Abbey Road, the Television Series

[GilWave]

Abbey Road, TV come together for music series
3 major acts to appear in each show, coming to Sundance Channel in June

Hollywood Reporter
Updated: 11:43 a.m. CT March 8, 2007

LONDON - Setting a TV music series in the most famous recording studio in the world seems so obvious that it’s a wonder no one’s done it before. But better late than never.

“Live From Abbey Road,” a 12-part series of hour-long sessions, each featuring three major acts, is headed for the Sundance Channel in June. (The show, centering on the iconic Beatles studio, debuted in Britain in January.)

The show is independently produced under license from the studio’s owner, EMI, by Londoner Peter Van Hooke, a longtime drummer with Van Morrison’s band and an accomplished record producer, and London-based Texan Michael Gleason, a former director of MGM Studios who runs Farm Street Music.

Van Hooke believes that TV producers have never understood the culture of music and that the long list of poor music shows led artists to be leery of this one.

“All the acts when they came in were in damage-control mode. The mind-set was, ’This is a TV music show, so therefore the sound is going to be rubbish, the visuals are going to be rubbish, and they don’t understand our culture,’ ” Van Hooke says. “The first part of every day has been to get them to understand that this is a very familiar environment and they’re dealing with musicians who understand their credo.”

Each episode features an iconic act, an established singer-songwriter and a breakthrough act. They are seen in the studio as if making a record, and the cameras catch conversations in the setup and between takes. Paul Simon, Dr. John, David Gilmour, Corinne Bailey Rae, Damien Rice, the Kooks, Razorlight, Snow Patrol and Kasabian are among the acts who have signed up.

“I feel we have something completely different,” Van Hooke says. “I’ve actually thought about why it works in so many ways, and it is very simple. It’s because we have no studio audience, so it’s very, very personal and intimate. Records are not made with audiences.”

Director Annabel Jankel (”Max Headroom”) uses an average of five high-definition cameras to capture the action. “Once the artists are in Abbey Road, Studio One or Studio Two where we’re shooting, it’s treated as an environment that is being recorded, off-camera, supposedly behind the scenes, down time, interviews, interaction between band members, responses after various takes, the good stuff, the bad stuff and all the stuff in between,” Jankel says.

Van Hooke says record labels have supported the project and that he’s delighted with the response from major artists. The only big name who turned him down? His old boss, Van Morrison.

[Chris]

Prepare for a million new members.

[Kiwiburger]

[Ozzy]

Watch out for corrine bayley raye on it. Utterly outstanding, completely blows everyone else away. Killers were cool tho, they covered romeo and juliet by dire straits. Enjoy!

[KingDaddyO]

Ok. I've died and am on the road to heaven ...

[Jonboy79]

Looks like youtube already has segments up. Off to watch them.

[Graham B]

For those in the USA, Live From Abbey Road begins it's run on the Sundance Channel this Thursday 21st June at 10pm.

Don't miss it!

G

[TRW]

Sound is GREAT!!!

Lots of highlights - hope it comes out on DVD. Joe Sample+Randy Crawford sooo good.

John Mayer absolutely owns his show...sick sick tone. Still held back slightly on the solos - which dissapointed.

-T

[Marlowe]

I really liked the Massive Attack one.

[D.A.S.]

The Killers made a ahem KILLLER performance. It is a wonder that Youtube compression did not ruin the sound at all.

I compiled some of my favorite videos from the show at our blog - DIGITAL AUDIO SERVICE.

Cheers!

[streaky]

Yeah this has already been on in the UK - we do have SOME things before America...

The standout sessions for me were The Zutons and John Mayer, sound quality & performance is awesome on those sessions

[TEMAS]

Madeleine Peyroux was the best discovery for me.

Though, none of her new songs quite top 'Don't wait too long' on her previous album.

[AshleySmith06]

Hope we see a new series of this, it was a welcomed highlight on TV this year, especially now we don't have Top of the Pops anymore.

[TRW]

Hey Streaky - the Zutons are a great live band - really old school approach, play it and play it with all your heart...plus the sax player is hot!

Do you know if they have plans to release a DVD?

-T

[camus]

What's amazing is how lifeless some of these acts sound on record when compared to their performances on the show. Corrinne Bailey Rae in particular. I checked out her record on the strength of her segment and it was just awful, sad to say.

[tunetown]

This series is a breath of fresh air. It really sets the talent apart. No where to hide here and the sound has been excellent. Well done.
Hopefully it keeps all thoses artists who rely on studio trickery out of the picture.

[TRW]

Originally Posted by camus

What's amazing is how lifeless some of these acts sound on record when compared to their performances on the show. Corrinne Bailey Rae in particular. I checked out her record on the strength of her segment and it was just awful, sad to say.

I can't stand her record - first time I heard her, she was just singing with her acoustic guitar playing a nice, soulful song with a sweet, sweet vocal. Captivating.

When I got the album and heard the same song I was met by glossy production, ultra edited, smooth vocals with absolutely no raw live edge and some cheesy drum patterns with IMO dated drum sounds and typical 'british' production - lots of layers. To me it was bordering on Simply Red esque-cheese...horns without any grit and SOUL etc.

What she really needs to do if she has any sense is get a small band together of great session players - like a new Funk Brothers...double bass and the like and cut a record live in one room, tons of bleed, old school soul and motown kinda vibe and place her sweet voice full centre!

Get a mixer who just kills at level balances of tracks full of good tones - bit like Mayers new record, Continuum...or even India Arie's first record which has a nice live feel to it.

As much as Norah Jones gets a little predictable in places, Arif Mardin got the tone, vibe and approach sooo right there. How did we fukk up Corinne's record?

-T

[rmx16]

I just watched Iron Maiden. Kevin Shirley mixed it. Sounded great on my Genelec's.
Any London slutz have any production info on the show?

Peace
Rob

[kats]

I don't think Corrine's album sounds that bad at all. Certainly stylistic from a sonic POV, but nothing over the top. I find the record to have quite an intimate sound to it and think her voice comes across fantastic. Definately a record to be proud of IMO, especially in the curent music climate.

What she really needs to do if she has any sense is get a small band together of great session players - like a new Funk Brothers...double bass and the like and cut a record live in one room, tons of bleed, old school soul and motown kinda vibe and place her sweet voice full centre!

While I'm a huge fan of this "sound" you mention we have come to a time in recording where we can choose a "Style/Sound" that emotes with the song as well. Like when you hear tape slap, you think of 50's Memphis or whatever.

I think she's too young and the music a little light hearted to be attaching the heavy depth of a Nora Jones type production to it. I don't think the two styles would jive as well.

[TRW]

Hahaha yeah maybe I was in a bad mood that day!

I was a bit harsh lol

Still the style was not what I expected. I think she has amazing potential, and maybe some of the songs are pretty lightweight but I'm not a fan of the production.

Sonically it is great, no worries just think a different style would be cool. I use Norah as am example not a style that should be applied to Corinne...

Its all good.
-T

[ianvargo]

John Mayer is such a tool.

[kats]

Sonically it is great, no worries just think a different style would be cool

Hopefully for the next album. While I think the style was a good choice for her first album...gotta keep it fresh and moving forward, or at least backward

Speaking about Mayer, I'm tired of his vocal sound. Sounds great, but a little bored of it album after album.