It may not be quite like the old days of handing cash over the counter, but I have to say there was something quite exciting about ordering the Jimmy Page Lucifer Rising And Other Soundtracks LP online this week. The prospect of being in possession of a new Jimmy Page album, albeit one that revisits a previously unfinished picture is a mouth watering one.  Lucifer Rising has long since been a mysterious lost project in the Jimmy Page catalogue – the fact that it has been restored and revitalised by it’s composer was reason enough for me and countless others to click on to the JP site on Tuesday at 2pm. I was initially unlucky in my quest for a deluxe edition but I was quick off the mark yesterday afternoon when a few unclaimed ones went on the site –thus joining the 325 elite including Mr Foy who had been ribbing me all week.

Lucifer Rising has actually been part of my collection for over 30 years via a bootleg LP titled Solo Performances by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. The B side contains the A and B sides of Robert’s CBS label pre Zep singles, sourced from vinyl copies complete with surface noise but most engaging. The A side has a 22 minute cut of the Jimmy Page Lucifer Rising soundtrack. It came out in 1981 as a limited edition bootleg produced by the Disc Hysteria Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada. It’s somewhat low fi quality compared to the preview clips on Jimmy’s site of the new version. I brought it in 1981 from a mail order firm in the US for about £15. It’s a very nice package with hand written labels and came originally sealed by ribbon and wax. There’s an insert with track listing notes. It came in a limited edition of 100 –mine is number 84.

This has been one of the choices in the DL Vinyl LP of the day countdown to World Record Store Day that can be seen on the Tight But Loose Facebook site. In the run in to the aforementioned WRSD, I am selecting a vinyl LP from the DL collection to play and comment about each day leading up to the event on Saturday April 21. Like last year, myself Dec,Tom,Phil etc  aim to be in the queue early on the day at Rough Trade in London  to track those desirable limited editions. Join us on Facebook to log the choices as they unfold. Below is the listing so far.

March has gone by in something of a whirlwind, what with the John Paul Jones Manson Guitars appearance and lots of different projects going down here. Primarily in recent weeks I’ve been re editing and updating the text for the Omnibus Press book I wrote titled The Guide To The Music Of Led Zeppelin. This first version came out in 1994 and was updated again in 2004. A new version will appear later this year – so this has been an  opportunity to update the contents and add some new material to bring it all up to date. This has proved far more intensive than I originally envisaged and it’s been quite a challenge in offering an updated overview of the entire  Zep catalogue (Mike Tremaglio has been a great help on this). It’s now about to be signed off –it’s been something of a  labour of love but the end result should be worth seeing. More on this as it evolves later in the year.

The TBL mag issue 32 is also taking shape. There’s some great stuff lined up including Mike T’s Zep 1972 Australian tour focus, the recent interview I conducted with John Paul Jones at the London Bass Guitar show plus the fruits of a bit of a crazy day Gary and I recently spent running around central London all in the name of TBL research. I’ll be revealing more on all this soon. Here’s the link to subscribe for the 2012 magazines.

Above: TBL 32 – Work in progress and taking shape – the first issue of the TBL 2012 Subscription due out May -don’t miss out

Subscribe here now!

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=1469

DL and GF -The TBL 2 at the Neal Preston Exhibition on a crazy tour of London all in the name of TBL research.

In between all that I’ve been searching material for the Knebworth book second edition revamp. Realistically this is now likely to be completed by the late summer. All pre orders received will be guaranteed the lowest numbers in the limited run. Thanks for your patience in advance on this -being a virtual one man operation (with some much appreciated key vital input from some key people), it’s hard to get to everything as soon as I’d like.

Another short notice piece of Zep related work has just come in which will keep me well busy in the next few days.

It’s been quite a slog wading through the past few weeks and  there’s not been too much time to catch up with friends as I’d like to have done -apologies Phil T and Dave L, Terry B  and a few others and tribute bands Hat’s Off, Letz Zep and Led Zep 2 whose gigs I missed out on. Within all the highs and lows, family/domestic stuff to sort etc -there have  been some inspirations along the way. Amongst them our Sam producing some excellent stories into the local newspaper Beds Times & Citizen in her voluntary two day a week internment, reading some class interviews from Paul Weller on the release of his new album He is an artist I respect and admire and his views are always compelling (similar to Robert Plant’s interviews in wit and honesty). I haven’t caught the new Weller album yet but I’ve been playing plenty of his catalogue – B sides, cover versions etc (thanks John Parkin for some of that!). On TV I’ve enjoyed the David Frost on Interviews documentary on BBC4 –loads of classic Parkinson clips etc. I also loved the Martin Scorsese George Harrison Living In The Material World documentary that was screened last Friday.

Here’s a very nice comment received today from Chris Serratella – a very satisified reader of the Led Zeppelin  Feather In The Wind Over Europe 1980 book

”Mr. Lewis has outdone himself with this one. Wow! A pure unadulterated masterpiece. Only he could have done this so well. Folks, there is no one who can write about this band, understand this band, and communicate the feeling of listening to and being a true Zephead like Dave Lewis. Nuf’ said.”

Thank you Chris for a comment that makes me feel somewhat humble – and one that makes it all worthwhile.

That’s a strong recommendation for anyone reading this who has yet to purchase the book – you can do so at the following link:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=9965

Here’s a photo of the author with one of the key players in the book – as John put it when he signed my book ”So many stories!”.  You can share them by investing in the book that takes you up close and personal on the final Led Zeppelin tour.

Like the whole nation I was shocked at the events that unfolded last Saturday night at the Spurs v Bolton FA cup tie. I was watching it at the local pub with Adam’s football manager Dave Collins. It was one of those moments you won’t forget as the seriousness of Fabrice Muamba’s collapse became evident. It was a very strange atmosphere in the pub as the abandonment of the game left everyone feeling empty and somewhat helpless. Thankfully Fabrice has been showing good signs of recovery.

I think  my experiences of watching  Spurs in the pub is bringing them bad luck as I’ve caught the last few games namely Arsenal, Man Utd and Everton in the pub (we don’t have Sky –the boy Adam would never get anything done!) – three of those games ended in defeat and Bolton we know was a near tragedy. Maybe I should stay away when they play Chelsea tomorrow lunchtime –but with Arsenal sneaking ahead (that will please Cliff the ticket man in MK) they may well need my support.

Some TBL web site admin: We are in the throes of assessing the domain names moving ahead and while that process is ongoing it is as well to direct your browsers to www.tightbutloose.co.uk at the moment as this is the main domain destination other than www.tblweb.com. I’ll advise accordingly of any other changes.

Amazingly Easter is not very far away –before all that there’s the good lady and mine’s wedding anniversary next weekend and a couple of Led Zep album release dates to celebrate namely Houses of The Holy and Presence. You can expect those to appear in my DL Vinyl of the day choices on my World Record Store countdown via my Facebook. I’ll leave you with the choices that have lined up in the last ten days. You can follow the DL daily countdown to World Record Store Day (April 21) by logging on to the Tight But Loose Facebook site.

Have a good weekend – here’s some vinyl delights…

World Record Store Day Countdown – DL Vinyl LP of the day

As a countdown to the World Record Store Day event, every day up to April 21 I’ll be posting details of the DL vinyl LP of the day – a daily choice from my collection with relevant anecdotes to where I purchased it/reasons for choice etc. So choice number one with 41 days to go is…Miles Davis Kind of Blue –this is the blue vinyl version to be found in the exquisite 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition box set. I got this set at Christmas 2009. I first got it on CD in the late 1990s. Perfect Sunday evening meltdown music – and simply the coolest jazz album ever recorded. More DL vinyl tomorrow

World Record Store Day DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 12 Number 2 in the countdown to World Record Store Day –Led Zeppelin Going To California bootleg original vinyl double album on Trade Mark of Quality. I ordered this in December 1972 from a mail order company based in Kent after seeing an advert for ‘’Live albums for sale’’ in Sounds music paper. A superb audience recording of a brilliant vibrant performance from Berkeley Community Centre September 14 1971. I played the hell out of this back then and I can quote Plant’s between song comments on this with no prob such as ‘’Last night there were several bowler hated beatnicks’’ and ‘’there was a pollution alert today and I lost my voice’’. It still sounded fantastic today.  One of THE classic bootlegs.

World Record Store Day Countdown – DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 13 Number 3 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – The Who – Who’s Next.  I purchased the Track original in October 1975 from WH Smith’s where I worked just before I went to see them at the Empire Pool (an amazing gig). I got the triple vinyl deluxe version for a bargain £15 in a shop in Brighton last year when I was researching the feature I wrote about the album for Record Collector. As I put it in the  feature: ‘’Out of the adversity of the Lifehouse concept, with Who’s Next, the band created their most cohesive set of songs, displaying an economy and quality that has resonated across four decades. Who’s Next remains a bargain – perhaps the best their audience ever had…’’

World Record Store Day Countdown DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 14 Day 4 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is George Harrison All Things Must Pass. The boxed set triple LP originally released in 1970. I had this on a cassette in the early 70s and got the CD re issue in 2000. Purchased the box set vinyl (complete with original poster) on ebay about a year ago for £15.  Stock full of gorgeous George songs, many left over from the last Beatles days. Right up there as one of, if not THE best solo album by an ex Beatle.

World Record Store Day Countdown –DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 15 – Day 5 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is Crosby Stills Nash & Young Déjà Vu. I got this around 1975 at WH Smiths – second pressing on Atlantic/Kinney. I love all their early stuff –this has some quality songs and musicianship and as far as three &four part rock harmony goes it cannot be bettered (not even by Zep’s attempt with Tangerine at Earls Court!). Our House is also the best love song about domestic bliss ever written – that and the likes of Carry On and Déjà Vu sounded great here today as the spring sunshine shone. I also dug out the Crosby, Stills and Nash debut album which also sounded fresh as ever. Timeless music.

World Record Store Day DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 16 – Day 6 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is The Faces – The Best of The Faces double album on the Riva label (another great label design.)  Brought this from WH Smith when it came out in 1977. Mislaid it somehow and replaced it off ebay about a year ago. What a band The Faces were –they epitomised (along with Slade) that great early 70s ‘’let’s forget the three day week and gloom and have a good time regardless’’ approach that was so needed back then. But for all their upfront bravado they also delivered deft reflective love songs –(often led by the wonderful song writing of Ronnie Lane) witness Nobody Knows, Ooh La la, Flags and Banners, Sweet Lady Mary  etc. Ronne Wood always sounded so subtle and effective on guitar and as for Rod –forget all the celebrity trappings and American Songbook waffle, he is and was a fantastic singer and performer. The Faces also made great singles- of which You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything might just be my fave 45rpm platter of all time. All in all a perfect Friday night album…

World Record Store Day Countdown DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 18 – Day 7 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is Mott The Hoople The Best Of Mott The Hoople. This is the 1976 compilation on the US Columbia label with a great fold out sleeve. I got this for £5 at Spitalfields Market in London about five years ago. In line with The Faces, Mott led by the brilliant Ian Hunter knew how to have a good time on stage and also came up with a series of five star singles –all the big hits  are all here from All The Young Dudes to the anthem like Saturday Gigs with Mick Ronson on guitar. I  missed out on their reunion gigs in 2009 – I will try and catch Hunter later this year when he plays in London. Incidentally today’s choice was going to be a Thin Lizzy album in keeping with St Patrick’s day, but said album has been miss – filed (ie not in the mass of LPs stacked under our stairs!). When I locate it that will appear another day. While we are on the subject of nations on our fair isle – the Welsh blood in me was very pleased to see Wales taking the Six Nations Rigby Grand Slam title after beating France this afternoon.

World Record Store Day Countdown – DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 18 – Day 8 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is Dusty…..Definitely by Dusty Springfield on the Phillips label. I brought this at a London Record Fair in 2006 for £4. The late great Dusty is my favourite female singer of all time –I have many CD’s and LPs of these ladies’ class output. This LP was released in 1968 and Mr. John Paul Jones arranges and conducts the orchestra on the opening two tracks. This would have been one of the final sessions he contributed to before he joined up with you-know-who. In fact, when Dusty went to Memphis in the autumn of 1968 to record the classic Dusty In Memphis album with Atlantic Records Jerry Wexler, word came up that Wexler was considering signing a hot new group from England. When it was revealed John Paul Jones was to be in the band, Dusty told Wexler that any band with Jones included was worth investing in – It’s said that Dusty’s recommendation was another factor that made the Atlantic bosses take the plunge and sign this new group formed by Jimmy Page called Led Zeppelin…it turned out to be a wise move…Nice one Dusty. Dusty….Definitely is a fabulous album –full of lush arrangements and seductive vocals. Dusty always sounds so good on a Sunday. It was released on November 22 1968 – the same day as The Beatles White Album.

World Record Store Day Countdown – DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 19 – Day 9 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is The Beatles by The Beatles released in November 1968 and universally known as The White Album. I brought this from Carlows in Bedford in March 1973. It’s a numbered edition 136514 with raised title but it’s not a top loading original sleeve –probably a second pressing but very nice though and on the lovely Apple label. One of my all time favourite albums, and like that double album on Swan Song, given such an expansive platform, the 30 tracks contain every facet that made this group so remarkable. Watching the brilliant George Harrison Living In The Material World documentary on Friday was a reminder of how many great songs he wrote – of which While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Long, Long, Long stand out on this quite legendary landmark double album.

World Record Store Day Countdown – DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 20 – Day 10 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is the bootleg LP Solo Performances by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. The B side contains the A and B sides of Robert’s CBS label pre Zep singles, sourced from vinyl copies complete with surface noise but most engaging. The A side has a 22 minute cut of the eerie Jimmy Page Lucifer Rising soundtrack. An appropriate choice given those only hours ago, Jimmy launched his new vinyl version of the piece titled Lucifer Rising and other Soundtracks. As I was not one of the chosen 325 picked out to receive a deluxe version via the pre-registration process,(I did get a standard version of course!), I’ll have to take solace in this 1981 limited edition bootleg produced by the Disc Hysteria Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada. It’s somewhat low fi quality compared to the preview clips on Jimmy’s site of the new version. I brought it in 1981 from a mail order firm in the US for about £15. It’s a very nice package with hand written labels and came originally sealed by ribbon and wax. There’s an insert with track listing notes. It came in a limited edition of 100 –mine is number 84.  Given it’s vintage  and rarity value, I would not swap it for one of the new deluxe LP’s though having said that…if anyone knows of one of the deluxe editions going spare and up for grabs –let me know! March 22 Update – I got one!

World Record Store Day Countdown – DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 21 – Day 11 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is Mudslide by Led Zeppelin –an original red vinyl bootleg on the Trade Mark of Quality label. This was a second version of a bootleg titled PB one of, if not the first Zep vinyl bootleg. I purchased this for £3 in early 1973 from the bootleg mail order company in Kent I was dealing with a lot back then. Appropriately enough this was recorded on March 21 1970 – 42 years to the day (incidentally on that day I went to see Chelsea play Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.) on the opening date of the first of two US tours in 1970. The venue was the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. This single LP of highlights from a full show (I have the CD Ultimate Mudslide with more of this great night) was and is the essence of bootlegs because it told me much more than I already knew about the band. Not least that they performed something called We’re Gonna Groove, a track I’d certainly not heard before that would eventually release on Coda. A stirring Thank You, a version of Communication Breakdown with lines from Ramble On in the middle was yet more aural delight to leave this then 16 year old in awe. Playing it today not much has changed –it still sounds fantastic.

  World Record Store Day Countdown – DL Vinyl LP of the day

March 22 – Day 12 in the countdown to World Record Store Day – Today’s choice is Living In The Past by Jethro Tull. I purchased this delightful 1972 compilation at Spitalfields Market in London about a year ago for £4. It’s the original gatefold hessian sleeve with the booklet. I’m a big fan of all their 70s stuff –this includes all the early singles such as the brilliant Witches Promise/Teacher coupling plus the five tracks from the equally excellent 1971 EP Life Is A Long Song. A great band, a great front man and something of an underrated songwriter.

See World Record Store Day Details at

http://www.recordstoreday.com/Home