Classic session photos: What are your favorite books/links?

[crow]

Staring at the back of a Duke Ellington LP (which featured a shot of Duke & Co. in the studio) the other night made me realize how much I love seeing old photos of great musicians in the studio, partially for education and partly for sheer inspiration. Even though I should be tidying up my control room for the session that's about to begin, I just caught myself surfing for photos of Chess Records session photos and Dylan in Columbia's 30th Street Studio. Then I thought about inquiring to my fellow tape-oppers for your favorite collections of similar photos. Are there any great websites or books I don't know of that have a lot of this stuff? I have (and love) Recording the Beatles, haven't yet seen Behind the Glass. I'd better get busy now, but if I find any treasure troves on the net, I'll post links here. Bring it on!

PS I had a hard time deciding which forum to post this in, so if you want to move the thread somewhere more appropriate, Tony, go ahead.

[Gregg Juke]

If you're into the jazz thing (sounds like you are), Ashley Kahn has written some great books documenting the recording sessions of some specific albums ("Kind of Blues," "A Love Supreme"). Great info in there, and some great pictures too.

When I was in college, I took a "Jazz Masters" course, and the profesor actually brought in copies of session contracts, union paperwork, etc, which showed what the musicians were making on some of those sessions (going back to 1920's 78's on Victor and such). Not photos, I know, but very cool...

GJ

[crow]

Thanks, Gregg! I'll check out those books; they sound like they're right up my alley.

[Jon Nolan]

crow, i can send you pictures of me. they are "classic".

[A.David.MacKinnon]

Check out the book Temples Of Sound. It gives you the rundown on all the classic studios - Columbia's 30th St, Muscle Schoals, Stax, etc, etc. with tons of pictures.

[crow]

Awesome! I'll have to pick it up.

crow, i can send you pictures of me. they are "classic".

I've already got the famous one of you on the bearskin rug, Jon. And the one of you streaking the Berlin Wall ceremony. Any others I could add to my "Nolanarium"?

[MoreSpaceEcho]

you can't have enough pictures of nolan.

i could look at pix of 30th street for months on end.

[fossiltooth]

Check out the book Temples Of Sound. It gives you the rundown on all the classic studios - Columbia's 30th St, Muscle Schoals, Stax, etc, etc. with tons of pictures.

I really like that one too.

I also recommend going to the library and flipping through musical biographies. Without fail, there'll be some gems right in the center, or interspersed throughout. I saw some cool shots in Iggy Pop's autobio and a Motown bio just last week.

[Jon Nolan]

Awesome! I'll have to pick it up.

crow, i can send you pictures of me. they are "classic".

I've already got the famous one of you on the bearskin rug, Jon. And the one of you streaking the Berlin Wall ceremony. Any others I could add to my "Nolanarium"?

well, there was that pic of me murdering a grand champeen song at the hideout when i tried to take a "solo." i think channing cried out "oh no!" or something. classic.

sorry for the derail. as you were people. session photos an' shit.

[Professor T]

The site is a little clunky, but the library of congress has tons. I especially like the William Gottlieb collection:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wghtml/wghome.html

Here by subject. Be sure to select "gallery view" after you choose a subject:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wghtml/gott ... ica01.html

[vvv]

Some great stuff there!

[Jon Nolan]

some stax stuff here.

elvis & jordanaires '56 - RCA studio B

Stones at RCA. funny pic of mic nose-digging at the bottom. ick.

some awesome RCA studio B pics on a myspace page. dig the everly's in particular.

[Jon Nolan]

[rockstudio]

Jon Nolan:
Who is that? The 'mats?

[Jon Nolan]

Jon Nolan:
Who is that? The 'mats?

yessir! ardent - memphis. awesome.