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Posted by Paul Griggs on November 4, 2009, 11:44 am, in reply to "Re: Rock Island Line July `54 Sessions"
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There was a great article in the Metro (A London free paper) by Billy Bragg in 2004 to advertise the Lonnie's tribute concert. It described in depth the Chris Barber session on 13th July 1954 when Lonnie recorded "Rock Island Line". This was just a week after Elvis had recorded "That's Alright Mama" on 5th July 1954. The complete address of the Decca Studio is 165, Broadhurst Gardens, London, NW6 and it is now the rehearsal studios for the English National Opera. Apparantly the internal layout of the building is the same and the studio still has "Studio 2" on the door.
The producer was Hugh Mendl who was allowed no more than £35 to make the album. His engineer was Arthur Lilley.
The studio has another claim to fame as just seven and a half years later on 1st January 1962 four unknown guys called The Beatles recorded fifteen tracks for an audition which they subsequently failed as Decca preferred Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. Decca A&R man Mike Smith would be forever known as the man who turned down the Beatles, although hearing these tracks today they were nothing special giving not much of a clue as to what was to come.
Paul Griggs (Anorak in Chief)
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