Doc Severinsen - at Olympic Studios

Doc Severinsen at Olympic Studios.  Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio, at 117 Church Road, in
southwest London.  In Hammer of the Gods - the Led Zeppelin Saga, author Stephen Davis informs us that the band of whom he writes, referred to this facility as their "London laboratory."  It should be noted for the sheer massive number of great records made there, from the late 1960s onward.  Too many to list here, but next time you look at a record and see that it was made here - this album cover gives you an idea.  The building which housed the studio was built as a theatre.  In 1965 it was purchased by Olympic Sound Studios.  Olympic's sound mixing desks were a creation of the maintenance staff, built specially for the studios. They became famous and known as Olympic desks.  Music Week Magazine named the facility Best Recording Studio, five times.  After forty years of renowned recording history and a succession of owners, the studio facilities were closed down by The Man - aka the newly merged EMI and and Virgin Group in 2009.  UK Rock critic Nick Coleman ranks his Five Greatest Albums made at Olympic Studios:

• Small Faces, Lazy Sunday, 1967.  Small Faces spent nearly a year working on 'Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake' at Pye and Trident as well as Olympic. 'Lazy Sunday' became their second biggest hit in April 1968 but the group broke up the following year.
• The Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil, 1968.  The Rolling Stones were ensconced within the warm cocoon of Olympic Studios and recorded the dark 'Sympathy For The Devil' under 'Nouvelle Vague' director Jean-Luc Godard.
• The Eagles, Best of My Love, 1974.  The epitome of Californian soft rock, the Eagles recorded their eponymous debut album at Olympic in 1972 with Glyn Johns, who also produced the follow-up 'Desperado'.  However, Johns produced only two tracks on their third album, 'On The Border'.
• The Who, Who Are You, 1977.   Who vocalist Roger Daltrey chinned producer Glyn Johns, a veteran of sessions for The Who's 'Next' and 'Who By Numbers', during the recording of the 'Who Are You' album issued the following year.  Pete Townshend's brother-in-law Jon Astley took over and the group moved to Ramport and RAK studios.
• Eric clapton, Wonderful Tonight, 1977.  Having already penned 'Layla' about Pattie Boyd, Eric Clapton (left) was now living with the estranged wife of George Harrison. He wrote 'Wonderful Tonight' while waiting for her to get ready to go out.  He did nine takes at Olympic before he was happy with the result.