Toumani Diabaté variations on UB40
The Toumani Diabaté track on the Word CD this month is a stunning track. I had it on repeat the other day and must have listened to it at least 15 times, great to keep you going on a winters day (a good antidote to the Brits). I've just been reading Mr H's article about him, plus the one in The Guardian today. I was amazed by a couple of things they both mentioned...
"...he and his producer, Nick Gold, moved the session to north London, to a little studio in Wood Green, where they recorded the album in just two hours."
Recorded in two hours in Wood Green...and I had a lazy few days in a tent in the desert in my mind.
"Two of these (tracks) are named after London streets that are home to those who have helped his career. One such track, Elyne Road includes echoes of an old UB40 song, "because I remember the melody from when I first came to London"."
Being a bit slow I've just realised the track on the CD is a variation on Kingston Town I had no idea.
I can't wait to get hold of the album. Why has it taken three years to release it?
Oh, and the Damon falling down a drain story was good as well.
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Presumably
that is the same studio in Wood Green where REM recorded Reconstruction Of The Fables.
For those not familiar with it, Wood Green is a desperately dull suburb of London. I know, I lived there for 3 years. It's such an unlikely place for a studio.
Toumani & Livingston Studios
It may seem an unlikely spot but Livingston Studios has been based in Wood Green, bordering beautiful Alexandra Palace for almost 50 years. REM did indeed work on their 1985 album, actually entitled "Fables Of The Reconstruction" with Jerry Boys and Joe Boyd at Livingston.
It began as a facility for recording talking books for the blind. It was known as The Old Church Hall and was in fact a Mission Hall until the late 1940's. In 1966 its owner further developed the studios to encompass its folk, and now pop music, recording portfolio, originally recording such artistes as Pentangle, Ian Matthews and Russ Ballard.
Many greats have made records there from Bjork's "Debut" album some years ago, to its latest offering from the new kids on the block; Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong . Perhaps most renowned for being involved with the mixing of the world famous "Buena Vista Social Club", album which was produced by Ry Cooder , and engineered by Jerry Boys ( Level 42/ Everything But The Girl /Vashti Bunyan/The Stones!), for Nick Gold's World Circuit label. It is a thriving commercial complex and one of the few remaining studios involved in training young Audio Engineers today. With its large recording areas and amazing acoustics, it's become the first choice for many record makers including Marius De Vries of "Titanic" fame and legendary Dub Reggae artist and producer Dennis Bovell.
Livingston has played host to Shakira, George Michael, Ali Farka Toure, Jamie Cullum, Manic Street Preachers, John Martyn, Orchestra Baobab, The Libertines, Rolf Harris, Ibrahim Ferrer, Youssou N'Dour, Del Amitri, Kate Rusby, Ry Cooder, Lou Rhodes, Bush and The Lightning Seeds amongst others and is often seen on TV as a studio backdrop most recently for BBC3's "Singing With The Enemy" and for many Jazz and Rock videos.
Apparently, the Toumani record was made over three evenings with the support of many local curry houses!
REM album
Look at the sleeve, it's a circular title. I prefer "Reconstruction..."