Decca Studios

Decca Studios was a recording facility in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, North London, England. From the company's beginnings in 1929, British Decca's earliest recordings were made at two locations: firstly the Chenil Galleries Studios in Chelsea, and later in Lower Thames Street. Ironically for a company later renowned for its technological developments of recording, auditory evidence from the time suggests that these setups were rather rudimentary affairs, with the recording quality mediocre at best, although from about 1933 onwards, with technological and acoustic changes to these studios, recording quality gradually improved, but was still a long way short of the standard being produced by HMV at Abbey Road, and it was only with the opening of new purpose built facilities at Broadhurst Gardens that Decca was finally able to compete for acoustic quality.

Famously, The Beatles failed their audition with Decca Records at the location on 1 January 1962, and subsequently signed with Parlophone instead.

Many popular songs and albums were recorded at Decca Studios (for example, John Mayall's 1968 Blues from Laurel Canyon and five albums by the Moody Blues). Britain's leading Big Band, Ted Heath (bandleader) and his Orchestra recorded a succession of outstanding big band jazz records at Broadhurst Gardens for Decca during the band's peak years from 1945 until Heath's death in 1969. David Bowie recorded his first single, "Liza Jane", at the studio in 1964. The studios also saw the formation of the original Fleetwood Mac, under the aegis of then-Bluesbreakers guitarist Peter Green, after John Mayall bought him studio time as a birthday present, recording the tracks "First Train Home", "Rambling Pony" and the instrumental "Fleetwood Mac".

Marmalade recorded most of their Decca hits in Studio 2, including "Reflections of My Life".

The Zombies recorded "She's Not There" at the facility.

Many classical recordings were made there as well. A complete list is available.

After the studios closed, the building was renamed Lilian Baylis House, and is currently used as rehearsal space by English National Opera.

There were also Decca Studios at 50 West 57th Street in New York City, 5505 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, and another in Chicago.

Selected recordings

• All Time Top Twelve Ted Heath (bandleader) and his Music, De LK 4208
• The Rolling Stones, The Rolling Stones (1963)
• Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1966)
• Crusade, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1967)
• Bare Wires, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1968)
• Blues from Laurel Canyon, John Mayall (1968)
• Days of Future Passed (1967)
• In Search of the Lost Chord (1968), The Moody Blues
• On the Threshold of a Dream (1969), The Moody Blues
• To Our Children's Children's Children (1969), The Moody Blues
• A Question of Balance (1970), The Moody Blues

See also

• The Decca audition - for a fuller account