Sarm West Studios

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SARM Studios
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OwnerSPZ Group
AffiliationsCompanies within the building:
Website www.sarmstudios.com

Sarm West Studios was a recording studio in a former 17th century chapel at 8-10 Basing Street, in Notting Hill, London, England. Originally established in 1969 as Island Studios by Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, the studio was also known as Basing Street Studios until 1982, when it was acquired by SARM studio owners Jill Sinclair and her husband, producer Trevor Horn, and renamed Sarm West.

Contents

History

Island Studios (1969–1981)

Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, built the Notting Hill studio within a deconsecrated 17th-century church, opening Island Studios in 1969. The Basing Street studio was one of the first in London to have a 16-track recorder, and Blackwell commissioned former Olympic Studios Technical Director Richard "Dick" Swettenham to build a recording console for the new studios, resulting in the formation of Helios Electronics [1] and its first console, Island Studio 2, a 20-input, 8-buss console with 16-channel monitoring. [2] The building also served as headquarters for Island Records from 1969 to 1973. From 1975 to 1982, the studios were referred to as Basing Street Studios. [3]

Notable music recorded at Island Studios includes portions of Led Zeppelin's album Led Zeppelin IV , including "Black Dog" and "Stairway to Heaven", [4] Genesis's album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Jethro Tull's Aqualung , The Eagles' album Desperado , The Jeff Beck Group album Rough and Ready , Dire Straits' eponymous debut studio album, [5] and Stephen Stills self-titled debut solo album, featuring guitar work from both Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, as well as contributions from Mama Cass, Graham Nash, Booker T. Jones, and Ringo Starr. [2]

The Wailers' albums Catch a Fire and Burnin' were both completed at the Basing Street studios. In 1977, Bob Marley lived in an upstairs apartment at the studio during his 14-month self-imposed exile from Jamaica, recording the album Exodus . [6]

Songs recorded at Island Studios include "Without You" by Harry Nilsson, "After Midnight" by Eric Clapton, "All Right Now" by Free, "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens, and "Many Rivers to Cross" by Jimmy Cliff. [2]

Other artists who recorded at Island Studios include Genesis, Paul McCartney, Go, Steve Winwood and Traffic, Fairport Convention, John Martyn, Mott the Hoople, Roxy Music, Brian Eno, Sparks, Joan Armatrading, and The Clash. [7]

Sarm West (1982–2013)

Jill Sinclair and Trevor Horn, owners of East London's SARM studios, bought Island's Basing Street studios in 1982, renaming them Sarm West Studios to complement their existing East London studio. Horn and Sinclair also established offices at the Basing Street location for ZTT Records and Stiff Records labels, [8] as well as Perfect Songs and Unforgettable Songs publishing companies.

In November 1984, Studio 1 at Sarm West was the venue for the recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas" by the members of Band Aid in support of relief efforts for the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia, and in November 2014, the studios were used to record the Band Aid 30 charity single. [9]

In 1987, the studio's cathedral organ was recorded for George Michael's album Faith . [10]

In 2004 to 2005, Gorillaz recorded their album Demon Days at the studio. The album was made alongside Danger Mouse and featured many guests recording in the studio such as De La Soul, Shaun Ryder and Dennis Hopper

In May 2011, two new studios and music business offices were added. The redesign also included living accommodation, to facilitate a return to the studios' 1970s policy of long-term bookings. [8] The studios became part of SPZ Group, [11] a holding company belonging to Sinclair and Horn.

Sarm West was used by numerous notable artists, including Iron Maiden, Art of Noise, Nik Kershaw, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Propaganda, Yes, Grace Jones, Seal, Marc Almond, George Michael, Madonna, Belle and Sebastian, Pet Shop Boys, KT Tunstall, Depeche Mode, East 17, Take That, Little Mix, Boyzone, Christina Aguilera, and Rihanna. [12] [13]

Sarm Music Village

SPZ Group opened the Sarm Music Village 6-studio complex in nearby Ladbroke Grove in 2013 and closed the Sarm West Studios on Basing Street. [14] In 2018, the former church building was converted into nine luxury flats.

Legacy

In October 2019, a commemorative blue plaque dedicated by the Nubian Jak Community Trust honoring Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer was placed at the site of the former Basing Street Studios where The Wailers' albums Catch a Fire and Burnin' were completed, as well as the Bob Marley and the Wailers album Exodus [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Exodus</i> (Bob Marley and the Wailers album) 1977 studio album by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Exodus is a 1977 album by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, first released in June 1977 through Island Records, following Rastaman Vibration (1976). The album's production has been characterized as laid-back with pulsating bass beats and an emphasis on piano, trumpet and guitar. Unlike previous albums from the band, Exodus thematically moves away from cryptic story-telling; instead it revolves around themes of change, religious politics, and sexuality. The album is split into two halves: the first half revolves around religious politics, while the second half is focused on themes of making love and keeping faith.

<i>Burnin</i> (Bob Marley and the Wailers album) 1973 studio album by the Wailers

Burnin' is the sixth album by Jamaican reggae group the Wailers, released in October 1973. It was written by all three members and recorded and produced by the Wailers in Jamaica, contemporaneously with tracks from the Catch a Fire album with further recording, mixing and completion while on the Catch a Fire tour in London. It contains the song "I Shot the Sheriff", which was later covered by Eric Clapton. It was the last album before Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer decided to pursue solo careers, while continuing their local releases through their company Tuff Gong Records. A commercial and critical success in the United States, Burnin' was certified Gold and later added to the National Recording Registry, with the Library of Congress deeming it historically and culturally significant.

<i>Catch a Fire</i> 1973 studio album by Bob Marley & The Wailers

Catch a Fire is the fifth studio album by the reggae band The Wailers, released in April 1973. It was their first album released by Island Records. After finishing a UK tour with Johnny Nash, they had started laying down tracks for JAD Records when a disputed CBS contract with Danny Sims created tensions. The band did not have enough money to return to Jamaica, so their road manager Brent Clarke approached producer Chris Blackwell, who agreed to advance The Wailers money for an album. They instead used this money to pay their fares back home, where they completed the recordings that constitute Catch a Fire. The album has nine songs, two of which were written and composed by Peter Tosh; the remaining seven were by Bob Marley. While Bunny Wailer is not credited as a writer, the group's writing style was a collective process. For the immediate follow-up album, Burnin', also released in 1973, he contributed four songs. After Marley returned with the tapes to London, Blackwell reworked the tracks at Island Studios, with contributions by Muscle Shoals session musician Wayne Perkins, who played guitar on three overdubbed tracks. The album had a limited original release under the name The Wailers in a sleeve depicting a Zippo lighter, designed by graphic artists Rod Dyer and Bob Weiner; subsequent releases had an alternative cover designed by John Bonis, featuring an Esther Anderson portrait of Marley smoking a "spliff", and crediting the band as Bob Marley and the Wailers.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Marley and the Wailers</span> Jamaican reggae band

Bob Marley and the Wailers were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer.

<i>Live!</i> (Bob Marley and the Wailers album) 1975 live album by Bob Marley and the Wailers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Up, Stand Up</span> 1973 single by The Wailers

"Get Up, Stand Up" is a song written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. It originally appeared on The Wailers' 1973 album Burnin'. It was recorded and played live in numerous versions by Bob Marley and the Wailers, along with solo versions by Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. It was later included on the compilations Legend and Rebel Music, as well as live recordings such as Live at the Roxy among others. In 1973, "Get Up, Stand Up" peaked at number 33 on the Dutch Top 40. In 1986, it peaked at number 49 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">After Midnight (J. J. Cale song)</span>

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<i>Gold</i> (Bob Marley and the Wailers album) 2005 greatest hits album by Bob Marley and the Wailers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Marley and the Wailers discography</span>

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References

  1. ↑ Spencer-Allen, Keith (June 2000). "Richard Swettenham 1927-2000" (PDF). Studio Sound. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "The HeliosCentric Helios Console: Constructed in 1996 through an amalgamation of part of the Island Records Basing Street Studio 2 Helios Console (1970-1974) used by artists such as; Led Zeppelin to record their 'Album IV' which includes the timeless hit "Stairway to Heaven", and Bob Marley & the Wailers to record the albums 'Burnin' and 'Catch A Fire'; with the other part being from Alvin Lee's Helios Console from Space Studios (1973-1979); with the final construction installed at HeliosCentric Studios (1996-Present)". Bonhams.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Basing Street Studios". International Musician & Recording World. International Musician (Sep 1975): 39–41. September 1975. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Welch, Chris. "Classic Interview: Engineer Andy Johns on the secrets behind Led Zeppelin IV". musicradar.com. Future Plc. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Sexton, Paul (14 February 2020). "Wild West End: An Epic Studio Adventure Begins With 'Dire Straits'". Udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  6. ↑ Meschino, Patricia (28 September 2007). "30 years later, Bob Marley's "Exodus" returns". Reuters. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Bennett, John G (2009). A Journey Through Whitechapel and Spitalfields (PDF). Nottingham: Five Leaves Publications. p. 45. ISBN   978-1905512546. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Sarm Studios set for major revamp". Musicweek.com. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Denham, Jess (13 November 2014). "Band Aid 30 song and music video to premiere on The X Factor results show this Sunday". The Independent . London. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ex-Wham singer George Michael has passed away at the age of 53". FOX6Now.com. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Sarm Studios - Home". Sarmstudios.com. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  12. ↑ Potton, Ed (1 October 2013). "And now it's farewell to the pleasuredome". theaustralian.com. The Australian. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  13. ↑ Harrison, Andrew (May 2010). "Building The Perfect Beast". zttatt.com. Word Magazine. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Duff, Simon. "Sarm Music Village: 'We really have gone from strength to strength'". prosoundnetwork.com. ProSound News. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  15. ↑ Motune, Vic (27 September 2019). "Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer to receive Blue Plaque honour". Voice Online. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

Coordinates: 51°31′03″N0°12′18″W / 51.517612°N 0.204961°W / 51.517612; -0.204961

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