A Day With Los Beat 3 at Abbey Road Studios

This time last year I was fortunate enough to witness Los Beat 3 record their song 'Is It Love?' for the new Cavern City Tours album, 'Why Don't We Do It In Abbey Road?' Bill Heckle of CCT had kindly offered to let me spend the day at Abbey Road - August 22nd 2001 - a day I shall never forget. My reason for being there was to watch the great Will Schillinger at work in the producer's chair (myself hoping to follow in his footsteps having just completed a sound technology diploma at LIPA).

The thrill began once I got in a taxi at Euston station; "Abbey Road Studios, please." I told the driver with great satisfaction. The buzz continued to grow as I climbed the famous steps and went through the door, giving my name and asking to join Will in the studio. I was led along the corridor and got a huge shiver down my spine as we stopped outside the door marked 'studio two: control room'. Gulp! I had no idea which of the many tribute bands invited to take part in the CD, I would be seeing, but instantly recognised Axel and the rest of Los Beat 3. Everyone immediately made me feel welcome. The band went down to the studio and I was left with Alex (Abbey Road Sound Recordist) and Will Schillinger (the Producer). Alejandro had already recorded the drums, so he and Luis (Los Beat 3's manager) stayed to keep an eye from 'upstairs' too (as must of you will know, the control room of studio two is located above the actual studio).

The first thing to be recorded while I was there was the fabulous guitar solo. I really loved how unusual it sounded and became intrigued by the rest of the track as a result. Alexandra was next - she recorded her part on the actual piano used by Paul McCartney on 'Lady Madonna'! I noticed the tracks were being recorded onto a second analogue tape, just like in the days of the Fabs. I asked Will about this, and he said that the studio could cater for both analogue and digital these days, but to get that authenticity he'd used tape.

The vocals were to be done next, and as Carlos warmed up, I took the opportunity to go downstairs and into the studio myself. Alex was busy setting up mics (again these were authentic Neumann mics - the type used by the Fabs), so I was able to get some pictures without disrupting anything. As well as the 'Lady Madonna' piano, there was also an original organ, which looked much smaller in real life than it does in photos of the Beatles playing it. I'm not sure which tracks it was used for (it wasn't the famous 'Strawberry Fields' Mellotron!), but from the pictures I've seen it was used a lot around the Pepper time.

It was back up to the control room for me, as Carlos prepared to sing his heart out. I recall it took a few takes for him to achieve a very high section of the song (please bear in mind I have not heard the song for a year, so I can't remember exactly which bit!), and it took an incredible amount of power and control from him to get there. As Los Beat 3 have shown live, if anyone can pull it off, they can! Carlos certainly did that day, and you will eventually be able to hear the result when the CD is released - a true moment of Abbey Road magic! I will be buying 'Why Don't We Do It In Abbey Road?' just for this song alone; however, I'm really excited about hearing the rest of the tracks too. I'm sure there are many other gems contained throughout, but for me 'Is It Love?' will hold a special place in my heart. Whenever I hear it I will remember that lovely summers day in NW8.

Zara Jones
TWIL Issue Eight August 2002