Very nice to see the Led Zeppelin 4 album artwork will be a part of the ten British classic album cover designs to be featured on a set of Royal Mail stamps launched on January 7th next year. Used to be a bit of a stamp collector way back in my youth, and I did indulge in The Beatles commemorative album art work stamps that were issued a couple of years back. The latter came in a superb presentation set and I’m sure the Classic Album Designs will be similarly packaged. Investing in those little gems will be a good kick start to the new year –yes it’s the little things in life that keep you going……

Another little pleasure has been finding time to wade through the new Zep pictorial books that are just out. Between them The Illustrated Biography (Gareth Thomas), Good Times Bad Times (Jerry Prochnicky and Ralph Hulett) and Shadows Taller Than Our Souls (Charles R. Cross) offer up some striking previously unseen photos of the band. Gary Foy also alerted me to some very interesting new Zep shots that have emerged on the net from Gonzaga in late ‘68 and the May 11 ’69 Seattle Green Lake Aqua Theater show. All this visual history inspired me to load up the i-pod with a massive slice of Zep live recordings – a playlist that includes the new Long Beach ’75 soundboard, old faves such as Mudslide, Going To California, Live in Japan ’71, Blueberry Hill, and the original Song Remains The Same (released 33 years ago this week). See them…hear them, wonder at them. There are times when only a Led Zeppelin soundtrack will do…

My good friend Terry was unable to dig out his ‘’Which One’s Pink’’ T shirt when we went round theirs for a bout of the old Come Dine With Me last Saturday night. We both had a laugh thinking back to that epic Unledded MTV premiere and pondered where the last 15 years have gone. As the ladies soaked up the X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, the men retired to the other room – Terry showed me the new DVD of Thunder’s final gig, a band that despite Terry’s ongoing enthusiasm for them over the years, seemed to pass me by. Have to say it did look pretty good. Bit late in the day for me to catch up with them now they have split up. Terry was most impressed with a little gift I handed over – a DVD of Rush live circa 1976 (thank you John P).

Back here I’ve been busy collating stuff for TBL 25 and sorting out some memorabilia in the loft for Rob Ayling who is due here tomorrow to take a few photos. While I was in the loft I stumbled across the original artwork cover slick I have for the aforementioned Song Remains The Same album. It brought back vivid memories of Thursday October 21st 1976 when the album was first shipped. That afternoon, I anxiously tore open the box marked Warner/ Elektra/ Atlantic Records at the WH Smith record shop where I worked, to reveal for the first time the gatefold sleeve of, as the label spine gloriously put it ‘’The Soundtrack To The Film The Song Remains The Same‘’. Four sides of lovely black vinyl.

I’m off to put the needle down on track one side one…cue Bonzo’s off mic shout and cymbal crashing intro.

It’s been a long time…it was a long time……ago.