Not only are the Rolling Stones one of the most influential rock bands of all time, they are also responsible for creating the groundbreaking mobile recording studio: the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio (wiki link). Ian Stewart, the band’s road manager and pianist oversaw the creation of the first unit in 1968. It has changed hands many times in its life, and now resides in the National Music Centre in Calgary, Alberta (link).
The mobile unit freed bands from the confines of a studio and has likely resulted in more creative music, given that bands could be where they wanted to be to record. The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio is responsible for recording some of the best albums from the best rock bands. I think a lot of us are familiar with the studio from Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water”, and this studio has been used by The Rolling Stones (of course!), Led Zeppelin, The Who, Bob Marley, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, Fleetwood Mac, and Ten Years After, among others.
Here’s a playlist of songs from albums recorded by the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. I’m sure you’ll be surprised that some of these albums were recorded this way. However, given what’s available online, many of these songs are remasters. Dig back into your albums for the originals!