Are We Still Rolling?

Studios, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll - One Man's Journey Recording Classic Albums

By: Phill Brown

Narrated by: Terry Brown

From the author's first glimpse of a magical recording studio in the mid-1960s up through a busy career that continues to the present day, this rollicking story can only be told by those that were there. As the young tape operator on sessions for the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Joe Cocker at the famed Olympic Sound Studios in London, Phill learned the ropes from experienced engineers and producers such as Glyn Johns and Eddie Kramer. Phill soon worked his way up engineering sessions for Mott the Hoople, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley and many other legendary rockers.

He eventually became a freelance engineer/producer and worked with Roxy Music, Go West, Talk Talk, and Robert Plant. But more than a recollection of participating in some of the most treasured music of the past 40 years, this is a man's journey through life as Phill struggles to balance his home and family with a job where drug abuse, chaos, rampant egos, greed, lies and the increasingly invasive record business take their toll. It's also a cautionary tale, where long workdays and what once seemed like harmless indulgences become health risks, yet eventually offer a time to reflect back on.

©2010 Phill Brown (P)2014 VisTunes

Love Music?

This is a great book for music buffs and recording engineers. Grab it and get an insight behind the scenes.

Awesome

Very good glimpse into the crazy world of recording and Rock & Roll!! It's a shame that today's music biz has degenerated so much

Cool story

Lots of good music and info in book. Turned me on to some new stuff and ideas on recording

This is the most vivid description of recording to exist

This book makes me want to be born in another decade. Have been born in the 80s and only experienced recording in the box and coming up now as an artist at age 38 finally releasing music. It feels like so much has been lost in artistry due to an intense focus on perfect perfection versus serendipity. I was in introduced to Phil Brown by Mikey Rowe and have loved everything he has worked on sonically. This book mirrors that sentiment. A must read if you love music and want to understand the golden age of recording.

It's ok but...

I read all of these 60's 70's and 80's era biographies of the band members and sound engineers. This one about Phil Brown is ok. Not the best. A good listen if you are interested in that era.

I found myself lost at times of who he was speaking about. There were some good bits but again nothing all that exciting.

His brother does the narration which is good as he reacts to what he's reading. So makes it fun to listen to.

I would recommend this, some people may like it but I'm comparing it to all the many others I have read and it's simply average.

He seems like a great guy but nothing too exciting to read about.