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NEW ISSUE OF RECORD COLLECTOR WITH 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PHYSICAL GRAFFITI COVER FEATURE/LZ NEWS/LED ZEPPELIN 1 – IT WAS 56 YEARS AGO/LZ NEWS/1975 SNAPSHOT/MY SEVEN NIGHTS WITH ZEP IN 1977/ROBERT PLANT LEICESTER 1988/VICTORIA VIP RECORD FAIR/DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE

22 January 2025 952 views No Comment
New issue of Record Collector with 50th Anniversary Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti cover feature out this week...
Back in early September last year, Paul Lester the editor of Record Collector got in touch to ask me if there was much scope on a feature marking 50th anniversary of the release of Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti.
My reply was yes there was a lot of scope and we began formulating ideas for a major front cover feature.
The were a fair few twists and turns along the way and I’ve lived with all this quite intensively since October. In early December I visited the Record Collector offices to meet with Paul plus designer Val Cutts and we worked out how we would fill the planned 14 pages we had at our disposal.
It all began to take shape in the last month when the designed pages were sent over to check.
The end result of this work can be seen from this Thursday Janaury 23 when this new issue goes on sale.
This is the first major Led Zeppelin feature in Record Collector since the August 2018 issue when Mike Tremaglio and I compiled the 50 Greatest Zep Concerts feature around the time of the publishing of our Evenings With Led Zeppelin book. As usual I asked Mike to act as a consultant on this latest Zep feature and his advice was invaluable.
So here’s what’s in store:
The centrepiece is a 4,000 word essay by yours truly on the complex making of Physical Graffiti and how they mined their studio archive to extend the project to 15 songs.
There’s an additional side story about the day I bought Physical Graffiti back in February 1975
Plus a playlist of the albums that Led Zep took influence from when constructing the songs that made Physical Graffiti such a landmark release.
Add to that a superb overview by noted journalist David Stubbs of how the epic double album stands up in today’s modern market and why it still induces shock and awe some 50 years on.
There’s also a two page spread of Physical Graffiti related memorabilia collated by myself, the renowned Zep vinyl collector Nick Anderson and Zep memorabilia expert Mark Mcfall of the website https://zepfan.com/
To round it off, Nick Anderson has compiled an extensive two and a half page selected Physical Graffiti discography.
The great cover shot of Jimmy Page on stage during their American tour in early 1975 was taken by Larry Ratner who produced the Live Dreams photo book back in 1994. More of Larry’s rarely seen photos are included in the feature.
All in all, this is a comprehensive summary of what many consider to be Led Zeppelin’s definitive work.
The varied content will shine an enlightening spotlight on what it was that made Physical Graffiti such a monumental release – and why 50 years on it’s held in such high esteem….
We hope this cover story feature will take you back to this very special Led Zeppelin release all of 50 years ago with renewed perspective..
The new issue is available in the shops in the UK and online via Record Collector from this Thursday.
This issue is in the shops now and can also be ordered via the Record Collector website at the link below:

https://recordcollectormag.com/issues-list

UPDATE JANUARY 23:

New issue of Record Collector with 50th Anniversary Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti cover feature out now…

As can be seen the new issue of Record Collector is on the shelves now..

Having been on this particular Record Collector journey since last September it was a great feeling to go into WH Smith this morning and see the end result.

This is the first major Led Zeppelin feature in Record Collector since the August 2018 issue when Mike Tremaglio and I compiled the 50 Greatest Zep Concerts feature around the time of the publishing of our Evenings With Led Zeppelin book. As usual I asked Mike to act as a consultant on this latest Zep feature and his advice was invaluable.

It’s been a joy to work on all this with the Record Collector team including editor Paul Lester and designer Val Cutts plus Zep vinyl expert Nick Anderson. We are all very pleased with the end result.

The aim of this 14 page Record Collector feature is to l take you back to this very special Led Zeppelin release all of 50 years ago with renewed perspective..

So my advice is invest in this new issue and get ready to pull out that celebrated double album and fully immerse yourself in the world of Physical Graffiti…

Dave Lewis  – January 23 2025

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LZ News

Led Zeppelin News Update:

Here’s the latest round up from LZ News:

Led Zeppelin

The latest ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ update

There are 17 days to go until “Becoming Led Zeppelin” opens in the UK, US and Canada.

To promote the film, a clip has been released showing the members of Led Zeppelin recalling their first rehearsal.

“The room just exploded,” John Paul Jones says in the clip. “I’d never heard anything like it. I was expecting some cool soul singer and then there’s this screaming manic with this fantastic voice, a fantastic range.”

A still image from a film taken of John Bonham’s wedding on February 19, 1966 (Sony Pictures Classics)

The film’s US distributor also released a still from John Bonham’s wedding film, showing a 17-year-old Bonham marrying Pat Phillips in 1966.

We’ve been tracking some interesting promotional aspects of the film’s release. A premiere event is being held in New Jersey on January 29 which seems to be the earliest possible date anyone can see the film. There is currently a competition being run to win tickets for the event.

Sony is encouraging people to take photos next to cinema lobby adverts for the film and tag Sony Pictures Classics next to the different designs of adverts. So far, it doesn’t appear that anyone has actually done this and the online store for Ron Raffaelli’s prints that is shown on the adverts hasn’t opened yet.

A post shared by @sonyclassics

We spotted that the film will be shown at Olympic Studios in London, the building where Led Zeppelin frequently recorded beginning with the band’s first album.

Stockholm is going big on ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ with photographer Ed Finnell giving a talk before the first screening of the film in the city at the Capitol cinema on February 7 and an exhibition including previously unseen photos being held from February 8 to February 13 (more on that soon).

On February 20, a screening of the film will take place in Bantam, Connecticut which will be followed by a Q&A with Lez Zeppelin founder and guitarist Steph Paynes.

Over in Mexico, the Centro Cultural Futurama in Mexico City is hosting a “Led Zeppelin Day” on January 25 with a screening of footage of Led Zeppelin’s Royal Albert Hall 1970 show and an exhibition of memorabilia.

We’re just over two weeks away from the film’s release and Led Zeppelin remains silent about the impending global premiere of an authorised documentary about the band. The band’s website and social media accounts remain silent and we haven’t heard any rumours of the band helping to promote the film.

rumour on Reddit claims that Jimmy Page has been on holiday with his girlfriend in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean this month. No evidence was provided, but we know that Page visited the country in the past.

Sony Pictures Classics, the film’s US distributor, has spent weeks tagging Led Zeppelin in posts about the film, even tagging all of the individual band member’s profiles. The band hasn’t interacted with any of the posts or shared them.


How a rainstorm transformed Led Zeppelin’s Tampa 1977 show into a riot

A ticket for the June 3, 1977 Led Zeppelin performance in Tampa, Florida (eBay/ClaudeUSA Collectibles)

Earlier today, we published a new longread on Led Zeppelin’s notorious June 3, 1977 performance in Tampa, Florida that was cut short after just three songs because of a rainstorm.

We obtained more than 200 pages of police records from the Tampa Police Department that allowed us to track minute by minute how the weather caused a riot inside and around the stadium.

The City of Tampa wins the award for the most responsive organisation to a records request by LedZepNews. One day after we asked for any files on the riot, a city employee wrote back to us: “There wasn’t one main report that was done. It is close to 30 different reports that were written. If you would like the reports, i will send you an invoice.”

That’s a stark contrast to organisation like the New York Police Department that typically take at least six months to reply to any records requests – and sometimes their only response is a letter saying they don’t have any records.


Significantly upgraded Chicago 1971 footage was published online

Significantly upgraded footage of Led Zeppelin performing in Chicago, Illinois on September 5, 1971 was published online following a new high resolution transfer of the film.

The footage, originally shot by Bob Millea, was shared on LedZepFilm’s YouTube channel.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant attended Johnnie Walker funeral

Robert Plant and his partner Dawn Anglin attended the funeral of radio DJ Johnnie Walker in Shaftesbury, Dorset on January 17, according to press photographs and articles about the funeral.

Outside the church, Plant posed for a photograph with television presenter Suzi Perry.


Robert Plant visited Ireland

Robert Plant and his partner Dawn Anglin spent part of the festive period in Killarney, Ireland, according to a local news report.

Killarney Today published a photograph of Plant, Anglin and the manager of a hotel.

A post shared by @aghadoeheights

Plant and his partner reportedly spent New Year’s Eve in the area and they “embarked on a number of hikes and strolls in Killarney and they also took the time to visit Dingle and Kenmare and tour part of the Ring of Kerry,” the site reported.

Upcoming events:

  • Early 2025 – Jimmy Page’s amp company Sundragon will release its new Nymph amps.
  • January 23 – The February 2025 issue of Record Collector magazine that includes a feature on Led Zeppelin in 1975 will be published.
  • January 25 – The Centro Cultural Futurama in Mexico City will host a Led Zeppelin Day.
  • January 29 – A premiere screening of ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will take place in New Jersey.
  • January 31 – A Japanese translation of the book ‘Beast: John Bonham and the Rise of Led Zeppelin’ will be published.
  • February – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will be released in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
  • February 5 – Early access screenings of ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will begin in the US and Canada and the film will be released in the UK.
  • February 7 – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will be released in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Norway.
  • February 8 – An exhibition containing unseen photos of Led Zeppelin will open in Stockholm’s Oak Island Gallery.
  • February 13 – An exhibition containing unseen photos of Led Zeppelin will close in Stockholm’s Oak Island Gallery.
  • February 14 – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will be released nationwide in the US.
  • February 20 – Lez Zeppelin guitarist Steph Paynes will give a Q&A following a screening of ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ in Bantam, Connecticut.
  • February 26 – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will be released in France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
  • February 27 – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will be released in Italy and The Netherlands.
  • March 3 – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will be released in Denmark.
  • March 18 – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ is likely to be released in Germany and Austria.
  • Spring 2025 – An expanded version of Live at the Greek, the live album featuring Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes, is due to be released.
  • May 3 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Brussels, Belgium.
  • May 5 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
  • May 6 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • May 8 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • May 9 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Malmö, Sweden.
  • May 11 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • May 14 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Oslo, Norway.
  • May 16 – ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ could be released in further cinemas around this date and Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • May 18 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Tampere, Finland.
  • May 19 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Helsinki, Finland.
  • May 21 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Tallinn, Estonia.
  • May 23 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Vilnius, Lithuania.
  • June – The book “Rock Visions”, which has a chapter on Led Zeppelin memorabilia, will be published.
  • July 10 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace at Festival de Poupet in Saint-Malô-du-Bois, France.
  • July 17 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Vienne, France.
  • July 19 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Salon-de-Provence, France.
  • July 21 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace at the Jazz in Marciac festival in Marciac, France.
  • July 23 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace at Festival de Carcassonne in Carcassonne, France.
  • September 11 – The book “Valhalla!: The A to Z of Led Zeppelin” by Paul Brannigan will be published.
  • October – John Paul Jones’ song cycle for Dame Sarah Connolly will premiere in London.

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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Becoming Led Zeppelin Countdown: Wednesday January 22:

TBL countdown to the screenings of the Becoming Led Zeppelin film – 14 days to go and counting…
Jimmy Page in 969 – official photo via Sony Pictures ©2025ParadisePicturesLtd
Becoming Led Zeppelin explores the origins of this iconic group and their meteoric rise in just one year against all the odds. Powered by awe-inspiring, psychedelic, never-before-seen footage, performances, and music, Bernard MacMahon’s experiential cinematic odyssey explores Led Zeppelin’s creative, musical, and personal origin story. The film is told in Led Zeppelin’s own words and is the first officially sanctioned film on the group.
Tickets for the UK cinema release of Becoming Led Zeppelin are now on sale. After an exclusive IMAX release on February 5 & 6, the Led Zeppelin documentary will open in UK cinemas nationwide from February 7.
Tickets are available to buy here:

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Led Zeppelin 1 – it was 56 years ago this week.. to mark the 56th anniversary of the debut Led Zeppelin here’s some facts, figures and thoughts on it all…

January 20, 1969 – Led Zeppelin debut album released:

Despite often being attributed to either Sunday, January 12, 1969 or Friday, January 17, 1969, the correct “official” release date of the debut album might well have been Monday, January 20, 1969. As Mike Tremaglio flagged to me a while back – this release date was referenced in an Atlantic Records memo accompanying white label advance LPs issued to radio stations by June Harris on December 30, 1968.

The album debuted on the Billboard charts at #99 on February 15, 1969 and peaked at #10 on May 17, 1969. It managed to stay in the top twenty LPs for 30 consecutive weeks, from March 8, 1969 through September 27, 1969

Many thanks Mike for that info.

Here’s one of the first reviews of the album:

January 25, 1969 – Press Review:

Go magazine (first album review):

Led Zeppelin (Atlantic): This is the new group that Jimmy Page has formed after the demise of The Yardbirds. Their first album is a blockbuster. The sound centers around hard, tough blues. You can’t help getting caught up in its excitement and drive. The one track on the album which really spotlights the group and what it’s going to do is Babe I’m Gonna Leave You. It’s a beautiful hard blues piece which has a mesmerizing quality. Led Zeppelin is something you shouldn’t miss.

 

 

 

On the player…

…thoughts on listening to Led Zeppelin I:

GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES
At two minutes, 43 seconds, this is a perfectly compact overture to set the scene. Bonham and Jones hold down a powerful and inventive rhythm section, and when the time comes, Jimmy flexes the Telecaster (played through a Leslie speaker to create that soaring effect) in a late Yardbirds-era fashion. From the onset though, it’s Robert Plant’s vocal that strikes home instantly. He executes all manner of vocal somersaults with the lyric but never loses control. Bonham’s intricate bass drum patterns, the rolling bass lines from Jones and Page’s fluttering guitar solo were all applied with a gusto that still completely overwhelms. Memories of the 02…

BABE I’M GONNA LEAVE YOU
Within three minutes of this album playing we have an acoustic guitar – proof that this band were not going to be all about Marshall amplifiers. The tension here is tangible – the first flowering of light and shade – there would be much more to come…

YOU SHOOK ME

Willie Dixon’s’ blues played with what was then a new found dynamism. The expansiveness of the whole sound here is still incredible. An early example of Jimmy’s mastery of the studio. From Jones’ swirling organ through Plant’s harmonica wailing to the point where Jimmy’s solo cascades around Bonzo’s stereo panned tom-tom attack, this is prime vintage Zeppelin. And the final incessant by-play between Page and Plant that leads out of the track is a another masterful production technique, and one that would be further emphasized on stage.

DAZED AND CONFUSED
Straight into Dazed…based on Jake Holmes original composition. As we all know Jimmy and co were not adverse to borrowing a few licks here and there as much as they were often derivative it always came out sounding completely fresh. Again the interplay amongst them all is just breathtakingly….flippin heck they were good….

Turn over…side two…

YOUR TIME IS GONNA COME

Electric guitars, acoustic guitars and then church like Hammond organ and what an intro…

This showcases how important John Paul Jones was going to be – beautiful acoustic guitar overtones, incredible vocal, John Bonham so inventive in his playing…and that heavy chorus – not to mention some sublime pedal steel guitar – they just had everything….

BLACK MOUNTAIN SIDE

The fade into this is another stunning moment. The melody on this Page virtuoso acoustic guitar instrumental owes more than a passing nod to a traditional folk song sung in the folk clubs by Anne Briggs. It was recorded by both John Renbourn, and Bert Jansch, The piece also featured a rare cameo appearance from tabla player Viram Jasani.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Bang….Communication Breakdown – the energy is just phenomenal – come on! Punk Rock before it was invented..
I will never ever forget them performing this in front of my very eyes as a surprise encore on the final night at Earls Court….

I CAN’T QUIT YOU BABY
Crystal clear ambient sound here – John Bonham right upfront in the mix… Jimmy is just incredible …

HOW MANY MORE TIMES

That jazz intro is another moment as is Jimmy’s slashing wah wah – and then it’s off into all manner of fun…Oh Rosie ,The Hunter..phew!.

SUMMARY:

56 years on this album has lost none of its unique power. Led Zeppelin would go on to make more inventive and adventurous records but this first recorded statement is a blueprint for what would follow.

 

You can never have too much of a great thing:

Some of the Led Zeppelin I pressings I’ve accumulated over the years. You can of course never have too many.

A truly iconic sleeve design and a truly iconic album – now all of 56 years old and sounding as fresh as ever…go and play it now and I think you will agree….

Dave Lewis – January 20 2025

 

 

 

TBL Archive Special: 

TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number Three & Four

TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot Three:

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29 1975

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

THE 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/How Many More Times/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Communication Breakdown.

Something of lacklustre performance. The strain was showing with Jimmy, John Paul and Bonzo having risen very early and flown coast to coast (against the time changes) from Los Angeles to reach Greensboro in time. Robert, who flew in from Chicago, would probably have benefited from another day in bed. The show is now condensed even further by the removal of ‘The Wanton Song’ from the set list. Levee has also been dropped.

Chris Charlesworth remembers the aftermath:  “About five hundred fans attempted to storm the rear of the building, throwing broken bottles, stones and pieces of scaffolding. Three of the group’s five limousines were severely damaged, and the drivers of the other two – which were parked inside the building – wanted to take their cars away. Peter Grant wasn’t having that… oh no! He actually offered to buy them on the spot for cash, but after a ‘discussion’ the drivers had no alternative but to let him have them.

“The group and entourage had to make a very quick getaway within seconds of the final encore. Grant took the wheel of the first limo with the band and Richard Cole inside, and everybody else piled into the second. With a Police escort, sirens blazing, at speeds of up to 70 mph in a heavily built-up area, Grant led the way, driving through red lights and on the wrong side of the road.

“It was incredible to be involved in scenes like that… Peter was just unflappable. When we got to the plane he got out and kicked the car really hard. ‘Fucking useless pile of junk!’ he shouted. ‘Way off tune… my old Bently goes twice as fast!’ We all just stood there laughing… totally exhilerated by it all. Then we flew back to New York and the band checked in the Plaza. It was a very tiring day. Unforgettable!”

Snapshot Listen – how it sounds now: 

I have this recording on the Footstomping Graffiti double CD (No label). Noisy but fairly clear audience tape.

Lacklustre at times but still some inspired moments. Robert is clearly struggling which is evident in his between song patter -his voice is straining even when talking.  Jimmy takes a while to get in the swing but is well on it by No Quarter which now running at 16 minutes and heading for greatness (Jimmy’s finger is cool” says Plant defiantly at one point).

The new material goes down well with Trampled particularly vibrant. At 18 minutes, Moby Dick provides a rest for Page and Plant (”John Bonham Moby Dick – Mr Physical Graffiti!” How Many More Times has a few elements of Dazed creeping in. Stairway again proves it’s worth and is something of a saving grace. Whole Lotta Love/Black Dog and Communication Breakdown ( the latter with Jimmy thrashing the hell out of the wah wah pedal) provide a valiant encore finale…and valiant is a good description overall for another challenging performance, given the physical drawbacks they were experiencing.

TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot Four:

FRIDAY JANUARY 31 1975

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

OLYMPIA STADIUM

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/How Many More Times (inc. The Hunter – The Lemon Song)/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog.

“Good evening! It’s our great pleasure to be just about back!” Plant’s opening comment sums up the gig quite accurately. The band were slowly returning to form.

”Tonight we intend to cover the spectrum of a lot of the varying music that we’ve been doing for the last seven years. As we go though this spectrum we want to include some of the new stuff from Physical Graffiti, the LP that comes out soon” (love Robert’s use of the word LP – so quaint).

Plant explains the problem with Jimmy’s finger and joked that… “The bone on his wedding ring finger is bust and that’s a real drag because if he was to get married now, he couldn’t get a ring on”. Bonzo was introduced tonight, as he would be many times on the tour, as “Mr Ultraviolence!”, a reference to the Clockwork Orange style suits that both he and his assistant Mick Hinton wore throughout the tour. This is preceded by Plant’s claim that John is ”The man who made Led Zeppelin a legend.”

Snapshot Listen – how it sounds now: 

From the double CD Just About Back – a slightly muffled audience tape but good for the time. The title deriving from Plant’s opening comments ”It’s our great pleasure to be just about back”. Just about back they are with the similar problems from Greensboro in evidence. This though is an altogether livelier showing – Page is particularly inventive on Over The Hills and despite the vocal range shortcomings, Plant attacks In My Time Of Dying and Kashmir with much verve. How Many More Times has it’s final delivery and it’s a solid free flowing performance. All roads would now lead back to the Garden as New York was the next stop off – and when it came to New York, well they were all no doubt aware that they had a reputation to maintain…

DL

Summary: I’m with TBL contributor Andy Crofts view that the January 1975  Zep shows, though far from perfect, offer some quirky unusual set lists and performances. Here’s what Andy said in his piece on the tour in TBL 36- plus his ten notable moments listing from this period:

In my opinion Led Zeppelin’s  January 1975 performances have had a lot if unfair bad press. Musically the band  are fine, and they show us the kind of gig the band had in mind before the reality of touring the US in 1975 got the better of them. If they are rusty, they are also working hard, to put on a professional show each night. To my ear, these shows ‘cut the crap’ in the same way that they band would do – and stick to – in 1980. It makes for a refreshing listen and a fine contrast to the grandstanding that begins to take over once they reach Madison Square Garden in February….of which more next time.

Meanwhile, my advice is that you search out some of these January 1975 performances and prepare to be surprised that far from being overly sick again…Led Zeppelin were often on a very favourable night flight

Ten Notable Moments from January 1975:

Here are ten notable performances from January 1975 that demonstrate the band striving to give it their all after a lengthy period away from the stage……and despite some physical restrictions.

greens one

January 12th (Brussels): When The Levee Breaks.

Ok, it doesn’t quite work, but this is by far the best chance to hear this song live.

January 12th (Brussels): The Song Remains The Same

The drums are off at the beginning, but it soon settles down into a fast-paced and well-controlled version.

January 12th (Brussels): The Wanton Song

Another rare one. It’s a shame they dropped it. This version is strongly played and sung, and the solo – while varying from the album version – gets better the more I listen.

January 22nd (Chicago): How Many More Times

Probably the best version of this for 1975, and certainly the best sounding. Jimmy and Robert work together well here, just like the old days, a fact acknowledged by Robert at the end.

January 22nd (Chicago): Stairway To Heaven

The recording has a few glitches, but this is a fine version, with Plant making a big effort and a scorching guitar solo.

January 22nd (Chicago): Communication Breakdown

They didn’t play this much after January, replacing it with the more complex Heartbreaker. This is a strong, fun version with a funky Crunge-like middle section.

January 24th (Cleveland): No Quarter

I’ve picked this one because I really like the guitar solo; inventive and in places quite Floyd-like. The shorter versions of this song always pack more punch for me.

January 29th (Greesnboro): Whole Lotta Love/Black Dog

I couldn’t resist one from Greensboro. Whole Lotta Love is still a mere intro, but Black Dog is well sung, and Jimmy’s guitar is spot on.

January 31st (Detroit): Over The Hills And Far Away

Any version of this from 1975 is on the money, to be honest. I like this one for the solo; Jimmy isn’t flawless but he is energetic and inventive.

January 31st (Detroit): The Rain Song

A beautifully clear version, well played and sung.

Sources: these are the underground titles used as sources – note there are a fair few variations and differing versions of these dates on CD.

January 12th (Brussels) :  Belgian Triple

January 22nd (Chicago): Windy City Tapes Vol.3

January 24th (Cleveland): Ultravilence

January 29th (Greesnboro):. A Quick Getaway

January 31st (Detroit): Tune Up

Compiled by Andy Crofts – extract from TBL 36.

TBL Led Zep ’75 Snapshot – To be continued…


TBL Archive Special:

My Seven nights with Led Zep in 1977

Led-Zep-Bedford02

Led Zeppelin (on film) at the Granada Bedford January 1977.

The young DL gazes adoringly at the poster outside the Granada Cinema Bedford January 1977 – no prizes for guessing where this poster ended up – you got it – on my bedroom wall…

48 years ago this week  I was about to commence a seven night stint in the company of Led Zeppelin….or to be more specific their film The Song Remains The Same.

The newly released celluloid masterpiece was on general release and doing the rounds nationally and cue fanfare…had rolled into my home town of Bedford.

Yes Led Zeppelin alive on film in the quaint market town of Bedford for seven nights only and I needed to be there every night. Simple as that.

Now this event in the life of this then 20 year old Zep fanatic was big news. I’d already seen the film six times before Christmas, the first three nights in London including the premiere plus screenings in Cambridge.

Now I had the luxury of walking from my home in Dents Road to Bedford High Street every night for seven days to view it at the local Granada cinema. This long since knocked down theatre was a grand old building that alongside its cinema presentations was a stop off for the many pop group package shows of the 1960s. It played host to The Beatles twice and Jimi Hendrix. In April 1964 the seven year old DL witnessed his first ever gig there featuring The Dave Clark Five.

The whole week was a total blast as various friends and relations joined my then girlfriend Fiona (who I have kept in contact with over the years) asnd me in seeing just what all this Zeppelin film fuss was about.

No Monday morning feeling that week either. Absolutely not. A day in the WH Smith shop selling the records and tapes of choice to the Bedford public and then the nightly prospect of 137 minutes of Zep up on the big screen. It was pure heaven. Dec was with us  on the Wednesday and again on the Friday where we sat through the afternoon and evening screenings.

Dec was also with me a year later when we made two bus rides in driving snow to see the film at Western Favell in Northampton. Now that’s what I call comradeship!

Here’s the line up on the local cinema circuit for that memorable week of January 23,1977. With all the Zep screenings, there was no time to check out the double X sex bill!

On the Thursday my late Mum and late sister came along to find out just exactly what it was that so inspired the junior one of the family. A lovely touch. This week of weeks ended on the Saturday and not even a family marriage could get in the way. My cousin was getting married that day but we still managed to sneak out of the reception for two hours to attend the final showing (viewing number nine for the week!) By then the manager of the Granada had seen our many visits and gave us free tickets. We even made the local press putting the record straight about some errors in the local review.

It was an incredible week looking back and it set the year up a treat. I did actually go down with glandular fever not long afterwards which is another story for another day. What we all wanted of course, was to see Led Zeppelin back onstage –the nearest I got to them was the hour I spent at Heathrow Airport on May 17 as they flew out for the second leg of the US tour.

It was to be another two years before the glory of Knebworth.

In between all that I went on to see The Song Remains film around 30 times in UK cinemas from 1976 to 1979. It was the next best thing during their enforced absence. These excursions to see the film included the aforementioned bus ride out with Dec to Western Favell shopping centre near  Northampton on a snowy January night in 1978 and a late night showing in Luton when it followed a porn film – I kid you not!  I also saw it a fair few times at a small cinema near Wardour Street in London called The Essential. This was an art house cinema that regularly aired rock films of the day.

The arrival of the video age of course would soon make it much easier to view. I  invested in a bootleg copy in early 1981 – not of brilliant quality but it had to be had!

It can now be viewed at the click of a YouTube link – the thought that one day the footage would be easily accessible on a mobile phone would have seen astonishingly futuristic back in that memorable week of January 1977.

As much as it’s great to have such easy access to it – it will never be quite as rewarding or exciting as those seven trips I made into Bedford St Peters Street  during that week way back in 1977. It was like having the band live down the road available at will for a nightly fix. Seven nights in 1977…what a week that was…

Dave Lewis – January 22 2025

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Robert Plant at Leicester University – It was 37 years Ago …
37 years ago this week on January 23 1988, I travelled to Leicester with the good lady Janet and friends Kam and Julie and Alan on a tip off that Robert Plant would be performing a secret warm up gig at the University for his forthcoming UK tour.
After a set by Shadows look alikes The Rapiers, on walked Robert with a completely new band. He proceeded to weave a rich tapestry of both old and new in a quite astonishing performance.
The new came via tracks from his forthcoming album Now And Zen including the Zep sampled Tall Cool One, a right old rockerbilly tear up Billy’s Revenge and the then just released chorus filled single Heaven Knows.
The old came courtesy of his former band in the guise of In The Evening, Misty Mountain Hop and Trampled Underfoot. After previous warm up dates in Folkstone and Stourbridge, this was the third occasion in his solo career that he had performed numbers from the Led Zeppelin catalogue live on stage.
In an era of no ‘Led Anything’ it was simply cathartic. As can be seen by this review I wrote at the time in the weekly column I did for the local Bedfordshire Citizen newspaper, I was mightily impressed. 36 years, on that night in Leicester University remains vivid in the memory.
It was the night I first saw Robert Plant successfully reconcile his past with the present. Being there to witness it all unfold was awe inspiring.
It kicked off a great year of Now And Zen appearances which for me included gigs at Colchester University, London’s Marquee club (where I first met Gary Foy) Warwick University, Oxford Apollo, London’s Town and Country Club and Astoria Theatre and twice at Hammersmith Odeon (the second night featuring a surprise and simply amazing Jimmy Page cameo).
Brilliant as they all were, it’s that first night in Leicester all of 37 years ago this month that still resonates the most – it’s right up there in my top ten list of all time favourite gigs.
Photos by Nigel Glazier
Dave Lewis, January 22 2025

 

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VIP Victoria Record Fair – Saturday January 25 2025…  

The first London VIP Record Fair of the year is staged at the Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, Victoria, London this Saturday, January 25.

Here’s all the VIP Record Fair info::

Saturday  January 25 2025
LONDON VICTORIA
Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, Victoria, SW1P 2PB.
London’s very own Vinyl Fest. – the biggest and busiest Record Fair in the
UK

Admission 12 noon £5. Early entry £10 at 10am. Doors close 4.30pm.

http://www.vip-24.com/venues/londonvictoria.htm

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DL Diary Blog Update:

Thursday January 17:

DL recent charity shop 45 RPM find:
My record collecting comrade Pete Burridge tipped me off on this one – The Ivy League That’s Why I’m Crying. This was the follow up to their top ten hit Tossing and Turning and reached 22 on the UK chart. This copy is and advance promotion demo copy on the Piccadilly label given out to DJs and the music press. I am an avid collector of such items so I was well pleased to find this priced £3.99 in a local charity shop.
The Ivy League originally comprised of Perry Ford plus John Carter and Ken Lewis formerly of Carter Lewis & The Southerners -Jimmy Page played on their early singles and was briefly part of the line up.
That’s Why I’m Crying is an organ led mid-tempo song with the familiar shrill Ivy League harmonies.
Top find – thanks Pete!

Thursday January 17:

DL recent charity shop 45 RPM find:
Very pleased to find this copy of Bobby Vee’s The Night Has a Thousand Eyes single on the Liberty label with original sleeve.
Taken from the soundtrack of the film Just For Fun – a British made musical which stared Mark Wynter. This was a top 5 UK hit in 1963 and one of my all time fave singles
It turned up in the local charity shop – £1.29? I’ll take it!

January 18:

Saturday is platterday:

It was 50 years ago today…
On the player a special one marking the 50th anniversary of the opening night of Led Zeppelin’s 1975 US tour.
This is the recently issued 4 LP bootleg box set The American Return – as recorded Live at the Metropolitan Sports Center Bloomington MN USA on January 18 1975.
Mainly soundboard recording. The band are battling with health issues with Robert Plant’s vocals not at their best but it’s a valiant performance with early outings for Kashmir and Trampled Under Foot. Plus performances of the rarely played When The Levee Breaks and The Wanton Song. An historic night. This set also includes Robert Plant’s interview appearance on Midnight Special.
Great package with an insert with photos from the previous days rehearsal. Limited edition of 300 which I have box set 256. Issued by the Big Zampano Records. I’m a sucker for these box sets and this is one of the best…
Sunday January 19:
My thought on Bootleg Blondie – Esquires Bedford, January 18 2025:
Bootleg Blondie have long established their credentials as the official Blondie tribute band. They have had endorsements from Debbie Harry herself and Blondie drummer Clem Burke even toured with the band in 2019 – including an appearance at the Esquires venue.
I somehow missed out on that one so the opportunity to make amends at Esquires last night was a welcome one.
In short, they were brilliant.
Led by Debbie and Andy Harris, from their arrival on stage to Atomic, Bootleg Blondie had the packed sold out crowd in the palm of their hands.
The bootleg Debbie has all the looks, movements and vocal nuances of the real thing. Several costume changes reflecting the differing Blondie era’s added to the authenticity. She was totally captivating throughout.
As for the music – many of the greatest pop singles of all time presented right in front of your very eyes – well, it really was a case of what was not to like. All the expected big hitters were present and correct in two very well paced sets.
The Tide is High, Island of Lost Souls, Rip Her To Shreds, I’m Always Touched By Your Presence Dear, Dreaming, Rapture, Denis, Maria, Union City Blue, Picture This, Sunday Girl, Hanging on the Telephone, Heart of Glass and the solo hit French Kissin’ in the USA all superbly delivered by a very well drilled band.
Call Me was a suitably frantic finale after which guitarist Andy gave a surprise nod to Paul Weller and The Jam with a rousing Down in the Tube Station at Midnight.
The Blondie hit making period was also celebrated at the excellent after party in Danny’s bar where DJ Pete Burridge had the floor filled with the likes of Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Human League, Martha and the Muffins Echo Beach (one of the good lady Janet’s faves!) he Cure, Japan, Yazoo, Sixouxsie and the Banshees and Adam and The Ants to name but a few.
All in all, a fabulous night, highlighting an era that the good lady Janet and I and our gang of Phil, Eileen, Steve and Anne-Marie remember very fondly and were more than happy to revel in again.
Thank you Bootleg Blondie for reviving the memories so vividly…
Dave Lewis – January 19 2025

Sunday January 19:

Remembering the late great David Crosby one year gone  so on the player loading up the superb career spanning 3 CD set Voyage…

Tuesday January 21:

With the issue of Record Collector with my Physical Graffiti Zep feature out this week – it had to be this one I took along to The Pete Burridge Record club at The Castle tonight…

Tuesday January 21:

With fellow record club comrade Jez Welsh  in the company of my favourite album of all time in The Castle tonight…

Wednesday January 22:

It was 53 years ago today…

On the player…

LED ZEPPELIN – DANCING DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
(Wonderland 4LP vinyl box set – limited edition of 300)
Some 53 years after I invested in my first Led Zep bootleg (Live on Blueberry Hill), last year I was well pleased  to add a new title to the collection – the new four LP bootleg package of the soundboard recording of Led Zeppelin’s performance at the University Refectory, Southampton, on January 22 1973.
This was a date added to their 1972/73 UK tour and significantly, was officially recorded for possible future release. This tape was considered for official release in 2003 as a live companion set to the five hour 2DVD set. Ultimately Jimmy went with the Long Beach and Los Angeles Forum recordings made in June of 1972 for the How The West Was Won release.
It’s a little known fact that a small part of the Southampton show actually made its way onto that release – the mellotron part was dubbed on during ‘Stairway to Heaven’. As Mike Tremaglio commented in the Evenings With Led Zeppelin book ‘’Evidently, Page must have decided that Jones’ mellotron, used for the first time on the Fall 1972 Japan tour, added a special vibe to the song’.
The January 22 1973 Southampton gig did surface on bootleg in 2007 notably on the One More Night release which was also released on vinyl.
Here’s my comments from last year…
Now comes this expansive new bootleg release via the Wonderland label. Dancing Days Are Here Again will be much welcomed by vinyl Zep bootleg collectors as the One More Night set is hard to come by.
The cover artwork reproduces the poster that was produced for the concert that has a bizarre Nazi connection. Allegedly, Peter Grant was upset with the association and had the posters removed.
There’s an insert with track details and a review of the time by John Clark via the University of Essex /Wessex Scene. The records are on red blue and yellow vinyl.
In both performance and sound quality it’s right up there with the best of ‘em and this transfer is a remastered version from in 2019. Robert Plant’s vocals are outstanding throughout and the multi track recording is mixed to bring out all four band members with clarity and depth.
The eight LP format does split Dazed and Confused and Thank you over differing sides by the edits are not too jarring.
The highlights of which there are many, include a rousing Since I’ve Been Loving You, previews of the soon to be released Houses Of The Holy tracks over The Hills And Far Away, The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song and Dancing Days, a marathon Thank You with Jon Paul Jones on mellotron, a rare for time fervent run through of How Many More Times plus a truly blistering Communication Breakdown encore.
This January 22 1973 recording can rightly claim to be something of a great lost live Led Zeppelin album and anyone investing in this new package will find it more than lives up to its Dancing Days Are Here Again title.
This is Led Zeppelin firing on all cylinders in one of the last small venues they would play – ahead lay mega stadiums and mega audiences. As such,
It’s an historic recording and a very welcome bootleg LP release.
Update here:
It was a real tonic to take in the Bootleg Blondie gig at Bedford Esquires last week. We had a great night out. Elsewhere there’s been more overviewing of the DL memoirs text as it stands so far after it was proof read by Sue and Ian.
It’s also a great feeling to see the Record Collector 50th anniversary of Physical Graffiti cover feature issue come to fruition. I’ve been working hard on this one during the past few months and the Record Collector team have done a great job in the design and layout.
Ahead the prospect of the screening of the Becoming Led Zeppelin film is a very exciting one.
I have tickets for the Wednesday February 5 6.10 pm showing at the BFI IMAX cinema near Waterloo in London and the 8,30pm screening the next day Thursday February 6. I look forward to seeing all those that are going along to those dates.
Thanks for listening 

Until next time…

Dave  Lewis –  January  22 2025

TBL website updates written and compiled by Dave Lewis

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