Decca Studios
Encyclopedia
Decca Studios was a recording facility in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead
, North London
, England.
Famously, The Beatles
failed their audition with Decca Records
at the location on 1 January 1962, and subsequently signed with Parlophone
instead.
Many popular songs and albums were recorded at Decca Studios (for example, John Mayall
's 1968 Blues from Laurel Canyon
and five albums by the Moody Blues). Britain's leading Big Band, Ted Heath (bandleader)
and his Orchestra recorded a succession of outstanding big band jazz records at Broadhurst Gardens for Decca during the band's peak years from 1945 till Heath's death in 1969. David Bowie
recorded his first single, 'Liza Jane', at the studio in 1964. The studios also saw the formation of the original Fleetwood Mac
under the aegis of then-Bluesbreakers guitarist Peter Green
after John Mayall bought him studio time as a birthday present, recording the tracks 'First Train Home', 'Rambling Pony' and the instrumental 'Fleetwood Mac'.
The Marmalade recorded most of their Decca hits in Studio 2, including Reflections of My Life
.
Many classical recordings were made there as well. For a complete list, see DECCA CLASSICAL, 1929-2009.
After the Studios closed, the building was renamed Lilian Baylis
House and is currently used as rehearsal space by English National Opera
.
There were also Decca Studios at 50 West 57th Street, New York City
, and others in Chicago
and Hollywood.
West Hampstead
West Hampstead is an area in northwest London, England, situated between Childs Hill to the north, Frognal and Hampstead to the north-east, Swiss Cottage to the east, and South Hampstead to the south. Until the late 19th century, the locale was a small village called West End...
, North London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England.
Famously, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
failed their audition with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
at the location on 1 January 1962, and subsequently signed with Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
instead.
Many popular songs and albums were recorded at Decca Studios (for example, John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
's 1968 Blues from Laurel Canyon
Blues from Laurel Canyon
Blues from Laurel Canyon is a 1968 album by John Mayall, featuring British blues music. It was his first album after the breakup of his band the Bluesbreakers on 14 July 1968. It was also his last album with Decca before moving to Polydor....
and five albums by the Moody Blues). Britain's leading Big Band, Ted Heath (bandleader)
Ted Heath (bandleader)
Ted Heath, musician and big band leader, led Britain's greatest post-war big band recording more than 100 albums and selling over 20 million records...
and his Orchestra recorded a succession of outstanding big band jazz records at Broadhurst Gardens for Decca during the band's peak years from 1945 till Heath's death in 1969. David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
recorded his first single, 'Liza Jane', at the studio in 1964. The studios also saw the formation of the original Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
under the aegis of then-Bluesbreakers guitarist Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
after John Mayall bought him studio time as a birthday present, recording the tracks 'First Train Home', 'Rambling Pony' and the instrumental 'Fleetwood Mac'.
The Marmalade recorded most of their Decca hits in Studio 2, including Reflections of My Life
Reflections of My Life
"Reflections of My Life" was a 1969 hit single for the Scottish band, The Marmalade. It was written by their lead guitarist Junior Campbell, and singer Dean Ford . Released in late 1969, it was the band's first release on Decca following an earlier spell at CBS...
.
Many classical recordings were made there as well. For a complete list, see DECCA CLASSICAL, 1929-2009.
After the Studios closed, the building was renamed Lilian Baylis
Lilian Baylis
Lilian Mary BaylisCH was an English theatrical producer and manager. She managed the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells theatres in London, and ran an opera company, which became the English National Opera , a theatre company, which evolved into the English National Theatre, and a ballet company, which...
House and is currently used as rehearsal space by English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
.
There were also Decca Studios at 50 West 57th Street, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and others in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Hollywood.
Selected recordings
- All Time Top Twelve Ted Heath (bandleader)Ted Heath (bandleader)Ted Heath, musician and big band leader, led Britain's greatest post-war big band recording more than 100 albums and selling over 20 million records...
and his Music, De LK 4208 - The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones (EP)The Rolling Stones is the debut EP released by The Rolling Stones in January 1964. It was released both to capitalise on their first Top 20 hit "I Wanna Be Your Man" and to test the commercial appeal of the band before their UK label Decca Records would commit to letting them record an album...
, The Rolling Stones (1963) - Bluesbreakers with Eric ClaptonBluesbreakers with Eric ClaptonBlues Breakers is a 1966 electric blues album credited to John Mayall with Eric Clapton.The band name John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers that was used by the band consequently is derived from the title of this album; no original issues mention the Bluesbreakers as band name...
, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1966) - CrusadeCrusade (album)Crusade is a studio album by the British Blues-rock band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, released on September 1, 1967 for London Records. It was the follow-up to A Hard Road, also released in 1967...
, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1967) - Bare WiresBare Wires- Reissue Bonus Tracks :- Personnel :John Mayall's Bluesbreakers* John Mayall – vocals, harmonica, piano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium, guitar* Mick Taylor – lead guitar, Hawaiian guitar* Chris Mercer – tenor, baritone saxophone...
, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1968) - Blues from Laurel Canyon, John Mayall (1968)
- Days of Future PassedDays of Future PassedDays of Future Passed is the second album and first concept album by The Moody Blues, released in 1967. It was also their first album to feature Justin Hayward and John Lodge, who would play a very strong role in directing the band's sound in the decades to come...
(1967), The Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost ChordIn Search of the Lost Chord-2006 SACD Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:In Search of the Lost Chord was remastered into SACD in March 2006 and repackaged into a 2 CD Deluxe Edition.Extra tracks on the Deluxe Edition are:#"Departure" – 0:55...
(1968), The Moody Blues - On the Threshold of a DreamOn the Threshold of a DreamOn the Threshold of a Dream is the fourth album by The Moody Blues, released on the Deram label in 1969. It was their last album to be released by the band before they formed their own record label, Threshold, to be distributed by Decca Records....
(1969), The Moody Blues - To Our Children's Children's ChildrenTo Our Children's Children's ChildrenTo Our Children's Children's Children is the fifth album by The Moody Blues, first issued in late 1969. It was the first album released on the group's newly formed Threshold Records label, which was named after the band's previous album from the same year, On the Threshold of a Dream.It was...
(1969), The Moody Blues - A Question of BalanceA Question of BalanceA Question of Balance, released in 1970, is the sixth album by The Moody Blues. The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their well-known lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert...
(1970), The Moody Blues
See also
- The Decca audition by the Beatles, for a full account