Email This Post Email This Post
Home » Dave Lewis Diary, Featured, TBL News

JOHN BONHAM MEMORIAL FUND WEEKEND/AXS TV SCREENING/BLUEBERRY HILL 45 YEARS GONE/ ON THE OCCASION OF MY 59TH BIRTHDAY/DL DIARY UPDATE

3 September 2015 4,352 views 22 Comments

 

bonzo pg

From the John Bonham Memorial Fund organisers:  

Remembering John Bonham 35 years On

Next month sees the 35th anniversary of the untimely and tragic death of John ‘Bonzo’ Bonham, the powerhouse behind Led Zeppelin and arguably the best drummer in the world.

Redditch born John died on 25th September 1980 at the age of just 32 at Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page’s home near Windsor. Weeks later the remaining band members announced Led Zeppelin would disband.

A Memorial Weekend, organised by The John Bonham Memorial Fund and Steve Barnes of Redditch Music Festival is set to remember John, just yards from where he was born in Headless Cross, Redditch.

On Friday 25th September, a candlelight vigil will be held from 8pm in The Rose Garden, Birchfield Rd (next to Vintage Trax record shop) where people can gather quietly to pay their respects, and leave tributes to John.

This will be followed next day by a mini-festival to commemorate John’s short but impactful life with music and words from local musicians, friends and fans. Free to attend, the event will run from 11am – 5pm.

bonzo memrial

“35 years on, music fans worldwide still talk about John Bonham and his unique and hard hitting drumming style. We want to ensure he is never forgotten here in Redditch” says Ros Sidaway, Treasurer of the Fund “We invite local people and fans of Led Zeppelin from further afield to join us to remember John and celebrate his life. “

For further information and to donate to the fund please visit www.johnbonhammemorialfund.com

………………………..

This one from Classic Hits and Oldies.com  

AXS TV to Salute Led Zeppelin on Labor Day with Multiple Screenings of “Celebration Day”

This Labor Day will be a Led Zeppelin “Celebration Day” over at AXS TV, as the high-def network is planning to pay tribute to the band on the 47th anniversary of its first concert with a special block of programming. AXS TV will play the British rock legends’ 2012 concert film Celebration Day four times back to back on Monday, September 7, starting at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT.

Serving as host of the special will be Jason Bonham, son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who stepped in for his dad at the band’s 2007 reunion show in London that was filmed for the Celebration Day movie. Jason will share stories about growing up with his famous father, and about his experiences playing with the group at the historic concert.

Celebration Day documents Led Zeppelin’s December 10, 2007, reunion concert at London’s O2 Arena. It features singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones, along with Jason, ripping through a set of the band’s classic songs, including “Whole Lotta Love,” “Rock and Roll,” “Kashmir” and the epic “Stairway to Heaven.” The show was organized as part of a tribute to late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.

“It’s a great privilege and an honor to be even in the same breath as my father,” says Jason. “To get a chance to play with these peers, with the band as well, you’re gonna see what was truly one of the greatest days of my life.”

After the 11 a.m. ET screening, AXS TV will air Celebration Day again at 1:15 p.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. ET and 5:45 p.m. ET.

Led Zeppelin’s very first concert took place on September 7, 1968, in Gladsaxe, Denmark, although the band was actually still billing itself as The Yardbirds at the time

http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/65030/

………………………………………

TBL Archive Special:

blueberry hill 1

Led Zeppelin Live On Blueberry Hill – the pioneering bootleg album …still a thrill…

45 years ago tomorrow on September 4 1970, Led Zeppelin performed a memorable show at the Los Angles Forum – it was captured by more than one enterprising fan and subsequently released on a variety of bootlegs. It remains for me and countless others one of THE essential Led Zeppelin recordings.

To mark the 45th anniversary  of what we know and love as Live On Blueberry Hill, here is an TBL archive special this is one of the chapters in the Celebration II – The Tight But Loos Files book published by Omnibus Press in 2003.

Bootlegs and Led Zeppelin have been synonymous for over three decades. Despite manager Peter Grant’s heavy-handedness when dealing with those he caught taping their shows, the band are the most bootlegged act of all time, outstripping even The Beatles, Dylan, Springsteen and the Stones. Their final seven shows in the UK alone (five at Earls Court and two at Knebworth) account for over 100 different releases between them. Just about every known amateur recording of the band’s live gigs has made it on to CD. Given the length of their stage shows, the CD format, with its 75-minute playing time, is tailor made for presenting Zeppelin in concert, but even before the flood of digital compact format titles that emerged in the early Nineties there was no shortage of vinyl Led Zeppelin bootlegs.

Tight But Loose has carried reports on Zeppelin bootlegs since its inception. As far back as the hand written first edition I was enthusiastically reviewing the then recently issued vinyl bootleg Ballcrusher which documented their BBC In Concert show. Issue number two carried an extensive report on what was already a legendary bootleg album, Led Zeppelin Live On Blueberry Hill. In 1995 I returned to that 1970 recording to laud its 25th anniversary for TBL 11.

Whatever the legal niceties of such releases, searching out their bootleg recordings is a necessity of every serious Zep fan. Their studio albums only hinted at the creativity the group were capable of. It was on stage in live action that Zeppelin really excelled.

During the Seventies ample proof of that fact arrived with each new bootleg record, none more so than the remarkable recordings made at the Los Angles Forum from the audience on the night of September 4, 1970, during Led Zeppelin’s sixth American tour. This chapter reflects on the lasting impact of that memorable bootleg recording and rounds up twelve other illicit evenings with Led Zeppelin.

Led Zeppelin’s impact on their initial American tours made them a prime target for the emerging bootleg recording business. The bands’ skill at extending and improvising on their studio record repertoire elevated their live shows to something very different from playing their albums.

During their first 18 months on the road they cleverly interwove the basic recorded material from the first two albums with additional impromptu jams. Early examples of this included the long jam on Garnet Mimms ‘As Long As I Have You’, employed on many of their 1969 shows, the medley of numbers to be found within ‘How Many More Times’ and an improvised jam session in the middle of ‘Communication Breakdown’. Then there was ‘Dazed And Confused’, Page’s late Yardbird remnant that by 1970 was developing into a marathon 20-minute opus with differing sections, including the violin bow episode and a call and response battle between Page and Plant.

‘Whole Lotta Love’, the Zep II opener, soon became another forum for exploration, usually a platform to playfully improvise a selection of Fifties rock’n’roll classics. During 1970 they also began previewing songs from the yet to be released third album – initially an embryonic ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ and then, in a bold move, the acoustic ‘That’s The Way’, a performance that helped break the myth that Zep relied entirely on Marshall amplifiers.

Two separate teams of fans were intent on recording the Zeppelin gig at the Inglewood Forum in Los Angeles on the night of September 4, 1970, but it’s unlikely they knew what Zeppelin had in store that night. Both came away with lengthy representations of the band’s current state of play, recorded on reel-to- reel recorders close to the stage.

The recording that would became known as the album Led Zeppelin Live On Blueberry Hill was captured by a pair of west coast bootleggers whose previous credits included Dylan’s Great White Wonder set and The Rolling Stones’ LiveR Than You’ll Ever Be. The latter had been recorded on a Uher 4000 reel-to-reel tape recorder with 71/2ips inch reels and a Sennheiser 805 shotgun microphone. They took this set up into the Forum to record in stereo the Zeppelin September 4 performance. Unbeknown to them, a separate bootlegger known as Rubber Dubber also recorded the show and quickly issued it as a double bootleg album stamped Led Zeppelin Live Los Angeles Forum 9-4-70.

The more common Blimp label version (later to appear on the high profile bootleg label Trade Mark Of Quality) with a distinctive surreal cover insert came out within weeks of the LA show. It’s worth noting, however, that it was not the first Led Zeppelin bootleg to be released. That distinction fell to a vinyl album known as PB (the title derived from the chemical symbol for lead). This came packaged in a brown sleeve with the words P.B. Live on side one and Recorded Live – Pure Blues on side two, and was pressed in limited quantities around the Seattle area. Pure Blues subsequently reached a wider market when it was picked up by the Trade Mark Of Quality label and pressed as Mudslide. The actual source was a soundboard recording from Zeppelin’s opening night of their fifth US tour on March 21, 1970, at the Pacific Coliseum Vancouver. The 40-minute tape was notable for capturing a rare version of ‘We’re Gonna Groove’, the Ben E King/James Beatha cover which the band used as a set opener during their early 1970 appearances. They also recorded a studio version the previous summer for possible inclusion on Led Zeppelin II which would eventually surface on the posthumous Coda album.

The UK music press of the time chronicled the constant stream of bootleg titles from the likes of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones that were being imported into the country. When reports of Zeppelin titles came to the attention of Peter Grant he was predictably angry.

In one of the few naive statements of his career, Grant was quoted in the Melody Maker as saying: “As far as I know there can be no Led Zeppelin tapes available. After hearing some time ago that there was going to be an attempt to bootleg some tapes of the band, I flew to America. We’ve managed to retrieve all the tapes and we know nothing in existence that can be issued.”

When Grant heard that copies of Live On Blueberry Hill were being sold from a shop in Chancery Lane in London, Grant and Richard Cole, along with RAK management partner Mickie Most, paid the shop a visit. He questioned the proprietor on the Zeppelin album and with some not so gentle persuasion made sure he knew that this was one bootleg album it would be best to leave alone. In a separate incident a year later fearing another case of bootlegging, Grant smashed the equipment being used by a team of anti-pollution scientists set up to measure noise levels at a Zeppelin show in Vancouver.

For all his muscle Grant was ultimately powerless to stop the proliferation of Zeppelin underground records of which Blueberry Hill was the forerunner. If you knew where to look, such artefacts were possible to come by.

blueberry_hill_f

For this particular enchanted Zep obsessed teenager Blueberry Hill represented the forbidden fruit and back in 1972 I was determined to track it down. Luckily the then relative newcomer to the pop press Sounds offered a free service for readers’ classified advertisements. I scoured these columns religiously for many weeks and finally struck gold when I spotted an ad that ran along the lines: “Live albums for sale: Stones, Dylan, Zeppelin etc”. The list came back and amongst the many Dylan and Beatles titles there it was – Live On Blueberry Hill, a double album on the TMQ label, catalogue number TMQ 72002, and pressed on coloured vinyl, asking price £6. Back then six quid was a small fortune but it was more than worth it.

About three weeks later the postman dropped an LP size package on the doorstep. I anxiously ripped it open and there in all its glory was the genuine article: “106 minutes and fifty-three seconds of pure and alive rock” as the sleeve insert put it. Was it ever.

The excitement of playing that double album, on blue and red vinyl, remains an unforgettable musical memory for me. It was a novelty that never wore off. Indeed, the various incarnations I’ve obtained since – the Rubber Dubber vinyl set, the various re-issues, the various bootleg CD packages – all these have only heightened the listening pleasure of that celebrated Los Angeles stop-off during Led Zeppelin’s sixth American tour.

The overriding factor of the September 4 recording, regardless of which version you hear, is that it remains one of the greatest audience recordings of the era. The sheer dynamic thrust of Bonzo’s drum sound, the sinewy grind of Page’s guitar, Jonesy’s resonant bass lines and piecing keyboards and the outstanding clarity of Plant’s siren shrieks (suitably enhanced by the echo unit employed at the time), all merge into a ferocious mix that magically recreates the electricity of the occasion.

For anyone weaned the original TMQ long players, there’s an authenticity in their performances ingrained in the grooves that has rarely been captured so effectively. Alongside the 1975 Madison Sqaure Garden soundboard, the Earls Court shows and the LA 1977 gigs, there are few finer unofficial examples of the complete Led Zeppelin concert experience. The September 4, 1970, concert as captured on the TMQ double set was just choc full of off-the-wall surprises. There was no sign of any set list sterility back then – they just did as they pleased.

Moments to relish include:

The aural assault of ‘Immigrant Song’ (listed on the insert as ‘From The Midnight Sun’ as it had yet to be announced under its official title) exploding into ‘Heartbreaker’.

The slightly menacing tone of a relatively compact ‘Dazed And Confused’ with Plant bursting in mid way through screaming, “I don’t care what people say, rock’n’roll is here to stay”

Page and Bonham linked in glorious tandem for that solo exercise on ‘Bring It On Home’

The electric finale of ‘Moby Dick’ (“The big B!” exclaims Plant)

The unpredictability of ‘Communication Breakdown’ as Zep play The Buffalo Springfield and Beatles songbooks and throw in the rarely played live Zep I opener ‘Good Times Bad Times’.

Freshly minted nuggets from the yet to be heard Zep III on record such as ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ and the rarely played ‘Out On the Tiles’.

The tentative introduction of the acoustic material, a stark and sensitive ‘That’s The Way’ and the rare try out of Page’s instrumental solo ‘Bron Yr Aur’, a clear five years before it was officially released

‘Thank You’ preceded by the meandering organ solo from John Paul Jones and finishing with a drawn out ending featuring Page’s delicate strumming.

‘Whole Lotta Love’ and the ensuing Zep 50’s revival show and finally the breathless rendiditon of Fats Domino’s ‘Blueberry Hill’

“Goodnight and thank you for everything,” utters a breathless Plant at the close, followed by “Did ya dig it?” by the evening’s MC.

Yes we did and still do

The greatest live album of all time? It’s certainly up there with the best, official or otherwise.

The reason is simple. It captures a group of musicians brimming with confidence. On stage that night in September 1970 Led Zeppelin were truly coming of age.

Live On Blueberry is also something of a yardstick for the bootlegs industry. Back then Zeppelin’s recorded output was just the tip of the iceberg. On stage live was where the real action occurred and, indeed, where they really built their reputation. Peter Grant summing it all up when he told me: “Led Zeppelin was primarily an in-person band… that’s what it was really about.”

Bootleg recordings of the band offered a whole new level of appreciation and Blueberry Hill was the watershed for the subsequent flood of live Zep bootlegs that would emerge throughout the next three decades.

The whole bootleg CD market may be well out of control now, beyond any reasonable realm of quality control, but there was a time when bootlegs like Blueberry Hill were considered almost as important as the group’s official output by fans and chroniclers alike and, if they were honest, probably the group themselves.

Maybe that’s the greatest compliment that can be paid to this iconic bootleg recording. It remains as essential a part of their discography as any of their official albums.

More than four decades on Live On Blueberry Hill is still an absolute thrill.

Dave Lewis.

…………………………………………………..

Five Glorious Nights – Led Zeppelin at Earls Court May 1975:

This lovely feedback on the Earls Court book from Moscow…

Big Thanks to you for the book Five Glorious Nights book!

You can look through the photos, read Plant’s quotations and nearly feel the atmosphere of those nights. And together with the music it makes magic!

All these things today made me listen to the bootlegs again and with the book in hand to feel the atmosphere and enjoy the divine music. You did a great job for so many people around the globe! Thank you very much again!

Oleg Pavlov -Moscow, Russia

If you have yet to indulge – the book is available to order now here

http://www.rufuspublications.com/

………………………………………………………

DL AT 59: ON THE OCCASION OF MY BIRTHDAY

On Saturday September 5 , I reach the ripe old age of 59.

As usual, it’s a good time to quantify what I do, what I like and take stock…

Firstly some timelines:

I was 7 years old when I first saw a live concert (The Dave Clark Five show)

9 when I first saw Tottenham Hotspur play

13 when I first heard Led Zeppelin

15 when I first started work at British Home Stores

15 when I first saw Led Zeppelin live at the Empire Pool Wembley

18 when I first started selling records at WH Smith – a career in retail that would last 35 years

DL 76

18 when I saw Led Zeppelin perform five times at Earls Court

21 when I jumped on stage with The Who at Shepperton

22 when I wrote the first Tight But Loose magazine

23 when I travelled over Europe to see Led Zeppelin on what would be there final tour

24 when my first book Led Zeppelin -The Final Acclaim was published

25 when I started going out with the good lady Janet

27 when we married

34 when Sam was born,

35 when my book Led Zeppelin A Celebration was published

Dave1991-1

38 when Adam was born

46 when the Led Zeppelin DVD was premiered

51 when Led Zeppelin reunited at the 02 Arena,

53 when I was made redundant at Virgin Retail and created TBL Publishing and went self- employed

57 when I published the revised Then As It Was Led Zeppelin at Knebworth book,

58 when I compiled the Five Glorious Nights -Led Zeppelin at Earls Court 1975 book…

My 58th year has been bookended by interviews with Jimmy Page – at the Kensington gore Hotel on October 2 2014- and at Olympic Studios on June 18 2015 – which was 35 years ago to the day I had witnessed Jimmy Page on stage with Led Zeppelin at the Cologne Sporthalle. This was something I mentioned to Jimmy on the day and he delightfully made reference to this fact in the photo he signed for me of him onstage at that gig

Any year where such events occur plus the reissue of no les than six Led Zeppelin albums has to be pretty special and there’s no doubt in the world of Led Zeppelin my 58th year has been pretty epic.

Along with TBL 38 and 39 there’s been the compiling of the Five Glorious Nights – Led Zeppelin at Earls Court 1975 book. The latter project has been one of the most significant and fulfilling of my long time chronicling of Led Zeppelin. I’d like to personally thank Mark Smith of Rufus Stone Limited Editions for giving me the opportunity to create this book.

Once again, forgive me the indulgence but here are some DL birthday at 59 reflections:

At 59, the usual passions remain undimmed.

As ever here music remains all encompassing. Listening to it, writing about it, reading about it. That folks is my DNA.

Right at the centre of my world is of course Led Zeppelin and all its many offshoots. It remains an absolute privilege to be able to relay the world of Led Zep through the various TBL mediums, be it this web site, Facebook, the magazine or the books.

It’s also how I make a living.

Yes it’s a fantastic job but one it does come with it’s own set of challenges. To pursue the various projects, generate business and sell the TBL product is a non stop 24/7 task –  and a somewhat isolating one at times. I do have some amazing support and I’d like to single out Mick Lowe, Mike Tremaglio and Gary Foy for all they have done this past year in bringing the various TBL initiatives to fruition.

…And there are plenty of exciting TBL projects ahead including the landmark TBL 40 issue and the Evenings With Led Zeppelin book project with Mike Tremaglio – all of which will  unfold in the coming months. At this point I’d like to offer sincere thanks to  every subscriber and buyer of TBL product this past year. Your support is very much appreciated.

Add to that the love of football –and following the erratic fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur and England, the daily bike rides (my favoured mode of transport) and socialising in the pub with friends.

Pubs oh yes…I have a great affinity for the great British pub – I do seem to be pictured many times with a pint of Fosters in my hand -but it’s not just that they serve alcohol – I love the differing atmosphere, the lay out –the sheer tradition of the British pub. Too many are closing of course which is a terrible shame. Those that remain should be coveted.

So 59 years old…next year is the big 60 which is a ridiculous notion when I think back to say seeing Zep at Earls Court which seems like a second ago ..but a lifetime. Back in 1975, anyone I knew of the age of nigh on 60 would have been considered ancient. Now I am at that age, well I don’t feel ancient and in my mind I still feel 25. Plainly physically, I am not of that age now as was demonstrated a few weeks back when I tired to keep up with Adam on the tennis court! However, I do certainly try and demonstrate a zest for life and stay young at heart..

The fact is though, none of us are getting any younger -the days really are to cherish and with health issues to contend with and the usual daily grind, it isn’t always easy – it isn’t all smiles and there are often tears behind the smiles…we have had some challenges this past year here not least with Janet’s mums health – however during such times, the inspiration of family and friends becomes ever important and valued.

Track two side one of Led Zeppelin III is a big mantra of mine ….Friends….

And music – always music… and a whole lotta retro… 

This is the ingredient that has forged so many like minded friendships over the past five decades.

As is plainly evident, my tastes were formulated in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s and have remained pretty constant ever since.

For me it’s about albums, songs, vocalists, emotion, composition, dynamics, light and shade…and the usual suspects continue to fill that premise and inspire so step forward the likes of:

Led Zeppelin and related artists

Crosby Stills Nash and Young,

The Who

The Beatles

The Rolling Stones

Rod Stewart/The Faces

Bob Dylan

Nick Drake

Elvis Presley

Frank Sinatra

Miles Davis

Free

Bad Company

Yes

Fairport Convention

Sandy Denny

Joni Mitchell

Dusty Springfield

David Bowie

T. Rex

Pete Townshend

Alice Cooper

Humble Pie

Peter Frampton

The Yardbirds

The Allman Brothers

Little Feat

The James Gang

Credence Clearwater Revival

The Byrds

Pink Floyd

Jethro Tull

Cat Stevens

John Lennon

George Harrison

Paul McCartney & Wings

Traffic

Eric Clapton

Blind Faith

Derek & The Dominoes

Donovan

Family

Ronnie Wood

Mott The Hoople

ELP

Burt Bacharach

Paul Weller

The Jam and many more.

You could say it’s a whole lotta retro but that’s the way I like it. There’s always a fair few CDs and LP’s in the ”To listen to’’ pile and more to unravel and enjoy.

Then there is vinyl…lovely long playing vinyl – the LP – the record… the seven inch single…the 45… 

Whilst I still collect CD’s –recent acquisitions have been The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers and the recent Bad Company reissues –and I am eying up the just released new Faces/Rod five CD box set –  it’s vinyl that tends to dominate here…

Oh yes vinyl – the collecting of vinyl albums and singles continues to be a real passion – ever increasingly so!

Victoria ten

As my good friend Dec notes I seem to be on a quest to invest in every rock album released sine 1968 –it’s not quite as bad as that but boy do I love re connecting with the long playing format.

Big time.

So what is the attraction?

Well for me in an ever changing technological social media driven world,the LP and single record is a true bastion of past values – values to be held on to and cherished.  Vinyl is the true everlasting music carrying format.

The sleeve art work, the size, the tangible feel, the smell..and the sound – living breathing vinyl grooves…and of course that most comforting of sounds…the initial surface noise as the needle hits the vinyl…sheer bliss in my world…and countless others  – note least of course one James Patrick Page – I have been fortunate enough to see his own passion for record buying at close quarters

For me every vinyl album I acquire tells a story – the historical significance of the label and pressing and of course the music itself and where I was at when I first heard it.

Most of my collecting  concentrates on the golden age of the 1960s and 70s –when I was growing up and discovering music for myself.  Indeed part of my vinyl quest is to buy back LP’s I either foolishly sold or lost along the way.

I am also a sucker for great artwork and label designs. I love collecting anything on the Atlantic UK plum and orange label with it’s Zep heritage, and labels such as Apple, Vertigo, Immediate and Island. To me these label designs are pure works of art.

Of course anything on Swan Song Records is eagerly snapped up too.

I have acquired some great Swan Song promo pressings in the past year as well as various foreign Led Zep pressings. I would have actually had one or two more Zep foreign rarities but knowing of Jimmy’s passion for the same area of collecting, I have occasionally bought to his attention some  Zep rarities I’ve seen at record fairs we have both been at. Rather than invest myself, I have graciously passed them over to the guitarist. Well, after all he did create the music on them!

During the past few months, it has of course been an absolute pleasure to indulge in the reissued Led Zeppelin vinyl.

Oh and add to that the seven inch single…

This past 12 months has seen me get right back into collecting singles. The quest being to snap up the singles I would have purchased in the years 1969 to 1972 had I had the required cash to do so.

In the collecting of vinyl there are many bargains to be had – with a keen eye for a bargain I rarely pay over a tenner for anything and mostly under £5. I have something of a deft touch at searching out gems in local charity shops .

In London, there’s Fopp in Cambridge Circus, Sister Ray and Reckless Records in Berwick Street continue to come up with some great stuff. Then there’s the London Olympia and Victoria  record fairs and Spitalfields market. The nearby Hitchin market is another good source as is Empire Records in St Albans and Wax Factor and Across the Tracks in Brighton.

Vinyl barn Aug

Significantly, in Bedford, Darren Harte has established his Vinyl Barn stall on Bedford market on Friday’s as something of a weekly vinyl haven. I am there most Friday mornings checking the new arrivals – and Darren continues to come up with interesting fresh retro stuff.

Amongst my gang, Tom, Phil and Dec are also vinyl enthusiasts particularly Tom who like me is also an avid vinyl collector and we can often be heard discussing the fascinating minutiae of rare vinyl pressings on the Vertigo label etc etc – or ‘’talking bollocks’’ as some of our ladies are prone to comment on –  but hey it’s what we do!

Our trip to London for the annual Record Store Day is always one of the highlights of the year. Pete Burridge, Mat Roberts and Dave Crane are fellow local vinyl enthusiasts who have the vinyl buzz and our finds are often on our respective Facebook pages..

Rarely a week goes by where I do not pick up one or two items – the downside is of course they do take up some considerable room as the good lady Janet often reminds me!

So with vinyl collecting at the forefront of many of my passions…and once again unsurprisingly this year’s 59 at 59 listing focuses on my vinyl passion.

So here goes:

59 singles sounding mighty fine at 59

On the occasion of my 59th birthday:

This list chronicles 59 singles that I have acquired over the past 12 months from a variety of record fairs, shops and notably Darren Harte’s excellent Vinyl Barn stall in Bedford. A majority of the singles circa 1969 to 1972, I would have purchased at the time had my paper round pocket money stretched that far. It’s been a joy to search them out and add them to the DL vinyl collection as they re- connect me with the music that has been and continues to be the soundtrack of my life. So with the stylus at the ready – here are 59 seven inch singles and EP’s sounding mighty fine at 59…

1955: Frank Sinatra – In The Wee Small Hours EP

1961: I’ll Be There – Bobby Darin

1963:

Live At The Cavern EP – The Big Three

Glad All Over – The Dave Clark Five

1966: I Want You/Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues (live in Liverpool) – Bob Dylan

1967: Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush – Traffic

1968: Sunshine Of Your Love – Cream

1969:

No Mules Fool – Family

Curly – The Move

Hello Susie – Amen Corner

Living In The Past – Jethro Tull

Oh Well Parts I and 2– Fleetwood Mac

Natural Born Woman – Humble Pie

Good Morning Starshine – Oliver

Bad Moon Rising – Credence Clearwater Revival

Coming Home – Delaney and Bonnie and Friends

Reflections of My Life – Marmalade

1970:

Let It Be – The Beatles

Kentucky Rain – Elvis Presley

Sympathy – Rare Bird

Friends – Arrival

I Will Survive – Arrival

Memo From Turner – Mick Jagger

Ten Years After – Love Like A Man

The Green Manalishi Fleetwood Mac

Country Pie – The Nice

All Right Now – Free

My Lady D’abarnville – Cat Stevens

Who Do You Love – Juicy Lucy

Natural Sinner – Fairweather

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Andy Williams

Gasoline Alley Bred – The Hollies

Man Of Constant Sorrow – Ginger Baker’s Airforce

Woodstock – Crosby Stills, Nash and Young

Mam Told Me Not To Come – Three Dog Night

The Love You Save – The Jackson Five

Voodoo Chile – Jimi Hendrix

The Seeker – The Who

Question – The Moody Blues

25 or 6 to 4 – Chicago

1971:

Baby Jump – Mungo Jerry

Jig a Jig – East Of Eden

My Brother Jake – Free

Waldo P. Emerson Jones – Pickettywitch

I Will Drink the Wine – Frank Sinatra

Brown Sugar/Bitch/Let it Rock – The Rolling Stones

1972:

T. Rex – Metal Guru

Lady Eleanor -Lindisfarne

1973:– Oh No Not My Baby – Rod Stewart

1974:

W.O.L.D. – Harry Chapin

Lulu – The Man Who Sold The World

1975:

Trampled Underfoot/Black Country Woman – Led Zeppelin (US Swan Song)

Two Fine People – Cat Stevens

1976:

Tonight – The Pretty Things (Swan Song German pic sleeve)

Here Comes The Weekend – Dave Edmunds –  (Swan Song Dutch pic sleeve)

Extended Play EP including The Price Of Love/ Heart On My Sleeve/Shame, Shame, Shame, It’s Only Love – Bryan Ferry

1977: Memphis, Stay With Me, Cindy Incidentally, You Can Make Me Dance Sing, or Anything EP – The Faces

2015:

Young Americans – David Bowie (re- issue picture disc)

Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson (Record Store Day release)

Afterglow Of Your Love/Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire – The Small Faces (Record Store Day release)

…………………………..

59 albums sounding mighty fine at 59

On the occasion of my 59th birthday:

This list chronicles 59 albums aka LP records that I have acquired over the past year from a variety of record fairs, shops and notably Darren Harte’s excellent Vinyl Barn stall in Bedford. So with the stylus at the ready – here are 59 albums sounding mighty fine at 59…

59 albums sounding mighty fine at 59

On the occasion of my 59th birthday:

Miles Davis – Bitches Brew – original CBS pressing

Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water – Quadrophonic pressing

King Crimson – The Compact King Crimson – double album compilation

Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills 2 – UK Atlantic orange and plum label

Lulu –The Lulu Album – 1969 with John Paul Jones arrangements

Led Zeppelin – Coda – Japanese Swan Song pressing

Bad Company – Run With The Pack – Japanese Swan Song pressing

Otis Redding – Otis Blue – UK orange and plum mono Atlantic pressing

Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti – Super deluxe box set

Rod Mckuen – Loves Been Good To Me – US Stanyan Records label

Vanilla Fudge – Rock & Roll – UK original plum and orange label

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Willie And The Poor Boys – US Fantasy label

The Groundhogs – Split – United Artists import with alternate sleeve to UK

Family -Music In A Dolls House – Reprise K number pressing

Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti – Canadian Swan Song

ELP – Welcome Back My Friends… – US Manticore promo

Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years – US Columbia promo

Taste – Live Taste  – original Polydor pressing

Yes – The Yes Album – original plum and orange Atlantic

Sad Café – Sad Café – US Swan Song promo

Jimmy Page – Death Wish II Soundtrack – US Swan Song promo

Detective – it Takes One To Know One – US Swan Song promo

Immediate Lets You In sampler – with I’m Your Witchdoctor Jimmy Page production

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV – Super deluxe box set

Led Zeppelin – Houses Of The Holy – Super deluxe box set

Joni Mitchell – Mingus – original Asylum pressing

Fairport Convention – Liege And Leaf – palm tree Island pressing

Jack Bruce – Harmony Row – original Polydor pressing

The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Yer Yas Out – original Decca pressing

Dave Berry – Dave Berry – Decca with Jimmy Page credit

Buddy Rich & Gene Krupa – Burinin’ Beat –  Verve label

The Yardbirds Roger The Engineer – mono pressing on limited picture disc. Record Store Day release

Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifter – More Roar 10 inch – Record Store Day release

Bob Dylan – The Basement Tape – Record Store Day release

Led Zeppelin – Soundtrack from The Song Remains The Same – Argentina promo

The Dave Clark Five – Catch Us If You Can  – original UK Columbia label

Bad Company – Bad Co – double album reissue

Bad Company – Straight Shooter – double album reissue

Television – Adventure – UK red vinyl pressing

Patti Smith – Horses – UK Arista label

Led Zeppelin In Through The Out Door – Yugoslavia pressing

Led Zeppelin Presence – with original WH Smith sticker

Crosby Stills & Nash –Crosby Stills & Nash – UK plum and orange Atlantic

Mott The Hoople – Mott – original cut out cover

Judy Collins – Fifth album – US Electra /Dobells Jazz shop sticker

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin – UK turquoise sleeve

Jimmy Page Soundtracks – vinyl LP set

The Rolling Stones Live at The Marquee – LP with DVD

Free – Fire And Water – original pink Island pressing

Little Feat – Feats Don’t Fail Me Now – UK Warner brothers label

Thunderclap Newman – Hollywood Dream – US MCA 1973 pressing

Beck, Bogart & Apiece – Live –   Japanese pressing with Obi strip

David Bowie – Station To Station – with original insert

Led Zeppelin Presence – Super Deluxe box set

Led Zeppelin In Through The Out Door – Super deluxe box set

Led Zeppelin – Coda – Super Deluxe box set double vinyl

Adam Faith – I Survived – original UK Warner Bros pressing

Ginger Baker – At His Best – US Polydor pressing

So there it is…..the 59 at 59 lists…the stuff that continues to inspire this particular nigh on 59 year old…

……………………………………………..

DL Diary Update:

We had a lovely day to celebrate the good lady Janet’s birthday on Monday. We met with Sam and travelled on the train to Brighton. Despite some early rain, the weather was ok – dull but dry and fairly warm. While the ladies shopped, I checked out the local record shops – I picked up a copy of the Immediate label sampler Lets You In -this includes the Jimmy Page produced John Mayall tracks I’m Your Witchdoctor/Telephone Blues – a bargain at £1!  We also had a nice meal – it was a top day all round – Janet would like to thank everyone for the lovely birthday wishes and comments on the TBL/DL Facebook- thank you – you lovely people!

The holidays are well and truly over and the summer is all but gone…and the TBL autumn campaign is already up and running.

studio mix sept 2

Tuesday September 2 heralded the first work on the next TBL magazine  the landmark TBL 40. There’s already some great stuff in and line up to go including a superb dissection of Achilles Last Stand by Rikky Rooksby, a Top 40 all time great bootlegs listing by long time TBL associate Paul Shepperd, the interview with Chris Dreja I conducted at the recent Proud Gallery Led Zep From the Beginning exhibition launch plus a piece from Chris Charlesworth on the 1970 Bath Festival. the pic above was taken at StudioMix on Tuesday as Mick and I looked at initial TBL 40 design ideas.

That is just the beginning – there’s a whole lot more to come and as the promo cover here states ”to be continued”. Watch this space for further TBL 40 updates and developments.

Right, there’s a 59th birthday to be celebrated…on the day I’ll be visiting one or two public houses to toast the day, playing plenty of records, and in the evening the Bedford Earls Court vets and their ladies will be accompanying Janet and I for a meal in town. On the evidence of the clip below, they will be hoping there’s no karaoke for me to bellow over!

Then it will be ever onward into a vey busy Autumn….

Dave Lewis, September 3, 2015 

………………….

YouTube clips:

Immigrant Song/ Heartbreaker Live On Blueberry Hill:

And finally a bit of birthday fun – DL on vocals….

Until next time…

Have a great  weekend

Keep listening, keep reading…

Dave Lewis/Gary Foy –  September 3  2015. 

If you are reading this and have yet to link with the Tight But Loose Facebook page be sure to request/add us. The TBL Facebook is another key part of the TBL set up with updated stories/additional pics etc to keep you on top of the world of TBL.

To view additional photos and TBL info be sure to hook up with the Tight But Loose Facebook page (add us as a friend) at

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1611296783

 Also follow Dave Lewis/TBL on Twitter – LedzeppelinTBL

 

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...

22 Comments »

  • Michael said:

    Happy birthday Dave!

    Wishing you many many more. Your work continues to flourish. The Five Glorious Nights book is your best production yet … a must have for any true Zeppelin fan!

    Michael

  • Graham Rodger said:

    Happy birthday Dave. Listening to you sing has prompted me to dust off my old vinyl copy of Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends and give it a spin. Have a great day.

  • Hiroshi said:

    Many happy returns Dave!
    I’m stomping at Festival No.6 in Portmeirion, “The Village”, not too far from Snowdonia. I am a free man! So are you!

  • Michel said:

    Hi Dave, i wanted to wish you a happy birthday and have a very very nice day.
    Kind regards
    Michel
    (htt://little-james.over-blog.com)

  • Roxanne Barker said:

    Happy Birthday Dave!! Your soundtrack is my soundtrack–we are the same age. My birthday is a couple of weeks after yours, and yes, I too feel 25! I work with people I’m old enough to be their grandparent, yet after a hard day at work, I go home and crank up Zep (can’t get enough of Celebration Day, etc.) If only they knew……………….Cheers

  • Dave M said:

    Best wishes on your birthday, Dave.

    Been reading your stuff since the 1978 Sounds Zep special until, well, now!

    Keep flying the Zep flag. Your work and dedication to the cause is much appreciated.

  • Ian Avey said:

    Hope you had a great 59th Dave!

  • del said:

    Dave have a good one mate and many more to come, and as a long suffering Spurs season ticket holder myself at least they wont ruin your birthday this year cause they aint playing !!! Cheers Mate

  • Swin said:

    Happy Birthday Dave,have been subscribing to TBL since the 90’s-your magazine just gets better & better. Ever onward.! Swin.

  • Chris Serratella said:

    Glasses raised from Texas! Blueberry out and spinnin’ on the deck. Many more to come, young Dave.

  • JML said:

    Cheers Dave…HAPPY 59th

  • roy hodgson said:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!Have a good one.
    From Roy Hodgson (the Scottish one, ha!)

  • Ian Saikia said:

    Dave, have a happy 59th birthday and a wonderful weekend enjoying your favourite pubs !

  • G Brown said:

    Dave. Best wishes from Scotland! You really keep the flame alive! Keep it burning.

  • John Webster said:

    Happy Birthday Dave. I was 59 on 1st August so same scenario for us both! Your work is appreciated by all Zepp fans I can assure you.

    I am also back in to collecting vinyl and bought the recent Zepp re-issues in super deluxe form. I am not one for doing reviews but I have to say without exception it is the vinyl re-issues I really enjoy. There seems to be such a difference between them and cd versions. If it had been just cd I think I would have been really disappointed. Also bought 2 Beatles vinyl singles recently.Originals of Magical Mystery Tour EP and Twist and Shout, the one where they are jumping over a brick wall. My sister is 8 years older than me and I well remember and she had this and I remember being fascinated by the cover in the early 60s.

  • Charlie said:

    Yes indeed Happy Birthday Dave.
    Just a year or so behind you and our musical preferences are almost the same.
    Even the mighty Tottenham Hotspur are my fave team and have been for 50 odd(!!) years.Have a good one

  • paul aspey said:

    Happy Birthday Dave , You don’t look 59 but I can remember when you did

  • Larry said:

    Happy Birthday Dave! Sincere thanks for all of your energy and commitment to the band and its fans these many years. Here’s to many more!

  • Keith Hyde said:

    Happy Birthday, Dave! Many Happy Returns!!!

  • Steve A. Jones said:

    Am I the only one who wonders how Dave’s life would have turned out if he had switched his loyalties to Culture Club, Bannanarama or Wham? Have a great 59th Year.

  • Mark Williams said:

    A very Happy Birthday to you Dave. Let’s hope Jimmy will finally deliver a belated present to us all….by year-end (2015) !

  • Albert Borg said:

    Have a very Happy 59th Birthday Dave surrounded by those you love listening to the music you enjoy!

Leave your response!

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS.

Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic. No spam.

This is a Gravatar-enabled weblog. To get your own globally-recognized-avatar, please register at Gravatar.