5 Legendary Recording Studios

1. Abbey Road - London, UK

Probably the most famous recording studio in the world due, in no small part, to the fact that The Beatles named an album after it. They recorded almost all their albums and singles there between 1962 and 1970 and are synonymous with the studio and it's nearby zebra crossing. But it wasn't just The Beatles who recorded here. Other famous recordings made here include;

• "Living Doll" - Cliff Richard
• "Apache" - The Shadows
• "Ghost Riders In The Sky" - The Scorpions
• "The Dark Side Of The Moon" - Pink Floyd
• "Duran Duran" - Duran Duran
• "The Bends" & "Kid A" - Radiohead

2. Hitsville USA - Detroit, Michigan, USA

In 1959 Berry Gordy bought this former photographer's studio and converted it into the headquarters for his Motown label along with the label's own studio. At it's peak it would stay open 22 hours a day, closing between 8am and 10am for maintenance. The house band known as "The Funk Brothers" are said to have played on more number-one records than The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys combined. Artists to have recorded here include Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson.

3. Muscle Shoals - Sheffield, Alabama, USA

Formed in 1969 when legendary session musicians Barry Beckett, Roger Hawkins, Jimmy Johnson and David Hood, known as "The Swampers" left FAME Studios to create their own studio. Their distinctive accompaniments and arrangements have been heard on a number of legendary recordings, including those from Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Lynyrd Synyrd and more recently, The Black Keys. If you're wondering where you've heard about Muscle Shoals and The Swampers before then have another listen to Sweet Home Alabama

4. Studio One - Kingston, Jamaica

Studio One was founded by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in the late 1950's and became known as the "Motown of Jamaica". It was hugely responsible for the catapulting of Jamaican music into the world scene. Through innovative producers like Dodd, Prince Buster and Lee "Scratch" Perry the studio oversaw the evolution of Ska to Reggae to Dancehall. Almost every Jamaican musician of note recorded here including The Skatalites, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Burning Spear, Toots & The Maytals, Delroy Wilson and Sugar Minott.


5. Hansa - Berlin, Germany 

Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin became legendary in the 1970's when David Bowie went there to record his album, "Heroes", with the help of Brian Eno. It became known as "Hansa by the Wall" or "The Great Hall by the Wall" in reference to the fact that it was right beside the city's infamous partition. It wasn't long before many of the big names in music flocked there to record. Some of those included Iggy Pop, U2, Nick Cave, Depeche Mode and in more recent years, Snow Patrol, Supergrass and REM.

Michael Jackson Tribute Concert

"It is intended to be the biggest, and the best concert event in the world for many years to come." 

What's all this, a Live Aid for the 21st century? Not quite, but the above quote from Michael's mother Katherine might have you believe that we're in for something a bit special in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on the 8th October. Her announcement to organise a concert in celebration of her son Michael's life has caused a split in the Jackson clan with Jermaine and Randy against the whole idea, saying; 

“While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honours our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael's death. As everyone knows, those proceedings commence September 20th, and this Michael Forever concert takes place in Cardiff, Wales, on 8 October. In light of this, we feel it is inappropriate to be involved with such an ill-timed event and its promoter, Global Live.”

It seems promising when you see some of the big names on the bill so far, Smokey Robinson, Christina Aguilera, and Cee Lo Green. But then things start going downhill. 

First there's a crowd of talent show contestants:  Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS and Diversity. 

Next comes some of his relations: The Jackson Brothers (obviously not including Jermaine and Randy) and 3T (a band made up of three of Michael's nephews who had a couple of European hits in the mid 90's)

Pixie Lott and Craig David are in there too to make up the numbers, along with Alien Ant Farm, who I can only imagine got in there because they had a hit in 2001 with a cover of Smooth Criminal.

The line-up then received its most bizarre addition when it was announced that Kiss would also play at the concert. Bizarre because their bass player Gene Simmons had previously made these comments about Michael Jackson in an interview with Classic Rock Magazine:

"No matter what my fond memories and fond images of Michael were, with one allegation of paedophilia after another and another and another…Oh dear... The only sexual references ever made about Michael Jackson that were made by anyone, anywhere around the world, have always been made by kids, and specifically males usually 10 to 14 years of age; never females, that age or older, and never grown men."

Apparently, Kanye West has said he might add his name to the bill but Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Chris Brown have all turned down the opportunity to play. 

The concert is raising money for two charities, AIDS Project Los Angeles and The Prince's Trust. But a very odd ticketing structure seems to be putting many would-be buyers off. Seats start at £55 but if you want a seat near the front you must also make a donation to one of the charities. Your seat position will then be decided by how much you donated.

Hopefully this will live up to its billing as "the biggest, and the best concert event in the world for many years to come", if only out of respect to the memory of the King of Pop. Although something tells me that it might be promises of greatness but ultimately a massive anti-climax, just like the end of the great performer's life.