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Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
The best residential recording studi...
We just heard that Trevor Horn bought Hook End Studios ( yeah it was back in the 90's so we are a bit out of touch, we thought it was still owned by Sarn Studios) and claims it is the "best residential recording studio in the world" which is great news for us as this was the first studio Harold ever built, many years ago when working for Alvin Lee. The control room may have far more up to date equipment these days but it remains his original design. http://www.hookendstudio.com/ http://www.sarmstudios.com/hookend.htm
Since then Harold has built quite a few studios both professional and private and is now busy building what we hope will be regarded as the best residential studio in Spain, apparently there are only five others of the same spec in Spain and they are in Madrid and Barcelona. It's a fantastic design with a massive control room, a whole orchestra could record there all together and it will be equipped with the very latest equipment for doing film and TV. We already have a waiting list of record companies who want to put their bands in the studio when it is completed though I guess the flamencos will always prefer our little place hidden away in the Albaicin.
Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to Kate)
quote:
this was the first studio Harold ever built, many years ago when working for Alvin Lee
So, my "3 degrees" of separation from Harold:
1. My Mum sold Harold or Alvin a fire/burglar alarm system. She was a secretary in Reading but was sent on a sales call that day. I recall her saying to me, when I was 17 or so, "have you ever heard of 10 Years After?" Had I?
2. Harold was sound engineer for "The Godfathers" when my band shared the bill at TC2 in the mid-80s. Kate was there too, I think.
3. I eventually meet Harold through Kate in Granada, while taking lessons and end up moving down there.
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to enurbf03)
wow when i read the title of the thread i thgouht for sure there will be a photo of my bed room in there lol but i was shoked to find out there wasent
anyway the other place looks pretty cool too...really cool actualy
its great how its getting to the point that it is possible to make a nice recording studio at home this days..kind of gives the litlle guys a chance, guys without recording contracts etc...
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to ToddK)
quote:
ORIGINAL: ToddK
Though i dont understand why the term "Residential" needs to be used here.
Maybe its an English thing but the use of word residential in this case simply means that the studio has accomodation as opposed to a studio which doesn't. Originally it was designed as a private studio for Alvin Lee who lived in the house and it was only later it became a commercial studio for hire with accomodation. The studio itself is not in the old house but was built into a 16th century cow shed. You can still see the wooden struts from the original shed. Its amazing that not only the studio but the house itself remains almost the same as when Harold lived there, his sister designed the kitchen which despite numerous owners is exactly as she left it, as are many of the bedrooms. Morrissey filmed a video there once and H was amazed to see Morrissey mooning about his old unchanged bedroom.
Anyway I think Trevor Horn was specifiying that it was residential as there are many other studios, without accomodation, that could also be considered on a list of best recording studios in the world.
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to Kate)
What a beautiful house!
I don't know much about recording studios, but this one certainly fulfills a major qualification as defined in "The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star" (<highly recommended): A huge board with loads and loads of knobs!
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to Escribano)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Escribano
quote:
this was the first studio Harold ever built, many years ago when working for Alvin Lee
So, my "3 degrees" of separation from Harold:
1. My Mum sold Harold or Alvin a fire/burglar alarm system. She was a secretary in Reading but was sent on a sales call that day. I recall her saying to me, when I was 17 or so, "have you ever heard of 10 Years After?" Had I?
2. Harold was sound engineer for "The Godfathers" when my band shared the bill at TC2 in the mid-80s. Kate was there too, I think.
3. I eventually meet Harold through Kate in Granada, while taking lessons and end up moving down there.
Destiny !!! Have you seen that the Godfathers are touring again? They've been to Spain a few times now but keep missing them.
Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to Kate)
Been thinking about this trend of regrouping and touring again and wonder if there is a documentary in there. Especially when one gets three versions of Boney M. !!!!
Think 10 Years After would reform? Now that would make for a decent documentary.
I would like to see The Clash again. And the Pistols and Velvet Underground and... and.... ooh.... The Sensational Alex harvey Band (but they are nearly all dead)
I still think that the footage of Alvin on Woodstock was absolutely incredible, hard to imagine it was done so long ago as it looks so modern with the split screen
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to Kate)
quote:
I still think that the footage of Alvin on Woodstock was absolutely incredible, hard to imagine it was done so long ago as it looks so modern with the split screen
I agree! That solo also knocks me out.
I used to have occasion to go to James Guercio's Caribou Ranch recording studio outside of Nederland, Colorado. It featured a barn converted to recording studio with guest "cabins" located right at timberline in the Colorado Rockies on a gazillion acres of land. Chicago recorded there along with Joe Walsh and Barnstorm, Steven Stills, Elton John and about everybody else who was anybody. I never considered the "wind" problem at that altitude till now. I think the entire property was turned over to the State or some trust...too lazy to Google it right now.
Posts: 2008
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to Kate)
How can they call it ten years after without AL? He is ten years after. Unless that's his son playing his part. Even then, it's not TYA. Maybe TYA hijo.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: The best residential recording s... (in reply to Mark2)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Mark2
How can they call it ten years after without AL? He is ten years after. Unless that's his son playing his part. Even then, it's not TYA. Maybe TYA hijo.
Well I think Alvin would agree with you there, and no that's not his son. Think the guy called something Lee was the original drummer way back in the early Jaybird days.
The studio Harold is currently building is a brand new build so lacks the sort of character you see there but it is set at the foot of the Sierra mountains and the village is surrounded by amazing country side. Simon's Spanish home is not far away. So hey Simon if you ever need a studio for your film work its going to be state of the art 5.1 surround sound.