JIMMY REVEALS MORE ON REMASTERING PROJECT/FRANK BARSALONA 1938 -2012 /ZEP AT BBC ON RADIO 2/ CELEBRATION DAY FOR BBC2/TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS/ iWITNESS APP/FREDDIE MERCURY 21 YEARS GONE
In an interview with David Fricke for Rolling Stone, Jimmy Page has reveleadd more details of the remastering -re issuing project he is undertaking. Here are some extracts:
“It will be coming out, bit by bit,” Jimmy Page says with a tantalizing lilt in his voice. The Led Zeppelin guitarist is referring to his current labors in the band’s archive, preparing new deluxe editions of each of Zeppelin’s studio albums, from 1969’s Led Zeppelin to 1979’s In Through the Out Door, plus the 1982 post-breakup collection, Coda. Page says the reissues will include “added sonic and visual thrills,” and he expects to begin issuing the first albums in the series sometime next year.
Details of the project emerged during Page’s interview for the new issue of Rolling Stone – his longest and most extensive conversation with the magazine, coinciding with the release of Celebration Day, the new film and album of Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion concert at London 02’s arena. I had asked Page about the reissues in a phone interview three days before our first session in London, but he preferred to wait and discuss them in person – which he did, as soon as we sat down in a lounge in his management’s office in London.
“The catalog was last remastered 20 years ago,” Page said, referring to the 1990 release of the four-CD box set, Led Zeppelin. “That’s a long time. Everything is being transferred from analog to a higher-resolution digital format. That’s one of the problems with the Zeppelin stuff. It sounds ridiculous on MP3. You can’t hear what’s there properly.”
Whole Lotta Extras
Based on the unreleased studio tracks that have circulated on bootlegs since Led Zeppelin split in 1980, following the death of drummer John Bonham, the group did not record a lot of additional songs for each LP. “But there was an overage of material – different versions of things, different approaches to the mixes,” Page explained. He mentioned experiments with equipment and sound on early alternative takes at Headley Grange, the English manor where Zeppelin recorded some of their most iconic work, particularly their 1971 untitled fourth album.
“The classic there was ‘When the Levee Breaks,'” Page said, “where the drums were set up in the hallway. You know what it sounded like – immense – from the recorded version. But we used the drums in the hall for a number of things, like ‘Kashmir’ [on 1975’s Physical Graffiti] – some with closer miking. So there were a lot of different approaches. It will be fascinating for people to witness the work in progress.”
Page is also looking at relevant live recordings and film to accompany the reissues. “There are concerts that were recorded – some that might have appeared on bootleg in some shape or form – and a certain amount of footage, though not a lot,” he said. “I started doing this with [2003’s] Led Zeppelin DVD and [the 2003 three-CD set] How the West Was Won, which was a superb live performance.” Page believes BBC Sessions, a 1997 release of Zeppelin’s recordings for British radio, “didn’t have that open horizon” of the group’s best concerts, “where you’re just going and going, right over that horizon.
“But all of it is good,” Page said of the music his band left behind, on record and in the vaults. “It has its own character and validity.”
Your Time Is Gonna Come
Pressed on a release date for the initial reissues, Page warned that “you’ve got to get to the point where all of the members of the group are in agreement,” referring to singer Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones. “I would hope it is sooner rather than later. But it will be in the course of next year and going on for awhile.
“And I’m not just throwing on any old flotsam and jetsam,” he insisted, referring to the bonus material. “This will be really substantial stuff.”
See link at:
LED ZEPPELIN AT THE BBC ON RADIO 2 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29 2012
With the eyes of the rock world on the recent issue of Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion concert Johnnie Walker presents a timely history of the classic rock band drawn entirely from BBC Archive interviews & performances, & including their very first live appearance for the Beeb.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p08ps
CELEBRATION DAY TO BE AIRED ON BBC2 SATURDAY DECEMBER 8TH
A special one hour edit of the Celebration Day film will on BBC 2 next month- more details at http://www.nme.com/news/led-zeppelin/67423
CELEBRATION DAY CHART WATCH:
Celebration Day entered the Australian album chart at number 3 and at number 4 in the UK national charts.
It was also reported as being the most purchased album in the nation’s independent record stores over the last week – Celebration Day entered the Official Record Store Chart in pole position, knocking previous chart topper, One Directon’s Take Me Home off the Number 1 spot.
The Official Record Store Chart was launched in April of this year by the Official Charts Company and the organizers of Record Store Day UK to reflect sales of the UK’S coolest and most vibrant independent record shops.
See more at:
FRANK BARSALONA 1938 -2012
Sad to hear of the passing of pioneering US agent Frank Barsalona age 74. Frank worked closely with Peter Grant during Led Zeppelin’s US touring campaigns in the late 60s and early 70s. When I interviewed Peter in 1993 he was very complimentary of Frank’s association with them in the early touring days. Chris Stamp former manager of The Who has also passed away age 70 of former Who manager Chris Stamp ore here
http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/the-who-manager-chris-stamp-died-at-70/
TBL GIFT IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS:
It’s that time of year again and if you are fed up with receiving the same old tired gifts for Christmas each year, why not give your loved ones a nudge in the direction of the TBL ordering page and get them to invest on your behalf –let them really know what you want for Christmas or you may well end up with novelty socks and boxers yet again. Alternatively of course you can just treat yourself!
Here’s another recommendation for those perfect Celebration Day companions…
The one stop easy access companion to Led Zeppelin’s timeless catalogue of work:
FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF LED ZEPPELIN BY DAVE LEWIS
THE ULTIMATE ANALYSIS OF THE LED ZEPPELIN CATALOGUE
From their 1969 debut album through to the Mothership compilation, this is an album by album, track by track analysis of every Led Zeppelin recording -guaranteed to take you back to the music with fresh perspective
FEATURES INCLUDE
* A chronology of key events in the band’s history
* Album by album summary that unfolds the Led Zeppelin story –from blues to rock, light to shade, loud to soft and from a whisper to a scream
*Masses of little known facts about the tracks – the most accurate account of where, when and how Led Zeppelin created their enduring recorded legacy
* Alongside the original ten albums, includes full analysis of the Remasters box set, BBC Sessions album, How The West Was One live set, The Song Remains The Same revamped edition and the official Led Zeppelin DVD
* A guide to bootleg recordings and outtakes
* An overview of their historic reunion at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at the 02 Arena in December 2007
* 8 pages of colour photos – 144 pages – Paperback format
Here’s some feedback from satisfied readers…
From a Whisper to a Scream is a biography of Led Zeppelin told through the music. Missing is the superfluous: no sharks, no groupies, no drinking or drugs. Just the music, year by year, album by album. It is simply, one of the best Led Zeppelin books out there.
Brian Gardiner/ Ramble On blog
This is a very tight but loose and personable, reference manual.If you’re a casual fan or a diehard Zeppaholic, this book will be a great read.
Jeff Strawman –Achilles Last Stand web site
Basically it’s the complete guide to the music of Led Zeppelin. And best of all the author Dave Lewis leaves out any of the hype, rumors and crap that we’ve come to expect for LZ biographies. From the moment I picked it up I couldn’t put it down (honestly). This book is EXTREEMLY well written and organized, right to the point, truly worth your time and the price is right too. I highly recommend it, and I wouldn’t state that lightly. Terry Stephenson/US
FOR FANS NEW AND OLD, THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE COMPACT COMPANION TO LED ZEPPELIN’S MUSIC
Special TBL Edition: Includes an individually numbered insert with an interview with Dave Lewis about the making of the book – all copies ordered will be personally signed and dedicated by the author.
Important Note: Signing of books: I will dedicate and sign each book to the name of the book purchaser as listed -unless informed otherwise.
If you would like a specific personal dedication please state what you require – (use special instructions section of pay pal if paying by pay pal)
This offer is only available via the TBL website
All orders dispatched as received.
You can order the book from this link:
http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=14483
GIVE THE GIFT OF TBL THIS CHRISTMAS!
THIS DAY IN iWITNESS APP:
Here are details of the latest app from the This Day In Music team.
iWitness brings you accounts from some of biggest acts in the world – as told by the artists themselves and the people who were there and witnessed them. Compiled by renowned music writer Johnny Black, (Mojo, Q, Smash Hits, The Times), these reports give you an insight into how artists made some of their most successful albums. It includes a piece on the making of the led Zeppelin IV album – more details at
http://www.thisdayinmusicapps.com/iwitnessapp.htm
AND FINALLY – FREDDIE MERCURY 21 YEARS GONE
November 24th marked the 21st anniversary of the passing of Freddie Mercury – so this one’s for Freddie…
Until next time…. keep reading – keep listening…
Dave Lewis/Gary Foy
November 28th, 2012
Don’t forget that you can follow Dave Lewis/TBL on Twitter – LedzeppelinTBL
and view additional photos etc at the Tight But Loose Facebook page (add us as a friend) at
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1611296783
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Wow – let’s hope the reissues include video of the legendary “Jersey Jam” with the legendary Norman Hale!
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