ANNOUNCING THE FORTHCOMING RELEASE OF LED ZEPPELIN THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS
FORTHCOMING LED ZEPPELIN RELEASE – OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Complete BBC Sessions
Remastering Supervised By Jimmy Page
With Previously Unreleased Recordings
CD, Vinyl, And Digital Formats, Including Super Deluxe Boxed Set, will be available on September 16:
Nearly 20 years ago, Led Zeppelin introduced BBC Sessions, an acclaimed two-disc set of live recordings selected from the bands appearances on BBC radio between 1969 and 1971.
Later this year, the band will unveil THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS, an updated version of the collection that’s been newly remastered with supervision by Jimmy Page and expanded with eight unreleased BBC recordings, including three rescued from a previously ”lost” session from 1969.
THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS will be available in multiple formats from Atlantic/Swan Song on September 16:
•
Deluxe Edition (3CD)
–
Remastered original album plus a third disc of unreleased audio.
•
Deluxe Edition Vinyl (5LP)
–
Remastered original album, plus a fifth LP of unreleased audio, on 180-gram vinyl
•
Digital Download
–
Remastered album and unreleased audio will both be available.
•
Super Deluxe Boxed Set (3CD/5LP)
–
This collection includes: Remastered album. 2CDs, each in a replica sleeve. Unreleased audio on CD in a separate card sleeve.
Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl.Unreleased audio on 180-gram vinyl. High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit
48-page book filled with photos of the band, the recording locations, BBC memorabilia, and session information. High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 20,000 of which will be individually numbered.
BBC Sessions was originally released in 1997 and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA
.
THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS builds on that collection with a third disc that boasts eight unreleased performances
.
In addition, the set includes extensive session- by-session liner notes written by Dave Lewis. For the first time ever, it provides accurate details and notes about all of the band’s BBC sessions.
Musical highlights on this new collection include the debut of a long-lost radio session that has achieved near-mythic status among fans. Originally broadcast in April 1969, the session included three songs: I Cant Quit You Baby, You Shook Me, and the only recorded performance of Sunshine Woman. Also included are two unreleased versions of both Communication Breakdown and What Is And What Should Never Be.
Separated by two years, the performances vividly demonstrate the young band’s rapid evolution over a short period of time.
Jimmy Page spoke about the band’s growth in an interview with Guitar World
The BBC Sessions show in graphic detail just how organic the group was. Led Zeppelin was a band that would change things around substantially each time it played…We were becoming tighter and tighter, to the point of telepathy.
Speaking with Wall of Sound, John Paul Jones added:
We’ d been on the road a lot by the time those sessions were recorded. The albums were always the starting point of the music, and then
we’d take it out and expand it on the road. Then wed come straight off the road into those BBC studios.
Recalling the BBC experience in an interview with Mojo, Robert Plant said:
The whole thing was very quaint: the politeness of the audience, the technicians fumbling about, proper hallowedlow-key introductions. Like there was some sort of holy moment about to occur.
In 1968, Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, having sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. The band rose from the ashes of The Yardbirds, when Page brought in Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones. In 1969, Led Zeppelin released its self-titled debut which was produced by Jimmy Page, as were all the subsequent albums.
It marked the beginning of a 12-year reign, during which the group was widely considered to be the biggest and most innovative rock band in the
world. Led Zeppelin continues to be honored for its pivotal role in music history. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and a year later was awarded the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm. Founding members Page,
Plant, and Jones, and along with Jason Bonham, the son of John Bonham took the stage at London’s O2 Arena in 2007 to headline a tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun,a dear friend and Atlantic Records founder. The band was honored for its lifetime contribution to American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. In January of 2014, the band won their first ever Grammy award as Celebration Day , which captured their live performance at the Ertegun tribute concert, was named Best Rock Album. The last two years saw an unprecedented reissue campaign of all nine of the band’s studio albums, which achieved Top 10 chart status around the globe whilst also garnering 5-star reviews and other critical accolades along the way.
THE COMPLETE BBC SESSIONS
CD Track Listing
Disc One
- You Shook Me
2 Can’t Quit You Baby
3 Communication Breakdown
4.Dazed And Confused
5. The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair
6. What Is And What Should Never Be
7.Communication Breakdown
8.Travelling Riverside Blues
9.Whole Lotta Love
10.Somethin Else
11.Communication Breakdown
12.I Can’t Quit You Baby
13.You Shook Me
14.How Many More Times - Disc Two
1.Immigrant Song
2.Heartbreaker
3.Since I’ve Been Loving You
4.Black Dog
5.Dazed And Confused
6.Stairway To Heaven
7.Going To California
8.That’s The Way
9Whole Lotta Love
(Medley: Boogie Chillun/Fixin To Die/That’s Alright Mama/A Mess of Blues)
10.Thank You
Disc Three
1.Communication Breakdown *
2.What Is And What Should Never Be *
3.Dazed And Confused *
4 White Summer
5.What Is And What Should Never Be *
6.Communication Breakdown *
7.I Can’t Quit You Baby *
8.You Shook Me *
9.Sunshine Woman *
*Previously unreleased.
……………………………………………….
DL Thoughts:
Now this is very exciting news…
The prospect of the BBC Sessions being remastered with an extra audio disc is a truly mouth-watering one. In particular the opportunity to hear the legendary ‘lost’ Alexis Korner session in best ever quality.
Here are the sources of the additional disc:
1.Communication Breakdown *
(from: Top Gear- Recorded on: March 3, 1969 at the Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London and first broadcast on March 23, 1969)
2.What Is And What Should Never Be *
(from: Chris Grant’s Tasty Pop Sundae – Recorded on: June 16, 1969 at Aeolian Hall Studio 2, New Bond Street, London and first broadcast on June 22, 1969)
3.Dazed And Confused *
(from: One Night Stand – Recorded at: Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London on June 27, 1969. First broadcast on: August 10, 1969)
4 White Summer
(from: One Night Stand (Recorded at: Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Avenue, London on June 27, 1969. First broadcast on: August 10, 1969)
5.What Is And What Should Never Be *
(from: In Concert – Recorded at: Paris Cinema , Lower Regent Street, London on April 1, 1971. First broadcast on April 4, 1971)
6.Communication Breakdown *
(from: In Concert – Recorded at: Paris Cinema, Lower Regent Street London, London on April 1, 1971. First broadcast on April 4, 1971)
7.I Can’t Quit You Baby *
(from: Alexis Korner Rhythm and Blues BBC World Service broadcast – Recorded at: Maida Vale Studio 4 , Delaware Road, London on March 19, 1969. First broadcast on: April 14, 1969)
8.You Shook Me *
(from: Alexis Korner Rhythm and Blues BBC World Service broadcast – Recorded at: Maida Vale Studio 4 , Delaware Road, London on March 19, 1969. First broadcast on: April 14, 1969)
9.Sunshine Woman *
(from: Alexis Korner Rhythm and Blues – Recorded at: Maida Vale Studio 4 , Delaware Road, London on March 19, 1969. First broadcast on: April 14, 1969)
*Previously unreleased.
My own fascination with these sessions dates back to the airing of the 1971 In Concert show. I actually taped this on the day it was first aired on Sunday, April 4, 1971 on an old reel to reel tape recorder. I was also similarly enthralled in February 1979 when Tommy Vance aired some of the March and June 1969 sessions on his Friday Rock Show and later went on to air the 1969 One Night Stand. This resulted in my first, but by no means last detailed chronicling of these recordings in the second issue of Tight But Loose.
Like countless other fans I’ve also been obsessed with hearing the many BBC Sessions bootlegs. Some of my earliest Zep bootleg capture were the TMQ produced BB Sessions and Stairway To heaven albums.
These BBC recordings offer vital evidence of the way the band developed in their formative years. Hearing how they improvised and extended upon the basic themes of their material in the confines of the BBC studios, remains a thrilling aural experience.
The forthcoming release of this set now newly remastered and expanded by Jimmy Page, will further emphasise the importance these radio recordings had both in the expansion of their repertoire and in spreading the word in the UK.
These BBC sessions as recorded in 1969 and 1971, have retained a natural rawness that perfectly captures the excitement and electricity of Led Zeppelin during their formative years. A primitive musical vitality that was so effectively transmitted over the UK airwaves all those years ago.
Get ready to indulge in that vitality all over again from Friday, September 16…
The countdown is on… 59 days to go and counting…
Dave Lewis – July 19, 2016
……………………..
Until next time…
Dave Lewis/Gary Foy – July 19, 2016.
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No better or more knowledgeable person to write Zep liner notes. Cheers, Dave!
How about a tbl get together weekend of the release
Good News! It´s time for a “How the west was won” – Super Deluxe Edition on Vinyl with both shows uncut 😉 …. or any other from the vault!
Wow!!! I am in tears!!! Congratulations to Dave for the everlasting honor of writing the liner notes! BBC Complete + Dave’s notes, = a great bonus to our reissue campaign!!!
I personally am looking forward to displaying this box alongside the rest of the super deluxe boxes. For me, this is what being a Led Zeppelin fan is all about!!!
PEACE
Dave,
I am looking forward to this release (not having the 1997 version) & well done for the liner notes. I look forward to reading them.
I wonder were they re mastered while the other box sets were being done? While I am pleased with the release, as it was overseen by Jimmy, I do hope doing these hasn’t delayed the release of any all new Jimmy music and possible concerts – of which we have had no news!
Glad to see the band have asked you to do the liners notes. This looks like it’s going to be a cracking release and a complete surprise. You must have been besides yourself keeping this under your hat.
Congratulations on writing the liner notes!
I look forward to the package.
Congratulations on scoring the liner notes, Dave. I couldn’t imagine anyone else who’d do a better job.
I’m really looking forward to this release.
I must ask: Do you think this will open the door to future live releases? I believe Jimmy once said there isn’t much concert materiel in the vaults, but I have a tendency to believe he may be holding back for the future. I’d love an Earl’s Court 75 set, Knebworth 79; I could go on and on.
Your thoughts?
Congrats, Dave! I’m very happy for you. Well-deserved!
Dave,
Well done and well deserved for being asked to complete the liner notes! I am very excited for both you and the additional music from the mighty Led Zep! Thank you for always having something interesting and exciting to report!
Wools
Liner notes written by Dave Lewis! Great, Dave
Hi Dave,
I am looking forward to this, I know us die hard’s must have these recordings many times. What with all the Bootleg releases over the last forty plus years and the official release from would you believe almost twenty years ago.
I personally hold all these sessions dear, Do you know if the editing on the original release especially the Whole Lotta Love medley from the Paris Theatre 71 will be put right, or will it still be the same as on the 1997 release, with only the material on the extra disc being new to the official release.
Anyway I am going to order my copy, Keep up the good work and looking forward to reading your liner notes.
Cheers
Ray
This ‘new’ release saddens me as yet again, it’s another lost opportunity. For loyal fans who have bought the official product many times over in various formats this is another example of ripping us all off. To not even bother to put the tracks in order for the live performances of 1969 and 1971 and try and fob us off with a ‘bonus’ disc merely used to add in the missing bits is an insult. What we have is a re-hash of the 1997 release plus a bonus disc.
BBC Zep (Antrabata), Another White Summer (Big Music) & ‘Complete BBC Sessions’ (EVSD) show how it should be done.
If you are ‘new’ to these recordings then I guess it will suffice and maybe excite but buyers will not be getting what they should be getting.
By no means an aficionado on all things LZ but I have to say my enjoyment of the band has been tainted – somewhat – by the recent extras on the remasters. Apologies if I’m a heretic in that respect, but I just didn’t think they warranted releasing in the main…
But I’m properly looking forward to extra BBC Sessions. Any expansion of this album is, for me, A GOOD THING.
Could How The West Was Won be expanded to any significant degree? I hope so.
Lovely to see you given the job of liner notes on an official release Dave
looking forward to reading your thoughts.Well done the evolution continues!
Now jim what about that earls court live box set?
Leave your response!
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