Farewell To The Workhouse
By the time this article is published, The Workhouse, the recording studio inextricably linked with Manfred Mann's Earth Band may be no more, bulldozed to make way for a supermarket. It therefore seems a suitable time to look back on the history of the studio.
Beginnings
In the mid 1960's Vic Keary (who currently runs Chiswick Studios) set up his own studio in London's West End called Maximum Sound. Due to lease problems he was forced to move to new premises in
South London on the Old Kent Road, again under the title of Maximum Sound. Over time it was expanded from 2 track to 3 track and finally to 4 track at which point the studio was bought by Manfred Mann and
Mike Hugg. Even prior to this however Manfred was familiar with the studios having recorded and produced albums at the studios.
Between the late 60's and 1973 Manfred recorded a number of albums at the then still Maximum Sound Studios:
The Name Change
In 1973 Mike Hugg sold his share of the studio to Manfred and it appears that at about this time the name was changed to The Workhouse. 
Pete Hammond (of PWL) bought a 50% share in The Workhouse in 1982 due to his increasing workload and the need for his own studio. In late 1987 he sold his share
in the Workhouse to Pete Waterman (Stock Aitken Waterman). The part sold to Stock Aitken Waterman was the area which includes the now
In addition to MMEB albums a wide range of other musicians made use of the studios excellent facilities.
UK No 1singles produced/ recorded at The Workhouse:
- Musical Youth 1982
- Wherever I Lay My Hat – Paul Young
- China In Your Hand – T'Pau
- Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick – Ian Dury & The Blockheads
Mellotron
Maxium Sound Studios had a Mellotron in 1970, Manfred had previously used one on Ha Ha Said The Clown and Semi Detached Suburban Mr James.
Manfred & The Workhouse
- MMEB – Solar Fire The Workhouse
- MMEB – The Good Earth The Workhouse
- MMEB – Nightingales & Bombers The Workhouse
- MMEB – Roaring Silence The Workhouse
- MMEB – Watch The Workhouse
- MMEB – Angel Station The Workhouse
- MMEB – Chance The Workhouse
- MMEB – Criminal Tango The Workhouse
- MMEB – Masque The Workhouse
- MMEB – Soft Vengenace The Workhouse
Workhouse advertising material and interior shots before and after.
Other Bands
- Ian Drury & The Blockheads – New Boots & Panties
- The Shakin' Pyramids – Celts and Cobras 1982 (part recorded at The Workhouse)
- The Shakin' Pyramids – The Shakin' Pyramids 1984 (part recorded at The Workhouse)
- Adam Wakeman – Neurasthenia 2002 (mixed at The Workhouse by Ian Tompson)
- Advertising 1979 (recorded a couple of tracks at The Workhouse – Mike Hugg producer)
- Paul Roberts (Sniff'n The Tears) – City Without Walls 1985 (part mixed at The Workhouse, features Noel McCalla on backing vocals)
- War Child Charity Album Help 1995 – Track 10 Stereo MC's – Sweetest Truth (Show No Fear) recorded at The Workhouse
- Squeeze – Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti 1985 (part recorded at The Workhouse)
- Motor Boys Motor - Motor Boys Motor 1982
- The Long Ryders – State Of Our Union 1985 (part recorded at The Workhouse)
- Kaleidoscope 21 Dec 1968 – recording session for Radio 1 jingles (Maxium Sound Studios)
- Lo & Behold – Coulson Dean McGuiness Flint – Maximum Sound 1972 (Produced Manfred Mann)
- Mike Hugg – Somewhere 1972 Maximum Sound
The End
Meera Fe is probably on of the last artists to record at The Workhouse, for those lucky enough to have see the Earth Band's UK tour, they will have seen Meera playing support.
Manfred's New Studio
Manfred's new studio - The Waterworks is on the banks of the Thames in Greenwich, hence its name. From the outside it appears to be part of a
new office block, on the inside it is a small but perfectly formed recording studio. And it has the advantage that the neighbours can't complain about the noise - after all directly above are the recording studio architects who designed it! 
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