BLOG | JUN. 11, 2025

Calling All Veterans of the British Studio Scene!

THE GREAT BRITISH RECORDING STUDIOS

Howard Massey, an excellent author and recording engineer, is putting together what should be an important book on the British record studio scene of the sixites and seventies. If you were involved in this world drop him a line! See more info below:

Producers, balance engineers, maintenance engineers, assistant engineers, tape ops and teaboys who worked at a British recording studio in the 1960s or 1970s and would like to share their memories or photographs can contact Howard Massey.

[email him at gbrs@aprs.co.uk]

Music journalist Howard Massey has embarked on an historic project in collaboration with the UK-based APRS (the Association of Professional Recording Services) which will memorialize the iconic English studios of the 1960s and 1970s in a book to be called The Great British Recording Studios. Each chapter of the book will focus on a well-known English studio of the '60s and '70s (including Abbey Road, Olympic, Trident, IBC, Decca, Pye, and more than a dozen others) and will provide comprehensive descriptions of physical facilities and layout, along with equipment and configuration, as well as discussions about the main recording techniques and technical innovations developed at each studio. Equally important will be the people side: listings of key personnel, dozens of photographs, and anecdotal "stories from the studio" that reveal the inner workings behind many of the world's best-loved and most enduring recordings. The Great British Recording Studios will be published by the Hal Leonard Corporation in both hardcover and paperback (as well as eBook format) and will be distributed worldwide.

Massey is best known as the author of the two Behind The Glass collections of interviews with the world's leading engineers and producers. He also co-authored Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick's 2006 memoir Here, There and Everywhere, and has written hundreds of articles for audio magazines. He started his career as a musician and engineer/producer in England, working at Trident, SARM, Pathway and other facilities with artists such as Elvis Costello, The Fixx, Madness, Thomas Dolby and Spandau Ballet.

Tape Op is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the art of record making.

Or Learn More

MORE ENTRIES

Talking Heads Release More Songs About Buildings and Food (Deluxe Edition)

BLOG

Talking Heads Release More Songs About Buildings and Food (Deluxe Edition)

By Geoff Stanfield

July 29, 2025

Following their debut album Talking Heads: 77, More Songs About Buildings and Food found the band working with producer Brian Eno [Tape Op#85], which...
New Music From Jamie Lidell: Places of Unknowing

BLOG

New Music From Jamie Lidell: Places of Unknowing

By Geoff Stanfield

July 18, 2025

Larry Crane interviewed Jamie Lidell for Tape Op#129, and we chatted with Geoff Swan [#43] about Jamie's 2005 album, Multiply, for episode #27 of...
Gina Birch Releases New Album, Trouble

BLOG

Gina Birch Releases New Album, Trouble

By Geoff Stanfield

July 11, 2025

We interviewed Gina Birch for Tape Op#154 around the time of her 2023 release, I Play My Bass Loud. Her new album, Trouble, again produced by Youth,...
New Album Never Enough and “Seeing’ Stars/Birds”video from Turnstile

BLOG

New Album Never Enough and “Seeing’ Stars/Birds”video from Turnstile

By Corey Reidy

July 8, 2025

With assistance from Will Yip who we interviewed in Tape Op#151, along with A.G. Cook (Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek), and Jason Lader (Jenny Lewis,...
Paramore's Zac Farro Releases "1"

BLOG

Paramore's Zac Farro Releases "1"

By Geoff Stanfield

July 8, 2025

We interviewed Paramore drummer Zac Farro for Tape Op#144, and he hasn't slowed down much since. In addition to his work with Paramore, he has...
Rival Consoles Returns with New Album: Landscape From Memory

BLOG

Rival Consoles Returns with New Album: Landscape From Memory

July 4, 2025

After a year away from actively producing, Rival Consoles (Ryan Lee West) [Tape Op#141], has returned with new release, Landscape From Memory. On...
Adrian Quesada: Boleros Psicodélicos II

BLOG

Adrian Quesada: Boleros Psicodélicos II

By Geoff Stanfield

July 3, 2025

We have kept up with Adrian Quesada through the years in the pages of Tape Op [#94], and he has been a two time guest on the Tape Op Podcast [Ep.#36,...
New King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Phantom Island

BLOG

New King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Phantom Island

By Geoff Stanfield

June 29, 2025

If you are bummed out that Edgar Winter, Thin Lizzy, Tower of Power, Chicago, Traffic, and Wings stopped making records, I have just the salve to...
Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles

BLOG

Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles

By Geoff Stanfield

June 24, 2025

Since the passing of his wife and Low bandmate, Mimi Parker, Alan Sparhawk [Tape Op#31] has been on a creative tear. His recent solo record, White...