Rogers & Butler’s latest album, Studio 3, marks a significant milestone as they recorded it at Abbey Road. Edward Rogers and Steve Butler discovered they shared common musical interests and influences, especially Duncan Browne, an obscure English songwriter from the 60’s and 70s, when they first met at NYC’s The Cutting Room six years ago. They subsequently wrote songs together and released a debut EP, Diana Dors, in 2019. They explain more about recording Studio 3, their third full-length studio release.
Can you walk us through how the idea of recording at Abbey Road came to be?
Steve: One morning while on tour with The Zombies, I was having breakfast with Rod Argent, and he was telling me about The Zombies recording O&O at Abbey Road. I mentioned that Rogers & Butler were about to record a new album, and he suggested Edward and I look into using Abbey Road. I told him we probably wouldn’t be able to afford it, but Rod suggested Studio 3 which was where The Zombies recorded Odessey and Oracle (and The Beatles recorded Revolver) and could be more within our budget. Initially we thought it was a crazy idea, but when I checked it out, we realized we could swing it.
Edward: Once Steve and I decided to record at Abbey Road, we arranged and rehearsed six songs with Don Piper, our producer and rhythm guitarist, over the course of two weeks! Knowing all the artists who have recorded in this studio over the decades, it was a daunting but exciting adventure.
Edward & Steve: As anglophiles for many years, having the opportunity to record in the best and most iconic studio in the world was a dream come true.
How did you bring Ian Button and Andy Lewis into the fold for this project?
Edward: I knew Ian Button and his work with Papernut Cambridge and was introduced to him by John Howard, who Rogers & Butler shared a bill with at The Lexington in London in 2019. I then discovered I also knew his work with Trashing Doves. When I asked him to the sessions with us at Abbey Road, he immediately suggested Andy Lewis, who I knew of from playing bass with Paul Weller and as a mover and shaker in the London scene.
Steve: We never worked with Ian and Andy before and were hoping the chemistry would be there and it was in spades.
How did the live recording approach influence the energy and spontaneity of the sessions?
Edward & Steve: We had one rehearsal the day before our Abbey Road sessions and worked out the six songs we planned to record over two days. During that one rehearsal, we immediately realized they were the perfect rhythm section for our music. So, going into the studio, we felt excited and confident that we could realize our initial goal. We set up for a live recording playing our instruments and singing at the same time. We wanted to do as little overdubbing as possible. Within seven hours of our first ten-hour session, we realized that we had recorded all six songs and accomplished our goal.
Our producer, Don Piper, said let’s try the other six songs, we have nothing to lose. At that point, Ian and Andy both said, let’s keep recording. We continued working that night and reconvened the next day, finishing all twelve songs with a couple of hours to spare. We celebrated with a glass of wine at Abbey Road!
Recording at Abbey Road is a dream for many musicians. How did the experience live up to your expectations?
Edward: Never have I been in a recording studio so professional; I can see why it’s considered the best studio in the world. A memorable highlight in my life.
Steve: At first I was in complete awe, being at Abbey Road and sharing the same microphones once used by Lennon and McCartney. The excitement and the immediacy of recording live gave an energy to the recordings that you can hear when listening to Studio 3.
Further information:
Studio 3 is currently available via Think Like A Key Music on Vinyl, CD and digital.
