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JOHN BONHAM CELEBRATION III EVENT – EARLYBIRD TICKET DETAILS/UNCUT MAGAZINE ZEP COVER STORY/LZ NEWS/CODA ZEP TRIBUTE BAND IN BEDFORD/1975 US TOUR SNAPSHOT/VALENTINE’S DAY REFLECTIONS/DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE

9 February 2023 1,449 views No Comment
John Bonham Celebration III Event Latest:
Here’s the latest news on the May 27 event in Redditch…
WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL

JOHN BONHAM A CELEBRATION III FESTIVAL 2023

 

Celebrating the 75th Birthday of John Henry Bonham in Redditch town centre on Saturday 27th May 2023 with a day/evening of live blues/rock music from top artists and bands.

We can announce the first four bands confirmed for John Bonham A Celebration III are :
CODA – a Tribute to Led Zeppelin, Vincent Flatts Final Drive, Ceri Justice and the Jury, and Taxi for Jesus.
More to be announced shortly.
Earlybird tickets go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 7th February- just £20 plus booking fee per person.
But hurry numbers are strictly limited!
More details at:
https://www.johnbonhamac.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JBaCelebration

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New issue of Uncut magazine wiith Led Zeppelin cover feature…
The new issue of Uncut magazine has an excellent eleven page Led Zeppelin feature by Peter Watts – this focuses on Led Zeppelin’s rise during 1973 specifically their momentous 1973 US tour -to quote myself , ‘’They went from being a band to being an institution.” I was interviewed for this feature and also supplied some background info.
I didn’t see the final layout as I would have spotted a couple of caption errors – the opening spread is clearly a 1975 shot and not 1973 –taken I’d say at the Rotterdam Ahoy on January 11 1975 and not as stated in Germany March 1973. They also manage to caption the Plant lounging on a bed with Roy Harper shot as being with Richard Cole –a mistake I’ve seen before.
Nitpicking caption errors aside, this is an engrossing feature with a fabulous on stage pic from Madison Square Garden that I haven’t seen before plus input from PR guru BP Fallon, sound engineer Eddie Kramer, photographer Bob Gruen and Robert Plant himself on their relationship with Po and Storm of the Hipgnosis design team.
There’s also a track by track dissection of the Houses Of The Holy album.
All in all well worth a read…
Here’s the link to order the mag direct:
https://bit.ly/UncutLedZep
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LZ News

Led Zeppelin News Update:

Here’s the latest round up from LZ News:

Led Zeppelin

  • Jimmy Page and Robert Plant attended the funeral of Jeff Beck which was held in London on February 3. Page spoke at the service, saying in his speech that “Jeff was the quiet chief”, according to comedian Vic Reeves. Other attendees of the funeral included Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Johnny Depp, Chrissie Hynde, Tom Jones, David Gilmour, Bob Geldof, Harry Enfield and Tim Burton. Beck died on January 10 aged 78 after contracting bacterial meningitis.

Robert Plant

  • The 2023 Grammy Awards ceremony takes place today in Los Angeles, California starting at 1am UK time. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are nominated for three awards: Best country duo/group performance for their song “Going Where The Lonely Go”, best American roots song for their song “High And Lonesome” and best Americana album for their new album “Raise The Roof”. A free, official livestream of the red carpet will take place at live.grammy.com later today and the ceremony will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. Another free red carpet stream will be on the Entertainment Weekly YouTube channel from 11.30pm UK time tonight. Plant and Krauss were the big winners of the 2009 Grammy Awards when their 2007 album “Raising Sand” won five awards.
  • Robert Plant’s front-of-house engineer Mark Kennedy spoke to Solid State Logic about touring with Plant and Alison Krauss and creating their live sound.

Upcoming events:

2023 – The second Band Of Joy album titled “Band Of Joy Volume 2” will be released, an expanded edition of the Honeydrippers album “The Honeydrippers: Volume One” will be released and the remastered and expanded thirtieth anniversary edition of “Coverdale–Page” may be released.
February 5 – The 2023 Grammy Awards ceremony will be held. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are nominated for three awards. Also, a guitar signed by Plant will be auctioned at a charity auction.
April 25 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Shreveport, Louisiana.
April 26 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in The Woodlands, Texas.
April 28 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana.
April 29 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Pelham, Alabama.
April 30 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Huntsville, Alabama.
May 2 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Louisville, Kentucky.
May 3 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Huber Heights, Ohio.
May 5 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Kansas City, Missouri.
May 9 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Asheville, North Carolina.
May 10 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Wilmington, North Carolina.
May 11/12 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at the Echoland Music Festival in Live Oak, Florida.
May 13 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
May 15 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Charlotte, North Carolina.
May 18 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Charlottesville, Virginia.

May 27: – John Bonham Celebration III Event in Redditch

June 14 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Las Vegas, Nevada.
June 15 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Tucson, Arizona.
June 17 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Taos, New Mexico.
June 18 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado.
June 20 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Bonner, Montana.
June 28 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
June 29 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Vienna, Virginia.
July 1 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Bethel, New York.
July 2 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Lenox, Massachusetts.
July 3 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Portland, Maine.
July 5 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Toronto, Ontario.

Many thanks to James Cook

For all the latest Zep and related news check out the Led Zeppelin news website at:

http://ledzepnews.com/

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Coda tribute band at Bedford Esquires:

The always excellent Led Zeppelin tribute band Coda return to the Esquires venue in Bedford on Saturday February 11. The good lady Janet and I are aiming to be there and look forward to seeing all that can make it along.

Ticket details at these links:

https://www.bedfordesquires.co.uk/events/coda-a-tribute-to-led-zeppelin-3/?fbclid=IwAR33jcjqAYRhWr7gYVRPa878qKPcrWOn28Uo_37AtEhjSRh3td7n4EQ8vgE

shttps://www.codaledzeppelintributeband.co.uk/gigs

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TBL Archive – Led Zep 1975 Snapshot:

With the 48th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s activities in 1975 upon us -I will be celebrating this era with a series of TBL Led Zep 1975   Snapshots – these will take the form of postings covering specific gigs and events from the era, with particular spotlight on the period January to May 1975.

This is designed to track the progress of the year as it unfolded. I will also be listening to the relevant bootleg of the chosen gig on the day to add a perspective of how it sounds 48 years on.

This is where things really get going…

TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number 5

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12th, 1975

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 

Set: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/In My Time Of Dying/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/Moby Dick/Dazed And Confused (inc. San Francisco)/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Heartbreaker (inc. That’s Alright Mama).

Background Details:

Whilst in New York, for recreation, Jimmy went to see Linda Ronstadt in New Jersey with ex-James Gang member Joe Walsh.

Writer and future film director Cameron Crowe is travelling with the band with a view to arranging a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine. Crowe builds up a good rapport with the group (he later contributes the sleeve notes to The Song Remains The Same soundtrack album) and interviews all four members, finally capturing Page at the Plaza Hotel during their Madison Square stint. Page, though none too happy with the paper’s previous coverage of the group, reluctantly agrees to a group photo session after much persuasion.

Cameron Crowe remembers: “Time was running out but I got Ben Fong Torres at the magazine’s office to hold the cover. Photographer Neal Preston reserved a room at the Plaza and set up a backdrop. It was the band’s day off (February 11). The members were informed of the afternoon shoot but mysteriously that morning Page disappeared from the hotel. Plant was first to arrive at 4PM, his shirt ‘accidentally’ open, his hair ‘accidentally’ perfect, then Jones and Bonham. Joe Walsh was there with his then manager Irving Azoff to help their friend Jimmy through this most tender ordeal. Page was still nowhere to be seen.

“Finally, Page arrived. In his arms were two bouquets of dead roses – his defiant statement for the cover of Rolling Stone. He explained his delay: ‘I was looking for black roses. They exist you know!’ He looked around the room. ‘Let’s do this quickly!’

“The session began. Three of the four members of Led Zeppelin struck a conciliatory pose, but the fourth Jimmy Page – held roses and stared through the camera. It was his chilling look that made the photo. The film was rushed to the lab and I flew home to San Francisco to write up the story. I had decided it would be a question and answer feature – that’s how good the interviews were.

“The call came early next day. There had been an equipment malfunction. The film was unusable; barely exposed was a dark silhouette of what might have been a Rolling Stone cover to rival the best. The cover was hastily switched to a tinted live Preston shot. That turned out nicely – and the issue with Zeppelin on the cover was a huge seller. It’s just a shame Page’s defiant stance was never seen.”

Snapshot Listen:- How it sounded today:

I’ve had this show for some years on the audience recording Can’t Take Your Evil Ways (Diagrams Of Led Zeppelin). In 2001 it then surfaced on the Empress Valley label as Flying Circus as a very well balanced soundboard recording. This was a revelation at the time and I recall a very excited Mark Harrison ringing me to tell me how good it was. And it is good -very good indeed and playing it today the whole thing sounded great. This is the point where the US tour really began to take off.

Robert is quick to comment on the snow that was surrounding the city at the time: “We came four blocks in the snow to get here… you realise that? People were calling me on the telephone today and saying ‘Is it gonna be on?’ For a minute I was wondering about my anatomy, then I realised there was some discrepancy about the weather. Isn’t it good though that it snows? Doesn’t it change the vibe of the city? I think it’s great!”

No Quarter expands with a lovely electric piano sequence and a wah wah fest from Page that has the feel of the electric fusion Miles Davis pioneered on the likes of Bitches Brew. Trampled Underfoot has a particularly expressive solo from Page.  Dazed And Confused continues to extend with the San Francisco sequence sounding very spaced out and brief section from Walter’s Walk which would eventually surface on Coda. The outro features those West Side Story licks.

Thee final encore of Heartbreaker is preceded by some lines from You Shook Me- during the solo they move into an impromptu version of That’s Alright Mama’ A perfect end to a perfect party. Plant: “Ladies and gentlemen of New York… you’re too much… and we ain’t so bad ourselves!”

Indeed they were not….

TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number 6:

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13th, 1975

nass 1

UNIONDALE , NEW YORK

NASSAU  VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM

Set: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/In My Time Of Dying/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/Moby Dick/Dazed And Confused (inc. San Francisco)/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Roll Over Beethoven/Communication Breakdown.

Snapshot Listen:- How it sounded today:

I have this on the Throwing The Wild Seeds box set. Another fine performance. Dazed And Confused contains much improvisation. Page’s injured finger is causing less problems now. Whole Lotta Love tonight includes the theremin for the first time on the tour during a funky interlude prior to leading into ‘Black Dog’.

Ronnie Wood then on tour with The Faces, comes on for the final encore of ‘Communication Breakdown’. Robert sings a few lines of Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven while the guitars are being sorted out. Communication Breakdown itself is greatly extended and clocks in at over nine minutes with both guitarists taking solos. One of the all time great Zep jams.

 TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number 6:

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14 1975

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK

NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM

Set: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/In My Time Of Dying/Since I’ve Been Loving You/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/Moby Dick/Dazed And Confused (inc. San Francisco)/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Heartbreaker.

Background Info: Mike Tremaglio recalled: One of my friends saw this show from the 14th row.Unfortunately he could not score tickets for my brother and I – not that I held it against him as I got him tickets for the June 7 1977 New York show. We asked him to log down all the details of the Nassau show  and we  did get a blow by blow account of the new songs from Physical Graffiti a full two weeks before it was released in the U.S. His recall was tremendous and I can remember him describing  In My Time of Dying and Kashmir in real detail.

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Snapshot Listen:- How it sounds now:

I have this on the Nassau 1975 (TheDiagrams Of Led Zeppelin) audience version. I’ve been listening to this show today via the soundboard recording that surfaced a few years back as released on the Scorpio label and as part of the Godfather Throwing The Wild Seeds box set .

It’s one of my favourite performances of the 1975 US tour.

Plant is just about regaining his vocals strength after the problems of the past weeks. He is also on his spieling best form developing one of those band to audience rapports he was so good at.

Witness his opening statements:

“Today is one of the last of the pagan traditions that is carried on into the 20th Century. It’s the day for throwing the wild seeds. In fact, now they call it St. Valentine’s Day… so, happy St. Valentine’s Day! I think we should dedicate this whole show to St. Valentine.”

nas 2“Tonight, we intend to take a knife and cut right through the glorious ice cream of Led Zeppelin. You get a little bit of vanilla, a little bit of chocolate, a little bit of colour and a little bit of everything”

And more..

“We came here in a state of ah, Jimmy managed to get to sleep at three o’clock this afternoon, and he was up again at four thirty. So we didn’t really know whether we had the strength to walk on the stage, but we have, and it’s feeling good. We were, we spent a few hours with St. Valentine last night, you see?”

The playing throughout is wonderfully loose and informal and there’s another great moment as Plant is introducing No Quarter” Page plays the opening notes to Train Kept A-Rollin.  “We’re going through our whole live history here, just flashing on different numbers” Plant adds.

The set list is notable for the inclusion of Since I’ve Been Loving played live for the first time since the 1973 US tour. Plant: “Who knows what it’s gonna sound like, but it’s something we really used to dig playing”. There’s a masterful ad-lib during the song where he sings the ‘I’m about to lose my worried mind” refrian and adds ”I seem to remember I used to say for five minutes”

”This is one that regulars that come here know quite well…but you’ve still yet to hear the recorded version…this is a track about another of life’s journeys that never end..this time in Kashmir”

Kashmir was a number that they were obviously itching to play live and with Plant’s voice suitably recovered they turned in a majestic Valentines’ Day performance in Nassau. Page strumming down relentlessly on the Gibson behind Bonham’s castinet like drumming.

Plant showing renewed confidence to throw in the echoed vocal nuances that became such an Earls Court trademark. Listening to this delivery re emphasis my opinion that the best live versions of Kashmir  were all played in the year it was released on record.

No Quarter features John Paul Jones at his best tonight and his improvisation takes the number to 20 minutes in duration.

Dazed And Confused is a marathon 30 minute plus excursion and the encore delivery of Heartbreaker leads into an impromptu version of Elvis’ Mess Of Blues

Tangerine was of course a surprise inclusion at the Earls Court shows performed as a four part harmony. However perhaps they were already toying with the idea of bringing it back during the American tour. For on this night prior to Stairway To Heaven Plant let out a few lines from the long deleted Zep III stage fave. ”Measuring a summers day”…adding ”I’ve forgotten the words”. It was a brief teaser for a song that would again light up those memorable May days to come.

The prelude to Earls Court was on – and the course was a very favourable one …

Dave Lewis –February 9 2023

To be continued…

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Valentine’s Day:

February 14th has been the date of a fair few Zep related happenings over the years, not least for it being the second night of the aforementioned and rightly acclaimed Nassau Coliseum gigs in 1975. This show has been released as a soundboard recording, notably on Godfatherecords recent box set Throwing The Wild Seeds. The 6 CD box set also has the previous night’s recording when they were joined on stage by Ronnie Wood for an encore performance of Communication Breakdown

Exactly a year previously in 1974 Jimmy took to the stage to join Roy Harper. I did consider going to this but was slow on the tickets and had to make do with the consolation of Roy’s very fine album Valentine which I purchased the day it came out ( I need to sort that one out and play it today) – Here’s the gen from this one:


THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14 1974 – LONDON RAINBOW THEATRE

Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham are all in attendance for Roy Harper’s St. Valentine’s Day concert. Jimmy, resplendent in a Chinese jacket decorated with hummingbirds, joins Roy’s all star band comprising Keith Moon (drums), Ronnie Lane (bass) and Max Middleton (keyboards) for numbers including ‘Same Old Rock’ (playing a Martin acoustic), ‘Male Chauvinist Pig Blues’ and ‘Home’ (playing the Gibson Les Paul) and ‘Too Many Movies’. ‘Home’ includes a cameo appearance from John Bonham who comes on strumming an acoustic guitar, dressed in a red jacket and black tights and sporting a pork pie hat. Finally, Robert Plant strolls on at the end to act as MC to declare to the crowd: “Ladies and Gentlemen – Roy Harper!!”

Some of this set was later issued on Roy’s ‘Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion’ double album. Harper dubbed this one-off line-up as The Intergalactic Elephant Band.

Jimmy Page: “We maybe played a few wrong notes here and there, but what the hell -the spirit of the thing was great.”

……………

Fast forward to Valentine’s Day 2007. On that day Robert Plant regrouped The Honeydrippers for a special charity and birthday performance for long time soundman the late great Roy Williams. Staged at the JB’s club in Dudley, it was a memorable night which I was lucky enough to attend. This piece is dedicated to Roy who sadly passed away in 2020.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14TH 2007. RETURN OF THE HONEYDRIPPERS –JB’S DUDLEY

Set List:

Mess Of Blues, Little Sister, She Little Sheila, Gonna Work Out Fine, Black Magic Woman, I’ve Been Loving You, Put A Spell On You, Big Log, Down In The Bottom,Can’t Be Satisfied, Rattlesnake Shake, Crossroads, Big Hunk Of Love, Daddy Rolling Stone, Encores: Stormy Monday/ I Can’t Quit You Babe, I’m Comin’ Home, What I’d Say.

Here’s the DL diary entry from the day after:

Honeydrippers Rockola and surprise Beckola in the Midlands:

Just back from a whirlwind stop over in Dudley to catch The Return Of The Honeydrippers charity show at JB’s Club. And quite a night it was. Mike Sanchez and The Big Town Playboys got the evening off to a suitably rocking start with an hour long set of pure roughshod rock’n’roll aided by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester. Before the main event there was a real surprise. Jeff Beck strolled on the stage, white Statocaster in hand to perform three instrumental jams supported by a two man rhythm section with the Playboys Ian Jennings on bass. Looking for all the world like he’d stepped off the set of that famous Yardbirds club appearance in the Blow Up film, he proceeded to deliver those familiar guitar histrionics that has carved his legend. The total surprise element in viewing one of the pioneering guitarists of all time, right there just a few feet away was absolutely startling. Scrubbing the axe for all it’s worth, finger picking up the fret – this was a masterclass of electric guitar playing. This man still has it … In droves.

Then followed the return of The Honeydrippers. Witnessing the singer back among friends, effortlessly guiding the enthusiastic audience through the backwaters of his record collection was a total joy. Highlights: The back to back Elvis Mess of Blues/Little Sister opening, Robert taking a backing vocal role to Mo Birch’s lead on Gonna Work Out Fine, a beautifully laid back Black Magic Woman, a nostalgic Big Log with Robbie Blunt recreating the spirit of ’83, Muddy’s Just Can’t Be Satisfied with Robert on harp and a vibrant Daddy Rolling Stone with great back up vocals from Mo and Nadia Pearson. In the encores they even did a version of Delaney And Bonnie’s Comin’ Home, one of my all time faves and a single I brought when it first came out back in 1970.

Forget The Police and anyone else rumoured to be reforming … 26 years to the day of their first gig, The Honeydrippers made this the only reunion worth talking about around these parts … and provided a memorable 60th birthday for sound engineer Roy Williams.

DL – February 15th 2007.

The latter statement was a bit of a long shot because at the time there were no rumours of what was to follow come December. Little did I realise the extraordinary events that would unfold in the coming months – with all roads eventually leading to the 02 Arena and that night of nights..…

More feedback of the gig via these original TBL website tour watch posts:

This review by Colin Martin Rumors were flying all day as who would be performing alongside Robert on the 26th anniversary of the first Honeydrippers concert. Jimmy Page? Jeff Beck? Inside JB’s watching people mingling around. I soon spotted Bernie Mardsen and then Bev Bevan. After asking Bev was he performing he said no and Bernie said maybe. Soon The Big Town Playboys and MIke Sanchez (featuring Clive Deamer on drums) were blazing away through their own brand of rock and roll songs when Jeff Beck was spotted walking up the stairs alongside the stage. After agreat set by the Playboys the MC announces a special guest slot. On walks Jeff Beck along with bassist and drummer and precedes to play some storming guitar work. Its amazing to see the speed of his fingers over the strings.

In no time at all his short set was over and finished. And then the headliner strolls on to stage. Looking relaxed and slimmer that at Kidderminster. Soon talking to the crowd about the various songs and the association Robert has to them. Same musicians as at Kidderminster, however, it was featuring more front line vocals from Mo Birch. Robert and Mo had to switch microphones at one stage as she still had Robert’s mic after her lead. Again highlight of the evening was the interaction between Robert and Robbie Blunt on Big Log. Before the band kicked off again with the encores Robert wished soundman Roy Williams a happy birthday. The only question left was who would play on the encores and the answer was only a guest drummer, an unannounced youngster. And then it was all over until next time. See expressandstar.com for photos and film of the show. In the report it states Clive Deamer played with Jeff Beck. This is incorrect. Drummer was unannounced.

This review by Trevor Wilkinson Good to see you at JB’s and what a great show! Mike Sanchez at his usual greatness rocking the house and then a fantastic surprise as Jeff Beck appeared and blew the audience away. RP was very relaxed and obviously enjoying himself performing music from his roots, he also looked fitter and somewhat leaner than he’s been for a while so maybe he’s been taking advantage of the mild spells over the last couple of months and playing a bit of tennis in Stourbridge. Big Log and a few musical Zep references were well received by the capacity audience. After show party was nice and laid back with some tasty crisps and munchies as well as plenty of Midlands musos and the Strange Sensation lads in attendance. Hope there’s gonna be some more real soon.

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More Valentine’s Day:

Next Tuesday is Valentine’s Day… 

I  have a playlist that that randomly sequences the more wistful and romantic  side of Zep, Page & Plant moments – it includes

Tangerine, Moonlight In Samosa, Wonderful One, The Greatest Gift, That’s The Way, When I Was A Child, Like I’ve Never Been Gone, Ten Years Gone, Come Into My Life, Down By The Seaside, Stick With Me Baby, Blue Train, I’m Gonna Crawl, Heart In Your Hand, Thank You, The Rain Song, Song To The Siren, Going To California, In The Light, I Believe, Ship of Fools, Sea Of Love, Please Read The Letter, Our Song, All My Love, Thank You etc – you get the idea.

Aside from Zep, I’d list Frank Sinatra’s In The Wee Small Hours, Burt Bacharach’s Hitmaker, Otis Redding Otis Blue, Dusty Springfield In Memphis and David Bowie’s Young Americans as definitive Valentine’s Day play.

In the light of all that here’s the DL Valentine’s playlist –  some of the most romantic and deeply touching love songs ever written in the view of your TBL editor:

Ten Years Gone – Led Zeppelin

True Love Ways -Buddy Holly

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

Full Moon –Sandy Denny

Lay Lady Lay – Bob Dylan

Northern Sky –Nick Drake

Oh My Love –John Lennon

Come In To My Life – Robert Plant

Cupid – Sam Cooke

Our House – Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Tangerine –Led Zeppelin

I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing – Aerosmith

If I Can’t Have You -Yvonne Elliman

You Make Loving Fun – Fleetwood Mac

Kate Bush – The Man With The Child In His Eyes

And I Love Her – The Beatles

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Rod Stewart

If Not For You – Bob Dylan

God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

Do What You Gotta Do – The Four Tops

Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever -Bryan Ferry

You Are Everything – Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye

Baby I Love Your Way – Peter Frampton

Nobody Loves You Like I Do – Greg Lake

Ship Of Fools – Robert Plant

The Rain Song – Led Zeppelin

Here, There And Everywhere – The Beatles

Angie – The Rolling Stones

I’m Gonna Crawl – Led Zeppelin

Word On A Wing – David Bowie

The Greatest Gift – Robert Plant

Something – The Beatles

Wonderful One – Jimmy Page & Robert Plant

I’d Have  You Anytime – George Harrison

Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney

No More Lonely Nights – Paul McCartney

Head Start To Happiness – The Style Council

You’re The Best Thing – The Style Council

Tiny Dancer – Elton John

Thank You – Led Zeppelin

Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix

Forever Young – Bob Dylan

Winter – The Rolling Stones

If You Really Want To Be My Friend – The Rolling Stones

We’ve Only Just Begun – The Carpenters

I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Otis Redding

Let’s Get It On -Marvin Gaye

Still In Love With You – Thin Lizzy

Loving You – Minnie Riperton

Help Me – Joni Mitchell

Love Song – Lesley Duncan

Loving And Free – Kiki Dee

One For My Baby –Frank Sinatra

The Look of Love – Dusty Springfield

The Faces  – Love Lived Here

Your Song – Elton John

Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin

Can You Hear Me? – David Bowie

I’ll Be There – Bobby Darin

You Do Something To Me -Paul Weller

All My Love – Led Zeppelin

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DL Diary Blog Update:

Thursday February 2:

DL charity shop finds:
You cannot leave these in the racks at 50p each…
Friday February 3:
We said goodbye to our great friend Ian Dixon’s Mum Rosemary this morning.
Ian worked with me at the Our Price store in Bedford back in the mid 90s –one of his first jobs. He went on to work at the MVC record store and head office. Ian also has a real passion for writing and has contributed some superb pieces for the TBL mag and website.
His Mum Rosemary had such a zest for life and music and was so young at heart. Both Rosemary and Ian were ardent Donovan fans seeing him in concert and meeting him many times. They were in attendance at the Donavan show I attended in June 2011 at the Royal Albert Hall when Jimmy Page came on stage.
Rosemary and Ian were also massive Fairport Convention fans again seeing them regularly – and they were at the memorable Fairport gig at the St Albans Arena that I attended in February 2019 when the support act was Robert Plant with Saving Grace – incidentally, Ian tells me Rosemary’s favourite Zep songs were Over The Hills and Far Away and Kashmir.
Fittingly Donavan’s music and words graced the service – the lilting There is an Ocean was played and lyrics were read out from his song Deep Peace. Ian spoke so eloquently about his Mum in a moving but often humorous eulogy – just the way she would have liked it.
There were two other songs played – George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass and Fairport Convention’s Meet On The Ledge.
Now I’ve heard these songs countless times and they are two of my favourites but rarely have they sounded so poignant than this morning.
The latter was the final part of the funeral service and when Sandy Denny’s beautiful voice echoed the evocative line ‘’Too many friends who tried, blown off this mountain with the wind ’’ my eyes filled with tears and I wasn’t the only one…
RIP Rosemary – Ian did you proud…
We’re gonna meet on the ledge. It all comes round again…
Friday February 3:
Thinking of Jez Firth today and remembering many great times in his company over many years…such a wonderfully enthusiastic Led Zeppelin fan and so much more…and a great supporter of all my TBL books and mags….
RIP Jez…

Saturday January 4:

Saturday is platterday – celebrating the great drummer Jerry Shirley’s Birthday today so on the player Humble Pie’s Eat It double album which he plays excellently on…

Saturday January 4:

Saturday is platterday – celebrating his Birthday today so on the player the rather splendid Alice Cooper Schools Out album which I bought when it came out in June 1972 at Harlequin Records in Bedford… over 50 years ago…

Saturday January 4:

It’s a Happy Birthday to the great Alice Cooper –After hearing the single I brought the Schools Out album the week it came out in June 1972 and I was totally captivated from then on…

I’ve been lucky enough to meet him on a couple of occasions – backstage at the Reading Festival when I interviewed him in 1988 and at the Classic Rock Awards in 2011 when this pic was taken – on both occasions he was fantastic company…
Saturday January 4:
Dave and Amanda have a fab engagement party tonight you lovely people!
Sunday February 5:
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester City 0 – that will do nicely and record breaker Harry Kane…
Tuesday February 7:

It’s a Happy Birthday to Deborah Bonham – have many a treasured memory of being in this lovely lady’s company…Happy Birthday Deb!

Wednesday February 8:

The new issue of Classic Rock is in the house – and a very poignant cover…

Thursday February 9:
 
It’s a Happy 60th Birthday to Mr Gary Foy – long time Led Zeppelin fan, massive support to me and all things TBL over many years and all round top man. I have shared many a memorable moment with Gary in following the fortunes of the musicians that have shaped our lives.
Happy Birthday from Janet and I -have a great day mate…
Update here:
Got to be honest, I’m struggling mentally this week with all that’s going on right now. Regrettably, the black dog of depression has descended and for the first time in many months I have succumbed to it’s threat. Once again there’s been tears behind the smiles and I am trying to work my way out of it but it’s not easy. I am not looking for  sympathy as there are so many worse off than me that is for sure. There is a lot to do here to keep me focused with a podcast interview later today and various other things – and Janet and I are looking forward to attending the Coda gig in Bedford on Saturday. So the mantra has to be ever onward and I’ll be aiming for fulfill that premise…
Ahead of his funeral next Monday which I am aiming to attend , a touching tribute page has been set up for our late great friend and record collecting comrade Alastair Chorlton – it can be viewed at the link below.
https://alastairchorlton.muchloved.com
Thanks for listening

Until next time…

Dave  Lewis –  February 9 2023 

TBL website updates written and compiled by Dave Lewis

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