Glyn Johns – From the Rolling Stones to the Eagles, and the Beatles Along the Way
Glyn Johns came up through the British studio system in the early 1960s, learning his craft as an engineer before becoming one of the most influential producers of the classic rock era. Unlike many producers of the time, Johns was first and foremost a sound man, obsessed with natural balance, room ambience, and performances that felt lived-in rather than constructed. His early work at Olympic Studios placed him at the heart of London’s recording scene.
His discography reads like a map of late-60s and early-70s rock. He worked extensively with The Rolling Stones, engineering and producing sessions around Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed, and was briefly involved with The Beatles during the Let It Be project, assembling early mixes that favoured raw takes and minimal polish. Beyond that, Johns produced landmark albums for Led Zeppelin, The Who, Eric Clapton, and The Eagles, helping bridge British recording traditions with the emerging American rock sound.
Glyn Johns’ involvement with The Beatles came during the troubled Let It Be project in 1969, when he was brought in to assemble an album from the band’s rehearsals and live recordings. Johns prepared several versions of Let It Be, favouring a stripped-back, documentary-style approach that reflected the original “back to basics” brief, with minimal overdubs and studio polish. Although his mixes were ultimately shelved in favour of Phil Spector’s later production, Johns’ versions offer a revealing alternative view of the project and underline his long-held philosophy of capturing performances as they happened, rather than reshaping them in post-production.
Studios played a crucial role in his work, from Olympic and IBC Studios in London to sessions in Los Angeles as his career expanded internationally. Johns is still alive today and has remained active as an author and commentator on recording history, most notably through his memoir Sound Man. His influence persists not just through the albums he made, but through recording techniques and philosophies that still shape how rock music is captured on tape.
Glyn Johns – Selected Discography
Let It Bleed – The Rolling Stones (1969)
Recorded at Olympic Studios.
Johns’ engineering and production approach favoured space, feel, and natural drum sounds.
Beggars Banquet – The Rolling Stones (1968)
Recorded at Olympic Studios.
A pivotal late-60s album where Johns helped strip the Stones back to a rawer core sound.
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (1969)
Recorded at Olympic Studios.
Johns engineered and co-produced sessions that defined one of rock’s most powerful debut sounds.
Who’s Next – The Who (1971)
Recorded at Olympic Studios and Stargroves.
Combines Johns’ clean, punchy recording style with early synthesiser experimentation.
Eagles – Eagles (1972)
Recorded in London and Los Angeles, including Olympic Studios.
Johns’ production bridged British recording discipline with emerging West Coast harmony rock.