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JIMMY PAGE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY/LZ NEWS/MICK BONHAM /TBL 1975 SNAPSHOT/LIFE WITH THE STARS/NEW WYMER LED ZEP BOOK OFFER/DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE

10 January 2024 1,296 views No Comment

Jimmy Page on the occasion of his 80th Birthday….

Jimmy Page  reached a milestone 80 on Tuesday January 9th.

In a career that has spanned over seven decades, he has more than made his mark when it comes to the art of rock guitar playing.

From monolithic riffing to bombastic solos. From simple acoustic beauty to vast guitar instrumental orchestration. Jazz, classical and Eastern influences, blues, 50s rock’n’roll and psychedelic – he has turned his hand to all these varying styles over the years.  Always inventive and with a brilliant ear for production values, Jimmy Page is the epitome of the phrase ‘’Tight But Loose’’ that he coined to describe Led Zeppelin’s music.

‘’Less solos?’’ he once questioned when quizzed about the lack of guitar heroics on the Walking Into Clarksdale album. ‘’I guess it depends whether you think of a song as an excuse to play a solo at some point, or as a journey you travel on with the guitar’’

During the past few years, he has unlocked the Zep archive to bring us yet more delights and remastered the catalogue with a diligence that has further enhanced his reputation as the sonic architect and master studio producer.

………………….

To celebrate this 80th Birthday – here’s a round up of the Jimmy Page at 70 TBL polls I conducted in 2014 to attain your all time favourite Jimmy Page guitar performances across his career. This took the form of a series of reader polls for which we asked you to list your ten favourite Jimmy Page guitar performances in a series of categories as follows:

Jimmy Page Top Ten Performances with The Yardbirds

Jimmy Page Top Ten Studio Performances with Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page Top Ten Live Performances with Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page Top Ten Performances Post Led Zeppelin   

The response was fantastic and here are the results.

On a scoring basis of ten points for a number one choice, nine for a number two etc  –  I collated your All Time Top Ten  Jimmy Page performances and the results are below.

Each category is followed by a sample of the many top ten listings I received.

So read, listen, debate and celebrate the recorded legacy of a musician who has now graced our planet for 80 glorious years…

 

Top Ten Jimmy Page Performances with The Yardbirds

10: Ten Little Indians (Little Games album )

9: Drinking Muddy Water (Little Games )

8: You’re a Better Man Than I /Heart Full of Soul ( Live Yardbirds with Jimmy Page)

7: Glimpses (Little Games)

6: Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor (Little Games)

5: Happenings Ten Years Time Ago (1966 single)

4: Little Games (1967 single)

3: I’m Confused (Live Yardbirds with Jimmy Page)

2 Think About It (1968 single)

And the winner is….

1: White Summer (Little Games)

Your Top Tens…

1:  Think About It – Little Games – The best Yardbirds example of Page’s winning formula of strident riff followed by incendiary solo, later to be perfected post-Birds in some little band he wound up forming

2.  White Summer (all acoustic version) – Little Games – bonus track on the deluxe release from some years back.  Beautiful.

3.  You’re A Better Man Than I/Heart Full Of Soul – Live Yardbirds – A stunning tour de force by Mr. Page.

4.  Avron Knows – Cumular Limit – in my opinion, one of the more underrated gems of the man’s career…his playing on this is outstanding from start to finish

5.  Little Games – Little Games – one could also go with the version on the BBC Sessions set…tight little song with a good groove

6.  White Summer – Live Yardbirds – the phony cheering in the middle is wince-inducing, but otherwise this is very nice, clean and concise

7.  I’m A Man (live) – Cumular Limit – Some nimble playing and you also get the violin bow…what’s not to love

8.  Smile On Me – Little Games – a nice little shuffle and some tasty soloing in the middle and end of the piece

9.  Happenings Ten Years Time Ago (live) – Cumular Limit – another nice workout by Jimmy

10.  Drinking Muddy Water – Little Games – A little – ahem – muddy, but some nice slide work by James Patrick

Larry Bergmann Jnr

Here are my suggestions regarding Jimmy’s Yardbirds work. I’ve put in a couple of tv versions of songs -Just had a great night listening to all this wonderful music. First time in a while I’ve listened to so much of it in one sitting. Still stands the test of time – no problem.

Dazed and Confused – Bouton Rouge TV Programme – Everything’s in place arrangement wise and the ‘bow-to-lead solo’ link, the glissando and power chord, always thrills!!

White Summer – Little Games LP – Still sounds great today

Think About It – BBC Session/On Air CD – powered by Jim M’s drumming, Mr. Page plays beautifully. I love this version.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor – Little Games – As with a lot of the tracks on ‘Little Games’, the arrangements do feature the ideas that were to be developed over the next 12 months. Great rhythmic work from JP.

Happenings Ten Years Time Ago – A psychedelic masterpiece

Psycho Daisies – Simple but effective

Little Games

Drinking Muddy Water – The Yardbirds still Blueswailing, Very nice guitar work on this.

Glimpses – Very ‘of its time’ but experimental and captures the essence of some aspects of the stage shows of the time.

Train Kept-Rollin’- Bouton Rouge TV. Not only a great version of this track but we also have Jimmy in all his finery. Superb!

Dennis McDonnell


 

Jimmy Page at 70 TBL Poll:

 

Top 25 Studio Performances with Led Zeppelin

(Note –I’ve extended this listing to a 25 such was the response)

25: Black Dog (Led Zeppelin IV)

24: Ramble On (Led Zeppelin II)

23: Nobody’s Fault But Mine (Presence)

22: Communication Breakdown (Led Zeppelin I)

21: When The Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin IV)

20: In The Evening  (In Through The Out Door)

19: The Lemon Song/Killing Floor (Led Zeppelin II)

18: I’m Gonna Crawl (In Through The Out Door)

17: Dazed And Confused (Led Zeppelin I)

16: Over The Hills And Far Away (Houses Of The Holy)

15: Tea For One (Presence)

14: In The Light  (Physical Graffiti)

13: Whole Lotta Love (Led Zepplin II)

12: For Your Life (Presence)

11: The Rover (Physical Graffiti)

10: The Song Remains The Same (Houses Of The Holy)

9: Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin II)

8: In My Time Of Dying (Physical Graffiti)

7: Bron –Yr- Aur (Physical Graffiti)

6: The Rain Song (Houses Of The Holy)

5: Kashmir (Physical Graffiti)

4: Ten Years Gone (Physical Graffiti)

3: Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin IV)

2: Since I’ve Been Loving You (Led Zeppelin III)

And the winner is…..

1: Achilles Last Stand (Presence)

Your Top Tens:

1.Since I’ve Been Loving You – there’s blues songs and then there is this. Nothing quite like it in my opinion. The feeling from Jimmy’s playing on the original is just exquisite throughout and when it comes together with the rest… well.

2. Achilles Last Stand – no surprise really

3. Down by The Seaside – from my favourite side of an album. So different and so gentle with Jimmy stepping it up to provide such a fitting contrast and then it all comes back down again.

4.Bron-Yr-Aur – what an acoustic player. He’s so good at it and it’s throughout so many songs but often augmenting other parts. This being the only one with only him needs to be recognised for its qualities that take you off somewhere for a short while and so that this talent doesn’t get lost in the wealth of his riffs and tricks on the electric.

5. Bron-Y-Aur – From my equally favourite album. Just feel good with his picking leading you into a smashing song. I could have chosen any of the acoustic on III as they are all so good.

6. Over the Hills and Far Away – was there ever a song that steps up so well: from melodic six string acoustic to twelve string to then hit you with such a raw bang of electric guitar. The sonic contrast he obtains at that point with the electric is just immense. Then it gets into the strangest solo that goes off on its own somewhere before realising it has to some back but is not sure how to. Don’t know how a drummer could create a rhythm to match – well obviously we do.

7.  When the Levee Breaks – renowned for the drumming but the slide guitar, the effects and playing are just as important and equally make this a masterpiece.

8. Hots on For Nowhere – never hear this mentioned, underrated. A song where the riffs and drumming work so well together.

9. Ten Years Gone – multi layered magic.

10. Trampled Underfoot – funked up genius with guitar and keyboards competing and matching all the way

Ray Barlow

…………

1.  Bron-Yr-Aur

2.  Dazed and Confused

3.  That’s the Way

4.  TSRTS

5.  In the Light

6.  When the Levee Breaks

7.  Kashmir

8.  Stairway

9.  How Many More Times

10. Whole Lotta Love

Chris Hager

………………

10.  Fool In The Rain – obviously ITTOD was not his finest moment overall, but on this track he shows once again his imagination and creativity with the wonderful synthesized guitar solo, one of the most interesting of his career

9.  The Song Remains The Same – aka The Overture, and what a great piece of music and playing it is

8.  Kashmir – not a “guitar track” in the classic sense, but it has to be on the list since it is one of the truly great songs

7.  Over The Hills And Far Away – a brilliantly constructed song and one of his finest solos on record

6.  Heartbreaker – now here is the ultimate guitar track!

5.  Since I’ve Been Loving You – pure genius from the entire band (as usual), and Jimmy’s playing is a great match for Plant’s finest moment on record

4.  Whole Lotta Love – The Riff That Ate The World

3.  The Rain Song – the LP that was considered a “disappointment” at the time contributes 3 songs to this list, but the songwriting on the album is simply Page at his peak, and his playing here, particularly on the coda, was never more elegant.  And someone I hold in very high esteem tells me this is the greatest Zeppelin track ever, so there it is.

2.  Achilles Last Stand – another brilliantly constructed epic, and Page’s greatest solo on an LP

1.  Stairway To Heaven – Page’s masterpiece

Larry Bergmann Jnr

…………………

Here are my selections for the all time top 10 studio performances with Led Zeppelin…an almost impossible task to undertake but here we go…

1. Kashmir – Didn’t ‘someone’ once call this the pride of Led Zeppelin? Can’t argue with that can you? A creative pinnacle.

2. Stairway to Heaven – As a song growing from a basic idea built around an A minor arpeggio  to the finished arrangement – the 12 strings, the pedal steel ‘weeping’ refrains etc – I think this shows the full scope and range of J.P.’s musical vision as writer, arranger and producer. Peerless.

3. The Rain Song – The interwoven mix of acoustic guitars, 12-string guitar and strings makes this a true highlight of ‘Houses of the Holy’.

4. In the Light – One of the most adventurous tracks on ‘Physical Graffiti’. Still sounds great today.

5. Since I’ve Been Loving You – Classic Blues, classic performance and classic solo.

6. Ten Years Gone – The ‘Guitar Army’ in full flight.

7. When the Levee Breaks – One of Rock’s monolithic tracks – the drums, the slide guitar, the build-up.

8. Achilles Last Stand – Stand-out track from ‘Presence’. Visceral intensity and a solo packed with emotion. A mid-career highlight. Who else would have thought of this?

9. Tangerine – Simply a beautiful song with a wonderful arrangement. Clearly, a forerunner of ‘Stairway’ and has all the same elements in the mix.

10. In My Time Of Dying – Probably my most played track – and side one of this album probably rates as the most played – by any artist over the last 38 years. This is more of a ‘captured-live-in-the moment’ track as opposed to a studio ‘creation’ but it shows the band at it’s best.

It’s live, it’s exciting, it’s dynamic it has one of the most powerful drum tracks ever committed to tape and Jimmy’s slide playing is off the cuff, wild yet structured…dare I say ‘Tight But Loose?’ (Sorry, couldn’t resist that).

Dennis Mcdonnell

…………………

1. Achilles Last Stand – layer upon layer upon layer of ascending scales and that aching solo, unbeatable

2. Stairway To Heaven – still the perfect guitar solo, those first two or three notes do it for me everytime

3. The Rover – my favourite JPP solo, perfectly understated and perfect for the song

4. I’m Gonna Crawl – it’s almost what he doesn’t play that makes this song so special

5. Since I’ve Been Loving You – had to be there really, it’s blues, but not constrained by any normal rules

6. In My Time Of Dying – another blues transformation that they made their own, the whole band are on fire on this one, with Jimmy’s slide taking things into the stratosphere

7. Tea For One – hard to have both SIBLY and TFO in this list as they are cut from a similar cloth, but Tea is the quiet gem that closes my favourite Zep album so I can’t choose between them!

8. The Rain Song – Complex but never overplayed, with the light and shade that was their trademark, my standout from Houses of the Holy

9. Ten Years Gone – Achingly beautiful, with that laid back, easy west coast solo that is lyrical in itself – more perfection

10. Black Dog – pure filth! ’nuff said!

Richard Grubb

…………………

Since I’ve Been Loving You

2. Dazed and Confused

3. Kashmir

4. Ten Years Gone

5. In the Evening

6. Achilles Last Stand

7. Heartbreaker

8. I’m Gonna Crawl

9. Bron A Yur

10. Stairway to Heaven

Alexandra  Nolletti

…………………..

Wearing and Tearing

Ramble On

Custard Pie

Nobody’ Fault But Mine

Heartbreaker

Since I’ve Been Loving You

For Your Life

Going To California

The Song Remains The Same

Andrew Ricci

…………………..

1.       Heartbreaker

2.       The Ocean

3.       I Can’t Quit You babe

4.       The Rover

5.       In my time of dying

6.       Since I’ve Been Loving You

7.       Communication Breakdown

8.       Whole Lotta Love

9.       Babe I’m Gonna Leave You

10.   Tea For One

Richard Ingram

………………..

First of all I must say I think your own selection is great – actually pretty close to my own, and it certainly includes his best solos, apart from perhaps Tea For One.

ITTOD was inspired and led by Jimmy less than the earlier albums, and while it’s still a good album, I don’t think it would be unfair to say that it was noticeably weaker on the whole. That may be why people often don’t remember I’m Gonna Crawl. But even if Jimmy’s role was different on that album, his work there is often brilliant, and the solo on I’m Gonna Crawl is one of these moments where his unique imagination really comes through. Astonishingly beautiful.

Again, while Ramble On isn’t a personal favorite and I wouldn’t rate For Your Life quite this high on a list of this type (I’d still rank it pretty high), my selections are pretty similar to yours. However, I feel the list understates his acoustic work a little. The simplicity and beauty of Bron Yr Aur seems worth including to me – the live Blueberry Hill version is great, but doesn’t better the exquisite studio version. As for Black Mountain Side, although the studio version has a quality of its own, it just seems more interesting within the context of the live combination with White Summer, where it sounded less Indian and took on a bit of a frantic aspect.

So, I came up with something like this:

1: Achilles Last Stand

2: The Song Remains The Same

3: Ten Years Gone

4: In The Light

5: I’m Gonna Crawl

6: Kashmir

7: Since I’ve Been Loving You

8: Bron Yr Aur

9: The Rover

10: Stairway To Heaven

Otto Masson

………

1) Achilles Last Stand

A masterpiece in guitar orchestration

2) Stairway to Heaven

A quite obvious choice, but a great performance

3) Ten Years Gone

Another  masterpiece in guitar orchestration (and dynamics)

4) In the light

Another highlight from Physical Graffiti

5) Since I’ve been Loving you

His best blues performance

6) Ramble on

Great work on electric and acoustic

7) Rain Song

No solo, but great chord voicings

8) When the levee breaks

Great slide work

9) The Ocean

One of the greatest riffs ever, although it is in 15/8, great stuff at the end

10) Hots on for nowhere

An overlooked gem from Presence, very powerful

Wolfgang Seidel.

………

Whole Lotta Love – The first Zep song I ever heard and life has never been the same since somewhere around the early 70’s. Peerless riff.

Gallows Pole – Maybe a less than obvious choice, but seriously, seriously original. The guitar army is out in force on this one.

In The Evening – The revelation of August 4th 1979. Has continually grown in stature ever since. The intro is as uniquely Page as it is remarkable. No question one of his finest moments.

In My Time of Dying – For me, this was the big highlight of 02, along with Kashmir, but for this exercise we are looking at the absolutely blistering Physical Graffiti original. I seem to play this more and more as the years roll by. It has everything and, like so much of Jimmy’s material, is unlike anything you’ve ever heard.

Communication Breakdown – Riffmeistership at its most economical and devastating. The blueprint for so much that followed in the rock genre.

Since I’ve Been Loving You – His bluesiest outing and some of his very best playing.

Kashmir – Perhaps more original, inventive and devastating than any other guitar performance in history.

Stairway to Heaven – The Lionel Messi of this list – the first player on the sheet.

I’m Gonna Crawl – What a way to finish their last studio album. His playing on this track is right at the summit.

Achilles Last Stand – It doesn’t get better, because it can’t.

Chris Wright


Jimmy Page at 70: The TBL Poll

 

Top Ten Jimmy Page Live Performances with Led Zeppelin

10: Thank You (Three Days After bootleg LA Forum June 3 1973)

9: Whole Lotta Love (Knebworth August 1979 from the official DVD)

8: The Ocean (Madison Sqaure Garden July 1973 from the official DVD)

7: As Long As I Have You (Winterland April 26 1969)

6: Dazed And Confused (Earls Court May 24 1975)

5:Achilles Last Stand (Cleveland April 28  1977 from The Destroyer bootleg)

4: No Quarter (Madison Square Garden July 1973 from the original Song Remains The Same soundtrack album)

3: In My Time of Dying (Earls Court May 1975 from the official DVD)

2:Since I’ve Been Loving You  (Madison Square Garden July 1973 from the original Song Remains The Same soundtrack album)

And the winner is….

1: Stairway To Heaven (Earls Court May 1975 from the official DVD)

……………

Your Top Tens:

10.  For Your Life – Celebration Day – the perfect example of why I wish he were still out on the tiles doing his thing…his heavy and bold delivery of this piece, never before played live, at the O2 show with all of the attendant pressure, just illustrates how he has always sought to push the boundaries of his playing…and his flourishes on the coda are absolutely mind-boggling

9.  Whole Lotta Love – Knebworth, Led Zeppelin DVD – another instance of always moving forward…in another high-pressure setting, Page revamps the old war horse with a thrilling mid-song riffathon…one of the great moments

8.  Since I’ve Been Loving You – The Song Remains The Same film – several of the most perfect minutes of Led Zeppelin ever.  Period.

7.  Dazed and Confused – How The West Was Won – stunning and expertly delivered…the Walter’s Walk bit is a personal fave…a close runner-up would be the epic rendering at the Seattle Center Coliseum, March 21, 1975

6.  C’Mon Everybody/Something Else – Royal Albert Hall, Led Zeppelin DVD – a bit of a cheat, yes, and it won’t be the last!  Thrilling encores, and with the muscle and crunch of the sadly lost Les Paul Black Beauty

5.  Communication Breakdown – Osaka, September 29, 1971 – rarely did a Zeppelin concert feature more incredible improvisation than this one, and Jimmy leads the band into a long, careening roller coaster ride as the song barrels out of control toward the finish.  Incredible!

4.  Killing Floor – Winterland, San Francisco, April 26, 1969 – one can only imagine the shock and devastation of the pulverized Deadhead hippies in the crowd at the end of THIS!!!!

3.  Over The Hills And Far Away – The Forum, Los Angeles, June 22, 1977 – not as celebrated as the versions from 6/21 and 6/23 (also both outstanding) only because, in my opinion, the recording isn’t as good…but this version is the real mind-bender!  Tossed in off the cuff late in the set (the lucky audience also got the wildest ever In My Time of Dying that night!), Page simply blasts off during the solo and soars into the stratosphere, demolishing the audience with spectacular, thrilling runs up and down the fretboard at brain-searing volume in what to these ears is the highlight of the entire 1977 tour.  Superb

2.  Immigrant Song/Heartbreaker – Berkeley, September 14, 1971 – another cheat, but I can’t help it, this is one and the same…Page at the peak of his powers from possibly the greatest Zeppelin bootleg LP…and it always sounds fresh!

1  Stairway To Heaven – The Song Remains The Same, original 1976 LP – I realize this is patched together from all 3 nights at MSG 1973, but the beautiful solo is all from the first show on July 27, 1973, and this may well be the most beautiful thing Page ever played

Honorable mentions:  They are numerous, but two in particular that almost made the cut were No Quarter from LA 6/21/77 (Page is unbelievably heavy on the main riff and the jam is unreal), and the wild version of Trampled Underfoot from Earl’s Court 5/24/75 (best ever Trampled by a mile and why it wasn’t on the official DVD I will never know)

Larry Bergman Jnr

………………

1. Dazed and confused incl. Woodstock (Earls Court May 24 1975)

2. Immigrant song (Long Beach Arena June 27 1972)

3. Since I’ve been loving you (Long Beach Arena June 27 1972)

4. Over the hills and far away (Madison Square Garden July 1973)

5. Trampled underfoot (Earls Court

May 1975 – DVD)

6. Stairway to heaven (Madison Square Garden July 1973)

7. Achilles last stand (Knebworth 1979 – DVD)

8. I can’t quit you baby (Royal Albert Hall Jan 9 1970 – DVD)

9. In my time of dying (Earls Court

May 1975 – DVD)

10. Whole lotta love (LA Forum June 25 1972).

Tziana Lancia

……………………..

Here’s my choice for ten great live performances from Jimmy with Zeppelin. So many others missed off but I think this is a pretty good overall selection.

1. No Quarter – From the original vinyl album ‘ The Song Remains the Same’. Perfect. The build-up from nothing to solo climax linked to the wonderful drumming of John Bonham is a great example of JP at his live best.

2. Thank You – L.A. Forum 3rd June 1973 from ‘Three Days After’ cd. Magnificent. The power and Glory of 1973.

3. Dazed and Confused – Earl’s Court, May 24th 1975. It never got better than this. Compare this to the next night’s version. This is slower in tempo, darker, more ominous and menacing…the Sunday night version was the opposite – more vibrant, full of energy ‘lighter’ as was the whole gig – but equally as good. I could have chosen either but this version has it all.

4. As Long as I Have You – Fillmore West April 27th 1969. Perfect embodiment of the improvisational Zeppelin in their early days. Page’s playing is ferocious.

5. Nobody’s Fault But Mine – Knebworth, August 4th 1979. Back on form. To me, this is one of the first peaks of this show. It was a stunning version and JP’s guitar sound is vicious!!! Great energy from all of them but the rhythm guitar is magnificent. Great solo too.

6. Whole Lotta Love – Berlin July 7th 1980. Proof, if it were ever to be needed, that this band still had places to go. The instrumental work out in this is fantastic. Reminds me of May 25th 1975 in that it seems they didn’t want to stop playing at this point. Fresh, vibrant and clearly, great fun for the band.

7. In My Time of Dying – Earl’s Court, May 24th 1975. DVD. Hard to choose any specific version of this song – Madison Square Garden, June 7th 1977 or Vancouver 19th March 1975 have to be contenders but Earl’s Court wins out.

8. White Summer/Black Mountain Side/Kashmir –  Knebworth Festival August 4th 1979. Memory, Audio/visual bootleg(s) Probably my personal highlight from this gig. To be actually a part of the audience listening to this being played was – and still is – amazing. I always loved ‘White Summer’ but this was the first time I saw and heard it played live and when the band kicked-in with Kashmir it was a moment to remember.

9. Over the Hills and Far Away – Earl’s Court, Sunday May 26th 1975. What a guitar solo!

10. Whole Lotta Love and full Rock’n’Roll medley – BBC Paris Theatre 1971. I’d have to acknowledge the Rock’n’Roll medleys that were so great to hear at this time. This one is a firm favourite – Honey Bee, Mess of Blues, For What it’s Worth, Fixin’ to Die, etc. Wonderful.

Dennis McDonnell

………………..

1.- Stairway to Heaven (Earls Court – DVD)

2.- Heartbreaker ( How The West Was Won)

3.- How Many More Times (Danish TV – DVD)

4.- Achilles Last Stand (Cleveland 1977)

5.- In My Time of Dying (Earls Court – DVD)

6.- The Ocean (How The West Was Won)

7.- Whole Lotta Love (Knebworth – DVD)

8.- The Song Remains The Same (Eddie June 21st 1977)

9.- Sick Again (Knebworth – DVD)

10.- Bring It On Home (Blueberry Hill)

Jose Manuel Parada

………………….

Here are my votes for the best moments of Jimmy Page’s live legacy with Zep

1) Heartbreaker Vienna 73

Probably their greatest live performance ever

2) Stairway to Heaven  Earls Court 75 from the official DVD

Absolutely marvellous

3) Dazed & Confused Earls Court 75

A list without D&C? No way, this is absolutely brilliant

4) As long as I have you Early 69

It’s a shame that it is not available in any official way

5) No Quarter  NYC 73 TSRTS

The highlight from that CD

6) Black Dog BBC Sessions

Another powerful performance

7) Whole Lotta Love HTWWW

I like those WLL performances with the medley, although I also enjoy the later ones

8) Bring it on Home Blueberry Hill 70

Great interplay between Page and the other guys in the band

9) How many more times from the official DVD

The highlight from that concert

10) Achilles last stand LA 77

Achilles must be included

Wolfgang  Seidal


Jimmy Page At 70 –The TBL Poll

Top Ten Jimmy Page Post Led Zeppelin Performances

10:  Take Me For A Little While (Coverdale –Page)

9:  Thank You (Unledded)

8: Wonderful One (Unledded)

7: Midnight Moonlight (The Firm)

6: Radioactive  (The Firm) 

5: Hummingbird (Outrider)

4: Blue Train  (Walking Into Clarksdale)

3: Who’s To Blame (Death Wish 2 soundtrack)

2: Wasting My Time (Outrider)

And the winner is…

1: Shake My Tree (Coverdale – Page)

……….

Your Top Tens

1. Who’s to Blame (DW II soundtrack)

2. Prelude (Madison Square Garden Arms Concert 12/3/83)

3. Wasting My Time (Outrider)

4. Same Old Rock (Stormcock 1971 with Roy Harper)

5. Absolution Blues (Coverdale/Page)

6. Stairway to Heaven (Raving Arizona Mesa 9/17/88)

7. Walking into Clarksdale (Walking Into Clarksdale)

8. Elizabeth (Whatever Happened to Jugula – w/Roy Harper 1984)

9. Pride and Joy (Coverdale Page)

10. Wonderful One (No Quarter Unledded)

Alexandra Nolletti

………………….

1.Shake My Tree  (Coverdale / Page)

2.Emerald Eyes  (Outrider)

3.Blue Train  (Walking Into Clarksdale)

4.Satisfaction Guaranteed (Firm)

5.Midnight Moonlight  (Firm)

6.Yallah  (Unledded)

7.Damask (Lucifer Rising)

8.Stairway To Heaven  (“live” Worcester 29th October 1988)

9.Celebration Day (Black Crowes – Live at The Greek)

10.Burning Up (Walking Into Clarksdale)

……………….

Alessandro Borri

…………..

* I tried to refrain from selecting Zep tunes in their post-Zep incarnations, but one can only resist for so long!

1. Hummingbird (from Outrider):  Simply amazing to me. When Jimmy’s second lead passage launches — deep, full and rich — it is such a fulfilling antithesis to the earlier sharp, treble, cutting phrasing as to resonate deep down in one’s soul!

2. Tulsa Time (Live at the ARMS Concert 1983, Royal Albert Hall, London, with Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and entire crew):  Far outshining the obligatory “Layla”, Tulsa Time lets the three guitar greats swap improv solos. Jimmy is afforded a huge circle on the stage as he swaggers and staggers about, wrenching amazing, edge of the precipice leads. After one of his passes, Claptin seems to look on in amazement, and just shakes his head at Page. It’s clear Jimmy is pouring all he has into this performance.

3. Wonderful One (No Quarter/Unledded): We were all hungry for new music from Page and Plant in the 1990s, and this song is every but as worthy as some of the finest Zeppelin moments. Shimmering, ethereal, haunting guitar work…

4. When I Was A Child (Walking Into Clarksdale): an amazingly subtle electric performance from Jimmy; spare, nuanced, opened up in the chord phrasings to allow the spirit b.ow through this eloquent song.

5 Who’s to Blame (DW2): A hint of where Zeppelin’s sound might have gone in the 1990s: driving, synthesized guitar riff

6. Jam Sandwich (DW2): Loved this rock-jazz number and the classic Page lead.

7. Prelude (DW2): A heart-rending electric adaptation of Chopin by Jimmy. Often overlooked, but really quite effective. Very dramatically done at the ARMS Concert 1983.

8. Wanton Song (from the Page-Plant tours): Much quicker tempo than the Physical Graffiti version, and really muscled up for the tours. Always amazing on all the YouTube versions and TV appearances I’ve seen.

9. Ramble On (Foo Fighters Live at Wembley, with Jimmy & JPJ): Wow.

10. Ramble On (from It Might Get Loud documentary film): The surprising intimacy and gentleness of the opening chords in this extemporaneous rendition, seem to convey better perhaps than any of the previous forty years’ versions Jimmy’s approach of chiaroscuro, balancing light and shade, bright and heavy. The whole film is a marvel, but this stood out to me as the chords happily washed over us.

Hunt Sidway, Louisville KY, USA

…………………..

Here are my choices for 10 of my favourite tracks across the range of work Jimmy has undertaken since 1980.

Once again, this proves almost impossible to choose so little from so much. An example of this is the ‘Coverdale Page’ album. I’ve chosen three tracks from that but still missed-off ‘Whisper a Prayer for the Dying’. What a great track that is and with Jimmy’s Acoustic/electric dynamics at full pelt too…ho-hum…never mind, here we go…

1. Wasting My Time – Outrider; Strident, powerful and loud. Love the mix of guitars on this. Maybe a bit ‘under produced’ but has a great raw quality to it.

2. Who’s To Blame – Death Wish 2 Soundtrack; Great opener for the film and the album. Nice twists and turns in this. Love the live versions too – ARMS gigs etc.

3. Burning Up – Walking into Clarksdale; I think it was Nick Kent who once used the description ‘…a full throttle rocker…’ and I’d say that’s a fitting description. Great version of this on ‘Later’ too – with you bopping away on Jimmy’s left as I recall.

4. Midnight Moonlight – The Firm; I’m sure we’d all have loved this had it been completed and released in its original form with Zeppelin but I still love this version and the subsequent live performances from 1984 onwards.

5. Take Me For a Little While – Coverdale Page; A great album with both of them back on form. I think this shows Jimmy’s influence in the superb arrangement.

6. Shake My Tree -Coverdale Page; Great opener from the same album. What a riff.

7. Prelude – Death Wish 2 Soundtrack – Short but sweet. I think I first heard this on Tommy Vance’s ‘Friday Night Rock Show’. Again, loved this live on the ’88 solo tour. Haunting.

8. Absolution Blues – Great use of the Transperformance guitar on the opening of this. Loved the way it was incorporated into the live ‘Shake My Tree/theremin solos’ on subsequent tours. Really great.

9. Prison Blues –  Outrider; Great Blues, great playing, great solo. Again, a bit raw but suits Chris Farlowe’s vocal approach perfectly.

10. Thank You – Unledded and subsequent tours. This song, to me, became one of the great highlights of the live tours with Page and Plant. Special mention must be made for Milwaukee and Albuquerque versions – unbelievable solos. Could have chosen anything from Unledded as it was – and remains – a magnificent testament to the legacy of Led Zeppelin in all its forms.

Dennis Mcdonnell

…………………………

1. Hummingbird – Outrider – That jump off into the short solo at 1:53 – that’s pure Jimmy and a highlight in a song filled with highlights.

2. Thank You – No Quarter – The new solo at the end gives the song a whole new personality which even manages to enhance the original.

3. Cadillac – The Firm Mean Business – The guitar sound is absolutely filthy and shouldn’t work with a voice as pure as Paul Rodgers’, but it does!

4. Walking Into Clarksdale – Walking Into Clarksdale – Superb riffing – an under appreciated record I think and this was my favourite track from it.

5. Live In Peace – The Firm Mean Business – A bit predictable in song structure, but I’m a sucker for tracks that start with a solo piano and end with a massive guitar solo!

6. Since I’ve Been Loving You – No Quarter – True to the original, whilst adding something that acknowledges the past but refuses to be confined by it.

7. Writes of Winter – Outrider – Another standout from Outrider, clever, inventive and enough twists and turns to constantly surprise.

8. When The World Was Young – Walking Into Clarksdale – Similar to Blue Train from the same album but just edges that one out for me.  Jimmy’s laid back filling around the main melody has his signature all over it and is something no-one else can pull off in the same way.  Instantly recognisable Page – brilliant!

9. Take Me For A Little While – Coverdale Page – A rare moment of reflection on an album filled with bombastic “rawk” numbers (it’s not my favourite, can you tell??!)

10. Damask – Lucifer Rising – Proper scary stuff!  Listen to this as a soundtrack to some of the biblical weather we’ve been having in the UK recently and it’ll feel like the end of the world is nigh!

Richard Grubb

…………………

And finally – to further mark Jimmy’s birthday, below is a round up of 25 examples of his genius that have emerged on the Companion Discs that have accompanied the Led Zeppelin reissues.


 

25 key Jimmy Page Performances from the Led Zeppelin Companion Disc Reissues:

Play them today and all week!

Sugar Mama (Alternate mix from the Companion Disc to Coda)

Clock the genius at: 2 minutes and 23 seconds to the close at 2.50 as Jimmy chugs his way on off down the highway.

………………….

I Cant Quit You Baby (From the Live In Paris Companion Disc to Led Zeppelin 1)

Clock the genius at: 3 minutes 12 and that amazingly fluid solo run.

…………..

How Many More Times (From the Live In Paris Companion Disc to Led Zeppelin 1)

Clock the genius at: 6 mins 40 as he goes into the Whole Lotta Love riff behind the Oh Rosie section, then adds some slashing chords into The Hunter.

……………

La La (Intro/outro rough mix – from Companion Disc to Led Zeppelin II)

Clock the genius at: 0.52 and the arrival of the acoustic motif and then into a scintillating riff part behind Bonzo’s drum fill.

…………………

Livin Lovin Maid  (Backing track from the Companion Disc to Led Zeppelin II)

Clock the genius at: 1.07 as he comes out of the pause and then slams into the chorus.

……………

Bring It On Home (Rough mix from the Companion Disc to Coda)

Clock the genius at: 00 – 0.35 and that chaotic opening as Jimmy battles with the riff against Robert’s harmonica wailings.

…………..

Were Gonna Groove (Alternate mix from the Companion Disc to Coda)

Clock the genius at: 1.16 through to 1.50 as he applies all manner of slashing chord effects.

……………….

Since I’ve Been Loving You (Rough mix of first recording from the Companion Disc to Led Zeppelin III)

Clock the genius at: from 00.1 to 1.11 -marvel at the sheer subtlety of this intro.

………………

Jennings Farm Blues (Rough mix from the Companion Disc to Led Zeppelin III)

Clock the genius at: 3.22 as the overdubs and riffs take it all off into another tangent within a framework (as the late Howard Mylett would describe it….)

…………..

Poor Tom (instrumental mix form the companion disc to Coda)

Clock the genius at: 0.14 through to 0.36 as the acoustic guitar overtones kick in.

………………

St Tristens Sword (rough mix from the companion disc to Coda) 

Clock the genius at: From 3.12 to the close at 5.41 where he overlays a very James Burtonesque solo.

……………….

Going To California (Mandolin/guitar mix from the Companion Disc Led Zeppelin IV)

Clock the genius at: 2.57 as acoustic guitars and mandolin merge for the outro.

……………….

If It keeps On Raining/When The Levee Breaks (rough mix from the Companion Disc to Coda)

Clock the genius at: 3.10 to 3.50 as he scrubs out what will later be a chiming fanfare.

…………………

When the Levee Breaks (Alternate UK mix from the Companion Disc to Led Zeppelin IV)

Clock the genius at: And talking of which – at 2.06 the arrival of a fanfare crescendo of guitars.

……………………

The Song Remains The Same (Guitar overdub reference mix from the Companion Disc to Houses Of The Holy)

Clock the genius at:0.57 as the multi overdubbing shines through brightly – dazzlingly so.

……………….

Over The Hills And Far Away (Guitar mix backing track from the Companion Disc to Houses Of The Holy)

Clock the genius at: 3.55 as the acoustic coda adds an alternate spin on a familiar ending.

……………..

Walters Walk (Rough mix from the Companion Disc to Coda)

Clock the genius atThat riff as it kicks in for the final time from 2.17 to the fade at 3.19

………………..

Desire/The Wanton Song (Rough mix from the Companion Disc to Coda)

Clock the genius at: 2.29 to 3.01 as he lays down the rhythmic base for which he will later overdub the solo.

………………..

Sick Again (Early version from the Companion Disc to Physical Graffiti)

Clock the genius at: from 0.48 though to 0.56 as that descending chord sequence merges with a zip across the speakers.

………………

Brandy and Coke/Trampled Underfoot (Initial rough mix from the Companion Disc to Physical Graffiti)

Clock the genius at: 2.13 to 3.00 as he holds down an incessant riff for JPJ to build his clavinet solo around – further guitar embellishments would follow for the released version.

……………….

Everybody Makes It Through/In the Light (early version/in transit from the Companion Disc to Physical Graffiti)

Clock the genius at: 5.14 to the close at 6.27 – more foundations for the guitar army to be constructed around.

…………….

Two Ones Are One/Achilles Last Stand (Reference mix of work in progress from the Companion Disc to Presence)

Clock the genius at: The entry of that first string bending solo that stretches 3.44 through to 6.15 – utterly magnificent.

……………….

10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod (Pod) (Reference mix of work in progress from the Companion Disc to Presence)

Clock the genius at:1.27 when he delicately enters proceedings with John Bonham. Poignant…

……………………..

In The Evening (Rough mix of work in progress from the Companion Disc to In Through The Out Door)

Clock the genius at: The crunch of the solo at 3.46 and on into the pastoral JPJ led keyboard sequence. Just glorious.

…………………….

Blot/I’m Gonna Crawl (Rough mix of work in progress from the companion disc to In Through The Out Door)

Clock the genius at: At 2.40 where Robert’s cry of ”hit me” leads into a solo that winds up at 3.02 having twisted and turned in all the right places.

…………….

More moments of guitar artistry to marvel at and yet more reasons why for me, and countless thousands of fans the world over, Jimmy Page remains (as that flag out in that field near Stevenage once proclaimed) the true Lord of the strings….

Long may he reign…

Happy Birthday Jimmy from all of us to you…

Dave Lewis, January 2024


LZ News:

Here’s the latest Led ZepNews Update

Led Zeppelin

Unrestored Pontiac 1977 film emerges along with a behind the scenes look at LedZepFilm’s process

On December 31, unseen 8mm footage of Led Zeppelin performing at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan on April 30, 1977 was posted to YouTube.

This week LedZepFilm, who helped to release that footage and sychronised it with an audio recording of the show, shared the full unrestored version of the 8mm Pontiac footage on his YouTube channel:

He also published a behind the scenes look at how he synchronises Led Zeppelin video and audio here:

Upgraded audience recording of June 22, 1977 in Los Angeles surfaces

An upgraded and extended version of Barry G’s audience recording of Led Zeppelin performing at The Forum in Inglewood, California on June 22, 1977 was posted online yesterday. The recording is available on audience recording distribution websites.

Coming soon from LedZepNews…

Over the past year, we’ve published some lengthy investigative articles on the filming of Led Zeppelin in 1970the intricate tax structure behind the band’s 1977 US tour and Jimmy Page’s secret 18-year battle to reclaim his most iconic stage outfits.

A new LedZepNews investigation is on the way. Stay tuned for it to publish later this month.

Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page releases new merchandise

Some of the new Jimmy Page merchandise designs released this week

After announcing new signed photo prints through his mailing list in December, Jimmy Page has now used it to announce a range of new T-shirts and a hoodie that are being sold through his website.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant was spotted at a cafe

Robert Plant was recently photographed at a cafe in the UK, according to a since-deleted Facebook post.

Behind the scenes of Robert Plant’s 2023 tour with Alison Krauss

Hair stylist John Grimes posted a video on Instagram showing behind the scenes life on tour with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in 2023.

johngrimeshair

A post shared by @johngrimeshair

He previously posted some behind the scenes photographs from the tour in May:

johngrimeshair

A post shared by @johngrimeshair

Upcoming events:

  • 2024– Robert Plant will tour with Alison Krauss.
  • February 16– “Pictures At Eleven: Robert Plant Album By Album” by Martin Popoff will be published.
  • March 22– John Paul Jones will perform at the Big Ears music festival in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • March 23– John Paul Jones will perform at the Big Ears music festival in Knoxville, Tennessee as part of Sons Of Chipotle.
  • April 5– “Led Zeppelin: A Visual Biography” by Martin Popoff will be published.
  • April 6– The exhibition “The Wiltshire Thatcher – a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex” featuring the original photograph from the cover of Led Zeppelin’s fourth album will open at Wiltshire Museum.
  • Summer 2024– Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Vienna, Virginia.

September 15 – The exhibition “The Wiltshire Thatcher – a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex” featuring the original photograph from the cover of Led Zeppelin’s fourth album will close at Wiltshire Museum.

Led Zeppelin

Many thanks to James Cook 

The complete Led ZepNews email goes out periodically. To receive it sign up here:http://tinyletter.com/LedZepNews

Led ZepNews Website: Check out the Led Zeppelin news website at

http://ledzepnews.com/

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Teenage Cancer Trust Concerts announced:

Robert Plant with Saving Grace is in the line up for the March 24 show…

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Remembering  the late great Mick Bonham – RIP…

Remembering the late great Mick Bonham – 24 years gone …

January 14 marks the passing of Mick Bonham in 2000.

Back in early 1980, I first contacted Mick to request some of his amazing photos he had taken of Led Zeppelin at Knebworth to use in the then forthcoming TBL issue 4. He was more than generous in supplying a whole batch of previously unpublished shots. From then on he was always very supportive of my work and we often met at Zep related events.

His generosity and great spirit was certainly well in evidence when along with other members of the wonderful Bonham family, Mick attended the 1992 Led Zeppelin Celebration Days Convention the late much missed Andy Adams and I staged in London…here’s a great pic taken by Jan Mulder from that weekend of Mick on stage with Deb and the band. RIP Mick…

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TBL Archive Special: A look back to the second date of the Led Zeppelin 1975 touring campaign:

TBL LED ZEPPELIN JANUARY 1975 SNAPSHOT…

DATE: SUNDAY JANUARY 12 1975:

VENUE: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

VORST NATIONAAL

Setlist: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/When The Levee Breaks/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/The Wanton Song/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/In My Time Of Dying/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Communication Breakdown.

Snapshot Notes: The second warm up date for their forthcoming US tour – the previous night they had played Rotterdam. Before the show Robert conducted an interview backstage with Bob Harris for broadcast the following Friday (January 17th) on BBC2’s Old Grey Whistle Test.

There were five previews aired from the forthcoming Physical Graffiti set – Sick Again, Kashmir, The Wanton Song (which would only be performed on a few of the opening US dates), Trampled Underfoot and In My Time Of Dying. They also included an arrangement of the never before played live When The Levee Breaks – this again did not last for too many performances on the US tour. With Page possibly dealing with a recently damaged finger (see more on this below), the set was less than two hours in length with little improvisation – Dazed And Confused and Moby Dick were both absent – rare omissions for the time. Robert Plant was also beginning to struggle with an oncoming cold. Presentation wise these two warm up warm-up dates were performed with a relatively simple stage set up for the final time.– the US tour will see John Bonham’s drums mounted on a rostrum and a major new light and laser show.

These dates were announced in the UK press at the end of 1974, but I somehow missed this info – – in fact I did not know the gigs  had taken place until a week later such was the low key nature of the gigs – oh for the internet back then! If I had known, I would have made an effort to go for sure!

Snapshot Listen – how it sounded today:

brus 3

It’s Time To Travel Again (Diagrams of Led Zeppelin)

The January 12th Brussels show exists on a fair to good audience recording that I have on the Diagrams of Led Zeppelin CD It’s Time To Travel Again.

Here’s my overview of how it sounded today:

Given the physical frailties of Robert’s voice and (possibly!) Jimmy’s injured finger, once they get in their stride there are some fine performances. The set is a quant one with the notable omission of Dazed And Confused – along with the Rotterdam gig the night before, it was the first time this Zep I standard had not been played live in a Zep performance since their inception. There’s no Moby Dick either making for a much shorter performance than was the standard.

Sick Again kicks in after Rock And Roll and Robert plays it safe on the vocal histrionics. Jimmy is equally tentative on Over The Hills And Far Away with none of the expansive solo improvisation that will be a highlight on the US tour and Earls Court shows.

Their onstage rustiness is evident early on – amply demonstrated by Bonzo going into the intro of When The Levee Breaks when he should have been readying for Over The Hills – where’s that confounded written set list!

When The Levee is duly performed (‘’here’s one we always enjoyed and we’ve finally got around to playing’’). Bonzo is spot on but it’s a rather ponderous plodding arrangement – it will not last too many outings on the US tour. ‘’Jimmy Page steel guitar’’ proclaims Robert at the close.

The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song are fairly perfunctory performances while the new Kashmir is initially a little hap-hazard. Robert loses the lyrics early on but they recover well for the final ‘’Let me take you there’’ sequence which prompts both Page and Plant to up their game.

‘’Another song of lust, a little habit I picked up after meeting Phil Carson (NB: Atlantic Records exec)– one of my idols’’ is Plant’s tongue in cheek intro into The Wanton Song – this works really well with Page now suitably animated in his playing – it’s a shame it was to fall off the setlist after a few performances in the US.

No Quarter is very much a 1973 arrangement with no extended grand piano section – which might be just as well as the crowd seem impatient and slow hand clap as the chorus comes back in. Before that, Jimmy gets into some very delicate and pleasing wah wah effects.

Two back to back Physical Graffiti previews follow: Trampled Underfoot is fast and furious and In My Time Of Dying is a valiant performance given the physical restraints. Both of these of course will come good with a few more performances

Finally…’’A song from not too long ago …what you might call a permanent favourite ‘ as Plant explains.

So come in Stairway To Heaven – now elevated to the main setlist closer. From the slightly extended strummed intro though to the crescendo ending, this performance strongly hints at the majesty this piece will attain ahead. It’s a great performance and worth the price of admission alone with Plant adlibbing away (note he still sings ‘’Dear lady’’ and ‘’Your Stairway’’ tonight – this will change to ‘’Dear people’ and ‘’Our Stairway’’ during the US tour). As for Jimmy, he delivers that long and winding jittering solo with sheer intent – a solo that will further develop and extend in the coming months and reach something of a zenith in Earls Court come May. It’s already very evident how much they have moved this piece on from the 1973 tour.

Encores: A brief Whole Lotta Love that segues into Black Dog and a strident Communication Breakdown with a chugging mid-section (‘’I don’t need…I don’t want’’) and gig number two of 1975 is over.

In the coming weeks in America , Plant’s voice will initially become weaker and Page’s finger injury will deem that How Many More Times temporarily replaces Dazed as the violin bow showcase. The stage setting will become more extravagant and the light and laser show ever striking. The audiences will become increasingly crazy, and a double album called Physical Graffiti will create a fervent rush at record stores across the land.

This night in Brussels is a quint and fascinating transitory performance – the health problems may be evident but inspired by their new material, this slightly tentative Led Zeppelin are very keen to make their mark in 1975.

And make their mark they will do as you will read in the next TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot…

To be continued…

Dave Lewis – January 2024. 

Jimmy s Injured Finger:

It was well documented that Jimmy injured his finger – shutting it in a train door in early 1975 – it’s difficult to pin point the actual date it happened – I was under the impression it was just before the Rotterdam and Brussels dates but I could well be wrong. here are some thoughts on the topic from TBL contributor Andy Crofts

The 1975 finger thing, I couldn’t resist a quick word about that. It is frustrating, because it’s very hard to square all the reported facts.

You are right that it is simplest to assume that it happened pre-Brussels, but the Rolling Stone interview from March 75 is equally clear that it happened ‘just a week’ before the US tour started, and JP had only one rehearsal to work out how to play everything. Both Keith Shadwick and Mick Wall back this up in their books, although neither gives a proper reference, maddeningly.

The Brussels gig is weird, because they don’t play Dazed And Confused  and How Many More Times -or Moby Dick for that matter, which I’d have thought ideal if the guitarist is unwell! But… JP plays very well in Brussels (this initially surprised me when I started listening), RP doesn’t make any mention of fingers onstage (which he does do on later US gigs), and the Bob Harris interview with him the same day doesn’t touch on it either. I also can’t help shake the feeling that they would just have cancelled those warm-ups had JP done his finger in immediately prior.

My take is that initially they never intended to play Dazed And Confused in 1975. They had other stuff in the set, like Levee and Wanton, and potentially others too; the setlist from the disputed Minneapolis rehearsal tape is an indicator here (I don’t believe this can be from 1973, but that’s a whole other argument!). So that’s why it’s not played in Brussels. They get to the US and realise they don’t like Levee, and need more material to fill the gap. This needs to be familiar to the audience, which won’t have heard the new stuff yet. The unrehearsed Dazed And Confused is considered a stretch too far, given the by-now broken finger, so they have a go at How many More Times for a few nights… equally unrehearsed, but it worked quite well when they did it impromptu in Southampton in 1973. Putting my guitarist’s hat on, I don’t see how a shortish Dazed And Confused is necessarily harder on the fingers than How Many More Times (something else that’s always bothered me about that part of the story), but the latter is certainly easier to pick up if you haven’t played it for a while.

All this squares the known and reported facts, and also makes sense of Jimmy’s other comment in Rolling Stone, that he wants Dazed And Confused back in the set ASAP… he preferred playing that to How Many More Times , which was probably a bit old-fashioned for him by 1975.

There’s another possibility of course, which is that the Brussels tape is incomplete, and other songs were played… it does seem very short. But I don’t think so. It’s maddening not to have anything from Rotterdam or indeed Minneapolis to compare it with.

Oops, I’ve written an essay. These nitpicking things are interesting in an ubergeek kind of way, and I think it’s fascinating how things which may not be quite right become accepted fact, just through repetition. I think Led Zeppelin simply started with one set list in 1975 and abandoned it in the face of their US audience. A shame. I’ve recently been reading about Cream’s experiences in the US, and they were the same; lots of parallels actually. Jimmy’s finger is ultimately a red herring, because – painful or otherwise – he plays very well throughout Jan 75.

Many Thanks Andy for those comments.


More TBL Archive:

It was 43 years ago: DL Life with the stars…. 

It was 43 years ago this month in January 1981 that the local Bedford paper The Bedford Record published a centre page feature piece on the Tight But Loose magazine and my affinity for Led Zeppelin (the first of a number of such stories that would appear over the next three decades – I discovered that local newspaper editors love this stuff).

This all grew out of some quotes I gave to then local journalist Andy Bull at the time about the sales hike experienced after John Lennon’s death. When I mentioned I published a magazine on Led Zeppelin he was very keen to interview me for the paper. A photographer was dispatched to the Dents Road shrine (my bedroom) and next thing I knew my name was in lights (sort of).

Coming home on my bike from working at WH Smiths (where the talk of the day had been my inclusion in the paper) that evening of January 6th 1981, I noticed the billboard outside the local newsagents shop previewing the papers content. It read (I kid you not!)  ‘’ Bedford Record : Bedford man’s life with the stars’’. I got off my bike, calmly walked in showed the shopkeeper the paper and my picture in it and asked  for said billboard. He kindly offered it to me and I still have it  – here’s a pic of me with it from about eight years back –  I really should get it framed.

 

Bedford mans life with the stars then: The young DL in the Dents Road shrine with TBL 5 – as seen in the Bedford Record January 6th, 1981.

 

 

 

 

 

 


It was 52 years ago today – a triple album changed my life:
It was 52 Years Ago…
Saturday January 8 1972 – a triple album record changed my life…
On this day in 1972 I went into town and made what was my first really significant album purchase.
Prior to this moment, I had indulged in some budget sampler albums such as Island’s You Can All Join In, and I had the then recently released Led Zeppelin IV for Christmas – now I was ready to make a substantial fresh purchase…
The album I desperately wanted was The Concert For Bangla Desh by George Harrison & Friends. This was the live album of the two benefit concerts George had staged the previous August at Madison Square Garden to aid relief in Bangla Desh. The first big charity event of its kind.
I had followed all this diligently in the music press –and excitedly so. Led Zeppelin were my number one musical passion but close behind were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The Beatles of course had imploded the year before but anything Beatle related interested me greatly. Now came the opportunity to by a Beatle related release as it was shipped.
At the time this was big news indeed. Two ex- Beatles on stage George and Ringo, guests including Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell and a performance by Bob Dylan – his first major live appearance in two years.
All this was to be released as a triple album and the asking price was a bank busting £5.50 (£58 in today’s money) – not that I had a bank account back then being just age 15 and still at school.
I did however, have a job at the local newsagents delivering newspapers. For this I earnt 75p a week and I had been saving for weeks knowing the Concert For Bangla Desh was being released early in the year.
So it was on Saturday January 8 1972 ( the details of which are all recorded in the diary I kept that year and continued to thereafter) I went into the WH Smith record department – the only local Bedford record shopl that had it in stock –it had been released the previous day and was well in demand. Thankfully they had it out in the racks and there it was in the distinct orange box set and I excitedly handed over my £5.50.
Quick aside – in a strange quirk of fate little did I know that within three years I would actually be working in this record department myself – the start of a 35 year career in music retail.
Back on January 8 1972, I hurried home and set up my record player – a fairly standard portable one but at the time it did me proud.
I now had living breathing aural evidence of this landmark show. George performing tracks from the massive selling All Things Must Pass such as My Sweet Lord, Awaiting On Your All and Beware Of Darkness, Beatle classics While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here Comes The Sun and Something, Billy Preston wailing out That’s The Way God Planned It, the big roar for Ringo as he performed his big solo hit It Don’t Come Easy, Leon Russell ripping through a medley of Youngblood and Jumpin’ Jack Flash and a whole side of Bob Dylan.
I had read and kept in a scrapbook all the reviews of the show in the music press ( which I still have as can be seen in this pic) and also cut all the reviews of the accompanying triple album. ‘’If you only buy one album in 1972 make it this one’’ was one memorable headline.
Well I heeded that advice but it was certainly not the only album I purchased that year.
From June 1972, I had a regular income from my first job at British Home Stores .This allowed me to indulge in a long and winding path of musical exploration and my collection began to build with albums from the likes of Led Zeppelin (I had been a fan since late 1969 but with money in my pocket I backtracked and got my own copies of the first three albums), Hendrix, Dylan, Zappa, Alice Cooper, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, the Glastonbury and Woodstock Festival triple sets and more – all records that opened up a whole new musical spectrum for this particular youngster finding new delights with every purchase.
It was The Concert For Bangla Desh though that really set me on the way and developed a musical passion for buying records that of course is as fervent today as it was 50 years ago.
Playing that triple album for the first time I knew I had truly discovered the sheer wonder to be had in appreciating these things of beauty. I wanted that feeling and thrill of investing in a new record again as soon as possible and it would be repeated countless times in the ensuing years.
I do of course still have this copy of The Concert For Bangla Desh – the box is a little worn but the records play great and yes it will be on today in celebration.
Very quaintly back then I customised the inner sleeves by hand writing out all the track listing of who played what and when. Even back then my quest for the finer details of the recording process was developing. Putting pen to paper to chronicle such detail was something I loved doing.
Such passion would lead me on a path of much fulfilment as I began writing about music and principally Led Zeppelin. This would subsequently flower into the publication of my books and TBL magazine.
Back at school in early 1972 where the pop trends amongst my friends was led by Marc Bolan & T. Rex and Slade (both of whom I also loved) my enthusiasm for what might be termed more grown up music was eyed with some fascination.
Soon though I was being asked what this Banlga Desh lark was all about and for that matter the appeal of Led Zeppelin – and I was more than happy to elaborate and educate on these subjects.
So thank your dear George for staging this monumental event of 52 years back – and Happy 52nd anniversary to a record release that I can honestly say changed my life
Postscript:
A while back I came across the 2005 Concert For Bangla Desh 2 CD reissue in the local Oxfam charity shop and was more than happy to hand over the £12.99 asking price -the set being in mint condition. It felt like history was repeating itself and the rush I got from investing again in this pivotal set was exactly the same as I had experienced when I made that original triple album purchase back in 1972.
In an ever changing world (and not for the better currently) – that is a constant worth hanging on to…
Dave Lewis – January 9 , 2023.

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led Zeppelin Wymer Publishing exclusive TBL Book offer:

 

Martin Popoff’s new led Zeppelin book is due out in April via Wymer Publishing

Readers of this website can purchase the book with a 10% discount…

Visit the ordering link and insert the code TBL1 to qualify for the discount.

Here’s the book info:

Led Zeppelin A Visual Biography by Martin Popoff

Publication date 5th April 2024.
The first 100 orders will receive a set of 4 A4 prints to compliment this Visual Biography
Pre order now and get your name in the book on a dedicated fan page!
Led Zeppelin, II, III, IV, Houses of the Holy, Physical Graffiti, Presence, In Through the Out Door and Coda… these are the sacred texts written and expertly executed by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham that made Led Zeppelin one of the most revered—and commercially massive—bands of all time.
In Led Zeppelin A Visual Biography, Martin Popoff, author of Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs and Robert Plant: Album by Album, delivers one of his meticulous and detailed reference-styled timelines, charting the history of this esteemed UK institution, from its inception to the band’s posthumous last album, the Coda compilation, issued in 1982.
But of course, the chronological history is just the start. The main driving force behind the project is housed within the titling. In that spirit, what this elegant coffee table book proposes to do is chart the explosive live stage history of the band, along with the iconic albums and their attendant pioneering cover arts. Tour posters, backstage passes, 45 sleeves and enigmatic record ads combine to complete this symphony of design and colour, turning the book into a visual feast that coexists with Popoff’s scholarly marking of the band’s many milestones.
Author Martin Popoff remarks on this project, “My previous Led Zeppelin book is one of my
personal favorites from the books I’ve done, because I got to write long reviews of every song. But what I appreciate about this project is that across the array of Zeppelin books I have in my library, there are none that explode with this much photography of both the band live and of memorabilia. As well, despite various scholarly approaches taken to the study of the band, I’ve not see anything akin to my handy-dandy timeline reference approach. So it’s these two things that are both essentially new to Zeppelin scholarship, and new to me as well despite having tackled the band before.”
Hardback 192 pages colour throughout.

ORDERING LINK BELOW:

https://www.wymeruk.co.uk/webshop/books/rock/led-zeppelin/led-zeppelin-a-visual-biography/

 

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DL Diary Blog Update:

Thursday January 4:

Play More latest…
Catching up with this one – Taste Pop History Vol 9 a double album on the Polydor label profiling Rory Gallagher’s Taste trio
This one a Spanish pressing. What a great band they were…

Thursday January 4:

The new Uncut is in the house with a Neil young cover feature on the On The Beach album on it’s 50th anniversary
Time to get that one back on the player…I remember back in 1974 the NME extensive review by Nick Kent which inspired me to buy it…one of his best…

Friday January 5:

Play more latest…
On the player the brilliant Thin Lizzy Live And Dangerous at Hammersmith 14 Nov 1976 double album – superb 2023 Record Store Day release and marking Phil Lynott’s passing of 38 years ago yesterday…

Having Friday fun with grandson little Ollie today…and feeling very blessed…

Saturday January 6:

Saturday is platterday – marking David Bowie’s forthcoming Birthday and passing next week with the brilliant Station To Station album.
This copy a Brazilian pressing of the 1990 reissue that I picked up a few years back at the much missed Blackbarn Records in Cambridge…
Saturday January 6:

A whole lotta temptation at the Bedford VIP record fair – so far moderation has prevailed – only purchased two albums so far!

Saturday January 6:

I’ve cracked a bit you can never have to many —Portuguese pressing oh go on then!

Saturday Janaury6:

In the Buy Less policy today at the record fair this one sneaked through – a late Christmas present from legendary Zep collector Cliff The Ticket Man Hilliard – Tottenham Hotspur party album – oh yes and as you can see Cliff’s an Arsenal fan!

Saturday January 6:

In the Buy Less category at the Bedford VIP record fair today Led Zeppelin and Who Mugs don’t count! Great to see my fellow life long record collecting comrade Phil Harris at the fair …a top day all round …

Sunday January 7:

It was 51 Years Ago Today…

Loading up the double CD Oxford Blues, a soundboard recording of Led Zeppelin’s rather splendid performance at the New Theatre Oxford on this day in 1973. I wish I could have been at this one and many others on that tour (I did attend the Dec 23 Ally Pally show)…I would make up for it in 1975…

This is from the superb bootleg CD box set Ascension In The Wane – The January 1973 Soundboards. This chronicles various performances from their 1972/3 UK tour. I will be revisiting these excellent shows from this box set throughout the month…providing a much needed Led Zep fix…

Monday January 8:
On the player – marking his Birthday today the brilliant Elvis Presley Sun Collection album
A quick DL/Led Zep/Elvis story about this album:
This album was compiled by the late great NME writer Roy Carr in the late 1970s. There were a couple of versions of this and one of them features sleeve notes by Roy plus a back cover credit that reads ‘’Dedicated to Percy,Pagey, Jonesy, Bonzo and Big G” – a reference to the members of Led Zeppelin and manager Peter Grant. Roy had a good relationship with them all and knew they were big Elvis fans so it was an affectionate acknowledgement.
When I was in their record company Swan Song office in April 1980 I mentioned this album and their credit on it to office supremo and press officer Unity Mclean. It was evident Unity had passed this info on to Peter as the next time I visited, I was called upon by Unity to run an errand. My task was to get a taxi into central London and buy a copy of the Elvis Sun Collection album for Peter Grant.
So I ventured into town and purchased the said record at the Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street and returned with it to their Kings Road office.
For this errand I was rewarded with a set of the new 10x 8 Led Zep promo photos and posters they had just had delivered. Whenever I look at the sleeve of my copy of this Elvis album which I purchased for myself at WH Smith soon after I am reminded of that memorable day in the Swan Song office back in 1980…
Tuesday January 9: 
On the player the 3 LP bootleg box set package Led Zeppelin London Royal Albert Hall January 9 1970 –one of the all time great Led Zep gigs on the night of Jimmy Page’s 26th Birthday…Happy 80th Birthday Jimmy…
Tuesday January 9:
On the occasion of Jimmy Page’s 80th Birthday…
As Julie Felix introduced him ‘A very talented and special musician’’ the quality of this clip from her BBC 2 show in 1970 is not pristine but his acoustic guitar playing certainly is – just awesome…
The much missed late Andy Adams and I showed this clip for the first time at the 1992 Led Zeppelin UK Convention we staged thanks to Tim Davies who gained access to the film …it was an incredible moment when we first watched it and Andy and I often reminisced about it… great memories.
See YouTube clip here:

Tuesday January 9:

 

In the light of Jimmy’s 80th Birthday – here’s a piece of TBL history:

This is a limited edition cassette in a run of about 40 I compiled and had made to hand out at a special TBL gathering at the Camden Record Fair staged at the Electric Ballroom venue on Saturday January 8 1994 to celebrate Jimmy Page’s 50th Birthday …all of 30 years ago … it’s been a lifetime but a second…

 

Tuesday January 9:
Some thoughts on Jimmy Page – on the occasion of his 80th Birthday…
In a career that has spanned seven decades Jimmy Page has constantly taken the art of guitar playing to new levels – from his session days through The Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin and beyond. From monolithic riffing to blistering solos, through acoustic beauty to vast instrumental guitar orchestration. His ability to channel his undoubted genius in a studio setting has also made him a ground breaking producer.
Other aspects of his work include the deft remastering of the Zep catalogue and the visual flair he has brought to the large format books he has overseen.

 Jimmy made a surprise appearance at the Hall of Fame ceremony last November inducting Link Wray. His performance of Link’s instrumental  Rumble on the famous double neck guitar was a joy to see and proof that he  is still Lord Of The Strings…

I have been very lucky to see him perform on stage both in and out of Led Zeppelin on a number of occasions over the last 53 years.

I have also been very fortunate to be in his presence on a fair few occasions. This has included interviewing him twice for the TBL magazine and liaising with him when I wrote the sleeve notes to the updated official Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions set in 2016.
I have always found him to be a man of exceptional integrity and wisdom – and he has been very supportive of my work over many years…
I have a lot to thank him for…
Happy 80th Birthday Jimmy …
Dave Lewis, January 9,2024
Tuesday January 9:
On the occasion of his 80th Birthday…
With some of my favourite Jimmy Page artefacts today collected across his career – you can never have too many…
Happy 80th Birthday Jimmy…
Tuesday January 9:
On the occasion of Jimmy Page’s 80th Birthday…
Just had a chat on the phone with my very good friend and long term fellow Led Zep comrade Mark Harrison – a man who knows a thing or two about Jimmy Page.
Having both been in attendance at the Earls Court shows in 1975, Mark and I can emphatically state that this clip of Led Zeppelin performing Trampled Underfoot is a clear case of a guitar genius at work in his absolute element …
Happy 80th Birthday Jimmy Page…
Wednesday January 10:
I read the news eight years ago today oh boy……
Wednesday January 10:
Remembering David Bowie eight years gone…I love this tribute single to David Bowie by Ian Hunter…
Dandy – you’re the prettiest star
There ain’t no life on Mars
But we always thought there might be
Dandy – you opened up the door
You left us wanting more
And then we took the last bus home
Dandy – the world was black ‘n’ white
You showed us what it’s like
To live inside a rainbow
Dandy – you thrilled us to the core
You left us wanting more
And then we took the last bus home

Wednesday January 10:

David Bowie – eight years gone today but of course never forgotten –
Certainly not around this house as can be seen via a few of my favourite Bowie things from the DL collection…
There will always be a Starman waiting in the sky…

 

Friday January 12:

It will be a Happy Birthday today to our very good friend of 40 plus years Mr Alan Stutz, one of the first to buy TBL issue number one in 1979, gig going companion of many a memorable concert – Robert Plant, David Bowie, Status Quo, Queen Prince and New Order among them, author of one of the funniest books I’ve ever read namely his memoirs Diary of A Nearly Man (Wymer Publishing), life and soul of any public house gathering, great support to Janet and I over many years (he took fab pics at our wedding) and all round top man – Happy Birthday Alan from Janet and I  – have a great day mate…

Friday  January 12:

It was 55 years ago today…

The release of the debut Led Zeppelin album in the US…you can never have too many copies of Led Zeppelin I….

Update here:

A busy week collating the Jimmy Page Birthday info and there’s also been some work on the DL Memoirs. The online response to Jimmy’s milestone Birthday has been quite phenomenal and a testament to the esteem he his held in by countless fans across the globe. It’s also prompted me to reinvestigate the many recorded moments of his career and it’s been very inspiring to do so.

What a man – what a musician…

Thanks for listening 

Until next time…

Dave  Lewis –  January 10 2024

TBL website updates written and compiled by Dave Lewis

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