By Jeff Swindoll Jun 18, 2008, 16:57 GMT
Some locations are thought to have some magical qualities. Some may think of Stonehenge, but those of a musical mind may mentally wander towards Abbey Road studios in jolly olde England.
The world's most famous recording studio is the setting for this intimate music series featuring new and established performers. Created to suggest the visual quality of a movie and the carefully engineered sound of a commercial recording, LIVE FROM ABBEY ROAD captures artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gnarls Barkley, Paul Simon and Wynton Marsalis without an audience as they rehearse, discuss and perform in the closed environment of a recording studio.
The Beatles recorded nearly all of their albums in the studio and their many hits and fame have given the small white building a monumental and mythical feel. Tourists and the faithful come by the studio and leave handwritten messages all along the street as well as snapping photos on the famous road crossing, made so for the Beatles album cover shot on the road (as we see in the opening of the show).
Because of the significance of the studio, the Sundance Channel gathered various artists to perform sets of songs and film them (in high-definition). The first season of the show featured artists from Iron Maiden to Wynton Marsalis. The second season also offers a diverse mixture of musical talent.
Episode one of the new season features Mary J. Blige, Dashboard Confessional, and James Blunt and airs on June 19th. Episode two has Rascal Flatts, Kate Nash, and Herbie Hancock and airs on June 26th.
Each artist is given about three songs and with interview material between them with the episode totaling about an hour. Blige sings ‘Just Fine,’ ‘Come to Me (Peace),’ and ‘Family Affair.’ Dashboard Confessional sings ‘Where There’s Gold’ and ‘Hands Down.’ James Blunt performs ‘Same Mistake,’ ‘I’ll Take Everything,’ and ‘1973.’
Some things you might not expect: Blige says stay in school before attempting the music business (good advice that), Confessional’s drummer Mike Marsh has pictures of his family on his drum kit so they can go on the road with him, and Blunt stays away from his hit ‘You’re Beautiful’ most likely since its been done to death and lampooned and sticks to his latest album.
Episode two has Rascal Flatts performing ‘Life is a Highway,’ ‘What Hurts the Most’ and ‘Take me There.’ Kate Nash sings ‘Foundations,’ ‘Little Red,’ and ‘Nicest Thing.’ Herbie Hancock performs ‘River’ (with Corinne Bailey Rae providing the vocals) and ‘Edith and the King-Pin’ (with Melody Gardot providing the vocals).
Flatt’s ‘Life is a Highway’ is an addictive redo of Tom Cochrane’s original, Kate Nash was unfamiliar to me but won the 2008 “Best solo artist” BRIT Award, and Herbie Hancock is professional as ever and shares some quips about Miles Davis. Both episodes are jewels, whether you know the artist or not.
Maybe the setting does elevate them (the artists sometimes appear in awe of working in Abbey Road) but it’s always the fabulous performances that make them stand out. I know I’ll have to give Blunt another chance since ‘You’re Beautiful’ grated on me, but I greatly enjoyed his work on his set.
It’s also sometimes interesting to see the ins and outs of studio recording as the artists take pregnant pauses at the end of their sets to get confirmation from the booth that all went well (and some of them seem rather nervous during this period).
It’s always the music and this second season of Live from Abbey Road seems to give us a glimpse into both the recording process and the magic that lives on a certain road in London.
Sundance Channel Presents: Live from Abbey Road – Season 2 premieres Thursday, June 19th on the Sundance Channel. Click Here for more information.
Upcoming Line-ups include:
Episode 2 - June 26Rascal Flatts, Kate Nash & Herbie Handcock w/ Corinne Bailey Rae and Melody Gardot
Episode 3 - July 3Panic at the Disco, David Gray & Susan Vega
Episode 4 - July 10Stereophonics, Colbie Caillat & Joan Armatrading
Episode 5 - July 17Sheryl Crow, Hard-Fi & Diana Krall
Episode 6 - July 24The Hoosiers, The Black Keys, Manu Chao
Episode 7 - July 31Matchbox Twenty, The Script, Def Leppard
Episode 8 - August 7Elbow, MGMT, Alanis Morissette
Your Talkback on this Story