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Making Tracks is a 208 page, full color, hard cover, coffee table style book that highlights eighteen one of a kind recording studios. There are multi-million dollar facilities spread across many acres of land, and there are smaller, more esoteric facilties in urban surroundings. The structures themselves are converted barns, sawmills, firehouses, churches and underground bunkers. The locations are on beaches, islands, farms, vineyards and rivers. Interestingly, while all these elements provide compelling backdrops for each studio, the really interesting part is the people behind them. They include original Beach Boy Al Jardine, renowned engineer Patrice Quef (Pink Floyd's The Wall, The Cure, etc.), Terry Manning, Will Ackerman, and so many others. Suffice it to say that the credits of everyone in this book cover every conceivable genre and era of recording, on both small and grand scales. The book is in interview format, and each section is woven with stunning photographs of both the environment and the facilities. In the interviews, Jeff Touzeau captures the passion and unique stories behind each person and facility. The combination of all these things amount to a compelling read, and something that has never been done before... |
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"So we're all pretty convinced by now that it's either the greatest knock off group we ever heard, or that it was The Beatles....Finally, the session finished and I remember thinking "Can't wait anymore, we're calling Abbey Road Studios. We're speaking to somebody and finding out the truth. I called up Abbey Road, and I explained the whole story to the secretary. She was quite used to getting Beatle calls from fans who would call in from all over the world, asking to talk to Paul or George or Ringo, whatever, so she immediately ust wanted to hang up. But I said "Please, please. I'm not a fan...well, I am a fan, but this is not a fan call. This is a professional studio, and I think I have a Beatles song that I shouldn't have." I explained it to him, and he just laughed and said "I'm sorry. The Beatles are recording and I believe you are a professional studio, but I don't think this is possible. So I sang "I read the news today oh boy, about a lucky man who made the grade." By the time I got to "lucky man", he said "Hold on." I kept holding and I could hear music and voices in the background. Then suddenly there was George Martin on the phone." - Terry Manning (Compass Point) |
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Studios and People Featured in this book: Allaire Studios: Mark McKenna Bearsville Studios: John Holbrook The Barber Shop Studios: Mark Salamone BearTracks Recording Studio: Jay Beckenstein Bennett Studio: Dae Bennett Blue Jay Recording: Will Sandalls Compass Point Studios: Terry Manning Fireproof Recording: Adam Lasus Helioscentric Studios: Heidi Miller/Chris Difford Imaginary Road Studio: William Ackerman Maggie's Farm Recording: Matt Balitsaris Miraval Studios: Patrice Quef Real World: Owen Leech Red Barn: Al Jardine Rockfield Studios: Kingsley Ward Roselane East: Drew Hofmann Sawmills: John Cornfield |
