Nous vous livrons ci-après une transcription d’une très récente interview de George Martin, donnée à l’occasion de la publicarion de son autobiographie “Playback”.
Geo: Genesis Publications are to release Playback in 2003, a limited autobiography set of George Martin works with a 50,000 word new text. How did this come to be & what did you do for the ‘special’ CD produced solely for this limited set?
Sir George: They asked me and knowing their reputation, I said yeah! It’s a thoroughly researched book and along with the 6 CD boxed set that EMI issued in 2001, “Produced By”, it represents a good cross-section of just about everything I have done. I am not the kind of person who would go for the best seller market, this is limited because I suspect I have a limited market. I have already been in Australia for the launch and the book has been very well received by fans and aficionados.
Geo: Your production w/ the Beatles helped shape the course of the ‘British’ sound. Did the early 60’s ‘pop’ singles from ‘Cameo-Parkway’ (Chubby Checker, etc.) in Philadelphia have an influence on your early ‘pop’ production @ EMI?
Sir George: I have never been influenced by any one artist, track or fashion. Throughout my career I have always tried to make use of all types of good music from classical to pop. I have never been a huge fan of doing blue-print copies, I have tended to use the melting-pot approach. I think all good things influence in some way.
Geo: Your ‘sound’ with the Beatles changed from the Revolver LP to the Abbey Road LP. You were still recording 4 track up to Abbey Road in 8 track. Was this due to a change in mic placement w/ Ringo’s drum kit? (It seemed to have changed from Revolver up to the end of the bands recording career)
Sir George: We all had the feeling that things were coming to a natural end. Those were happy days and we had all the confidence in the world to experiment and try different things. The recording hardware that we were using had improved over a very short period and we were interested in the bigger/wider sounds that we got on Abbey Rd.
Geo: The DVD, Music For Montserrat: did you help w/ the 5.1 mix? Any thoughts on 5.1 mixing? Also, do you miss Air Studios in Montserrat?
Sir George: Losing Air Montserrat was a huge blow. It was a wonderful place to work and over the years produced some of the best and most successful albums and artists of the time. But after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the island the only thing to do was to re-locate back to London. I threw myself into that, and (eventually) the current site, AIR Lyndhurst which remains one of the finest recording facilities to this day. Ever since the giant leap from mono to stereo, I have been fascinated and enjoyed using new technology and formats, 5.1 is no exception and like anything, done well it all adds to the listening experience
Geo: You were a pioneer for Independent Recording Engineers & opened the ‘first’ Air studio (London) in October 1970. What was behind your choice for the site of Air @ Lyndhurst Hall?
Sir George: It was/is a beautiful building with, once converted, a large enough hall for full orchestra and choir, a further recording studio, two mix rooms and a series of dubbing suites. The place has a special magic as well as sounding terrific. People want to come here to make music. In the last year we have played host to films such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Bond and bands such as Coldplay. 2003 looks just as busy!
Geo: If you were to record tomorrow, would you prefer the old ‘valve’ console & analog tape to Digital recording?
Sir George: I’m not going to, so I wouldn’t even consider it!
Geo: Do you have any fond memories of the sessions w/ Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren?
Sir George: Yes lots! A fabulous lady and a remarkable man.
Geo: What was it like to record (George Martin instrumentally salutes) The Beatle Girls LP in 1966? And who came up w/ the cover shot of you & the ‘Mod’ girls?
Sir George: A bit of fun really. I have always only ever done projects for enjoyment.
Geo: In your 50 years of recording, what for you was the most rewarding of all?
Sir George: The pleasure that I have had working with the most talented people in the world and the enjoyment that the finished records continue to give.
