John Fry, owner and founder of Ardent Studios and engineer on the original Big Star sessions, returned to the mixing console after 20-some years to mix six tracks for the forthcoming Big Star box set Keep an Eye on the Sky, according to an item from Broadcast Newsroom. "Of course I enjoyed working with Big Star back in the day, but I had forgotten what a momumental work we had created until I put up those old 2-inch tapes and listened to the individual multitracks. It was like opening a time capsule and finding all sorts of forgotten treasures. We are all very lucky to be able to relive those days and bring Big Star's legacy to full circle completion."Ardent's own blog runs down the tracks that Fry worked on for the box set, including a rough instrumental version of "O My Soul" and a cover of "Til the End of the Day" by the Kinks.
For further reading, check out this story on Terry Manning, who worked closely with Fry in Ardent's early years.
PICTURED: John Fry at Ardent Studios in 1970.












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