38 Kensington Road, Liverpool

If you're a Beatles fan or simply fascinated by the origins of legendary music, 38 Kensington Road in Liverpool is a must-visit spot. This unassuming Georgian terraced house was home to Phillips' Sound Recording Services, the studio where The Quarrymen-John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lowe, and Colin Hanton-recorded their first-ever tracks in 1958. These included Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day" and McCartney's first original song, "In Spite of All the Danger." This historic recording, captured directly onto an acetate disc, marked the only instance of The Quarrymen recording in their hometown.

The studio was the brainchild of Percy Francis Phillips, a resourceful entrepreneur who lived and worked at 38 Kensington Road from 1925. Initially operating a shop that sold and recharged batteries-a crucial service in an era when electricity was scarce-Percy transitioned to selling electrical goods and records in the 1950s as electricity became more widespread. By 1955, recognizing the growing popularity of records and record players, Percy established a recording studio behind the family shop.

Here, Phillips recorded not only The Quarrymen but also other notable Liverpool acts such as Billy Fury, Ken Dodd, and Marty Wilde. The studio became a cornerstone for aspiring musicians and a testament to the vibrant musical scene of Liverpool during the mid-20th century.

Percy Phillips' studio, though modest in scale, played a monumental role in music history. The Quarrymen's recording session here paved the way for the rise of the Beatles, a band that would go on to revolutionize music worldwide. The significance of the site was recognized on August 26, 2005, when a blue plaque was unveiled near the entrance of the house by Quarrymen members John Lowe and Colin Hanton.

Today, the house stands as a tribute to the ingenuity of its owner and the musical legacy of a band that started as The Quarrymen, forever linking this Liverpool address to the annals of rock and roll history.