Livingston Recording Studios
Encyclopedia
Livingston Studios were started by Ray Kinsey, a film director
from North London
, who branched out into recording talking books
for the blind. The first Livingston Studio designed for recording music was set up in Barnet
UK
during 1963 where work on talking books continued alongside the recording of folk music
. Kinsey's son, Nick Kinsey, joined the company in 1966. Nick Kinsey started to develop the studios continuing with the recording of folk music and branching out into pop music
. He recorded artists such as Pentangle
, Iain Matthews
and Russ Ballard
. Nick Kinsey bought the studio from Fred Livingston-Hogg an Oxford based business man who had been involved with the Livingston Hire Group, with the help of Alan Tomkins and Michael Smee, and rebuilt it.
in Wood Green
and transformed it into a hi-tech
studio
. In 1985 a second studio was added and Jerry and Mary Boys joined the company. By 1987 they had opened two more studios in Guillemot Place North London
.
In 1993 Livingston succumbed to the nationwide recession
in UK and the Guillemot studios were closed down. The Brook Road studios were acquired by Jerry Boys and Dave Margereson who owned the music management
company Mismanagement and the new company Livingston Recording Studios Ltd was set up.
Nick Gold, producer
and owner of the World circuit
record label, met Jerry Boys after working together on an album with Oumou Sangaré
and they started to work together with the Buena Vista Social Club
. The Buena Vista Social Club's eponym
ous multi million selling first album was recorded at Egrem
studios
, Havana
and mixed by Boys and Gold at Livingston Studios. They released it on their World Circuit label in 1997.
Bjork's debut album Debut (1993) was recorded and mixed at Livingston Studios by producer
Marias De Vries. It sold over 2.5m copies worldwide.
In 2001 Gold bought the company from Boys which enabled most of World Circuit's
artists to be record and mix their music at Livingston Studios.
A
A&G Records
Adam Seymour
Adrian Hall
Adrian Sherwood
Afro Cuban All Stars
Alex Wilson
Ali Farka Toure
Andy Scart
Andy Thornton
Ash
Asian Dub Foundation
Athena
Atlantic
B
Barb Jungr
Balenescu Quartet
Bellowhead
Bernard Butler
Beth Orton
Betty Steeles
Big Linda
Björk
Blondelle
Blowup Records
Bobby Kray
Buena Vista Social Club
Bush
C
Cameron McVey
Candid Records
Calum Malcolm
The Cat Empire
CEC Management
Chris Kimsey
Chris Sheldon
D
Danny Shogger
The Datsuns
Damien Saez
Dave Eringa
David Ward Films
Dennis Bovell
Del Amitri
Dimi Mint Abba
Dimitri
E
The Ebony Tower
Elova
The Enemy
Enjoy Destroy
Erol Alkan
Eyes Wide Open
F
Feeder
Fierce And The Dead
The Friendly
Fires
Future Cut
G
Gil Norton
Graham Dominy
Greg Haver
Sean Genocky
Gyroscope
H
Hate Gallery
Hogg
I
Ian Broudie
Ian Shaw
Ibrahim Ferrer
Imelda May
Island
Issie Barrett
J
Jamie Cullum
Jazz Jamaica
Jerry Boys
Jimmy Roberts
Joe Boyd
Joe Lean & The Jing Jang
Jong
Joe Stilgoe
John Cornfield
John Gallen
John Leckie
John Martyn
Johnny Panic
K
KK
Kaitee Page
Ken Rose
Kasai Masai
Kate Rusby
L
Labi Siffre
The Libertines
Lou Rhodes
Luan Parle
Luis Jardin
Lunic
M
Manic Street Preachers
Mansun
Marius De Vries
Mark Rankin
Matt Stevens
Melanie C
Mercury
Mike Neilson
Minus 1
Muse
N
Nick Abbott
Nick Gold
Nizlopi
Norman Cook
O
The Opera Babes
Orchestra Baobab
Oumou Sangaré
Owen Morris
P
Paul Borg
Pedro Ferreira
Pee Wee Ellis
Peter Borthwick
Placebo
Plan B
Polydor
Portico Quartet
Primal Scream
R
Emre Ramazanoglu
Rafe McKenna
The Rakes
The Rank Deluxxe
Reuben
Richard Norris
Robert Kirby
Ronan Keating
Rough Trade
Roy Merchant
Ry Cooder
S
George Shilling
Shakira
Siskin
Sonny
Spike Drake
Steve Lironi
Steve Orchard
Steve Osbourne
Symmetric Orchestra
T
Terry Thomas
Tom Leader
Tom McRae
Brian Tench
Tom Richards
Tony Platt
TrailVega 4
U
Universal
V
Voces 8
W
West One Music
Wet Wet Wet
,The Winter Kids
The Waterboys
Y
Youssou N'Dour
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
from North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, who branched out into recording talking books
Books for the Blind
Books for the Blind also referred to as Talking Books is a program in the United States which provides audio recordings of books in a proprietary cassette tape format, along with a cassette player supporting that format, free of charge to people who are blind or visually impaired...
for the blind. The first Livingston Studio designed for recording music was set up in Barnet
Barnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during 1963 where work on talking books continued alongside the recording of folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Kinsey's son, Nick Kinsey, joined the company in 1966. Nick Kinsey started to develop the studios continuing with the recording of folk music and branching out into pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. He recorded artists such as Pentangle
Pentangle (band)
Pentangle are a British folk rock band with some folk jazz influences. The original band were active in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a later version has been active since the early 1980s...
, Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews
Iain Matthews is an English musician and songwriter. He was born Iain Matthew McDonald, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was known in the 1960s first as Ian McDonald, then as the 1960s progressed, as Ian Matthews...
and Russ Ballard
Russ Ballard
Russell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums...
. Nick Kinsey bought the studio from Fred Livingston-Hogg an Oxford based business man who had been involved with the Livingston Hire Group, with the help of Alan Tomkins and Michael Smee, and rebuilt it.
History
During 1980 that Nick Kinsey decided to expand the business and move to an old Church hallChurch hall
A church hall is a room or building associated with a church, general for community and charitable use . It is normally located near the church, typically in smaller and village communities. Activities in the hall are not necessarily religious, but are typically an important part of local community...
in Wood Green
Wood Green
Wood Green is a district in north London, England, located in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated north of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of the metropolitan centres in Greater London.-History:...
and transformed it into a hi-tech
High tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
. In 1985 a second studio was added and Jerry and Mary Boys joined the company. By 1987 they had opened two more studios in Guillemot Place North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
.
In 1993 Livingston succumbed to the nationwide recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
in UK and the Guillemot studios were closed down. The Brook Road studios were acquired by Jerry Boys and Dave Margereson who owned the music management
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
company Mismanagement and the new company Livingston Recording Studios Ltd was set up.
Nick Gold, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and owner of the World circuit
World Circuit (record label)
World Circuit is a world-music record label that specializes in Cuban and West African recording artists, among other international music stars. World Circuit celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006 by releasing World Circuit Presents..., a 2-disc retrospective compilation album...
record label, met Jerry Boys after working together on an album with Oumou Sangaré
Oumou Sangaré
Oumou Sangare is a Malian Wassoulou musician, sometimes referred to as "The Songbird of Wassoulou." Wassoulou is a historic region south of the Niger River, and the music there is descended from traditional hunting songs, and is accompanied by a calabash...
and they started to work together with the Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...
. The Buena Vista Social Club's eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous multi million selling first album was recorded at Egrem
EGREM
is the oldest Cuban record label, it is located in Havana. It was founded in 1964 following the Cuban Revolution...
studios
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
and mixed by Boys and Gold at Livingston Studios. They released it on their World Circuit label in 1997.
Bjork's debut album Debut (1993) was recorded and mixed at Livingston Studios by producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Marias De Vries. It sold over 2.5m copies worldwide.
In 2001 Gold bought the company from Boys which enabled most of World Circuit's
World Circuit (record label)
World Circuit is a world-music record label that specializes in Cuban and West African recording artists, among other international music stars. World Circuit celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006 by releasing World Circuit Presents..., a 2-disc retrospective compilation album...
artists to be record and mix their music at Livingston Studios.
Artists who have used Livingston Studios
A
A&G Records
Adam Seymour
Adrian Hall
Adrian Sherwood
Afro Cuban All Stars
Alex Wilson
Ali Farka Toure
Andy Scart
Andy Thornton
Ash
Asian Dub Foundation
Asian Dub Foundation
Asian Dub Foundation are a British electronica band that plays a mix of rapcore, dub, dancehall and ragga, also using rock instruments, acknowledging a punk influence...
Athena
Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
B
Barb Jungr
Balenescu Quartet
Bellowhead
Bernard Butler
Beth Orton
Beth Orton
Beth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
Betty Steeles
Big Linda
Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
Blondelle
Blowup Records
Bobby Kray
Buena Vista Social Club
Bush
Bush (band)
Bush are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1992 shortly after vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford met in a London nightclub. Realising they shared a love for such diverse artists as the Pixies, Bob Marley, The Jesus Lizard, MC5, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and Big...
C
Cameron McVey
Candid Records
Calum Malcolm
The Cat Empire
CEC Management
Chris Kimsey
Chris Sheldon
D
Danny Shogger
The Datsuns
The Datsuns
The Datsuns are a hard rock band from Cambridge, New Zealand, formed in 2000. To date they have released four albums and several singles, most of which have charted in New Zealand and/or the United Kingdom...
Damien Saez
Dave Eringa
David Ward Films
Dennis Bovell
Del Amitri
Del Amitri
Del Amitri were a Scottish pop-rock guitar band, formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1983. The band grew out of Justin Currie's Jordanhill College School band and came together after teenager Currie placed an advertisement in the window of a music store asking for people who could play to contact him...
Dimi Mint Abba
Dimitri
E
The Ebony Tower
Elova
The Enemy
Enemy (band)
Enemy is an American band fronted by guitarist and vocalist Troy Van Leeuwen , with bassist Eddie Nappi and drummer Kelli Scott . Former Quicksand drummer Alan Cage was a founding member before being replaced by Scott...
Enjoy Destroy
Erol Alkan
Eyes Wide Open
F
Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
Fierce And The Dead
The Friendly
Fires
Future Cut
G
Gil Norton
Graham Dominy
Greg Haver
Sean Genocky
Gyroscope
H
Hate Gallery
Hogg
I
Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie is a British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from Liverpool, England. After emerging from the post punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to form the short-lived groups Original Mirrors and Care in the early 1980s as well...
Ian Shaw
Ian Shaw (singer)
Ian Shaw is a Welsh jazz singer, record producer, and former stand up comedian.Shaw was born at St. Asaph, Wales, and his career in performance began on the Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremner and Jo Brand.In his music career he has recorded and...
Ibrahim Ferrer
Imelda May
Island
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
Issie Barrett
J
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early...
Jazz Jamaica
Jazz Jamaica
Jazz Jamaica is a jazz/reggae music group formed by musician Gary Crosby in London.-History:In 1991, inspired by the rhythms of traditional Jamaican music and the largely improvisational nature of jazz, original Jazz Warrior, jazz double bassist, and nephew of veteran Jamaican guitarist Ernest...
Jerry Boys
Jimmy Roberts
Joe Boyd
Joe Lean & The Jing Jang
Jong
Joe Stilgoe
John Cornfield
John Gallen
John Leckie
John Martyn
Johnny Panic
K
KK
Kaitee Page
Ken Rose
Kasai Masai
Kate Rusby
L
Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre is a British poet, songwriter, musician and singer most widely known as the writer and singer of " So Strong", "It Must Be Love" and "I Got The", the sampled rhythm track which provides the basis for a number of well-known hip hop tracks such as Eminem’s breakthrough hit single, "My...
The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
Lou Rhodes
Luan Parle
Luis Jardin
Lunic
Lunic
Lunic is an all-girl American electro pop band. Originally formed in London, the band is currently based in New York City. The band consists of Kaitee Page and Megan Berson...
M
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
Mansun
Marius De Vries
Mark Rankin
Matt Stevens
Melanie C
Melanie Chisholm
Melanie Jayne Chisholm is an English singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C . She is best known as one of the five members of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice"...
Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
Mike Neilson
Minus 1
Muse
N
Nick Abbott
Nick Gold
Nizlopi
Norman Cook
O
The Opera Babes
Opera Babes
The Opera Babes are a crossover classical music duo, consisting of Karen England , mezzo soprano, and Rebecca Knight , soprano....
Orchestra Baobab
Oumou Sangaré
Owen Morris
P
Paul Borg
Pedro Ferreira
Pee Wee Ellis
Peter Borthwick
Placebo
Placebo (band)
Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...
Plan B
Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
Portico Quartet
Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
R
Emre Ramazanoglu
Rafe McKenna
The Rakes
The Rank Deluxxe
Reuben
Richard Norris
Robert Kirby
Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
Roy Merchant
Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
S
George Shilling
George Shilling
George Shilling is a British musician, record producer, composer and audio engineer. He is the son of Eric Shilling, formerly of the English National Opera and actress Erica Johns...
Shakira
Siskin
Sonny
Spike Drake
Steve Lironi
Steve Orchard
Steve Osbourne
Symmetric Orchestra
T
Terry Thomas
Tom Leader
Tom McRae
Brian Tench
Tom Richards
Tony Platt
TrailVega 4
U
Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
V
Voces 8
W
West One Music
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
,The Winter Kids
The Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
Y
Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist and occasional actor. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop a style of popular music in Senegal, known in the Serer language as mbalax, a type of music...