Monday, 13 August 2012

Review - Abbey Road: The Best Studio in the World


Review by Donna Jackson


Abbey Road: The Best Studio in the World

Alistair Lawrence, Foreword by Sir George Martin
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012
UK ISBN: 978-1-4088-3241-7
US ISBN: 978 -1-6081-9999-0



George Martin, in his foreword, described the story of Abbey Road as “captivating” and Abbey Road: The Best Studio in the World certainly lives up to that representation. The book is as captivating as the story it tells.

This fabulous book tells the story of the Abbey Road studios, from the very earliest days when sound recording was in its infancy to the present day. Although the name ‘Abbey Road’ is synonymous with music, it may come somewhat as a surprise to be presented by page after page of famous names from all spheres of entertainment. Anyone who was anyone in music and entertainment seems to have walked through the doors to Abbey Road studios at some point and famous names feature on every page.

The book is pure quality from start to finish – from the production, to the design, to the layout and content.

Every page full of fabulous photographs of the studio and of the musicians who have worked within its walls. The text is interesting and informative, but the pictures alone tell a fascinating and engaging story. If it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then the photographs in this book must be priceless.  Every page is a visual treasure.

Courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing

Not only does the book tell the story of the music and the artists who have recorded at the world-famous studios, but the latter part of the book also describes some of the technical processes, the equipment and the personnel who work behind the scenes to give Abbey Road its place in musical history.

The final chapter in the book includes a time line highlighting the key moments in the history of Abbey Road, and brief biographies of some of the key personnel – musicians and technicians -- associated with the studios. Just reading this section alone is enough to create a jaw-dropping moment with the realisation of just how much history, and magic, was created in just one place.

For fans of music, for musicians, and for cultural historians, this book is definitely a must-have!

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Sir George Martin
Before Abbey Road
1929 to 1939: The Early Years
The 1940s: Wartime and Beyond
The 1950s: A Decade of Change
The 1960s: Science of Sound
The 1970s: Era of the Album
The 1980s: Comebacks and New Artists
The 1990s: Settling Scores, Old and New
The 2000s: Live Action and Fantasy Flicks
Inside the Studios
Experimentation and Invention
Behind the Scenes: the Unsung Heroes of Abbey Road Studios’ Success
Abbey Road at a Glance


Preview some of this beautiful book below or, for more information, click HERE


Open publication - Free publishing - More abbey

COMPETITION NEWS!!!
We have a copy of this fabulous book to give away to one lucky reader! The competition will run in September.  Watch this space for full details!!

Abbey Road: The Best Studio in the World is available from all good booksellers, and from Amazon by clicking on this link:

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