The Rolling Stones album Exile on Main Street was famously recorded (mostly) in a villa in the South of France that guitarist Keith Richards rented. The Stones were exiled from England over taxes and Keith had problems going abroad due to drug charges. So they went to France. Long story short the Stones recorded their famous album in a mansion’s basement. It was very difficult (the instruments would go out of tune due to he humidity) and you can hear it on the album.

Also, it was one long non-stop party of epic and infamous proportions. Keith bought a huge supply of morphine from Marseille (then the heroin Capitol of the world). Gangsters, playboys, celebrities. It was legendary. Photos are online.

Edit: after months of recording the Stones received a tip that the cops were coming to bust them so they fled just in time.