurst Gardens for Decca during the band's peak years from 1945 until Heath's death in 1969. |
Many classical recordings were made at the studios.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.cch.kcl.ac.uk/charm/liv/pubs/DeccaComplete.pdf |title=Decca Classical, 1929-2009 |author=Philip Stuart |year=2009 |publisher=Images.cch.kcl.ac.uk |access-date=2012-12-04}}</ref> Britain's leading Big Band, [[Ted Heath (bandleader)|Ted Heath]] and his Orchestra recorded a succession of big band recordings at Broadhurst Gardens for Decca during the band's peak years from 1945 until Heath's death in 1969. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[The Decca audition]] - for a fuller account |
* [[The Beatles' Decca audition]] - for a fuller account |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 08:30, 27 February 2021
Decca Studios was a recording facility at 165 Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, North London, England, controlled by Decca Records from 1937 to 1980. The building was once West Hampstead Town Hall, and had been converted to a recording studio by Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing in 1928.
History
In 1928, Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing took over West Hampstead Town Hall at 165 Broadhurst Gardens in London and moved its recording studio there. In 1937, Decca took over Crystalate's record division. Decca closed its existing studio in Upper Thames Street and moved to the Broadhurst Gardens studio.[1]
From British Decca's beginnings in 1929, its earliest recordings were made at two locations, the Chenil Galleries Studios in Chelsea, and later in Lower Thames Street. Auditory evidence from the time suggests that these setups were rather rudimentary affairs, with the recording quality mediocre at best, although from about 1933 onwards, with technological and acoustic changes to these studios, recording quality gradually improved, but was still a long way short of the standard being produced at Abbey Road Studios. It was only with the opening of new purpose built facilities at Broadhurst Gardens that Decca was finally able to compete for acoustic quality.[citation needed]
The Beatles failed their Decca audition at the location on 1 January 1962,[2] and subsequently signed with Parlophone instead.
With the sale of Decca to Polygram, the studios were closed in 1980 and the building was renamed Lilian Baylis House, and is currently used as rehearsal space by English National Opera.
Recording artists
Many popular songs and albums were recorded at Decca Studios. John Mayall's 1968 Blues from Laurel Canyon was recorded there, along with five albums by the Moody Blues. David Bowie recorded his first single, "Liza Jane", at the studio in 1964.[3] The studios also saw the formation of the original Fleetwood Mac, under the aegis of then-Bluesbreakers guitarist Peter Green, after John Mayall bought him studio time as a birthday present, recording the tracks "First Train Home", "Rambling Pony" and the instrumental "Fleetwood Mac".[4] Marc Bolan recorded his debut single "The Wizard" at the studio in 1965.[5] Marmalade recorded most of their Decca hits in Studio 2, including "Reflections of My Life". Adam and the Ants recorded full band demos of their then live repertoire at the studio in August and December 1978. These have been widely bootlegged among Adam Ant fans prior to their commercial release.[6] The Zombies recorded "She's Not There" at the facility.
Many classical recordings were made at the studios.[7] Britain's leading Big Band, Ted Heath and his Orchestra recorded a succession of big band recordings at Broadhurst Gardens for Decca during the band's peak years from 1945 until Heath's death in 1969.
Selected recordings
- All Time Top Twelve Ted Heath and his Music, De LK 4208
- The Rolling Stones, The Rolling Stones (1963)[8]
- ’’ The Flies recorded “ I'm not your Stepping Stone” and also “ House of Love “ in Studio 2</ref>
- Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1966)[9]
- Crusade, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers[10] (1967)
- Bare Wires, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1968)
- Blues from Laurel Canyon, John Mayall (1968)
- Days of Future Passed (1967), The Moody Blues
- In Search of the Lost Chord (1968), The Moody Blues
- On the Threshold of a Dream (1969), The Moody Blues
- To Our Children's Children's Children (1969), The Moody Blues
- A Question of Balance (1970), The Moody Blues
See also
- The Beatles' Decca audition - for a fuller account
References
- ^ Weindling, Dick; Colloms, Marianne (20 September 2013). "Making Music in West Hampstead and Kilburn". West Hampstead Life. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "London Studios and Clubs". Music.indiana.edu. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ "David Bowie FAQ: Early On". Teenagewildlife.com. 14 January 1966. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ Martin E. Adelson. "The Original Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac". Discog.fleetwoodmac.net. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ Melly, George (21 September 2013). "From the Observer archive, 26 September 1965: life's a gas for the latest pop sensations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ "Demos 1977-1979". Antmusic. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ Philip Stuart (2009). "Decca Classical, 1929-2009" (PDF). Images.cch.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ "Bands and Artists: R: Rolling Stones: Discography: Singles: Rolling Stones EP, The". MusicMoz. 10 January 1964. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ "Music Collectors pages - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - 05/04/2010". Chrome Oxide. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ "Taylormade - The Mick Taylor Database". Nzentgraf.de. Retrieved 4 December 2012.