“Leave the mistakes in – you never know what might happen.’’

Veteran recording engineer EDDIE KRAMER remembers legendary sessions with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Interview by Dave Lewis

The grey drizzly streets of London on a winter’s Monday evening seemed a long way from a summer’s day recording session in Berkshire back in 1972. However the events of that famous session and many more were enthusiastically recounted by renowned studio engineer Eddie Kramer, as part of his Kramer Archives & Waves Signature Series tour, which has taken in Berlin, Copenhagen, London and New York.

Working with a series of his original photos and appropriate music fills, he captivated the audience with first-hand tales from the studio. When he reached the Jimi Hendrix segment and the intro of Are You Experienced? came shunting out of the speakers, it was shivers down the spine. When he blasted out the ‘Way down inside’ part of Whole Lotta Love, Kramer revealed the story of a happy mistake with Jimmy Page back in ’69. Then, against a backdrop of memorable images taken on that sunny day at Stargroves in Berkshire, in May 1972, when he recorded Led Zeppelin out in the open air, we heard how Eddie’s cry of, “We can’t get this airplane on,” at the beginning of Black Country Woman was met with a curt, “Nah leave it, yeah…’’ from Robert Plant.

I caught up with Eddie before the presentation to talk about his near five decades behind …

by Dave Lewis
<< Back to Issue 373

You must be a subscriber to view the full article, subscribe now for full access to all online content.

Already a Magazine Subscriber? Register now for online access.

Login Here

Free Newsletter


Subscribe to
our email newsletter by emailing:

anna.bowen@
metropolis.co.uk