Today (Friday December 2) marks the long awaited release of a new studio album from rock royalty, The Rolling Stones .

Blue & Lonesome is the 23rd British studio album released by the band, and their first in more than a decade since 'A Bigger Band' in 2005.

The album, which is the first of the Stones' to feature only cover songs, was recorded at British Grove Studios in Chiswick .

The studio, owned by another rock and roll superstar, Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straights, is tucked away down a side street off Chiswick High Road.

Inside British Grove Studios

It hosts a range of classic and modern equipment, including a vintage recording desk and recording console, the REDD, which would have been used by The Beatles.

The studio, which has been running for 11 years, has also played host to the likes of Adele, The Who, Kasabian and Eric Clapton.

It is not just music's best who flock to the studio, as it is regularly used to record Hollywood blockbuster scores, which recently included Tom Cruise's latest outing as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.

The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood, who comes from West Drayton

Getwestlondon spoke with the studio manager, David Stewart, and in-house engineer, Jason Elliott, about what it was like being in the company of the rock legends as they recorded the new album.

"They all seemed to have a great time," Mr Stewart said. "We have a fantastic collection of equipment.

"Like all clients, someone called to book in and some people from their team came to look around.

"They had been here before for a day or two and they must have liked it."

The new album is a cover of blues songs (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Rolling Stones started recording the album in the studio in December last year.

The album features tracks from the likes of Willie Dixon with 'Just Like I Treat You', Buddy Johnson with 'Just Your Fool' and Eddie Taylor with 'Ride 'em On Down'.

Mr Stewart started working at the studio 11 years ago, and the first band he booked was Razorlight, who recorded their self-titled release at British Grove.

Mr Elliott, who worked as the recordist in the Blue & Lonesome process, said watching The Rolling Stones was a "spectacle".

He said: "It was quite a spectacle to watch, it was the first time some of them - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts - had been together in the studio in some time".

Two singles from the album, 'Just Your Fool' and 'Hate To See You Go' have already topped the Billboard Blues Digital Songs chart.

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