EMI Recording Studios (also known as Abbey Road Studios or EMI Studios) was a British recording, mixing and mastering studio, located in London, UK, operating under this name from 12 November 1931 until 1984. Legally renamed to Abbey Road Studios in 1985.
Note #1: For pre-1985 recordings that include "EMI" in the studio name, in whatever variation, please use this profile (see also Note #3).
Note #2: There were many EMI studios around the world. Please, make sure to choose the right one (by checking e.g. the engineers, the nationality of the artist(s), etc.).
Note #3: For the EMI studio, located at the EMI House in Manchester Square, please use EMI Studios, Manchester Square, London.
Note #4: For the Australian studios, see EMI Studios, Homebush, EMI Studios Sydney or EMI Studios 301.
It may appear as:
- EMI Studios Abbey Road
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, London
- E.M.I. Studios Abbey Road
- E.M.I. Abbey Road Studios
- EMI Abbey Road, London
- EMI Abbey Road Studios
- E.M.I. Studios, St. John's Wood, London
- EMI-Studios - Abbey Road
EMI Recording Studios was the oldest, purpose-built recording studio in the world.
In 1929, The Gramophone Co. Ltd. acquired the premises of a nine-bedroom Georgian townhouse at 3 Abbey Road in the City of Westminster in London. Three purpose-built studios were constructed and the existing house was adapted for use as administration offices.
On 20 April 1931, The Gramophone Company Ltd. merged with Columbia Graphophone Company Ltd. to form Electric & Musical Industries Ltd. (EMI).
Pathé filmed the opening of the studios on 12th November 1931, when Sir Edward Elgar conducted The London Symphony Orchestra in recording sessions of his work "Land of Hope and Glory".
In 1934, the inventor of stereo sound, Alan Blumlein, recorded Mozart's "22178140" which was conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham.
During the mid-20th century, the studio was extensively used by British conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent.
On 24 July 1958, Studio Two became a centre for rock and roll music, when Cliff Richard & The Drifters recorded 525488 there. The studios are closely associated with The Beatles, who recorded almost all of their albums and hits there between 1962 and 1970 using the four-track REDD mixing console designed by Peter K. Burkowitz.
Engineers known to have worked here:
- Fred Gaisberg
- George Martin
- Geoff Emerick
- Norman Smith
- Ken Scott
- Mike Stone
- Alan Parsons
- Peter Vince
- Malcolm Addey
- Peter Bown
- Richard Langham
- Phil McDonald
- John Kurlander
- Richard Lush
- Chris Blair (chief mastering engineer)
- Brian East
- Ken Townsend (became studio manager in 1974)