Overview

How did a major recording studio, which attracted some of the biggest names in music, end up being based in a humble town seven miles outside Manchester? During the 1970s Stockport’s Strawberry Studios became a by-word for musical excellence in an era when ephemeral pop morphed into serious rock and it was all the dream of one man. Typical of his generation, Peter Tattersall had joined bands during the 60s beat boom and worked in many humdrum jobs to fund his love of music but he found none of them fulfilling until he was co-opted as a sound engineer. Peter soon spotted a gap in the market: to find fame and fortune northern musicians had to decamp to London where all the major recording studios, manned by stern, clock-watching fellows in lab coats, were based. What if someone built a great recording studio in the north? What if that studio was open and welcoming and the musos could take their time? Alongside former Mindbenders guitarist Eric Stewart and hit songwriter Graham Gouldman, Peter started to build his dream. To test the studio’s equipment Eric co-opted friends Kevin Godley and Lol Creme and one thing led to another and 10cc were born. The band would transform Manchester music with chart-topping success on their own terms and reinvest the profits in their own studio. As its fame grew, sceptical music journalists who ventured north to write about whippets and cloth caps were stunned to discover cutting edge recording facilities, a warm welcome and a relaxed atmosphere. In time the likes of Paul McCartney, Neil Sedaka, Joy Division and The Smiths would all record there alongside chart-topping novelty acts but the ethos of the studios never changed. Peter’s crucial role in the development of Manchester music cannot be overstated and has long been acknowledged by the likes of Tony Wilson and the more famous artists he recorded but his vision has now come full circle with modern day artists recording whole albums in their bedrooms at their own pace, to their own rules. Strawberry was the first step along that road.

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9781915616326

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Peter Tattersall was the founder, owner and manager of Strawberry Studios from 1968 until it was sold in 1984. Peter Wadsworth is the Executive Office Manager in the Directorate of the University Librarian. He has worked in The University of Manchester Library for over 30 years and has also studied part-time for three separate degrees at the University. The last of these saw him awarded a PhD in 2007 for his study of the history of Stockport’s Strawberry Recording Studios and he has subsequently co-curated an exhibition at Stockport Museum. Harry Harris has written more books and top industry awards than Sir Alex Ferguson has won trophies! He has written numerous Manchester United books, including a diary of the club’s last title, George Best’s last book, a commemorative special when Sir Alex turned 80, the first book on Wayne Rooney, and Jose Mourinho’s time as manager at Old Trafford. Eric Stewart was Peter Tattersall’s partner in Strawberry Studios from 1968. Originally a member of Manchester Beat group The Mindbenders, Eric shared Peter’s dream of a world class studio in the north of England where most of the important musicians of the time came from. Eric went on to form 10cc. Graham was one of Peter Tattersall’s early partners in Strawberry Studios from 1968.Graham had written many hit records for the likes of The Hollies and others during the 1960s and the north of recognised the need for a world class studio in the North of England. Graham went on to greater fame with 10cc. Kevin was one of the first session musicians brought in by Eric and Peter to test the equipment at the nascent Strawberry Studios. Kevin would star on many hits as a sessioneer before forming 10cc with Lol, Eric and Graham.

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