Sound Techniques Studio 💫

 

“At the Chime of a City Clock: If those walls could sing, sing, sing, sing, sing, sing, sing, sing, sing… 

The esteemed Richard Morton Jack will keep me honest, but if I’m tracking my London musical history spot on, through this door at 46a Old Church St. in Chelsea at one time or another walked the immortal Nick Drake, Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd, Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention, and Sandy Denny and Pentangle, as well as Cat Stevens, Elton John, Francoise Hardy, John Martyn, Elton John, Vashti Bunyan, The Incredible String Band, The Yardbirds and other musical luminaries—all to record at Sound Techniques, which was open from 1965 to 1976, with sessions overseen by the great engineer John Wood and producer Joe Boyd. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Techniques

A book worth waiting for!

It beggars belief that “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play”—my fave Pink Floyd tracks—were done here. 

But my mind splits open because this is where John Cale of The Velvet Underground (on celeste, piano, and harpsichord) worked with Nick on “Northern Sky”—“the greatest English love song of all time”, to quote the New Musical Express. Nick recorded all three of his genius albums here: “Five Leaves Left” (1969), “Bryter Layter” (1971) and “Pink Moon” (1972) plus his final five tracks (never released in his lifetime). 

Can you imagine watching Nick put down “River Man” live in the studio with those ethereal strings behind him?”

Thanks to Greg Ogarrio for the above text and here below freshly taken picture of the venerable bricks building.

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