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| Studio2Stereo: The
Collectors Choice |
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At its inception, Studio2Stereo was anything
but a shoddy cheapo label bunging out budget releases to the masses,
oh no. Nothing was further from the truth. Way back in 1965 when stereo
in itself was still something of a novelty of interest only to hi-fi
buffs with executive tastes well away from the pop market, Studio2Stereo
was set up by the massive EMI corporation as a prestige imprint on which
to release selected items from the HMV/Parlophone/Columbia catalogues
in quality stereo format. Of course the hip young kids were too busy
spinning 45's on their tiny Dancettes to be concerned about the quality
of the sound reproduction, so the early releases on Studio2Stereo are
for the most part very stuffy affairs aimed at the light-classical market
occupied by the likes of Manuel and his Music of the Mountains, Frank
Pourcel and Joe Loss; all strictly for grandma, reclining in the comfy
chair with a stiff mother's ruin soaking up the lush stereo ambiance
of the sounds of the south seas and elsewhere. All very cosy so far.
What seems to have happened is that the
line between the standard label 'File Under' categories light orchestral
and popular instrumental began to blur somewhat when EMI acquired the
rights to Enoch Light's US releases in 1969, the obvious home for these
in the UK became Studio2Stereo where they sat nicely alongside groundbreaking
albums by the likes of Brian Bennett that demanded a stereo release,
but were a good deal more pop-orientated than the likes of The Big Ben
Banjo Band. There was clearly no point at all in even bothering to release
such complex works of studio wizardry in glorious mono. Studio2Stereo
began to get hip!
As the 1970's dawned all sorts of strangeness
began to seep out of EMI through the schedules of Studio2Stereo by pop
and jazz-inspired arrangers and players as these elements began to merge
with standard orchestral presentation and the old standards began to
wane in both popularity and sales. Just over 300 releases made it out
on the original silver and black Studio2Stereo label before a serious
re-branding at EMI lead to the dumping of the HMV, Parlophone and Columbia
labels in favour of an all-encompassing EMI imprint. Thus began the
1000 series of Studio2Stereo releases that mostly comprised Best Of
collections of the more stuffy propositions from the labels history
that weren't farmed off to the budget MFP imprint, but also thankfully
one or two more funky gems from artists with enough clout with the company
not to be made to suffer the ultimate indignity of an MFP album. Then
sadly the EMI group merged with the electronics giant Thorn and some
sacrifices had to be made. Little more than 70 releases in, the Studio2Stereo
1000 series came to an abrupt halt and it was no more.
Because of the small amount of stereo album
sales in the late 60's, a good few Studio2Stereo albums are worth a
bob or two, so much so that coming across them is pretty darned difficult
in this day and age. Some are well worth the money it might take to
make them yours, but equally many are not, and some are not really worth
the cost of the carrier bag you might take them home in. So, dear surfer,
we attempt to guide you through the glorious world of Studio2Stereo
releases and point you in what we hope will be the right direction.
Come, enjoy!
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Plucked From the
Wall
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| The Mood Mosaic 'Mood
Mosaic' (TWO 160) |
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Don't be dissuaded by
the early release date of 1967...arranger/composer Mark Wirtz
was well ahead of his time and roped in the talents of Big Jim
Sullivan, Denis Lopez and Nicky Hopkins to weave breezy magic
spells around a few covers and oodles of his own originals. Inventive
instrumentation topped of with scatting girl vocals make this
an Easy Listening classic that you'll enjoy from start to finish,
with the sitar-led 'Chinese Chequers' leading the pack... |
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| Brian Fahey 'Time For
TV' (TWO 175) |
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Absolutely, positively,
the best collection of 60's telly themes to be had anywhere. Check
'em out; 'The Saint', 'Danger Man', 'The Avengers'...you want
some more? How's about cracking goes at 'Batman' and 'Man From
UNCLE', all done in a brash and brassy fashion with loads of pace
and energy for saying this is still 1967. As if that little lot
wasn't enough, the cream on the cake is Fahey's own chart-tabulous
'At The Sigh Of The Swingin' Cymbal'. Not to be passed by... |
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| The Bob Crewe Generation
'Music To Watch Birds By' (TWO 245) |
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Plenty of good honest
groovy cheese to be had here; parping brass, fuzzy guitars, sturdy
beats and plenty of other curious instrumentation all the way
through make this a desirable item, and it probably gets the nod,
pound for pound, over his Barbarella soundtrack. A wonderful relic
from those few brief years of innocence at the end of the 60's
when chicks were chicks, birds were birds being a dirty old man
was socially acceptable, baby. Great stuff! |
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| Brian Bennett 'The
Illustrated London Noise' (TWO 268) |
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The most desirable of
Bennett's solo releases and usually the most costly Studio2Stereo
album to find. Fave track is the well-known "Soul Mission" with
it's thumpin' drums and catchy organ groove. Other Bennett originals
include "Chameleon" and "General Mojo's Well-Laid Plan" - both
worth your time. Add to this a couple of Beatles tunes performed
in a swingin' 60's London style and you don't need reminding that
this album is well worth your time tracking down a copy. |
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| Chico Arnez & His
Cuban Brass 'Chico' (TWO 279) |
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An album much prized
in certain circles for the presence of Barbara Moore and her scatting
vocals, brightening up many otherwise standard Mambo numbers,
but even so, nothing to get hot under the collar about until we
reach 'One Mint Julip' over on side two. Kicking off with a massive
drum break and leading into a Hammond and guitar frenzy that is
simply irresistible, this is one killer track indeed and very
much the reason why dealers have been known to demand crippling
sums for a taste of its Latin charms...worth every penny though. |
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Enoch Light
'Spaced Out' (TWO 312)
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Definitely deserving
of its elevated status this one: choc-full as it is of quirky
gems splattered with spacey Moog. The Beatles, Burt and Bach get
blasted into orbit time and again on this must-have LP. In fact
we might well go as far as saying that you absolutely need two
copies of this album, as we have discovered that the UK issue
contains a completely different mix to the original Project 3
release in the States. Nothing else for it but to get them both.
Damn! |
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Alan Hawkshaw '27
TV Themes & Commercials' (TWO 391)
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Any platter touched
by the hand of The Hawk gets a good deal of attention these days.
This is one that is well deserving of such demand. It contains
a lot of excellent cheesy funk-ups, mostly in medley format, of
generally up-tempo TV tunes. Nice! Brian Bennett on the skins,
Ray Davies parping his horn and Hawkshaw grinding away at the
keys: what else do you want? Jam on it? |
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John Keating 'Space
Experience' (TWO 393)
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A winner right from
the off, when Keating's amazing version of Carol King's 'I Feel
The Earth Move' kicks in. From that moment until touchdown we
are treated to an aural whiz round the galaxy with some out-there
originals and space-age covers. Even 'Rocket Man' comes up trumps!
To achieve such feats as that is pure genius in itself. Utterly
essential! |
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Mandingo 'The Primeval
Rhythm of Life' (TWO 400)
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Well worth the outlay
this one! Crammed with percussion-heavy stompers like the utterly
astounding 'Black Rite' and the splendid 'Moon Goddess', this
LP comes over like a top class KPM best of, and lo, all the library
big-wigs chip in with their twopen'th, so you know its quality
gear. Don't hesitate! |
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Misty 'Collage' (TWO
410)
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The core of Collage was Alan Hawkshaw,
Brian Bennett, Dave Richmond and David Snell therefore this
album is one you'll find hanging on the wall of the record shop
whether you like it or not. The album suffers from a really
lame track listing, featuring such horrors as 'Love For Sale'
- but, hang on in there and check out the Hawkshaw-penned 'Madrid';
laid-back keys over shuffling percussion. Is it worth the money?
We recommend you sneak a listen first…
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| Paddy Kingsland 'Supercharged!'
(TWOX 1024) |
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Fancy a few extra-wierd
analogue synth style groovers? Yum! Radiophonic Workshop mainstay
Kingsland gathers round him some top session bods like Alan Hawkshaw,
Les Hurdle and Alan Parker and sets forth to deliver a right cracker
of an LP. Lots of twisted covers, really putting the boot into
stuff by the Carpenters and Paul Simon, but most pleasing on the
originals, with 'Wobulator Rock', 'Gollum' and 'The Earthmen'
really letting rip. A Belter! |
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Nick Ingman 'Terminator'
(TWOX 1045)
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Featuring an impressive lineup
of UK heavyweight sessioners including Brian Bennett and Roger
Coulam, this album is just one huge library-style album stuffed
with funky drums, keyboards, synths and horn stabs. You'd well
believe that 'Brass Knuckles' and 'Terminator' could be outtakes
from Ingman's impressive Music De Wolfe "Big Beat" session.
If you find a copy, hold onto it tight!
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