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LED ZEPPELIN DIGITAL AUDIO MEDIA ARCHIVE LAUNCHED/ATLANTA 1969 POP FESTIVAL TAPE SURFACES/LZ NEWS/1975 US TOUR SNAPSHOT/VALENTINES DAY/RECORD COLLECTOR PRESENTS THE WHO/DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE

11 February 2021 3,354 views 2 Comments

 

Led Zeppelin Digital Audio Media Archive Launched:

I am very pleased to announce a new online digital archive that will provide access to hours of historically significant Led Zeppelin radio broadcasts 

I’ve been involved with this exciting project for a few months now and have been liaising with the renowned Zep archivist Blockbuster to bring it all to fruition – and he has done an absolutely amazing job in doing so.

The objective is to create an online Led Zeppelin media archive drawn from archive radio broadcasts as they were aired at the time.

With all that in mind and at Blockbusters request, I spent many hours delving into the DL archive to discover many of the original cassettes that contained recordings of Zep related interviews and broadcasts I had personally taped off the radio at the time.

I duly passed these on to Blockbuster who set about the task of digitizing the cassettes. As you can see via these photos, there is a fair amount of my cassettes that have been used – it took a good while to round all this up from the DL archive but it’s been very worthwhile.

Along with other contributors notably Chris M, they make up the extensive archive that is now ready to be accessed online.

It’s amazing to hear some of my original recordings here from various BBC Radio shows,Capital, Luxemburg and others  – interviews, chart countdowns etc. They bring back so many great memories of excitingly setting up the tape player in my Dents Road home to capture it all – note before I had the luxury of a direct input lead, on some recordings you may here the shrill tones of our budgerigar chirping in the back ground –unique recordings indeed!

Here’s what is lined up in the archive  via Blockbuster’s introductory notes – be sure to check it out…

THE LED ZEPPELIN DIGITAL AUDIO MEDIA ARCHIVE

Created by Blockbuster

 

Welcome to what is probably the World’s Largest online Led Zeppelin & related Audio Media Archive of interviews, documentaries, sessions and live Performances. If it was broadcasted or intended for broadcast on radio or online then it makes the list. TV is not included (except for one item…see if you can spot it!). This is by the fans, for the fans…and its all free for your enjoyment!

With very special thanks to the main contributors; Dave Lewis, and Chris M ‘The Dogz’.

Also, many thanks to the following who have contributed along the way; Coltraneman, Zeptrade, ssellers, David Snively

NOTE 1: This archive will be updated with new and upgraded recordings as and when they are found or donated. If you would like to contribute recordings from your own archive then please upload your recordings to a file sharing site and send the link to: blockbuster9003@gmail.com . Your name will be added to the above list of contributors. Additional storage space will be purchased as the archive increases in size.

NOTE 2: Newly added titles to the archive will be identifiable by a RED FOLDER.

NOTE 3: Please advise of any required corrections to the dates or file descriptions. Send an email to: blockbuster9003@gmail.com

Here’s an example of what you can hear for the years 1967 and 1970:

LATEST UPDATE: FEB 1st 2021

1967.xx.xx ‘The In-Sounds’ Interview with JP [US Army Radio]

1968.xx.xx The Yardbirds BBC Session (Re-broadcast circa 1979) [BBC R1]

1968.xx.xx Yardbird Jimmy Page Interview with Brian Matthew [BBC Radio]

1969.03.03 BBC Sessions Repeat Broadcast, ‘The Friday Rock Show’ 1979 [BBC R1]

1969.03.03 ‘Top Gear’ BBC Session (John Peel)

1969.03.14 Swedish Radio Broadcast, Led Zeppelin

1969.03.19 ‘Rhythm & Blues’ BBC Session (BBC World Service)

1969.05.xx Interview with Page & Plant [WBCN In the Studio 1st gen reel @ 3 3-4 ips]

1969.05.xx Plant & Jones Radio Spots for Johnny Thompson’s Music Store

1969.06.16 ‘Chris Grant’s Tasty Pop Sundae’ BBC Session

1969.06.24 ‘Top Gear’ BBC Session (John Peel)

1969.06.27 ‘BBC Rock Hour’ Playhouse Theatre, London

1969.06.27 Playhouse Theatre, (Boxing Day 1989.12.26 Re-broadcast) [BBC R1]

1969.06.27 Playhouse Theatre, ‘The Friday Rock Show’ 1979.12.28 Re-broadcast [BBC R1]

1969.06.29 ‘Top Gear’ John Peel (full Show, original broadcast) [BBC R1]

1969.xx.xx BBC Sessions Re-broadcast on ‘The Friday Rock Show’ 1979.02.02

1969-1971 BBC Re-broadcasts ‘Westwood One Superstar Concert Series’ #94-33

1970.01.09 London Radio Broadcast [Strange Tales From The Road LP]

1970.01.09 Royal Albert Hall, AM Broadcast [2nd Gen-DAT]

1970.03.04 BBC TOTP 278 Jimmy Page Interview

1970.03.21 Vancouver FM Broadcast (Pacific) [FMB]

1970.12.16 BBC TOTP 319 John Paul Jones Interview

1971.04.01 Live at the Paris Theatre, Alan Freeman (Re-broadcast 1993.10.23) [BBC R1]

1971.04.01 Live at the Paris Theatre, John Peel Show (Re-broadcast 1977.08.05) [BBC R1]

1971.04.01 Live at the Paris Theatre, London (Pre-broadcast version) BBC R1

1971.04.01 ‘Live Playtime’ BBC Paris Theatre, Re-broadcast [SR P3]

1971.04.01 Paris Theatre, Re-broadcast, ‘The Friday Rock Show’ 1980.09.26 [BBC R1]

That is a mere sample of what is on offer online to access – it takes in many a post Zep interview and broadcast right up to last year.

Like is said, this is an incredible archive of hours of historically significant Led Zeppelin radio broadcasts

Hats off to the amazing Blockbuster for all the effort that has gone in to bringing this this very worthwhile project to fruition – one that I am privileged to be involved with.

Be sure to check it out…

Link to the google drive archive is here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a_zWP4kYl3RuH6NxsNjw8RFj7kSA31CR


Led Zeppelin Atlanta Pop Festival 1969 audience source surfaces… and it’s amazing…

This exciting news broke on Saturday and was all over the Led Zep Facebook groups –  a newly surfaced audience tape of the Led Zeppelin’July 5, 1969 performance at the Atlanta International Pop Festival emerged online…

Here’s my thoughts on it …

What a find this is!

42 minutes of previously unheard prime time mid 1969 Led Zeppelin – a period where their on stage creativity was overflowing. This is from a good for the time audience tape sadly not the complete set and not the rumoured to exist soundboard. How Many More Times and the likely encore of Communication Breakdown are missing but what is here is an absolute revelation.

A frantic set opener Train Kept a Rollin’ segues into a masterful I Can’t Quite You Baby. Robert’s vocal performance throughout is outstanding –  his confidence was growing with every gig and if he was trying to impress the watching Janis Joplin – he more than succeeded.

Dazed And Confused is at that embryonic ‘we can take it anywhere we like’ stage and extends to nigh on ten minutes. JPJ and John Bonham are water tight on this and the call and response segment between Robert and Jimmy is Zep improvisation at it’s 1969 unpredictable best. Jimmy’s showpiece White Summer/Black Mountain Side follows in all it’s virtuoso glory. Finally a riveting organ less You Shook Me performed with the upmost intensity – harmonica and guitar led with a swagger and verve that must have been incredible to watch unfolding live on stage.

This is the sound of a band finding new avenues for their music at every developing gig – and this is the sound that in the summer of 1969, simply slayed every audience they accounted…

42 minutes of Led Zeppelin at the Atlanta International Pop Festival in 1969 …

Listen and be amazed…

This is the best new tape find for years – here’s hoping more gems like this will eventually surface…

DL – February 11,2021   

See the links below to hear this amazing recording and view a short cine film syn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejCCenSrv70&ab_channel=LedZeppelinBoot&fbclid=IwAR2zR3ceNEz4UgsCuvJFqqwMpNlT7tMqhTVa1NSiJeUa-kNRUd_qGTxJRuw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR02oduKGLqciA_c1i7HBS3oXsYAZZEWYFBU-OkvqmXvqlpetdla5ldblsE&v=qpKstogJ6Mo&feature=youtu.be

Here’s the background info to this appearance via the Evenings With Led Zeppelin book:

July 5, 1969 – Atlanta International Pop Festival, Atlanta Raceway – Hampton, Georgia, USA

Background Info:      

The first Atlanta International Pop Festival was held on the July 4 & 5, 1969 holiday weekend at the Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

The concert was organized by renowned concert promoter Alex Cooley, who also organized the Texas International Pop Festival held later in the summer of 1969. The stage was erected on the red clay infield of the raceway, and fans enduring the excessive 100 degree-plus heat were cooled off with fire truck hoses. Attendance figures varied, with most settling around 125,000 or so.

A few interesting anecdotes regarding Zep’s appearance at the festival: Peter Grant fell out with Blood, Sweat & Tears when they wouldn’t leave the stage; a naked spectator jumped on stage, fell on Bonzo’s drums, and was thrown off the stage by roadies; Janis Joplin allegedly took in Zeppelin’s performance from the side of the stage (she followed them on the bill).

Participating Artists:

July 4  – 1:00 p.m.:

Ten Wheel Drive, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Canned Heat, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Grand Funk Railroad, Pacific Gas & Electric, Johnny Rivers, Dave Brubeck & Gerry Mulligan, Sweetwater, Al Kooper, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, Ian & Sylvia, Johnny Winter, Creedence Clearwater Revival.

July 5 – 11:00 a.m.:

Ten Wheel Drive, Staples Singers, Tommy James & the Shondells, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Sweetwater, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, Spirit, Pacific Gas & Electric, Chicago TransitAuthority, Blood Sweat & Tears, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker (Chuck Berry was billed but failed to appear).Press Reaction:

 

Red & Black (University of Georgia) (July 9, 1969) by Shayne Fair:

“The crowd was well-behaved considering the heat, power failures, bum trips, etc.  Led Zeppelin’s appearance probably brought the best audience response. The closest thing to a riot Atlanta has seen took place during ‘How Many More Times’.”

Nashville Tennessean (July 13, 1969) by Gordon Butte:

“Zeppelin emanates a high voltage electric fever… Their efforts are super-human.  Some groups are good enough to command an audience.  Zeppelin, however, is in the category of those who can assault one.”

Ann Arbor Argus by Jon Grell:

“Janis Joplin was queen of the festival and Led Zepellin (sic) was king… Everybody up and moving their bodies to Jimmy Paige’s (sic) searing blues riffs. Our amazing energy and force can be partially realized at the sight of 100,000 dancing together, stoned freaks. The vibes could certainly shake down the walls of a city.”

Florida Today (July 13, 1969) by John McAleenan:

“Creedence 4:30 Saturday morning had 30,000 kids doing handstands. Led Zeppelin did the same thing to about 60,000 people near midnight Saturday.”

NOLA Express by Frank Janusa:

“Led Zeppelin was the real magic group. The way they performed ‘Good Times Bad Times’ and ‘Dazed and Confused’ was demonstrative of superior talent, ambition, and showmanship. I wish I had tapes of this group playing ‘live’.”

Beat (August 1969) by Tim McCabe:

“The crowds were receptive and appreciative. All acts received applause and many more were asked for encores – Led Zeppelin played for one hour and 10 minutes – the audience wouldn’t let them leave.”

 


LZ News:

Led Zeppelin News Update:

In conjunction with the Led Zep news site, each week I will be re- producing highlights from their email update news summary. This goes out periodically. Sign up details are below. Many thanks to James Cook

Led Zeppelin

  • A recording of Led Zeppelin’s July 5, 1969 performance at the Atlanta International Pop Festival emerged online this week. A five-track audience recording of the show is now available to listen to. It’s the first recording of this performance to be released, although rumours persist that a full soundboard tape exists.

Jimmy Page

  • Jimmy Page and Scarlett Sabet spoke about Sabet’s poetry work and Page’s music career for a new GQ article.

Robert Plant

  • Robert Plant signed a letter alongside more than 100 musicians including Elton John and Roger Daltrey that says the UK’s Brexit deal has “failed” musicians.

Upcoming events:

April 17 – Ross Halfin’s book “Led Zeppelin Vinyl: The Essential Collection” will be released by Reel Art Press.
June 18-20 – Robert Plant will perform as part of Saving Grace at the Black Deer festival in Kent.
September 25 – The 2021 John Bonham celebration event will be held in Redditch.

Led Zeppelin News Update:

For all the latest Zep and related news check out the Led Zeppelin news website at:

http://ledzepnews.com/


TBL Archive – Led Zep 1975 Snapshot:

With the 46th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s activities in 1975 upon us -I will be celebrating this era with a series of TBL Led Zep 1975    Snapshots – these will take the form of postings covering specific gigs and events from the era, with particular spotlight on the period January to May 1975.

This is designed to track the progress of the year as it unfolded. I will also be listening to the relevant bootleg of the chosen gig on the day to add a perspective of how it sounds 46 years on.

This is where things really get going…

TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number 5

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12th, 1975

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 

Set: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/In My Time Of Dying/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/Moby Dick/Dazed And Confused (inc. San Francisco)/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Heartbreaker (inc. That’s Alright Mama).

Background Details:

Whilst in New York, for recreation, Jimmy went to see Linda Ronstadt in New Jersey with ex-James Gang member Joe Walsh.

Writer and future film director Cameron Crowe is travelling with the band with a view to arranging a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine. Crowe builds up a good rapport with the group (he later contributes the sleeve notes to The Song Remains The Same soundtrack album) and interviews all four members, finally capturing Page at the Plaza Hotel during their Madison Square stint. Page, though none too happy with the paper’s previous coverage of the group, reluctantly agrees to a group photo session after much persuasion.

Cameron Crowe remembers: “Time was running out but I got Ben Fong Torres at the magazine’s office to hold the cover. Photographer Neal Preston reserved a room at the Plaza and set up a backdrop. It was the band’s day off (February 11). The members were informed of the afternoon shoot but mysteriously that morning Page disappeared from the hotel. Plant was first to arrive at 4PM, his shirt ‘accidentally’ open, his hair ‘accidentally’ perfect, then Jones and Bonham. Joe Walsh was there with his then manager Irving Azoff to help their friend Jimmy through this most tender ordeal. Page was still nowhere to be seen.

“Finally, Page arrived. In his arms were two bouquets of dead roses – his defiant statement for the cover of Rolling Stone. He explained his delay: ‘I was looking for black roses. They exist you know!’ He looked around the room. ‘Let’s do this quickly!’

“The session began. Three of the four members of Led Zeppelin struck a conciliatory pose, but the fourth Jimmy Page – held roses and stared through the camera. It was his chilling look that made the photo. The film was rushed to the lab and I flew home to San Francisco to write up the story. I had decided it would be a question and answer feature – that’s how good the interviews were.

“The call came early next day. There had been an equipment malfunction. The film was unusable; barely exposed was a dark silhouette of what might have been a Rolling Stone cover to rival the best. The cover was hastily switched to a tinted live Preston shot. That turned out nicely – and the issue with Zeppelin on the cover was a huge seller. It’s just a shame Page’s defiant stance was never seen.”

Snapshot Listen:- How it sounded today:

I’ve had this show for some years on the audience recording Can’t Take Your Evil Ways (Diagrams Of Led Zeppelin). In 2001 it then surfaced on the Empress Valley label as Flying Circus as a very well balanced soundboard recording. This was a revelation at the time and I recall a very excited Mark Harrison ringing me to tell me how good it was. And it is good -very good indeed and playing it today the whole thing sounded great. This is the point where the US tour really began to take off.

Robert is quick to comment on the snow that was surrounding the city at the time: “We came four blocks in the snow to get here… you realise that? People were calling me on the telephone today and saying ‘Is it gonna be on?’ For a minute I was wondering about my anatomy, then I realised there was some discrepancy about the weather. Isn’t it good though that it snows? Doesn’t it change the vibe of the city? I think it’s great!”

No Quarter expands with a lovely electric piano sequence and a wah wah fest from Page that has the feel of the electric fusion Miles Davis pioneered on the likes of Bitches Brew. Trampled Underfoot has a particularly expressive solo from Page.  Dazed And Confused continues to extend with the San Francisco sequence sounding very spaced out and brief section from Walter’s Walk which would eventually surface on Coda. The outro features those West Side Story licks.

Thee final encore of Heartbreaker is preceded by some lines from You Shook Me- during the solo they move into an impromptu version of That’s Alright Mama’ A perfect end to a perfect party. Plant: “Ladies and gentlemen of New York… you’re too much… and we ain’t so bad ourselves!”

Indeed they were not….

TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number 6:

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13th, 1975

nass 1

UNIONDALE , NEW YORK

NASSAU  VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM

Set: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/In My Time Of Dying/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/Moby Dick/Dazed And Confused (inc. San Francisco)/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Roll Over Beethoven/Communication Breakdown.

Snapshot Listen:- How it sounded today:

I have this on the Throwing The Wild Seeds box set. Another fine performance. Dazed And Confused contains much improvisation. Page’s injured finger is causing less problems now. Whole Lotta Love tonight includes the theremin for the first time on the tour during a funky interlude prior to leading into ‘Black Dog’.

Ronnie Wood then on tour with The Faces, comes on for the final encore of ‘Communication Breakdown’. Robert sings a few lines of Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven while the guitars are being sorted out. Communication Breakdown itself is greatly extended and clocks in at over nine minutes with both guitarists taking solos. One of the all time great Zep jams.

 TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number 6:

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14 1975

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK

NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM

Set: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/In My Time Of Dying/Since I’ve Been Loving You/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/Moby Dick/Dazed And Confused (inc. San Francisco)/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Heartbreaker.

Background Info: Mike Tremaglio recalled: One of my friends saw this show from the 14th row.Unfortunately he could not score tickets for my brother and I – not that I held it against him as I got him tickets for the June 7 1977 New York show. We asked him to log down all the details of the Nassau show  and we  did get a blow by blow account of the new songs from Physical Graffiti a full two weeks before it was released in the U.S. His recall was tremendous and I can remember him describing  In My Time of Dying and Kashmir in real detail.

……………………..

Snapshot Listen:- How it sounds now:

I have this on the Nassau 1975 (TheDiagrams Of Led Zeppelin) audience version. I’ve been listening to this show today via the soundboard recording that surfaced a few years back as released on the Scorpio label and as part of the Godfather Throwing The Wild Seeds box set .

It’s one of my favourite performances of the 1975 US tour.

Plant is just about regaining his vocals strength after the problems of the past weeks. He is also on his spieling best form developing one of those band to audience rapports he was so good at.

Witness his opening statements:

“Today is one of the last of the pagan traditions that is carried on into the 20th Century. It’s the day for throwing the wild seeds. In fact, now they call it St. Valentine’s Day… so, happy St. Valentine’s Day! I think we should dedicate this whole show to St. Valentine.”

nas 2“Tonight, we intend to take a knife and cut right through the glorious ice cream of Led Zeppelin. You get a little bit of vanilla, a little bit of chocolate, a little bit of colour and a little bit of everything”

And more..

“We came here in a state of ah, Jimmy managed to get to sleep at three o’clock this afternoon, and he was up again at four thirty. So we didn’t really know whether we had the strength to walk on the stage, but we have, and it’s feeling good. We were, we spent a few hours with St. Valentine last night, you see?”

The playing throughout is wonderfully loose and informal and there’s another great moment as Plant is introducing No Quarter” Page plays the opening notes to Train Kept A-Rollin.  “We’re going through our whole live history here, just flashing on different numbers” Plant adds.

The set list is notable for the inclusion of Since I’ve Been Loving played live for the first time since the 1973 US tour. Plant: “Who knows what it’s gonna sound like, but it’s something we really used to dig playing”. There’s a masterful ad-lib during the song where he sings the ‘I’m about to lose my worried mind” refrian and adds ”I seem to remember I used to say for five minutes”

”This is one that regulars that come here know quite well…but you’ve still yet to hear the recorded version…this is a track about another of life’s journeys that never end..this time in Kashmir”

Kashmir was a number that they were obviously itching to play live and with Plant’s voice suitably recovered they turned in a majestic Valentines’ Day performance in Nassau. Page strumming down relentlessly on the Gibson behind Bonham’s castinet like drumming.

Plant showing renewed confidence to throw in the echoed vocal nuances that became such an Earls Court trademark. Listening to this delivery re emphasis my opinion that the best live versions of Kashmir  were all played in the year it was released on record.

No Quarter features John Paul Jones at his best tonight and his improvisation takes the number to 20 minutes in duration.

Dazed And Confused is a marathon 30 minute plus excursion and the encore delivery of Heartbreaker leads into an impromptu version of Elvis’Mess Of Blues

Tangerine was of course a surprise inclusion at the Earls Court shows performed as a four part harmony. However perhaps they were already toying with the idea of bringing it back during the American tour. For on this night prior to Stairway To Heaven Plant let out a few lines from the long deleted Zep 3 stage fave. ”Measuring a summers day”…adding ”I’ve forgotten the words”. It was a brief teaser for a song that would again light up those memorable May days to come.

The prelude to Earls Court was on – and the course was a very favourable one …

DL –

To be continued…


Valentine’s Day:

February 14th has been the date of a fair few Zep related happenings over the years, not least for it being the second night of the aforementioned and rightly acclaimed Nassau Coliseum gigs in 1975. This show has been released as a soundboard recording, notably on Godfatherecords recent box set Throwing The Wild Seeds. The 6 CD box set also has the previous night’s recording when they were joined on stage by Ronnie Wood for an encore performance of Communication Breakdown

Exactly a year previously in 1974 Jimmy took to the stage to join Roy Harper. I did consider going to this but was slow on the tickets and had to make do with the consolation of Roy’s very fine album Valentine which I purchased the day it came out ( I need to sort that one out and play it today) – Here’s the gen from this one:


THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14 1974 – LONDON RAINBOW THEATRE

Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham are all in attendance for Roy Harper’s St. Valentine’s Day concert. Jimmy, resplendent in a Chinese jacket decorated with hummingbirds, joins Roy’s all star band comprising Keith Moon (drums), Ronnie Lane (bass) and Max Middleton (keyboards) for numbers including ‘Same Old Rock’ (playing a Martin acoustic), ‘Male Chauvinist Pig Blues’ and ‘Home’ (playing the Gibson Les Paul) and ‘Too Many Movies’. ‘Home’ includes a cameo appearance from John Bonham who comes on strumming an acoustic guitar, dressed in a red jacket and black tights and sporting a pork pie hat. Finally, Robert Plant strolls on at the end to act as MC to declare to the crowd: “Ladies and Gentlemen – Roy Harper!!”

Some of this set was later issued on Roy’s ‘Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion’ double album. Harper dubbed this one-off line-up as The Intergalactic Elephant Band.

Jimmy Page: “We maybe played a few wrong notes here and there, but what the hell -the spirit of the thing was great.”

……………

Fast forward to Valentine’s Day 2007. On that day Robert Plant regrouped The Honeydrippers for a special charity and birthday performance for long time soundman the late great Roy Williams. Staged at the JB’s club in Dudley, it was a memorable night which I was lucky enough to attend. This piece is dedicated to Roy who sadly passed away last year.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14TH 2007. RETURN OF THE HONEYDRIPPERS –JB’S DUDLEY

Set List:

Mess Of Blues, Little Sister, She Little Sheila, Gonna Work Out Fine, Black Magic Woman, I’ve Been Loving You, Put A Spell On You, Big Log, Down In The Bottom,Can’t Be Satisfied, Rattlesnake Shake, Crossroads, Big Hunk Of Love, Daddy Rolling Stone, Encores: Stormy Monday/ I Can’t Quit You Babe, I’m Comin’ Home, What I’d Say.

Here’s the DL diary entry from the day after:

Honeydrippers Rockola and surprise Beckola in the Midlands:

Just back from a whirlwind stop over in Dudley to catch The Return Of The Honeydrippers charity show at JB’s Club. And quite a night it was. Mike Sanchez and The Big Town Playboys got the evening off to a suitably rocking start with an hour long set of pure roughshod rock’n’roll aided by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester. Before the main event there was a real surprise. Jeff Beck strolled on the stage, white Statocaster in hand to perform three instrumental jams supported by a two man rhythm section with the Playboys Ian Jennings on bass. Looking for all the world like he’d stepped off the set of that famous Yardbirds club appearance in the Blow Up film, he proceeded to deliver those familiar guitar histrionics that has carved his legend. The total surprise element in viewing one of the pioneering guitarists of all time, right there just a few feet away was absolutely startling. Scrubbing the axe for all it’s worth, finger picking up the fret – this was a masterclass of electric guitar playing. This man still has it … In droves.

Then followed the return of The Honeydrippers. Witnessing the singer back among friends, effortlessly guiding the enthusiastic audience through the backwaters of his record collection was a total joy. Highlights: The back to back Elvis Mess of Blues/Little Sister opening, Robert taking a backing vocal role to Mo Birch’s lead on Gonna Work Out Fine, a beautifully laid back Black Magic Woman, a nostalgic Big Log with Robbie Blunt recreating the spirit of ’83, Muddy’s Just Can’t Be Satisfied with Robert on harp and a vibrant Daddy Rolling Stone with great back up vocals from Mo and Nadia Pearson. In the encores they even did a version of Delaney And Bonnie’s Comin’ Home, one of my all time faves and a single I brought when it first came out back in 1970.

Forget The Police and anyone else rumoured to be reforming … 26 years to the day of their first gig, The Honeydrippers made this the only reunion worth talking about around these parts … and provided a memorable 60th birthday for sound engineer Roy Williams.

DL – February 15th 2007.

The latter statement was a bit of a long shot because at the time there were no rumours of what was to follow come December. Little did I realise the extraordinary events that would unfold in the coming months – with all roads eventually leading to the 02 Arena and that night of nights..…

More feedback of the gig via these original TBL website tour watch posts:

This review by Colin Martin Rumors were flying all day as who would be performing alongside Robert on the 26th anniversary of the first Honeydrippers concert. Jimmy Page? Jeff Beck? Inside JB’s watching people mingling around. I soon spotted Bernie Mardsen and then Bev Bevan. After asking Bev was he performing he said no and Bernie said maybe. Soon The Big Town Playboys and MIke Sanchez (featuring Clive Deamer on drums) were blazing away through their own brand of rock and roll songs when Jeff Beck was spotted walking up the stairs alongside the stage. After agreat set by the Playboys the MC announces a special guest slot. On walks Jeff Beck along with bassist and drummer and precedes to play some storming guitar work. Its amazing to see the speed of his fingers over the strings.

In no time at all his short set was over and finished. And then the headliner strolls on to stage. Looking relaxed and slimmer that at Kidderminster. Soon talking to the crowd about the various songs and the association Robert has to them. Same musicians as at Kidderminster, however, it was featuring more front line vocals from Mo Birch. Robert and Mo had to switch microphones at one stage as she still had Robert’s mic after her lead. Again highlight of the evening was the interaction between Robert and Robbie Blunt on Big Log. Before the band kicked off again with the encores Robert wished soundman Roy Williams a happy birthday. The only question left was who would play on the encores and the answer was only a guest drummer, an unannounced youngster. And then it was all over until next time. See expressandstar.com for photos and film of the show. In the report it states Clive Deamer played with Jeff Beck. This is incorrect. Drummer was unannounced.

This review by Trevor Wilkinson Good to see you at JB’s and what a great show! Mike Sanchez at his usual greatness rocking the house and then a fantastic surprise as Jeff Beck appeared and blew the audience away. RP was very relaxed and obviously enjoying himself performing music from his roots, he also looked fitter and somewhat leaner than he’s been for a while so maybe he’s been taking advantage of the mild spells over the last couple of months and playing a bit of tennis in Stourbridge. Big Log and a few musical Zep references were well received by the capacity audience. After show party was nice and laid back with some tasty crisps and munchies as well as plenty of Midlands musos and the Strange Sensation lads in attendance. Hope there’s gonna be some more real soon.

……………………………

More Valentine’s Day:

Sunday is Valentine’s Day… 

I  have a playlist that that randomly sequences the more wistful and romantic  side of Zep, Page & Plant moments –it includes  Tangerine, Moonlight In Samosa, Wonderful One, The Greatest Gift, That’s The Way, When I Was A Child, Like I’ve Never Been Gone, Ten Years Gone, Come Into My Life, Down By The Seaside, Stick With Me Baby, Blue Train, I’m Gonna Crawl, Heart In Your Hand, Thank You, The Rain Song, Song To The Siren, Going To California, In The Light, I Believe, Ship of Fools, Sea Of Love, Please Read The Letter, Our Song, All My Love, Thank You etc – you get the idea.

Aside from Zep, I’d list Frank Sinatra’s In The Wee Small Hours, Burt Bacharach’s Hitmaker, Otis Redding Oits Blue,Dusty Springfield In Memphis and David Bowie’s Young Americans as definitive Valentine’s Day play.

In the light of all that here’s the DL Valentines playlist –  some of the most romantic and deeply touching love songs ever written in the view of your TBL editor:

Ten Years Gone – Led Zeppelin

True Love Ways -Buddy Holly

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

Full Moon –Sandy Denny

Lay Lady Lay – Bob Dylan

Northern Sky –Nick Drake

Oh My Love –John Lennon

Come In To My Life – Robert Plant

Our House – Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Tangerine –Led Zeppelin

I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing – Aerosmith

If I Can’t Have You -Yvonne Elliman

You Make Loving Fun – Fleetwood Mac

And I Love Her – The Beatles

Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Rod Stewart

God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

Do What You Gotta Do – The Four Tops

Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever -Bryan Ferry

Nobody Loves You Like I Do – Greg Lake

Ship Of Fools – Robert Plant

The Rain Song – Led Zeppelin

Here, There And Everywhere – The Beatles

Angie – The Rolling Stones

I’m Gonna Crawl – Led Zeppelin

Word On A Wing – David Bowie

The Greatest Gift – Robert Plant

Something – The Beatles

Wonderful One – Page & Plant

I’d Have  You Anytime – George Harrison

Maybe I’m Amazed -Paul McCartney

No More Lonely Nights – Paul McCartney

Headstart To Happiness – The Style Council

Tiny Dancer – Elton John

Thank You – Led Zeppelin

Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix

Forever Young – Bob Dylan

Winter -The Rolling Stones

I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Otis Redding

Let’s Get It On -Marvin Gaye

Still In Love With You – Thin Lizzy

Help Me – Joni Mitchell

One For My Baby –Frank Sinatra

The Look of Love – Dusty Springfield

The Faces  – Love Lived Here

Your Song – Elton John

Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin

Can You Hear Me? – David Bowie

I’ll Be There – Bobby Darin

You Do Something To Me -Paul Weller

All My Love – Led Zeppelin


Record Collector Presents The Who:

The previously mentioned Record Collector Presents The Who special is out now and quite an amazing journey it is too…

There’s some very visual features on rare Who records, posters and stage gear, an excellent collectors piece by Ross Halfin, a reassessment of all the key albums and talking of which, it’s great to see my extensive features on the making of The Who Live At Leeds and Who Next included – both six page spreads… order link is here – I’d call that a bargain….

https://shop.recordcollectormag.com/product/RCWHO/the-who-special?utm_source=e-shot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RecordCollectorPresentsTheWho%e2%80%93Pre-ordernow!


 

DL Diary Blog Update: 

Saturday February 6:

Saturday is platterday – on the player the Led Zeppelin double album bootleg The 1975 World Tour as recorded 46 years ago at Montreal Forum on this day in 1975 – all of 46 years ago today.

Saturday is platterday –on the player – after watching last night’s excellent Little Girl Blue documentary on Sky Arts I had to dig out this one – the 2 record set Janis Joplin In Concert. I bought this in October 1972 from Weatherheads in Bedford. A specially priced double album for £2.49… sounds superb today…what a singer…

 

 

 

Sunday February 7:

Sunday CD Sounds: Loading up the superb 2005 CD remaster of the 1972 Sandy Denny album Sandy…easy on a Sunday morning and rather lovely…

Sunday Sounds on CD – loading up the excellent 2010 remastered and extended CD version of the brilliant 1969 Jethro Tull album Stand Up -a superb package which includes the original album, BBC sessions and a Live At Carnegie Hall 1970 set…

 

Thursday February 11:

On the player – as it was number one on both sides of the Atlantic 51 years ago this week…Led Zeppelin II…it doesn’t get much better than this…

 

Winterlude Playlist:

Some more winterlude record selections providing much needed inspiration…

Carole King – Tapestry LP

Carole King -Writer LP

Jethro Tull – Stand Up 2 CD

Led Zeppelin – Throwing the Wild Seeds CD box set

Some particular inspirations this past week:

The emergence of the amazing July 5 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival tape…

The launching of Blockbuster’s Led Zep digital media archive…

The Record Collector Presents The Who special dropping through the door…

A catch up on the phone with Richard Grubb…

Update here:

I managed to wade through the snow early on Monday morning to return my heart monitor to the Hospital. My next appointment is next Friday (Feb 19). Janet is getting over the worst of her cold and full on at pre- school. It’s half term next week – a welcomed rest for the good lady. Weather permitting, we will be trying to fit in some walks in to keep strengthening her leg which ahs been a bit sore recently.

I am also very busy on various projects – and it’s a bit like the workload days of old when I was spinning various plates at the same time – of course it’s good to be busy but I oh how I wish I had the zest of a couple of years back.

Getting motivated in these difficult times is not easy. Like us all, I am missing the light and shade of a day – that outside vital human contact that provides rest bite and inspiration away from the day to day schedule. Right now, that contact we all took for granted is not able to happen and will not be again for a considerable time. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. Of course, the social media of Facebook and this website keeps me well connected and I am very thankful for that – but the plain fact is I miss talking to people…one on one, face to face…

So we go on as best we can and within it all, there’s the challenge of staying safe and well in these fearful times. Luckily I am a blessed man in so many ways and being in the company of the good lady Janet is always inspiring and once again – as she has been for the past 38 years, she will be my one and only true valentine this Sunday…

Thanks for listening – stay safe and well you very lovely people…

Dave  Lewis – February 11 , 2021

Until next time, stay safe and stay well…

Website updates written and compiled by Dave Lewis

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2 Comments »

  • Dave Lewis (author) said:

    Larry Thanks so much for your kind comments

  • Larry said:

    Dave thanks for the great entry, what an amazing find that Atlanta Pop tape is after all these decades! Great to hear!

    And thanks to Blockbuster, yourself and everyone else involved in the digital archive, that is fantastic stuff and absolutely invaluable! I accessed the first clip with the Page interview and am looking forward to sampling all of it bit by bit. Simply outstanding work, really.

    So cool to still be able to be amazed by this band and the yoeman work of the fans all these decades on!

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