The Great British Recording Studios

by Howard Massey

                  The Great British Recording Studios tells the story of the iconic British facilities where many of the most important recordings of all time were made. It is endorsed by and was written with the cooperation of the British APRS (Association of Professional Recording Services, headed by Sir George Martin) to document the history of the major British studios of the 1960s and 1970s and to help preserve their legacy.

The book surveys the era's most significant British studios (including Abbey Road, Olympic, and Trident), with complete descriptions of each studio's physical facilities and layout, along with listings of equipment and key personnel, as well as details about its best-known technical innovations and a discography of the major recordings done there. Seamlessly interweaving narrative text with behind-the-scenes anecdotes from dozens of internationally renowned record producers and a wealth of photographs (many never published before), The Great British Recording Studios brings to life the most famous UK studios and the people who created magic there.

Meticulously researched and organized, The Great British Recording Studios will inform and inspire students of the recording arts, music professionals, casual music fans, and anyone interested in the acoustically pristine facilities, groundbreaking techniques, and innovative artists and technicians that have shaped the course of modern recording.

Genres: Music, History

376 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2015

Reviews

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really comprehensive book detailing the wonderful and haphazard world of the studios responsible for most the classic records from the 60s to early 90s.
Technically it's spot on, with detailed inventories and plans of studios and their gear, whilst the 'stories from the studio' show you that it wasn't always serious...

I think maybe it would have been cool, however, if playlists for each studio/chapter were made for Spotify etc so that you could listen to the studios as you read about them!

[Jon Stamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed

[Lee Watford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, loved learning about some of the other big London studios of the '60s & '70s. It answered some questions I've always had about places like Olympic, Decca, and even the Rolling Stones Mobile. Massey smartly avoided too much time (there is a sizable chapter) on EMI/Abbey Road, since there are already tomes about it (literal tomes, check out Recording the Beatles).

[Lee Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Stories From the Studios" the best parts.