The Rolling Stones Mobile

[Soulbrother]

I've been reading a few different rock bios recently (Steven Davis' "Hammer of The Gods" among them) and have seen the Rolling Stones Mobile studio mentioned a few times.

I hadnt realised that Led Zeppelin 3 and 4 were recorded on it!

Has anyone got any info, articles (or given the high-flying calibre of the folks on here) personal experience, with this? I'd love to hear how it was done.

Hell if you can record a record that sound like Led Zeppelin 4 at home (Even if home is a multi-million dollar country house) it gives hope to ordinary guys like me.

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by Soulbrother

Hell if you can record a record that sound like Led Zeppelin 4 at home (Even if home is a multi-million dollar country house) it gives hope to ordinary guys like me.

The problem I think is rather finding 'ordinary' musicians like Messieurs Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham!

[Soulbrother]

But, taking that as a given.

Sonically I wouldnt complain about an album like Led Zep 4 either.

So Im assuming that despite having great pre's and tape and all that, the record wasnt recorded in a 'proper' acoustically treated studio environment , am I right?

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by Soulbrother

So Im assuming that despite having great pre's and tape and all that, the record wasnt recorded in a 'proper' acoustically treated studio environment , am I right?

Jimmy Page has often mentioned that his main philosophy as a producer was the quest for 'depth of field' i.e ambience and ambient-miking, especially with drums. He was also very much inspired by 50ies recordings technology/approaches. Just think of the heavy use of slapback on a lot of Plant's vocals and everything else.

I guess 'When The Levee breaks' was the culmination of that approach by miking Bonzo's kit with ambient mics only and using a big hall instead of a 'proper' studio. Plus using heavy compression and a Binson Echorec for additional mojo. I'm sure that I would have sounded like ass though without Bonham doing his primal thing!

IMO Led Zeppelin was a perfect band not only musically but also sonically. Plant's high range and extreme power made it possible to keep the vocals 'above' everything else yet still relatively low in the mix and thus the drums + guitars could be big and heavy.

JPJ's bass work was also outstanding, dig the way he would switch between a grooving and warm Motown approach and heavy distortion depending on the song and arrangement.

Everytime I hear 'Whole Lotta Love' on the radio I can't believe that this was recorded in 1969, it just kills!


One more thought: Folks these days always complain about the 'bedroom studio mentality' but nothing will prevent you from recording in any good sounding enviroment, be it a huge garage or a Gym or whatever. We certainly got the technology available today to go back to a kind of 'field recording' approach and I'm very excited about these possibilities.

[Paul_G]

My old boss had an airstream that was originally Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio used at Headley Grange for Physical Graffiti.

We are going back 15 years but he couldn't give it away in those days, it no longer had any gear in, but it was really cool inside and he only wanted £1500 to sell it. I wish I had the money then, but I was working for peanuts and eventually it found a new home.

Paul

[in the red]

there is an article on wikipedia about the rolling stones mobile. go check it out!

[beatmonkey]

"with the Rolling Stones Mobile just outside..." from Deep Purple, Smoke on the Water.

'nuff said.

[Remoteness]

Check this thread out > Rolling Stones Mobile Unit circa 1970

[nobtwiddler]

Everything about The Stones Mobile, Ronnie Lanes Mobile, and Helios consoles, modules, etc...can be found in the PSW forum.
Look under "Whatever Works" and find the Helios Photo thread.
It's almost 100 pages long, but Dave Kean (owner of the Stones Mobile Unit) has recently posted an index as to what page goes to what subject. Much easier now to find info.
It's an amazing thread, and a must read for anyone who loves those old recordings!

[Remoteness]

PSW Recording Forums: Whatever Works => Helios Photo Search Index.

PSW Recording Forums: Whatever Works => Helios photo search.

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by beatmonkey

"with the Rolling Stones Mobile just outside..." from Deep Purple, Smoke on the Water.

'nuff said.

I thought the actual lyric went, "The Rolling truck Stones thing just outside..."

God, I hate making people look stupid.