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 Post subject: Command Studios, Piccadilly
PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 5:08 pm 
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Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:32 pm
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On Robert Elms LBC show on Wednesday 10th Feb they were talking about BBC studios around London. 201 Piccadilly was mentioned (beside Simpsons, now Waterstones) as originally a BBC studio where the Beatles had done some recordings for the BBC to broadcast. The BBC sold the studios and they reopened as Command. ‘Slade Alive!’ was recorded there in late 1971 in front of a fan club audience.

The excerpt below is from an article in Billboard magazine 28 Oct 1972 about major new UK recording studio complexes including Command, De Lane Lea and The Manor mentions that De Lane Lea was more likely to succeed because situated in “suburban Wembley” it avoided the “crippling overheads that must have beset Command”.

Command Studios in Piccadilly were the first of the giants to be opened in the autumn of 1970. They are situated in Piccadilly in premises that were originally BBC studios.

There are three main studios. Number One is suitable for full symphony orchestras, Number two can accommodate up to 50 musicians and the third studio (opened only early ’72) is designed for group use.

In addition to the studios are cutting rooms, editing rooms etc. and the studios boasted the most advanced technical specification in the world. Each studio is fully equipped for quadrophonic recording and the initial plans were for each studio to be 24-track.

“We think in the early days our publicity about advanced technical specifications frightened off more producers than it attracted,” says former Command director Dennis Comper. “Producers want atmosphere and efficiency, most of them don’t know a decibel from a dumbell.”

Command had considerable trouble with equipment and although many very successful sessions came out trouble was frequent enough to become a risk.

Because of its failure to reach projected targets there was a major reshuffle of Command management. Managing Director John Mosley left and firing or quittings spread right down to the studio floor.

Today the studios are fully operational although rumors about it’s longevity are still circulating.”

Billboard mentions that large studios like Command faltered at that time because “high rates and teething problems soon made gaping holes in their progress towards income targets”


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 Post subject: Re: Command Studios, Piccadilly
PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 5:11 pm 
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Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:32 pm
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PS. Robert Elms and his guest finished up their conversation by discussing the liner notes on the first Roxy album and playing ‘Virginia Plain’.


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 Post subject: Re: Command Studios, Piccadilly
PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:44 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:12 pm
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Has Roxy entirely become a thing of the past, now? :ugeek:


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