Reslo & Rod Stewart

Reslo & Rod Stewart at the Marquee Club, London

"Who's that?" you're asking, well, yes you're right, it's none other than Rod "The Mod" Stewart in his 60s glory. There is some great vintage footage courtesy of BBC One's "Imagine" documentary series & the British Film Institue available online.

Reslo & Rod Stewart at the Marquee Club, London

The BBC's "Imagine" programme featured an original programme from the 60s that focused on Rod Stewart when he was just starting out as a performer and was still living at home. Some of those early scenes were shot at the legendary Marquee in London and featuring Reslo RB Ribbon Microphones.

Reslo & Rod Stewart at the Marquee Club, London

Rod Stewart - official website

The Marquee Club

Watch the programme on BBC iPlayer here

Jose Estragos Vol 2

Spanish Reslo fan, user, collector & all round Reslo fiend Jose Estragos has some good news to report with the release of his latest recordings entitled "Vol 2", less than 6 months from his first (proper 60s breakneck speed). 

Jose Estragos Vol 2, photo Ester Paez

  According to Jose these new recordings hark back to a time when songs were "made from the heart and not a calculator". To accompany the release there were be some promo films shot, no doubt with so great Reslos featured, as well as a release of Vol 1 on vinyl. 

Jose Estragos & a stereo pair of Reslo RB Ribbon Microphones, photo Ester Paez

The recording sessions took place in various studios including a highlight at Abbey Road Stusios in London. There will be some interesting sounds to be heard emanating from Hammond & Vox Continental organs, sitars, 12 strings guitars, Vox amps, tons of vintage recording equipment & of course Reslo microphones. 

Jose Estragos collage & collection of Reslo Microphones, photo Ester Paez

Some dates are to be lined up in England at the Cavern Club, USA as well as at FNAC in Zaragoza, Marbella and Malaga.

Photos by Esther Paez 

Jose Estragos links:

Website
Blog
Bandcamp
Facebook  

Storm Thorgerson 1944 - 2013

  Once again sad news reaches us with the news that Storm Thorgerson has passed away.

Storm was practically peerless with his artwork and album designs and has left a great void in the music and art world.

A message on the Pink Floyd's website states "We are saddened by the news that long-time Pink Floyd graphic genius, friend and collaborator, Storm Thorgerson, has died."

Nick Mason remarked that Storm had "great ideas and high, sometimes infuriatingly high, standards". 

David Gilmour called him "an inseparable part of our work". 

He went on to say "We first met in our early teens. We would gather at Sheep's Green, a spot by the river in Cambridge and Storm would always be there holding forth, making the most noise, bursting with ideas and enthusiasm. Nothing has ever really changed. He has been a constant force in my life, both at work and in private, a shoulder to cry on and a great friend. 

The artworks that he created for Pink Floyd from 1968 to the present day have been an inseparable part of our work. I will miss him. David Gilmour."
 

David Gilmour in the late 1960s in Cambridge where Storm was an integeral part of the scene

Storm Thorgerson's artwork graced the album covers by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel, Black Sabbath, The Mars Volta amongst so many others. 

 The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute

The Tree Of Half Life - Pink Floyd

 

The Classic

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon

 

Reslo & Jose Estragos (Los Brandys) Part One

So we thought you'd like to be introduced to a fine Spaniard musician by the name of Jose Estragos. He's got a great reputation going on down in Madrid so here's the lowdown on all things Jose.

Reslo & Jose Estragos - photo by Esther Paez

A keen student of all things 60s and of course analogue Jose owns no less than FIFTEEN Reslo Ribbon Microphones, so of course he's a perfect friend of ours!

  

Reslo & Jose Estragos - photo by Esther Paez

 

Jose has been best known as member of those Madridian beat meisters "Los Brandys" who certainly know how to bring those distant 60s memories to a present day audience. 

There are so many great shots of Jose's band & their Reslo microphones that they are on par with the amount of photographs of The Beatles at The Cavern! So here's just a few more wonderful shots of "The Brandys" and their Reslo Ribbon Microphones taken by Spanish photographer Esther Paez.

Reslo & Los Brandys - photo by Esther Paez

Reslo & Los Brandys - photo by Esther Paez

Reslo & Los Brandys - photo by Esther Paez

 Can you handle more pictures...because here they come!

Some leather clad beatniks & some faux Cavern Club decor! 

 

Lots of analogue goodness with Rickenbacker, Gretsch & Höfner guitars, VOX AC30 valve amps & vintage VOX PA columns.

Reslo Ribbon Microphones & Los Brandys

More to come in part two, stay tuned folks.

More information at Jose Estragos's homepage

"The Boat That Rocked" & Reslo Microphones

The British comedy from 2009 "The Boat That Rocked" (also known as "Pirate Radio" in America, "Good Morning England" in France & "Radio Rock Revolution" in Germany...have you ever known of so many different titles!) is a comedy set in the 1960s about an illegal radio station on board a ship in the North Sea and their fight with the government to keep broadcasting.

Pictured here is the news reader character 'On-The-Hour' John, played by actor Will Adamsdale, with a Reslo RV Ribbon Microphone. Note the nice period detail of adding a Vortexion 4/15/M valve mixer as loved by the likes of Joe Meek. Also spotted John's tea mug with his embossed name label, essential in any British studio! 

Expressing his dedication to be a news caster John says "I've always lived for news and weather. Happy to die for them, too. Especially the weather.

"The Boat That Rocked" written & directed by Richard Curtis ( Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill, The Vicar Of Dibley et al) and features a stellar cast including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Chris O'Dowd, Rhys Darby, Katherine Parkinson and Nick Frost.

Here's a great piece of artwork by "unconsciousargentine" reminiscent of the style in The Beatles Yellow Submarine film.

View more photographs of Reslo microphones used in films on our flickr page


"The Boat That Rocked" official film website

p.s. don't forget the up coming 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones first performance on the 12th July 1962 at the Marquee Club in London.

Pink Floyd & Reslo Microphones

So it's a leap year and it's the 29th of February so time for a new post. The theme this time is Pink Floyd, why? you ask...well why not! Pink Floyd are perpetually inspirational and influential, and as "The Pink Floyd Sound", as they were originally called, are in the middle of releasing über-deluxe "immersion" versions of three of their classic albums, what better an opportunity!

First up is an early shot of a certain Mr. David Gilmour strumming on his Höfner Club 60 and singing with a Reslo RB Ribbon Microphone. According to the book "The Höfner Guitar : A History" David persuaded his parents to buy him a Fender Telecaster, after which he sold this original guitar as he owed someone some money. The band known as "Joker's Wild" also featured Dave Altham (instrument-less), John Gordon ("The Infotainer" on a hollow bodied guitar) and Tony Sainty on bass. Obviously one Reslo microphone was not enough for four performing singers!

Photograph courtesy of John Gordon www.myspace.com/the_infotainer

Of course, not to forget that before David Gilmour there was the crazy diamond himself Syd Barrett.

Perhaps being slightly subtle here but you can just spot a Reslo Ribbon Microphone on the left, just by the curtains, next to what's probably a Beyer M160 Ribbon Microphone. Syd with his trademark Fender Telecaster, spot the Selmer Twin Selectortone valve amplifier just behind him. Also peeking out on the right is the heel end of Roger Waters Höfner bass! What must've been a great jam in someone's front living room, and all of which being presided over by the guiding eye of Howlin' Wolf!

Seen below on the left with a Reslo RB Ribbon Microphone and playing a Framus Sorella is Syd in his pre Floyd band "The Tea Set". Note Syd's Bird amplifier complete with maracas on top!

Spot someone else here #1? Yep, Roger Waters playing a lovely Höfner President 500/5  hollow-bodied bass. Also seen here is The Tea Set's lead singer Chris Dennis.

Spot someone else here #2? Yep again, slightly obscured (by clouds..perhaps?) is Rado "Bob" Klose, a friend of David Gilmour who also played on an early Pink Floyd acetate recording as well as appearing on David Gilmour's last album "On An Island" in 2006.


Thanks to Wolfgang Jünemann for spotting Syd' Framus guitar, Photographer probably Sebastian Jenkins.

Finally moving onto c.1967 and the point where Pink Floyd are fully formed. Here we have the much missed Richard Wright with his faithful Farfisa Compact-Duo organ as well as a Reslo CR Ribbon Microphone.

More information at these links:

Official Pink Floyd website

Offical David Gilmour website
Official Roger Waters website

Richard Wright fan page

Official Syd Barrett website

Fables of History - The Reslo

Over at the Fables of History blog, there's a great vintage vibed picture post of a Reslo RB Ribbon Microphone. The blog is run by James Edward Bagshaw who is the guitar player in English band "The Moons" who are currently working on a new album. The band will also be going on tour across Europe with Liam Gallagher's band, Beady Eye, so go seek them out.

James mentions how he was given this mic by Edwyn "A Girl Like You" Collins during recent recording session. James says "This Reslosound ribbon mic dates back to the sixties, it was kindly given to me by Edwyn Collins during the recording of the forthcoming Moons album. I have always preferred the sound of ribbon microphones, they have a velvety smooth sound to them."

Fables of History : The Reslo

Reslo & Mick Jagger at the BBC's Top Of The Pops studios

Mick posing with a Reslo RV Ribbon Microphone for BBC photographer Harry Goodwin, 1964.

Harry Goodwin was the BBC in-house photographer for Top Of The Pops. He photographed many of the musicians appearing on the programme including Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Bob Dylan. His prints formed part of an exhibition recently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

This shot was taken in the BBC's famous disused church studios on Dickenson Road, Manchester, where from new year's day 1964 up until 1967 all the early Top Of The Pops programmes were recorded (of course, later in their wisdom the BBC demolished the church in the 70s). The Rolling Stones were the first artist to appear on TOTP on the 1st January 1964 were they performed "I Wanna Be Your Man".

The BBC had a studio in Manchester [on Dickenson Road] which was a disused church and, anything they didn't want to do in London, they slung up into this old church. And, of course, they didn't want anything to do with pop music so that was our place. And it was marvellous".

This is a video from the V&A lauch of the exhibition with interviews with Harry along with snippets from amongst others Paul Gambaccini, Tom McGuinness (Manfred Mann), and Pan's People!

Harry's V&A touring exhibition 'My Generation: The Glory Years of British Rock' has currently taken up residency at "The Public" in West Bromwich, England until mid January 2012 so come down to the black country and view these photographs in true analogue style! It's also free to enter.

The Public, "My Generation: The Glory Years of British Rock"

BBC News, Birmingham & The Black Country

 

An interview with Harry Goodwin remembering Top of the Pops: V & A Interview

More Rolling Stones pictures can be seen at the Reslo flickr page

Want more links? OK then, here's a few Top Of The Pops related sites!
The Beatles In Manchester
Manchester Beat
Sixties City

"Nowhere Boy" John Lennon biopic

Once again UK viewers got some Reslosound action this past Sunday when "Nowhere Boy" had it's UK terrestrial premiere on Channel 4, who also helped finance the film. Sam Taylor Wood's biopic about a young John Lennon and the women who shaped his pre-Beatles life, namely his aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), who raised him and his absentee mother Julie (Anne-Marie Duff) who re-enters his life.

Aaron Johnson plays John Lennon and is depicted in a number of scenes performing in "his" band The Quarrymen (the official stance on Quarrymen or Quarry Men here: The Original Quarrymen website). Later he is joined in the band by Paul McCartney (Thomas Sangster) as well as George Harrison (Sam Bell). These scenes are really well designed with great art direction and attention to detail including correct era clothing, stage setup, instruments and of course Reslo Ribbon Microphones.

More pictures from the film and the originals which inspired the film design on the Reslo flickr page here: Reslo & The Beatles flickr set


Watch the film again again Channel 4's website: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/nowhere-boy

Official film website: http://www.nowhereboy.co.uk/

Official Quarrymen website: www.originalquarrymen.co.uk/

Reslo RB Ribbon Microphones on stage at The Cavern with the The Harrison family 1964

"Meet the Beatles for Real" posted a nice candid photograph of the Harrison family on stage in 1964 at the Cavern Club posing with a trio of Reslo RB Ribbon Microphones.

Pictured from the left are Louise (George's mom), Harold (George's dad) & Louise (George's older sister).

Meet the Beatles for Real: The Harrison family at the Cavern Club

Reslo Ribbon Microphone on ITV's "The Royal"

Viewers in Britain got a bit of a Reslo-tinged treat this Sunday when an episode of ITV's "The Royal", a retro hospital drama set in the swinging 1960s, featured an offshore pirate radio station complete with disc jockey and of course a Reslo RB Ribbon Microphone.


The episode was broadcast on Sunday 10th July 2011, featured a girls' trip out on board a fictional pirate radio station ship, Radio Neptune, clearly inspired by the original pirate radio ship Radio Caroline. After succumbing to the "groovy" DJ's charm, events turn out differently to what they had expected!

If you are in the UK you can watch this episode for the next 27 days on ITV's website using their ITV Player. Viewers outside the UK may encounter copyright problems, but give it a try anyway.

ITV Player

Eagle-eyed amongst you will have also spotted a Vortexion CBL tape recorder in the background.

More information on the programme here: The Royal

And more information on the famous pirate radio ship here: Radio Caroline

More pictures of Reslo microphones on film at the Reslo flickr page

British Pathe newsreel filmed at The Cavern

Filmed by British Pathe for a newsreel film entitled "The Mersey Sound (aka Liverpool- Home of the Mersey Sound)", a host of bands appear at The Cavern Club for the "New Sound of 64 Beat Contest" with scenes dripping in Reslo RB Ribbon Microphones! Bands in the clip are The Ko-Dells, The Drovers, The Jinks and The Merseybeats.

Click on the chap below to view the film at British Pathe.

Some stills from the film: featuring The Ko-Dells from Manchester performing 
"Got My Mojo Working" live at The Cavern 1964.