Morgan Studios

Morgan Studios, also known as Morgan Sound Studios, were recording studios at 169–171 High Road, Willesden, north west London. The studios were notable for many recordings of the 1960s and 1970s by some of the most important British bands and artists such as Ten Years After, Arrows, Yes, The Kinks, Donovan, Vivian Stanshall, Paul Simon, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Greenslade, Joan Armatrading, Cat Stevens, Paul McCartney, Jethro Tull, Rod Stewart, Black Sabbath, UFO and The Cure. The studio was also notable for having the first 24-track tape machine in England made by Ampex.[1]

Barry Morgan was the original owner, who expanded the facility to comprise four different recording studios. Morgan Studios was sold on in the 1980s, firstly in 1980 studios 3 and 4 to Zomba who rechristened them Battery Studios;[2] then in 1984 studios 1 and 2 were sold to Robin Millar and renamed Power Plant Studios.[2] The studio had both a Steinway piano and a Hammond organ. Their former premises are now occupied by Miloco Studios.[3]

Recordings made at Morgan Studios

Albums

1960s

• The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse (1968) – Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
• Disposable (1968) – The Deviants
• Tons of Sobs (1969) - Free
• Audience (1969) - Audience
• Blind Faith (1969) – Blind Faith
• Ahead Rings Out (1969) – Blodwyn Pig
• Free (1969) – Free
• Led Zeppelin II (1969) – Led Zeppelin
• Ssssh (1969) – Ten Years After
• Stand Up (1969) – Jethro Tull
• Supertramp (1969–1970) – Supertramp

1970s

• McCartney (1970) – Paul McCartney
• Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One (1970) – The Kinks
• Open Road (1970) – Donovan
• Gasoline Alley (1970) – Rod Stewart
• It'll All Work Out in Boomland (1970) – T2
• Benefit (1970) – Jethro Tull
• Tea for the Tillerman (1970) – Cat Stevens
• Friend's Friend's Friend (1970) – Audience
• Long Player (portions) (1971) – Faces
• Meddle (1971) – Pink Floyd
• Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) – Rod Stewart
• St Radigunds (May/June 1971) - Spirogyra
• Anticipation (1971) – Carly Simon
• Can I Have My Money Back? (1971) – Gerry Rafferty
• Madman Across the Water (portions) (1971) - Elton John
• America (1971) – America
• Teaser and the Firecat (1971) – Cat Stevens
• Thick as a Brick (1972) – Jethro Tull
• Waterfall (1972) – If
• The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1972) – Rick Wakeman
• Lou Reed (1972) – Lou Reed
• Catch Bull at Four (1972) – Cat Stevens
• Wringing Applause (1972) – B. A. Robertson
• Never a Dull Moment (1972) – Rod Stewart
• The Chieftains 4 (1972-1973) – The Chieftains
• Greenslade – (1972-1973) Greenslade
• There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973 - one song) – Paul Simon
• Camel (1973) – Camel
• A Passion Play (1973) – Jethro Tull
• Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) – Yes
• Billion Dollar Babies (1973) – Alice Cooper
• Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) – Black Sabbath
• Bedside Manners Are Extra (1973) – Greenslade
• Orexis of Death (1973) – Necromandus
• Berlin (1973) – Lou Reed
• War Child (1974) – Jethro Tull
• Back to the Night (1974) – Joan Armatrading
• Jumblequeen (1974) – Bridget St John
• The Psychomodo (1974) – Cockney Rebel
• Smiler (1974) – Rod Stewart
• Spyglass Guest (1974) – Greenslade
• Now We Are Six (1974) – Steeleye Span
• Phenomenon (1974) – UFO
• The Prince of Heaven's Eyes (1974) – Fruupp
• The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1974–1975) – Rick Wakeman
• Time and Tide (1975) – Greenslade
• Sabotage (1975) – Black Sabbath
• Commoners Crown (1975) – Steeleye Span
• Force It (1975) – UFO
• Return to Fantasy (1975) – Uriah Heep
• Fish Out of Water (1975) – Chris Squire
• Dance (1975) – Arthur Brown
• Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) - Judas Priest
• No Heavy Petting (1976) – UFO
• Answer Me (1976) – Barbara Dickson
• Electric Savage (1976-1977) – Colosseum II
• Baris Mancho (1976) – Barış Manço
• She Wouldn't Understand (1976) - The Goodies
• The World Starts Tonight (1977) – Bonnie Tyler
• Songs from the Wood (1977) – Jethro Tull
• Peter Gabriel I (1977) – Peter Gabriel
• Chisholm in My Bosom (1977) – Arthur Brown
• The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) – Van der Graaf Generator
• At the End of a Perfect Day (1977) – Chris de Burgh
• Crna dama/Black Lady (1977/1978) – Smak
• Squeeze (1978) – Squeeze
• Natural Force (1978) – Bonnie Tyler
• Variations (1978) – Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Back on the Streets (1978) - Gary Moore
• Three Imaginary Boys (1979) – The Cure
• Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (1979) – Oxendale & Shephard

1980s

• Seventeen Seconds (1980) – The Cure
• Wild Cat (1980) – Tygers of Pan Tang
• Lampefeber (1980) – C. V. Moto [4]
• The Affectionate Punch (1980) – The Associates
• Bucks Fizz (1981) – Bucks Fizz
• Spellbound (1981) – Tygers of Pan Tang
• Renegade (1981) - Thin Lizzy
• Teddy Boys Don't Knit (1981) – Vivian Stanshall
• Faith (1981) – The Cure
• Iron Fist (1982) – Motörhead
• Tight Fit (1982) - Tight Fit
• Heartbeat City (1984) - The Cars
• Secret Secrets (1985) – Joan Armatrading
• The Colour of Spring (1986) – Talk Talk[5]

Singles

• "Pinball Wizard" (1969) – The Who
• "Riki Tiki Tavi" (1970) - Donovan
• "Lola" (1970) – The Kinks
• "Woodstock" (1970) – Matthews Southern Comfort
• "Anticipation" (1971) - Carly Simon
• "Hi, Hi, Hi" (1972) - Wings
• "C Moon" (1972) - Wings
• "American tune" (1974) - Paul Simon
• "Monkey Jive" (1975) – Tiger Lily
• "Your Generation (1977) - Generation X
• "News of the World" (1978) – The Jam
• "Jumping Someone Else's Train" (1979) – The Cure
• "C·30 C·60 C·90 Go" (1980) – Bow Wow Wow
• "A Forest" (1980) – The Cure
• "Primary" (1981) – The Cure
• "Charlotte Sometimes" (1981) – The Cure
• "Making Your Mind Up" (1981) – Bucks Fizz
• "Step into Christmas" (1973) – Elton John

See also

• List of UK recording studios

References

1. Chris Welch, Close to the Edge: The Story of Yes, p.140, Omnibus Press (2003), ISBN 0-7119-9509-5
2. Harris, Tony (2011). "Morgan Studios". Philsbook.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
3. "Miloco: Battery Complex". Miloco Studios. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
4. "C.V. Moto – Lampefeber (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
5. Unwin, Neville; Goodyer, Tim (April 1986). "Talkback". Home and Recording Studio.