Abbey Road - Studio 2 : any trivia?

[bgohara]

I am very much looking forward to visiting Abbey Road Studio 2 tomorrow, as I've got a ticket to a lecture there. What I'd like to know is, do any of you have any trivia regarding the studio, specifically in relation to the Shads or, indeed, the Beatles?

While I know that both groups used other studios on occasion, I guess they both mainly used Studio 2. Was there a particular part of the studio that the bands tended to set up in - that sort of thing. I'd like to know really just so that I can keep these things in mind when I'm there. I guess that the Beatles used Abbey Road almost exclusively until around the 'Let It Be' period (I know that some of the 'Abbey Road' album was recorded elsewhere). Regarding the Shads, I guess they used it up until around 'Change of Address' (I know that they also used other studios on occasion, such as the CTS Studios at Wembley) - and then again for 'Live at Abbey Road' in 1982. I'm guessing - but I don't think they ever really used it after that, except that Hank recorded his 'Wonderful Land' single with Mark Knopfler and Jeff Lynne, there in 1993.

Also - do any of you have suggestions for London sites to visit, regarding the Shads or the Beatles. I know there's not much to see at places like the old Apple HQ (I think 3 Savile Row) or the '2i's' but these sort of places might be worth a quick walk past.

I can think of a couple of Beatles relates sites (Marylebone Station or the old Apple Boutique) but not really any Shads related sites. Where, for example, was the Shads office in Savile Row?

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Bernie

[GoldenStreet]

Also - do any of you have suggestions for London sites to visit, regarding the Shads or the Beatles. I know there's not much to see at places like the old Apple HQ (I think 3 Savile Row) or the '2i's' but these sort of places might be worth a quick walk past.

Bernie

There's a Beatles memorabilia shop in Baker Street (can't just recall the name), walking north from Marylebone Road on the left hand side, near the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which I've passed on numerous occasions and could be worth a visit.

Enjoy your day.

Bill

[StuartD]

HI Bernie

With regards to Abbey Road, there are some pics of Cliff with the Shadows and they seemed to set up near the double exit doors in Studio 2

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I've seen other pics of them near the door as well.

I don't know when they stopped using Studio 2 but when I went to Abbey Road to see them, when they were recording Second Opinion and Rockin' with Curly Leads, they were using Studio 3, just on the left of the main entrance.

If you are going down Savile Row, then their offices, from 1959 up until the early 70's were at Number 17. It was also the home of Carlin Music and was, at that time, named Aberbach House. Freddy Bienstock, who owned Carlin and worked there, was the cousin of Jean and Julian Aberbach who were major music publishers in the USA. They had offices in the Brill Building. I remember going there and buying the sheet music for the Marvin, Welch and Farrar Album. They just photo copied the original hand written sheets!!

Regards

Stuart

[GoldenStreet]

Yes, in the 1960s the company was known as Belinda Music, where I gather the Shads had rehearsal facilities at the time, and also the base of their publishing operation, Shadows Music, administered as a subsidiary company.

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Bill

[bgohara]

Bill - thanks for your comments - I've been to that Beatles store before - but didn't know about where Shads Music was - thanks for the photo!

Stuart - as ever - fascinating! I think I'd heard you mention that they used Studio 3 in the latter days. thanks for the photos. Would that be the wall you're facing as you come down the steps from the control room in studio 2?

Bernie

[StuartD]

HI Mate

It would be that wall.

The pic of 17 Savile Row, shows the steps I went down to buy the music. The Offices were up above. I remember going there one day and Bruce was outside talking to Judith Durham, who also had their agent based there. They sued to go there and write when John Rostill was in the band.

Stuart

[bgohara]

Fascinating stuff - thanks Stuart. I think that's maybe roughly where the Beatles used to set up too. Hopefully all will be revealed tomorrrow!

[keithmantle]

Hi Bernie, I was The n'Betweens (Slade) roadie in April/May 1967 and we were signed to EMI and had to record there, there were 3 cars on the front carpark a black RR silver cloud 3 stretch blacked out limo, a Red Ferrari 400 and a Radford mini Deville, while we were recording in 2 we could hear strange noises coming out of studio 1 in the corridor. It was The Beatles minus Ringo but plus George Martin finalising Sgt Peppers !!!.There was no writing on the carpark walls or groupies hanging round then.

[bgohara]

thanks Keith for sharing your memories.

Had a great day around London - saw quite a few Beatles related sites - Prince of Wales Theatre (rattle your jewellery) ; Montagu Sq (where John and Yoko first lived together) ; Bag O'Nails club (where Paul first met Linda) and the old Apple Boutique in Baker St (there's a plaque commemorating Lennon outside this).

But the highlight was Abbey Road itself - we made our way to Studio 2 under very tight security. Amazing atmosphere - you can feel the history of that place. Unfortunately we weren't allowed into the control room - but the room itself is probably a little smaller than I expected - and it's build on the site of the former garden. They had lots of equipment on show, microphones, recording desks / mixers (a number of which were developed by EMI engineers) and a number of pianos which are available for use by artists.

The lecture itself was good - though pretty high level - some good photos - and snippets of important recordings, including the Shads Apache. It was amazing to think that the Shads and the Beatles (among many others) recorded some seminal records in that very room.

We actually managed to visit the canteen - where we had a pint! There were a few photos on the wall of various artists in the canteen, including Cliff & The Shads ; The Beatles ; Morecombe & Wise and Paul McCartney getting his dinner on a tray. Superb.

Overall an amazing experience - so if any of you get the chance to visit (despite the £80 ticket cost) - take it - it was worth every penny.

thanks again to those who offered a response to this thread.

Bernie

[StuartD]

Hi Bernie

Glad you enjoyed it. Sounds like a great day!!

Regards

Stuart