Details of The Shadows' recording sessions 1970's and 1980's

[iefje]

Does anyone know if documentation exists on The Shadows' (and Marvin, Welch & Farrar's) recording sessions in the 1970's and 1980's? Details of the recording sessions in the late 1950's, 1960's and for some recordings of the 1970's have been well documented in Malcolm Campbell and Les Woosey's book "A Pocket Guide To Shadow Music".

[iefje]

Some that are known are:
1. God Only Knows. (21-11-1974);
2. No No Nina. (A couple of days in early October 1974);
3. The live album "Live At The Paris Olympia". (12, 13 and 14 June 1975);
4. We'll Believe In Loving. (25-2-1976);
5. Walk Don't Run. (14-3-1977);
6. Don't Cry For Me Argentina. (A couple of days in early October 1978);
7. Theme From The Deer Hunter (Cavatina). (17-3-1979);
8. Rusk. (12-11-1979);
9. The live album "'Live' At Abbey Road". (2-7-1982).
10. The live album "Live At The Liverpool Empire". (31-5-1989).

[StuartD]

Hi Lefje

It's very difficult to state accurately. When I went to Abbey Road, it was lunchtime when I got there and they were just coming back from a break. They recorded Years Away in the early afternoon. John didn't put his guitar break on at all. Hank was on his Strat, Bruce in the control room, Brian on a Drum Riser, John Farrar in an acoustic room at the back and Alan Tarney close to Brian.

When they had finished this, they broke for tea and afterwards they had the pics taken for the cover. They then played me the album, in its rough state and then John worked on the beginning to Rocking with Curly Leads. The crescendo bit at the start. It was obtained by hitting the tape head cover across the strings on his Les Paul. Later he worked on the Wah-Wah bit on Wide Mouthed Frog - John played his Les Paul and Brian worked the Pedal with his hands - and then added some guitar parts to Good Vibrations - the 'Gotta keep those lovin good vibrations a happening' bit from Hank.

So not any one track was recorded that day and several were worked on. It was the same when I saw the recording Second Opinion. When I was there they were doing the vocals on 'The Time to Care' but the backing was all completed on a different day.

Hope this helps

Regards

Stuart

[iefje]

Hi Lefje

It's very difficult to state accurately. When I went to Abbey Road, it was lunchtime when I got there and they were just coming back from a break. They recorded Years Away in the early afternoon. John didn't put his guitar break on at all. Hank was on his Strat, Bruce in the control room, Brian on a Drum Riser, John Farrar in an acoustic room at the back and Alan Tarney close to Brian.

When they had finished this, they broke for tea and afterwards they had the pics taken for the cover. They then played me the album, in its rough state and then John worked on the beginning to Rocking with Curly Leads. The crescendo bit at the start. It was obtained by hitting the tape head cover across the strings on his Les Paul. Later he worked on the Wah-Wah bit on Wide Mouthed Frog - John played his Les Paul and Brian worked the Pedal with his hands - and then added some guitar parts to Good Vibrations - the 'Gotta keep those lovin good vibrations a happening' bit from Hank.

So not any one track was recorded that day and several were worked on. It was the same when I saw the recording Second Opinion. When I was there they were doing the vocals on 'The Time to Care' but the backing was all completed on a different day.

Hope this helps

Regards

Stuart

Do you remember on which days in 1971 and 1973 you went to the studio to see our heroes record?

[hansaustria]

Did you remember what echounit HB used and where was it placed?
Do any pics exist about the used gear ( effects amps ) etc. ?

Hans