Chris Kimsey has worked in the recording industry for over 45 years. He's a renowned and highly-respected studio engineer who has worked with over a hundred artists over that time. Chris started his career at the famous Olympic Studios in London under the impressive tutorage of Keith Grant, Jimmy Miller and Glyn Johns.
Chris Kimsey using the RNHP headphone amp, The Supplier psu, YellO Power mains cable and Kimber Axios headphone cable. Eastcote Studios, London.
Early influence
Within his first few years he had already worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Ten Years After, Led Zeppelin, Spooky Tooth, Mott The Hoople and B. B. King. He wasn't allowed to get star-struck though - Keith Grant was a strong and fair disciplinarian who did not want his engineers to ask for autographs or take any pictures. In this way, the engineer would be treated as an equal of the artist.As a consequence, engineers from this era tend to be remarkably unassuming, hard-working and full of humour; Chris is no exception. They learnt their trade by working on a diverse combination of studio jingles in the morning, movie musical and orchestra scores in the afternoon followed by the sounds of heavier blues and rock & roll music in the evenings and early morning hours.
The broad role of the engineer
The role of an engineer is very much a facilitator, aiding the artist to fulfil their full potential. The most obvious way this happens is through their expertise and skillful mastery of studio equipment. Just as improtant, though, is the knowledge they have gained over the years which allows them to suggest arrangements or introduce other artists who could embellish the sound.
With his unique tenure at the top of the studio game, Chris has an impressive CV consiting of all these areas. With that experience comes a confidence too, and there is nothing Chris enjoys more than recording a band in a studio setting as if in a live environment.
Working with the best...
Musicians do not have difficulty in repeat booking Chris's talents. His discography has an uncanny way of name dropping some of music's best over the last four decades. Chris is most famous for his work with The Rolling Stones over the last four decades (and let's face it; they could choose whoever they wanted...) but there's also a long list of other names. These include;
Alvin Lee of Ten Years After, Peter Frampton, Bill Wyman, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Killing Joke, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Fish and Marillion, The Psychedelic Furs, Yes, The Cult, Johnny Hallyday, Duran Duran, Soul Asylum, Bad Company, Tom Jones, Ash, Deacon Blue, INXS, The Chieftains, New Model Army, Colin James and The Proclaimers.
Oh, and Chris has also mixed live music for The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Cliff Richard & The Shadows. Other projects include 5.1 sound for Elton John, Dire Straits, Genesis and Phil Collins.
Million sellers
If you were to add up the millions of records Chris has helped to sell, these would include Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive, the great Paris trilogy by The Rolling Stones of Some Girls, Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You and ELP's Brain Salad Surgery. Just those albums alone would account for over 25 million copies!
As well as his production and engineering credits Chris is also a music writer, singer and musician. He has co-written with Bill Wyman and can be heard on keyboards and backing percussion with The Rolling Stones.
He is still recording and producing records, having just achieved a number one in Australia with "Short Stack'
Full Circle
In 2013, Chris Kimsey came full circle, returning to Olympic Studios in Barnes London, where he started his career as a tape operator. He is designing the newly updated studio, the Dolby Atmos sound for the cinema and serves as the sound consultant and engineer for its live concert series and recording facilities.
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Million sellers
If you were to add up the millions of records Chris has helped to sell, these would include Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive, the great Paris trilogy by The Rolling Stones of Some Girls, Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You and ELP's Brain Salad Surgery. Just those albums alone would account for over 25 million copies!
As well as his production and engineering credits Chris is also a music writer, singer and musician. He has co-written with Bill Wyman and can be heard on keyboards and backing percussion with The Rolling Stones.
He is still recording and producing records, having just achieved a number one in Australia with "Short Stack'
Full Circle
In 2013, Chris Kimsey came full circle, returning to Olympic Studios in Barnes London, where he started his career as a tape operator. He is designing the newly updated studio, the Dolby Atmos sound for the cinema and serves as the sound consultant and engineer for its live concert series and recording facilities.
Back to Hub >>
