History of Olympic Studios
Before Olympic Studios
20th December 1906 - The building was opened as an entertainment center called Byfeld Hall.
1910 - The building became Barnes Cinema.
Mid 1920's - The building became Barnes Theater
January 1930 - The building became a cinema called 'The Ranelagh'
November 15th 1943 - After world war 2, the building reopen as 'The Plaza'
Olympic Studios
1966 - The building is converted into a recording studio. The studio could fit a 70piece orchestra.
October 1968 - Led Zeppelin recorded their debut album. Glyn Johns engineered this album
1987 - The studio was acquired by Virgin Company
1992 - Became part of EMI's portfolio as Virgin was bought over by EMI
2009 - U2's album titled 'No Line On The Horizon' was the last production at Olypmic Studio
Bands Recorded at Olympic Studios
1. The Traffic
2. The Beatles
3. Rolling Stones (recorded six consecutive album between 1966 to 1972)
4. Jimi Hendrix
5. Led Zeppelin
6. B.B. King
7. David Bowie
8. The Jam
9. Pink Floyd
10. Duran Duran
11. Oasis
12. Barbra Streisand
13. Nick Cave
14. Madonna
15. Prince
16. Spice Girls
17. U2 - No Line On The Horizon
18. The Yardbirds
Engineers at Olympic Studio
1. Keith Grant (1961-1987)
2. Eddie Kramer
3. Phil Brown
4. Glyn John
5. Roger Quested
6. Frank Owensboro
Consoles in Olympic Studios
1. Olympic One - Contains germanium transistors which were Mark 1 and 2 versions of the electronic. Later Helios console uses the same circuitry but with Silicon Transistors (Sound on Sound)
2. Helios Console
Studio Monitors
1. Tannoy Red Monitors (Studio One)
2. Tannoy/Lockwood Monitors
Outboard Equipment
1. Pultec EQ
2. EMT Plate Reverb x 4pcs
3. UREI Compressor/Limiter
4. ADT
Microphones
1. AKG C12A
2. AKG D12
3. AKG D224
4. Neumann U67
5. Neumann U87
Music Instruments
1. VOX AC30
Videos
The Rolling Stones Mixing Little Queenie ~ Olympic Sound Studios, 1970(viewed on 12th Sept 2017)
U2 - Making of "No Line on the Horizon" (II) (1min 45secs onwards)
Sources
http://www.olympiccinema.co.uk/history (viewed on 11th Sept 2017)
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/keith-grant-story-olympic-studio (viewed on 11th Sept 2017)
Brown,P.(2010). Are We Still Rolling?. Tape Ops Book.