Sol Studios
Encyclopedia
Sol Studios is a recording studio located in Cookham
, Berkshire
, England
. It was built in the early 1980s by Gus Dudgeon
who subsequently sold it to Led Zeppelin
guitarist
and record producer
Jimmy Page
.
The Led Zeppelin songs "Poor Tom
" and "We're Gonna Groove
", which were originally recorded in 1970, were produced by Page at Sol Studios for release on the 1982 album Coda
. Page also recorded the soundtrack
for the film Death Wish II
at the studios.
Page's band The Firm recorded its self-titled debut album
there in 1984, the album being released the following year. The Firm's subsequent album, Mean Business
, was also recorded at Sol Studios, as was Page's 1988 solo album
, Outrider
.
Other artists and bands known to have recorded at Sol Studios include:
Cookham
Cookham is a village and civil parish in the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire in England, on the River Thames, notable as the home of the artist Stanley Spencer. It lies north of Maidenhead close to the border with Buckinghamshire...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was built in the early 1980s by Gus Dudgeon
Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
who subsequently sold it to Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
.
The Led Zeppelin songs "Poor Tom
Poor Tom
"Poor Tom" is a song by English rock group Led Zeppelin, but may also be a reference to several characters throughout literary history. Led Zeppelin's song was composed in 1970 by vocalist Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page when they were staying at Bron-Yr-Aur, a small cottage in Wales, and was...
" and "We're Gonna Groove
We're Gonna Groove
"We're Gonna Groove" is a song written by soul artist Ben E. King and his songwriting partner James A. Bethea with the original title "Groovin", and performed most famously by English rock group Led Zeppelin, as the opening number during their 1970 UK and European tours.According to the liner notes...
", which were originally recorded in 1970, were produced by Page at Sol Studios for release on the 1982 album Coda
Coda (album)
-Sales chart performance:AlbumSinglesNo commercial or promotional singles were issued, although three tracks received independent radio airplay...
. Page also recorded the soundtrack
Death Wish II (album)
1999 Compact disc editionSame track listing and order as the vinyl release.-Album:-Personnel:*Jimmy Page – acoustic guitars, electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, synthesizer, theremin, bass, producer*Gordon Edwards – vocals, electric piano, piano...
for the film Death Wish II
Death Wish II
Death Wish II is a 1982 sequel to the 1974 film. It stars Charles Bronson, was written by David Engelbach and directed by Michael Winner....
at the studios.
Page's band The Firm recorded its self-titled debut album
The Firm (album)
-Accolades:-Album:-Singles:-Album:-Band:*Paul Rodgers - Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, producer*Jimmy Page - Acoustic and electric guitars, producer*Tony Franklin - Bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizer...
there in 1984, the album being released the following year. The Firm's subsequent album, Mean Business
Mean Business
1986 Compact disc editionSame track listing and order as the vinyl release.- Album :- Singles :- Band :* Paul Rodgers - Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, producer* Jimmy Page - Acoustic and electric guitars, producer...
, was also recorded at Sol Studios, as was Page's 1988 solo album
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
, Outrider
Outrider (album)
Outrider is an album by Jimmy Page, released by Geffen Records on 19 June 1988. It is his first genuine solo album, and the first time since 1969 he recorded with a record label other than Atlantic Records/Swan Song Records. It was recorded at The Sol, Page's personal studio...
.
Other artists and bands known to have recorded at Sol Studios include:
- Dutch band SolutionSolution (band)Solution were a Dutch progressive rock band that existed from 1970 to 1983, during which time they released six studio albums and one live album...
was the first band band to record at the studio in 1977 with Fully InterlockingFully InterlockingFully Interlocking is the fourth album by the Dutch symphonic rock group Solution. It was released in 1977 on Rocket Records. The line "Fully interlocking" appears on jigsaw puzzle boxes, as referenced on the album cover.-History:...
(produced by Dudgeon). In 1980 they mixing their album ...It's Only Just Begun... there.
- Mick FleetwoodMick FleetwoodMichael John Kells "Mick" Fleetwood is a British musician and actor best known for his role as the drummer and namesake of the blues/rock and roll band Fleetwood Mac. His surname, combined with that of John McVie, was the inspiration for the name of the originally Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac...
mixed/overdubed his solo album The VisitorThe Visitor (Mick Fleetwood album)The Visitor is an album by Mick Fleetwood and was released on the RCA Records label in 1981. All the songs were recorded in Accra, Ghana, West Africa, between January and February 1981 at the Ghana Film Industries, Inc...
there in 1981.
- The band VandenbergVandenberg (band)Vandenberg was a Dutch hard rock band named after guitarist Ad "Adje" van den Berg -Career:In 1981, Van den Berg worked with vocalist Jos Veldhuizen, bassist Griff "Studly" McGrath, and drummer Bico De Gooijer in a band called Teaser...
recorded their debut albumVandenberg (band)Vandenberg was a Dutch hard rock band named after guitarist Ad "Adje" van den Berg -Career:In 1981, Van den Berg worked with vocalist Jos Veldhuizen, bassist Griff "Studly" McGrath, and drummer Bico De Gooijer in a band called Teaser...
at the Sol, released in 1982.
- In 1982 the band Wishbone AshWishbone AshWishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular records included Wishbone Ash , Argus , There's the Rub , and New England...
recorded the album Twin Barrels BurningTwin Barrels Burning-Personnel:*Andy Powell – guitar, vocals*Laurie Wisefield – guitar, vocals*Trevor Bolder – bass, vocals*Steve Upton – drums...
there.
- Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's Ice on FireIce on FireIce on Fire is the nineteenth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, recorded at Sol Studios and released in 1985. It was the first album since Blue Moves produced by John's original longtime producer, Gus Dudgeon. But it was met with little praise, and only reached number 48 on the...
was recorded there in 1985. His subsequent album Leather JacketsLeather Jackets (album)Leather Jackets is the twentieth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, recorded at Sol Studios in England and Wisseloord Studios in The Netherlands. and released in 1986. It was his first album to not create any top 40 singles in either the US or the UK since 1970's Tumbleweed...
was also recorded at Sol Studios, being released in 1986.
- The band Tarzen recorded their debut album at the Sol, released in 1985.
- In 1989, Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
recorded and rehearsed an album at Sol Studios entitled Jeff Beck's Guitar ShopJeff Beck's Guitar Shop-Album:-Singles:-Personnel:*Jeff Beck – electric guitar, production*Tony Hymas – keyboard, synthesizer, production*Terry Bozzio – drums, percussion, spoken vocals, production*Leif Mases – engineering, mixing, production*Dick Beetham – engineering...