Central Sound Studios

9 Denmark Street London

1958

Central Sound Studios - first situated at number 6 Denmark Street - was opened by professional big band singer Freddie Winrose (real name Freddie Packham) in 1958. After a successful singing career fronting big bands Freddie had established himself as one of the county’s foremost singing teachers, and Denmark Street was the perfect place at the time to run his business from.
He became the person to go to for record companies who would send over their young and newly signed pop proteges; his pupils included Shirley Bassey, Helen Shapiro and Scott Walker.

Tin Pan Alley

Earning the nickname of London’s Tin Pan Alley in the 1920s, Denmark Street became the centre of London's music scene since its origins as a sheet music supplier in Victorian times. Between 1975 and 77 Malcolm McLaren took a lease on the outbuilding of No 6, the downstairs used as a studio and the upstairs as living accommodation for Steve Jones and Glen Matlock.

No.9 Denmark Street

Starting off as a small demo facility, Freddie Winrose would soon bring his son Freddie Junior to take over the engineering role. In 1967 they also took over the upstairs floors of number 9 Denmark Street and built a new studio there, next door to the famous Giaconda cafe.

Number 9 was originally owned by Reg Calvert, an artist manager, music promoter, and became vacant because Calvert was murdered by a former business associate on the 21st June 1966 over a pirate radio business deal.

The new control room was situated above the recording area at the top of the building.

David Bowie

In 1967 the equipment comprised:

Studer 1" 4 Track

Ampex half inch 2 track.

EMT Reverb plate.

12:2 Custom built desk.

In May 1965 David Bowie went into the studios with the band

The Lower Third to record demos.

1968 - Central Sound Studios

1968

1968 was to be a successful year for the studio, recording three hit singles that landed in the top ten:

Honeybus - I can’t let Maggie go.

Easybeats - Hello, how are you?

Bee Gees - The Singer Sang his Song.

For a certain generation The Honeybus song will always be associated with the Nimble Bread advert.

1968

1969

The studio was still 4 track in 1969.

1971

The studio had a brief spell as an *8 track in the early 70s, using a Sound Techniques A Range Desk.

1972

in July 1972 Central Sound went 16 track adding an Ampex M100 tape machine and a new 20 Channel Sound Techniques System 12 Desk.

1972 - 16 Track

Freddie Packham Junior had taken over the business by now from his Father, bringing in Mac Geddes as studio Manager.

1972

Right: The Control Room of Central Sound Studios.

1977

By 1977 the studio had changed its name to Central Recorders and was preparing to go 24 track. They ordered a Raindirk Quantum desk and put the Sound Techniques desk up for sale.