IF THESE WALLS COULD SING: A HISTORY OF ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS
TRAILER
Nominated for a Critics Choice Documentary Awards for Best Music Documentary
IF THESE WALLS COULD SING sees Abbey Road Studios open up its doors for the first time, as director Mary McCartney guides audiences through her home away from home, weaving together personal stories along with archival imagery and recordings into an intimate and emotional history of the most famous studio in the world. Through exclusive interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, John Williams, Celeste and Kate Bush, among others, audiences will get a front-row seat to nine decades of memories that tell the stories of some of the studio’s most iconic recordings and the people who made them happen.
QUOTE
“Abbey Road Studios has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up around the corner and have early memories of visiting my parents while they were recording. The studio felt like a family. When Abbey Road opened its archives – a huge collection of stills, session tapes and footage – this film began. Covering 99 years of recordings, I realized I could never include everything. I looked to find moments where artists felt comfortable to dare to push themselves and create something new. This process of making this film surprised and revealed so much. I was familiar with the 60s recordings, the Beatles of course, but filling in the gaps revealed immense breadth and diversity and how each period of music built upon the next, paving the way for the next generation to continue to push the envelope. From Elgar to Shirley Bassey to Ye, I found each artist embraced the space, its staff, equipment, and possibilities in their own way. As a photographer, I wanted to capture the spirit of the studios visually. Being able to invite artists back to the space created intimate, emotional interviews and revealed so much for me and the subject. As well as gathering memories, I wanted to open the studio up to people who had never had the chance to experience it. I see this film as an opportunity to make the magic of the world’s most famous studio accessible, to engage with a younger audience and surprise people. Abbey Road was a space I thought I knew, but I continue to discover new things every time I go in. For me, this process has underlined why shared creative spaces like Abbey Road Studios matter. I hope this film will carry that message.” - Mary McCartney
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