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Open Country

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Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of Britain

Countryside magazine featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of the British Isles

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Open Country: Rockfield Studios

25/07/2019

Rockfield Studios

BBC Radio 4 - Open Country, Rockfield Studios

Laura Barton visits Rockfield Studios, used by Queen to record Bohemian Rhapsody.

Laura Barton visits Rockfield Studios to hear how this farm-based facility became the birthplace to some of the greatest songs of all time, including Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Music Journalist Laura Barton visits Rockfield Studios to hear how this farm based facility became the birthplace to some of the greatest albums of all time.

Rockfield Studios lies just outside just outside the village of Rockfield, near Monmouth in Wales.  It began its commercial recording life in 1961 and in 1965 was acknowledged to be the first residential recording studio in the world. It’s played host to many of the world’s biggest artists including Iggy pop, Coldplay, Oasis and Black Sabbath and in 1975 it was the primary studio used by Queen for recording their legendary track  ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – but it began life as a family farm and still holds on to these rural routes.

Laura spends the day with members of the studio's founding family and hears the stories of how this rural landscape and local community found their way into the ground breaking albums that were produced there.

Presented by Laura Barton
Produced by Nicola Humphries

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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