Episode 178: Charles Rees – Black Barn Studio Manager & Engineer + Composer, Producer

And so the countdown begins… with the final 3 podcasts in our Desperately Seeking Paul series…

On this episode, I take a trip into the control room at Black Barn Studios for an unforgettable conversation with Studio Manager & Engineer, Composer and Producer, Charles Rees.

From assistant engineer on Heavy Soul in 1997 to becoming studio manager at Black Barn, AKA Paul Weller HQ in 1999 – Charles has played a key role on the sound of so many incredible Paul Weller singles, EPs and albums…

He even pops up on a heap of songs playing bass, drums, various synthesizers, harmonium, piano, autoharp, electronics, electric organ, guitar and percussion (Check out that Egg Whisk on the song Long Time!)

I’m so delighted that Charles agreed to join me on the podcast – this is not really something that he does – but what you’re going to hear is his story.

We’ll take a journey from his discovery of music to now with a deep dive into the day to day running of the output of the studio, and the creation of this wonderful music.

Charles provides a masterclass in studio production, detailing Paul’s layered recording process. But most of all, he conveys a deep mutual respect and passion for the music shining through on every track.

He also reflects on the familial atmosphere at Black Barn Studio, built on years of trust between Paul and his team. Any Paul Weller fan or aspiring musician will find inspiration in this insider’s perspective.

It’s a real honour to be able to share this with you… ENJOY!

Click your preferred podcast platform to listen…

Writing Credits

Charles has writing credits on All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) and Have You Made Up Your Mind from 22 Dreams, Mayfly from True Meanings and Mirror Ball from On Sunset.

Performance Credits

2000 – B-Side to He’s The Keeper
Helioscentric – Bass

2008 – 22 Dreams
All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) – Drums
Night Lights – Synthesizer, Harmonium, Piano

2010 – Wake Up The Nation
Andromeda – Drums
Find The Torch, Burn The Plans – Drums
Whatever Next – Drums, Autoharp
Pieces Of A Dream – Drums and Guitar

2015 – Saturns Pattern
Long Time – Bass, Percussion [Egg Whisk]

2017 – Music from the film Jawbone
Jimmy/Blackout – Electronics
Jawbone – Drums (with Steve Cradock)

2017 – A Kind Revolution
She Moves With The Fayre – Drums (with Ben Gordelier)

2018 – True Meanings
Mayfly – Programmed by Charles Rees
Old Castles – Electric Organ
Wishing Well – Synth

2020 – In Another Room EP
Rejoice – Synthesizer

2020 – On Sunset
Mirror Ball – Organ
More – Electric Organ

2021 – Fat Pop (Volume 1)
Cosmic Fringes – Drum Programming, Synth
Fat Pop – Synth [Oscar]
Glad Times – Synth [Bass Synth], Synth [Moog]
Failed – Synth [Bass Sequence Synth] 

Producer & Engineer Credits

As a producer, you’ll find Charles on credits for the singles Have You Made Up Your Mind and Sea Spray (with Paul, Simon Dine, Steve Cradock) and Flame-Out! / The Olde Original (with Paul).

As an engineer, you’ll find credits from Heavy Soul to Fat Pop and beyond…

Check out this playlist with a selection of songs listed above…

Charles also produced Bruce Foxton‘s Back in the Room LP, The Moons single Let It Go, The Spitfires first couple of singles, The Rifles – Freedom Run and None The Wiser albums, White Room‘s Fuzzy Liquid EP, Skeletal Family, Old Town Souls and co-producer credit for Steve Pilgrim‘s superb Beautiful Blue album…

Engineering highlights include music with Robert Wyatt, Phil Manzanera, Carleen Anderson, Stone Foundation, Dogs, Steve Cradock, Dot Allison, The Moons, Amy MacDonald, Kate Rusby, The Strypes, Rhoda Dakar, P.P. Arnold, Steve Brookes, Declan O’Rourke, Sundowners and the epic Bankbusted Nuclear Detergent Blues with Michael Horovitz accompanied by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon And Paul Weller…