Ken Scott was the Studio Recording Engineer and Producer for groups like The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Supertramp and so many more…
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Ken Scott, in his new book Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust tells the behind the scenes stories of what went on in the studio. The personal stories, the politics and for all you audio techs and engineers, Ken talks about the process and gives specifics including equipment lists.
I met Ken Scott at a recent talk he gave at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA.
It was an incredible night of storytelling by the legendary recording engineer and producer.
Ken told humorous stories of the behind the scenes and he played, never before heard, clips of Beatles and David Bowie sessions.
I was transfixed as Ken is an excellent story teller and makes even the technical sound wonderfully interesting.
I was blessed later, to receive a pre release copy of the book… (no pictures) and I read it cover to cover as Ken seems to have worked with most of my more favorite bands of the 60’s and 70’s. His discography is a who’s who of famous albums, artists and singles.
I finally got to sit down with Ken at the corporate offices of Alfred Music Publishers, the publishers of Ken’s book, for an hour of talking about writing the book to Ken’s thoughts on current recording processes, record label politics and much more… It was truely an honor to hang out with Ken and I took the time to pummel him with questions. I had so many I did not get to them all, but luckily the book is very thorough.
I would like to thank Devon Blaine of the Blaine Group, Alfred Music Publishing and Ken Scott for setting this up and for taking the time to make this a great interview. – JW
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Ken Scott
Scott started at the age of 16 working in the tape library at Abbey Road Studios. He became a recording engineer working with such acts as The Beatles, Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Procol Harum.[1]
Scott moved to Trident Studios where he worked with such artists as Elton John, Harry Nilsson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, America and with George Harrison on the 6x platinum selling album All Things Must Pass.[2]
Scott went on to co-produce David Bowie‘s albums Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), Aladdin Sane (1973) and Pin Ups (1973) before producing Supertramp, The Tubes, Dixie Dregs, Devo, Missing Persons, Kansas, Happy The Man and Level 42.[3][4]
More recently Scott has recorded a number of legendary drummers for a VST instrument called EpiK Drums – A Ken Scott Collection.[5]
Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust
Ken Scott is releasing his first book co-written with Bobby Owsinski, Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust for the 50th Anniversary of the Abbey Roads recordings with The Beatles and the 40th Anniversary of Ziggy Stardust.
Ken Scott holds a unique place in music history as one of only five engineers to have recorded The Beatles, but his experiences as a producer may be just as profound. Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust shares the intimate memories of Ken Scott s days working with some of the most important artists of the 20th century while crafting a sound that has influenced several generations of music makers.
The Beatles Sitting on Abbey Road Steps While Filming Famous Walk Across the Abbey Road
Ken’s work has left an indelible mark on hundreds of millions of fans with his skilled contributions to Magical Mystery Tour and The White Album, and as a producer and/or engineer of six David Bowie albums (including the groundbreaking Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars), as well as other timeless classics from a who’s-who of classic rock and jazz acts, including Elton John, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Duran Duran, The Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, America, Devo, Kansas, The Tubes, Missing Persons, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, Dixie Dregs, and Stanley Clarke.
Funny, poignant, and oh, so honest, Ken pulls no punches as he tells it as he saw it, as corroborated by a host of famous and not-so famous guests who were there as well. Plus, you’ll be privy to several exclusive stories, facts, and technical details only available in Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust.
National press campaign planned around 40th anniversary of Ziggy Stardust release on June 6, 2012 Includes never-before-told stories of The Beatles, David Bowie and Elton John Many never-before-seen photographs.
Epik Drums / EDU
DRUM KITS AND GROOVES
EpiK DrumS – A Ken Scott Collection
“EpiK DrumS – A Ken Scott Collection” is a Sonic Reality virtual instrument/plug-in for drum kits and grooves with the authentic sound and feel of timeless classic albums. Expanding the Drum Masters series with high resolution vintage drum sounds, EpiK DrumS features drum kits and grooves of 5 of the world’s best drummers all recorded and mixed by legendary producer/engineer Ken Scott.
In this first massive volume from the Ken Scott Collection, Ken has recreated the drum sounds in the style of multi-track studio sessions he recorded with David Bowie, Supertramp, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dixie Dregs, Missing Persons, Elton John and The Beatles.
These authentic classic sounds were achieved by using the same rare recording equipment, drum kits, percussion and expert technical assistance from Ross Garfield “The Drum Doctor”, advanced programming by Sonic Reality and collaboration with the original legendary drummers Bill Cobham, Terry Bozzio, Woody Woodmansey, Bob Siebenberg and Rod Morgenstein.
All together it is one the most EPIK productions ever done for a software drum and groove instrument.
Listen to these EpiK DrumS Audio Demos : Bozzio Dimi, Cobham Existence is Monopoly, Cobham Meters Hence, Cobham_Fowl A Flame, Morgenstein Adventure, Morgenstein Frozen Pastries, Morgenstein Manic Habits, Siebenberg Did i mention it, Woodmansey Little Curious Friend
EpiK DrumS EDU– Ken Scott Mentoring Sessions
EpiK DrumS EDU is the best tool for anyone interested in learning how to record and mix real drum kits.
With today’s technology, sampled drums are used more and more, but every engineer and producer needs to know how to record and mix a real drum kit.
This package contains everything you need to learn from the masters.
You get grooves played by five of the most iconic drummers of all time:
- Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons),
- Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra),
- Rod Morgenstein (Winger, Dixie Dregs),
- Bob Siebenberg (Super Tramp), and
- Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie).
Every groove is included as a full multitrack session for both ProTools and Logic in addition to .wav files for each track.
A video is included with words of wisdom from legendary producer and engineer Ken Scott, who has worked with The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, and many other top artists.
Ken explains how he recorded and mixed these grooves, and there is also behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the drummers that provide intimate insight into the sessions.
And last but not least, for those who wish to delve further, additional sessions will be available online for easy download.
“Scott’s excellent DVD should be of great interest to anybody involved in recording drums, at any level.
5 Stars!”
–Drummer Magazine
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Ken Scott’s Discography
Engineered:
America
America
The Beatles
Magical Mystery Tour
White Album
Abbey Road
Jeff Beck
Truth
David Bowie
Man Of Words, Man of Music (Space Oddity)
The Man Who Sold The World
Duran Duran
Thank You
Pop Trash
George Harrison
All Things Must Pass
Elton John
Madman Across The Water
Honky Chateau
Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player [Grammy Nominated]
Lou Reed
Transformer
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Birds Of Fire
Harry Nilsson
Son Of Schmilsson [Grammy Nominated]
Rick Wakeman
The Six Wives of Henry th VIII
Pink Floyd
Apples and Oranges
Corporal Clegg
John Lennon
Give Peache a Chance
Cold Turkey
Ringo Starr
It Don’t Come Easy
The Rolling Stones
Sticky Fingers
All Kooper
New York City (You’re a Women)
Joan Armatrading
Whatever’s For Us
The New Seekers
I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing ( Coke Ad )
Lindisfarne
Procol Harum
A Salty Dog
Produced and Engineered:
Jeff Beck
There And Back
David Bowie
Hunky Dory
Ziggy Stardust
Aladdin Sane
Pinups
Billy Cobham
Spectrum
Crosswinds
Total Eclipse
Shabazz
dada
Puzzle
Dixie Dregs
What If
Night Of The Living Dregs
Stanley Clarke
Clarke
Journey To Love [Grammy Nominated]
Schooldays
Kansas
Vinyl Confessions
Level 42
True Colours
Devo
Duty Now For The Future
Patrick Swayze & Larry Gatlin
Brothers
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Emerald Visions Of The Pure Beyond [Grammy Nominated]
The Lost Trident Sessions
Supertramp
Crime Of The Century [Grammy Nominated]
Crisis, What Crisis?
The Tubes
Young And Rich
Jeff Beck
There and Back
Hellion
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Watch this Video on A Better Way To Fight Harmful Free Radicals
Fantastic interview with a true genius. God Bless Ken Scott.
Thanks Vic. One of my favorite interviews.