Glyn Johns

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Johns began his journey at IBC Studios in London in 1959, where he was required to wear coats and ties while engineers. His first session as a recording engineer was with skiffle singer Lonnie Donegan. Through his friend Ian Stewart, who played piano with the Rolling Stones, Johns brought the band to IBC in March 1963 to record several tracks. However, after Oldham became their manager, Stewart left the group, and Oldham moved sessions to Regent Sound, cutting off Johns' involvement for more than a year. The source notes that during this early period, most recordings were done in mono except for classical music. Johns later described his first session as chief engineer as being for a Joe Brown recording produced by Tony Hatch. He also developed the 'Glyn Johns method' of recording drums, preferring a live, natural approach throughout his career.

In Their Own Story

In March 1963, Glyn Johns brought the Rolling Stones to IBC Studios to record several tracks, marking their earliest recorded history under his guidance. At that time, Ian Stewart was playing piano with the band, and they had lived together in a house nicknamed 'the Bungalow.' The atmosphere at IBC was formal yet evolving; engineers wore ties while technical staff donned white lab coats, and sessions were predominantly mono. Although this initial collaboration was brief—lasting only until Andrew Loog Oldham took over as manager and moved the group to Regent Sound—it established a connection that would resurface decades later. Years into his career, Johns served as chief engineer during the Get Back sessions for what became the Let It Be album. These intense sessions were captured on film, first in 1970 with 'Let It Be' and again in 2021 with 'The Beatles: Get Back,' preserving the raw reality of the band's creative process under his technical supervision.

Reader's Guide

For fans exploring Glyn Johns' work, understanding his timeline is crucial. His career peaked between 1964 and 1984, a period where he engineered or produced numerous hit records. In 1965, he broke from traditional employment to become one of the first independent British recording engineers, working freelance at studios like Decca, Pye, Marble Arch, and Olympic. His technical philosophy favored natural sound over artificial processing, evident in his drum recording techniques. Key albums include 'Beggars Banquet' and 'Let It Bleed' by the Rolling Stones, 'Who's Next' by the Who, and Led Zeppelin's debut album. He also produced Eric Clapton's 'Slowhand,' featuring hits like 'Lay Down Sally' and 'Wonderful Tonight.' In 2012, his contributions were recognized with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for Musical Excellence.

Did You Know?

• In 1959, Johns' first session as a recording engineer was for the skiffle singer Lonnie Donegan.
• Johns brought the Rolling Stones to IBC Studios in March 1963, but lost involvement with them for over a year after Andrew Loog Oldham took over management.
• He developed a specific technique for recording drums known as the 'Glyn Johns method'.
• In 2012, Glyn Johns was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame receiving the Award for Musical Excellence.