Ardent Records Story CD

A compilation of Memphis' Ardent Studios has just been released by Ace Records.

Thank You Friends: the Ardent Records Story compiles over two CDs tracks from one of the most respected recording facilities in America. Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, REM, and Cat Power have all step foot inside Ardent, alongside perhaps its most famous customer, early '70s cult heroes Big Star.

On the compilation can be heard plenty of mid-60s folk janglers and garage cuts influenced by the British Invasion bands, and shows why it earned the reputation as the 'American Abbey Road'. By the early 70s Ardent was producing first class, popular  pop-rock (helped greatly by a distribution deal with Stax). Disc one of the set focuses on the 1960s and features a few unissued psychedelic singles which will be of interest to connoisseurs, alongside early studio experiments of Big Star's Alex Chilton and Chris Bell. The second disc examines the '70s Stax era and beyond, with an astonishing 14 rare/unissued Big Star-related cuts. Lengthy liner notes, featuring interviews with key studio players, help make for a comprehensive package and does the history of Ardent Studios proud.

Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story is out now and available from Amazon here.