Recording studios in churches

It seems that old churches are often recycled into recording studios. Which seems spiritually correct, to my way of thinking. Music is spiritual, and one always hears music in churches as part of religious ceremonies. Also, music sounds good in churches. I know of at least 3 studios that are in churches - the old CBS studios in New York where Miles Davis' landmark recording "Kind of Blue" was recorded was a converted church, Blue Heaven Studios owned by Acoustic Sounds, and recently I looked at George Martin's Air Studios website and discovered it may be the ultimate church/studio - with a massive choir loft.

Does anybody know of other church/studios or other kinds of unusual buildings that were made into studios?

 

Right here in my home town of Brighton there was a recording studio ("Advision") which was in a converted church.

I once helped a friend build a studio in a detached garage building in his garden - it was incredibly small. With my drumkit in the live room there was hardly room for anyone else to join me. It wasn't a big kit either - one floor tom and one tom mounted on the bass drum, snare, hi-hat and 2 cymbals, but it's not quantity but quality that's important!

 

Would Link Wray's infamous "Wray's 3 Track Shack" studio which was built from a converted chicken coop qualify as an unusual building? Most of his 60s recordings were done there. Gives new meaning to his obscure hit Run Chicken Run doesn't it! And while we're on the subject of church let me add... Link is GOD!!!

 

Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics had a church studio in England. It was even called "The Church."

 

Apparently there's some great sound to be had from recording in churches.

Chuckorama reminded me that Jazz Samba, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, was recorded in a church, Pierce Hall/All Souls Unitarian Church, Wahsington, D.C., 2/13/62.

 

Churchs

All,

Rock Around The Clock was recorded in a church. The Jazz Samba album was recorded in a church...

Bob

 

Churches

Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance bought a church somewhere in the British Isles
Tourists would walk right in to find recording epuipment and beer cans.
Love to get a deal on one myself. Gotta be cheap though

Djose

 

Didn't they use this same church for some of the acoustic recordings as well? I recall reading Stowkowski and Tosconini both making records there acoustically.
I'm guessing that the church is long gone.

I would LOVE to hear that Fats Waller recording. Anyone know of a good sounding transfer available?

Dan C

 

You mean John R.T. Davies

 

Many thanks for the link and the advice Steve!
Dan C

 

If you are satisfied with transfers, that's OK. If you play 78's, use what works for you. If I had a 78rpm collection and a turntable that plays 78's, I'd be listening to comedian Cal Stewart who I've heard once at a garage sale and it is very funny stuff. Transfers suit my taste though.

 

BTW, for digital transfers of old Cal Stewart recordings and others from that era, check out www.oldcrank.com and there are a few MP3's of the transfers. For those who have written to me for so long know I expect CD's as gifts at anytime so as of April 29, I'd sure like the Cal Stewart CD's available at the site.