Abbey Road Studio 2 lectures

Posted by: John3 on 20 March 2013

Anyone else attend these? Apparently only the third or fourth time the studio has been opened to the public.

 

I went for the Saturday afternoon session and very interesting it was too. For an hour before the talk, we were allowed to take photos and look around the studio. The room was much smaller than I was expecting. On display was old recording equipment, microphones and mixing desks. Also a number of pianos used on famous recordings by the Beatles and Pink Floyd. The talk included anecdotes and accompanying films and music. Quite surreal hearing Beatles and Floyd music being played in the room it was created.

 

A surprise at the end when it was revealed that Ken Scott (Beatles engineer) was sat in the audience.

 

I got the impression that the room was mostly unaltered from its heyday in the 60s and 70s. Apparently, in the late 70s someone had the idea to redesign the building to create car parking spaces, which would have effectively destroyed the existing studio. Luckily someone realised the historical importance of studio 2 and the idea was scrapped (brings to mind the travesty of the original Cavern being knocked down and being rebuilt up the road).

Posted on: 20 March 2013 by FangfossFlyer

John,

 

I was intending to go but couldn't make it in the end.

 

When they played some Beatles and Floyd what format did they play it from (tape, digital ??) and did they play it through their B&W speakers?

 

Richard

 

Posted on: 20 March 2013 by John3

The presentation appeared to be all driven from a laptop with some sort of mixing desk at the back of the room. No B&W speakers in Studio 2 though I saw some outside in the hallway. They used some small speakers on tall stands but I did not catch what they were but they sounded great. I think the room had been cleared of all the usual kit to make way for the display of old stuff and the presentation. The speakers used looked fairly vintage and this was probably all part of creating the 60s sound as it was.

Posted on: 21 March 2013 by Briz Vegas

So, how close is yousystem to the sound as the engineers and band heard it?

Posted on: 21 March 2013 by Wazza69
Was it worth the cost?
Posted on: 21 March 2013 by John3

So, how close is yousystem to the sound as the engineers and band heard it?


Quite close but in the end any comparison is meaningless due to the uniqueness of the room

Posted on: 21 March 2013 by John3

Was it worth the cost?


£80 a ticket so expensive, but if you are a fan of these bands an opportunity that may never be repeated so for me definitely worth the cost.

Posted on: 21 March 2013 by FangfossFlyer

Yeah, me for one wished I could have made it because you never know when Abbey Road will be open to the public again.

 

I think I missed a treat.

 

And that reminds me...I would love a trip round Naim as well one day!

 

Richard

Posted on: 14 February 2014 by FangfossFlyer

There are more Abbey Road open days this April and May.

 

i have just bought a ticket for a Saturday in April.

 

 

Richard

Posted on: 14 February 2014 by Southweststokie

Can someone give a link to get tickets?

 

Ken

Posted on: 14 February 2014 by FangfossFlyer
Originally Posted by Southweststokie:

Can someone give a link to get tickets?

 

Ken

Try seetickets.com

Posted on: 14 February 2014 by joerand

Hope you get tickets. For those of us that may never get there, it would be really cool if someone could take some pictures at the road crossing and post them. If you note the date and time, I believe there is a website where you can watch your crossing on the webcam.



Although I imagine the tourists must drive the locals nuts.

 

Looks like the lads were even willing to help a little old lady across back in the day.


Posted on: 15 February 2014 by John3

If you are a fan of the Beatles or the Floyd it is worth every penny. I cannot describe the feeling of standing in the room where all that great music was created.

Posted on: 15 February 2014 by Dan43

Tickets are on the site, quite a few days available booking mine now.

 

http://www.seetickets.com/tour...-abbey-road-studios/

Posted on: 24 February 2014 by The Meerkat
Originally Posted by Dan43:

Tickets are on the site, quite a few days available booking mine now.

 

http://www.seetickets.com/tour...-abbey-road-studios/

Yes, it is expensive, but for various reasons, it may never be repeated again. A chance in a lifetime! (Who knows how long that is?) Whatever the Genre, most people have had their favourite band, or orchestra record at Abbey Road...I've got my ticket!

Posted on: 24 February 2014 by Redmires

I would recommend this to anybody. I've been twice, once in 1984 and last February. The studio is still as it was. I'm not a religious person but studio 2 is for me the equivalent of St Peters or the Sistine chapel. Just to be there was worth the money alone.

 

As mentioned, you get an hour or so to take pictures and soak up the atmosphere before the show begins. I took an MP3 player with me with (Beatles) anthology type tracks on it (studio chat, out-takes, unreleased versions etc) and found a quiet corner to close my eyes and listen. I have to admit I was near to tears .....

 

 

Posted on: 24 February 2014 by Redmires
Originally Posted by John3:

A surprise at the end when it was revealed that Ken Scott (Beatles engineer) was sat in the audience.

 

 

That's interesting. At the end of our show they revealed that Lizzie Bravo was in the audience and she got up and said a brief hello.

 

10 points to the first one who recognises the name - no googling...

 

 

 

Posted on: 24 February 2014 by joerand

No ten points for me, Redmires, I had to google it. Amazing story. Thanks, always something new to learn about the Beatles.

Posted on: 24 February 2014 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Redmires:
Originally Posted by John3:

A surprise at the end when it was revealed that Ken Scott (Beatles engineer) was sat in the audience.

 

 

That's interesting. At the end of our show they revealed that Lizzie Bravo was in the audience and she got up and said a brief hello.

 

10 points to the first one who recognises the name - no googling...

 

 

 

She was one of the "Apple Scruffs" IIRC. Actually, I don't IIRC. I know, because I think I must have been at the same lecture as you

Posted on: 24 February 2014 by joerand

More than just any scruff, though. She was selected by Paul from scruff-ville to enter the studio one evening and provide backup vocals for John on "Across The Universe".

 

details here: http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/lizziebravo2.html

 

So does Kevin get the full ten points?

Posted on: 24 February 2014 by N16SPS

I wouldn't worry about availability of tickets Universal Music bought the studios and are doing very little with it. I think you'll find in the next 12 months the studios will become very much a tourist destination with many tours available

 

Pete

Posted on: 26 April 2014 by FangfossFlyer

The time finally came and I attended the Abbey Road Studio 2 Lecture this morning.

 

It was FAB!

 

I really enjoyed it especially the story of recording techniques through the decades and the lecture from Ken Scott on his time at Abbey Road and of course recording The Beatles.


A great experience listening to some of the recordings that were made in the very studio that I was sat and I could easily visualise the artist or band being there especially when it was pointed out where they were positioned and playing or singing....very moving at times!

 

I also managed to get a short chat with Ken who is an analogue fan (no surprise there!) and I thanked him for recording  a significant chunk of the music of my life. He also signed copy of his new book "Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust" - a truly nice and friendly person.

 

RIchard

Posted on: 27 April 2014 by Redmires

Glad you enjoyed it. I must check out the Ken Scott book. If it's anything like the Geoff Emerick one then it will be an interesting read.

 

The only other studio I can think of that would have the same sense of history would be the Sun Studios. Maybe one day .....

 

 

Posted on: 28 April 2014 by Rockingdoc

I'm going next week.

Looking forward to it.

Posted on: 30 April 2014 by Redmires

Abbey Road attendees might enjoy this

 

http://www.mojo4music.com/1401...azing-beatles-songs/

 

 

Posted on: 30 April 2014 by The Meerkat

FF...I was also there Saturday morning, absolutely fantastic!! Using the very same loos as the artists use, including The Beatles, was so cool!! 

 

Some people stated that it was too expensive, so wouldn't go. I have no idea how much a premier league football match costs in comparison, but I thought this once in a life time event was well worth it. I was in the studio from 10:00-13:30. Excellent value!

 

Knowing what I know now, I'd have paid double!