June 6, 2010 11:24
'Tubular Bells' studio up for sale
The UK's first residential studio goes on the market
The Oxfordshire country studio in which a teenage Mike Oldfield recorded the classic 1973 Album 'Tubular Bells' is up for sale.
A 16th century house at Shipton-on-Cherwell, The Manor was converted by Richard Branson into the UK’s first ever residential recording studio.
The Grade II listed building opened its doors in 1971 and saw the likes of Gong, Sandy Denny, John Cale, Vivian Stanshall and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Tangerine Dream record there in the early '70s, reports The Independent on Sunday.
"Before the Manor rock musicians would go in just like classical musicians, three-hour sessions, then go home – very un-rock'n'roll!” said Richard Branson, who was 21 when he converted The Manor. “They liked to record through the night and sleep through the day.”
The studio was also popular throughout the '80s and '90s, with Black Sabbath, The Cult, Cast, Radiohead and Teenage Fanclub all recording there.
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