Apr 25: Important recording locations #1: Rockfield Studios

Rockfield Studios in Wales began its commercial recording life in 1961 and in 1965 was acknowledged to be the first residential recording studio in the world.

This post mentions some of the famous ones.

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” was partially recorded at The Quadrangle. The list of acts who recorded at Rockfield is long and includes Coldplay, The Manic Street Preachers, Oasis, Sepultura, Simple Minds, Opeth, Black Sabbath, Joan Armatrading and Judas Priest. Mike Oldfield, The Cult, Robert Plant, Iggy Pop, Annie Lennox, Julian Lennon and George Michael, also recorded at Rockfield.

The now famous studios have played host to many of the world’s biggest artists – Rush, Oasis, Iggy Pop, Nigel Kennedy, Simple Minds, Coldplay, Black Sabbath, Robert Plant and in 1975 was the primary studios used by Queen for the recording of the greatest pop record of all time ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

A few bands who have recorded there mentioned on the video below including Clannad's 'Sirius' album which featured Bruce Hornsby on several tracks.

Rush are amongst the bands mentioned, and they recorded their 'Farewell to Kings' album at Rockfield where they got some special sounds of birdsong at the start of Xanadu.

I've also heard a story about the Peter Gabriel recordings there as well.

As it says at the start of the post, this is perhaps the most famous song that was recorded there:

The Studios is still in operation.