DL 52 at 52

It’s been something of a whirlwind couple of weeks – loads on at work – Sam preparing for UNI, Adam back on the football pitch (in the pre season friendly he looked well sharp with a play maker role looking promising). Two weeks ago was the good lady Janet’s birthday and a lunchtime Sunday roast family meal out was most enjoyable. As was a trip to Hitchin the day before where the sun shone for what might have been the last time this summer  – one of a handful of days it actually did. Purchased some lovely vinyl on the market there including the bizarre 1980’s prime cut single sleeve package of Presence, Hendrix In The West another album I brought with my first pay packet back in ’72 and foolishly sold years later, and the lavish 3 LP live Santana album Lotus that folds out about 12 times…ah you don’t get that on a CD!    Zep wise there’s been the Jimmy Olympics closing Ceremony debate – I thought it was great, yes slightly eccentric but he looked so into it. And then news of the GQ awards where they were reunited to collect their award. It all rolls on…somewhere..

September 12 update:

Was just about to post all this last Thursday the day before my birthday when the computer started playing up – the result being it had to have a full reload which took me offline for nearly a week. Curses!

Apologies therefore for not replying to emails etc. 

Anyway…Suffice to say beers were drunk over the weekend as I reflected on a year that began with the announcement we had all waited  so long for and ended up with Jimmy on the front page of The Sun having performed Whole Lotta Love with a reality TV show winner (albeit a class one!)

As I prone to often remark: You just couldn’t make it up.

The Friday Birthday included a lovely afternoon lunch with our good friends Terry and Marian – Terry came up with 2 fab presents namely Pete Townshend’s Who Came First re issue and Sandy Denny’ Best Of The BBC Sessions. Saturday night was a meal out with Max and Julie – in a restored pub restaurant that used to be one of my 1970’s hang outs when it was known as the Crown cellar bar. As we sat down in the bar late on after a great meal, I kept expecting the room to burst into life with the strains of Thin Lizzy’s Boys Are Back In Town  or Zep’s Rock And Roll, both staple juke box faves thirty years back in the same venue. 

The boy JL came over Sunday to hand a delightful present –an original Frank Sinatra programme packed with illustrations of his vast album catalogue –many of which are stacked next me as I type this – this has prompted me to bring out Frank’s very fine September of My Years LP to play over the next few days.

There’s one more celebration today – an annual bike ride pub crawl with my lifelong mate Max. A last indulgence before the Autumn workload kicks in. Ale houses in the darkest back streets of Bedford will be visited – former glories recalled and plans made for ahead. It’s what blokes do!

Then it will be full on catching up all the emails that have built up, TBL 22 to kick off, work frenzy and Sam to take down to Norwich and bid farewell to next Sunday.

Right I’m off to pump my bike tyres up….    

But before that…

As usual forgive the indulgence but here are 52 inspirations from the past twelve months. 

DL 52 At 52

The sights,sounds,events,reading matter and general inspirations that have lit up this past twelve months.

It has of course been some year …dominated by the events leading up to the night of December 10 2007and the afterglow that has continued to shine on brightly long after that still barely believable reunion.

These are the key moments and inspirations from September to September 

O2 Press Conference September 12 2007

When hearing was beleiving…

Robert Plant Alison Krauss Raising Sand CD

A melancholy delight as the world went slightly mad

Uncut Robert Plant interview

Superb interview with Allan Jones..We need to do one last great gig…’’

Frank Skinner live at Bedford Corn Exchange

Laughing in the face of adversity with the good lady Janet in the company of another man of the Midlands

The Song Remains The Same remastered CD and DVD

For all the controversy over cuts and edits…to these ears and eyes it still thrills

Mothership

The one stop Zeppelin hit factory. How exciting it was to see this fly off the MK Zavvi shelves as the tension mounted

The Song Remains The Same London Press showing/Madame Jo Jo’s club launch party.

Seeing the film on the big screen again was like reliving my life circa 1976/77. The party wasn’t bad either despite an early start next day at work!

Record Collector Zep rarities feature

It was a real buzz to revisit the wealth of Zep collectables and formulate this feature 

Your Time Is Gonna Come/The Roots Of Led Zeppelin CD

Excellent collection of pre Zep rarities and oddball one offs. 

DL on the BBC 6 0’clock news

Direct from Planet Zeppelin – bizarre!

Led Zeppelin 02 Arena December 10 2007

Seeing was believing…. It’s a great life this life of music…was it ever…

Led Zeppelin For Your Life 

Always one of my all time faves. Now in the forefront of their catalogue via it’s 02 live debut. Track of the year

TBL 19

It was a rush to get that one out with all the 02 activity and one of the hardest writing tasks I’ve undertaken to describe the December 10 events. 

02 Third Eye DVD

One man’s seemingly unfeasible quest to bring Plant Zeppelin back into our homes. He more than succeeded.

Legendary Reunion Wendy label CD

Another much played souvenir

Led Zeppelin  L’Olympia CD

The Zep live archive find of the year – a steller 1969 Zep performance via the French broadcast of the time.

Lulu Atco Sessions CD

Welcome package of the very fine singer’s work for Atlantic.

Little wonder she was in attendance at the 02

Amazing Journey – Story Of The Who DVD

Superb documentary – a similar Zep project would be welcome

Wallbangers FC  annual day out in London

Always a spendid day as we re group to discuss former glories and more. Friends reunited in pubs in the borough of Islington. It beats working!  

Thinkfarm Interview

Hearing Mike and Mark’s thoughts on animating the 02 show brought forth the sheer scale of it all. The souvenir box set of pics they gave me has pride of place.

The Big Match Revisited on ITV3

The wonder of freeview – watching these 1983 season re runs was hugely nostalgic.

BBC Curse of Comedy series on TV

Fascinating study of Hancock,Steptoe and son etc

Spurs 2 Chelsea 1 Carling Cup Final

We actually won something! It felt very good indeed

JL At 60

The bruv clocked up a milestone age – retirement –what retirement!

Sandy Denny Remembered The Music Weaver CD

Wonderful compilation of the much missed first lady of folk rock. The TBL archive was later on hand to assist in the visuals for Robert’s Cropredy tribute performance.

TBL20

With John Bonham proud and loud on the cover.

Robert and Alison Raising Sand Live at Wembley

Beguiling but unmissable

Debbie Bonham Band at the 100 Club

Great to be in Bonham company on the week of his 60th

John Bonham at 60 TBL London gathering

And out of our dens to celebrate Bonzo’s greatest beats

Jethro Tull This Was extended edition CD

Blues boom classic form 1968 with added goodies

Paul Weller 22 Dreams CD

Always a captivating artist –much to enjoy on this sprawling set.

Fillmore The Last Days CD

E bay purchase of the year. I’ve been looking for this for ages –had the vinyl box since 1972 – now an ipod fave 

David Crosby Voyage box set CD

Still love playing stuff from this wonderful career encompassing set  

Foo Fighters live with Jimmy and JPJ at Wembley

Couldn’t make it myself but it looked fantastic. I was in the curry house with Terry B when the texts came through….Ramble On oh yes…

Adam’s 100 Goals Award

He kept on slotting them in as well as developing into a deft playmaker.

Seeing him pick up this award made me a very proud Dad

Wimbledon 08

In particular the Murray/Gasquet match and thrilling Federer/Nadel final.

Zavvi summer sale

A throwback to the old days of real sales. I spent!

All You Need Is Love DVD set

Tony Palmer’s epic 1970’s series – it was great talking to the man for the next TBL

Bedford River Festival

One of the biggest out door events of it’s kind with 300,000 milling just across from where we live. And the weather held up and yes beers were drunk..

Cliff’s Zep ticket collection in my house

A visit from Mark H and Cliff – his ticket collection is simply awesome –hey I held a ticket to Nottingham boat club – history in my hand!

Chewing the Zep fat with Mick Wall

A series of most enjoyable long and involved conversations with Mick as he consulted me as he worked on his forthcoming Zep book

Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

On DVD and CD – iconic 1960’s film –guaranteed to make me smile

Simon Kernick Relentless book

Excellent emerging crime writer.

David Grant Elephant book

Hilarious and telling journey through the haze of one man’s memory.

Very close to home for me – my mate Max read it and thought I’d wrote it!

Mike Gale Life And Soul Of The Party book

Perfect holiday read (not that we went far!)

TBL21

Another outpouring – Martyn’s layout bringing it all to life And key input from Gary D and Eddie E. Thanks boys.

Knebworth Exhibition Launch

Good to be back 29 years on in the company of Mark H and Cliff. The memories always linger…on a blind date

Spurs 5 Roma 0

Lovely day out at the Lane for Adam’s birthday. The goals flowed….but they haven’t much since!

Sam’s Exam results

Politics and English A’s and now Sam is bound for Norwich UEA. Proud parents are we…though we will miss her terribly!

Robert Plant 60 at 60

Great to wallow in all these vital vocal performances on a milestone coming of age

Jimmy at the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony

Eccentric yes. controversial yes…but such a thrill to see our man spreading a Whole Lotta Love towards 2012

Hitchin Market August 30

For the good lady Janet’s birthday a nice stroll around this lovely quaint town. The market was good too with vinyl to buy. I did.