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LED ZEPPELIN II MONTH AT TBL /LZ NEWS/NATIONAL ALBUM DAY/GINGER BAKER RIP/ BARRIE MASTERS RIP/JOHN LENNON/LED ZEP III/NEW ZEP BOOTLEG VINYL/DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE

8 October 2019 2,112 views 3 Comments

 

It’s Led Zeppelin II month at TBL – 50 years gone…

TBL Led Zeppelin II Archive:

TBL Exclusive Interview With Eddie Kramer On Led Zeppelin II  

In an exclusive interview conducted by Dave Lewis on , Eddie Kramer the director of engineering and mixing on Led Zeppelin II, reflected on the making of the album….

Eddie took time out from presenting his ‘’Evening With Eddie Kramer ’’ event at Metropolis Studios to talk about the album for TBL. Looking back to the mixdown session of Whole Lotta Love, he described it as ‘’A happy mistake’’.

‘’I was living in New York and I had a call I think from Steve Weiss’ office, He was Zep’s attorney and was also represented Hendrix. Zeppelin was in town and asked if I could record them. I’d seen them a few times in that year so was more than pleased to do that. So we cut a batch of tracks at various studios like Juggy Sound and then mixed the entire album in two days at A and R Studios. The whole thing with Jimmy was that we liked to leave in little ad libs and things, it added to the whole vibe. So on Whole Lotta Love we left in that cough at the beginning. Then on the ‘’Way down inside’’ Robert vocal part we found we had a leakage from track 8, a previous vocal track that we couldn’t seem to lose, so Jimmy and I cranked up the reverb and left it in. Big mistake? Happy mistake. Lovely…’’

Watch this space for more of Eddie’s thoughts on Led Zep II soon…

Your Led Zeppelin 2 Feedback required:

Where did you first hear the Led Zeppelin II album?

Where did you buy it?

How does it shape up four decades on?

What are the best live versions of the nine tracks?

Do you have a rare Zep II pressing?

I’d like to hear your views on any of the above topics as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of Led Zeppelin II.

Email davelewis.tbl1@ntlworld.com with your thoughts.

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Led Zeppelin II at the Cat Club – 50 years to the day:

Following on from last year’s  presentation of Led Zeppelin IV, I am going back to the excellent CAT Club to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin II. This will be staged at the excellent Tap & Barrell venue on Tuesday October 22 – 50 years to the day of the original US release. Tickets are selling fast. I look forward to seeing all that can make it along.

More details at:

https://www.tappontefract.uk/

 

 

Led Zeppelin News Update:

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

Hello! Welcome to the 192nd Led Zeppelin News email. We email out a summary of the week’s news every weekend so that you don’t miss anything.

Led Zeppelin

  • Former Atlantic Records executive Phil Carson, who worked closely with Led Zeppelin, has given a new podcast interview. Carson even played on stage with Led Zeppelin during the encore to their June 30, 1980 performance in Frankfurt, Germany. Listen to the new interview here.
  • The “Play It Loud: Instruments Of Rock And Roll” exhibition has now closed in New York. It featured many of Jimmy Page’s guitars, amps and stage outfits from his time in Led Zeppelin.

Robert Plant

  • Robert Plant will perform a series of small shows across the UK with Saving Grace in December. No tour dates are listed on his official website, but you can see the dates listed in our upcoming events below.

John Paul Jones

Upcoming events:

November – The “Play It Loud: Instruments Of Rock And Roll” exhibition will move to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
December – Jimmy Page’s new book, “Jimmy Page: The Anthology,” will be released.
December 9 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Devon, UK.
December 10 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Salisbury, UK.
December 11 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Bristol, UK.
December 13 – Robert Plant’s vinyl singles box set “Digging Deep” will be released.
December 16 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Lancashire, UK.
December 17 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Blackpool, UK.
December 19 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Powys, Wales.
December 22 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Birmingham, UK.

Many thanks to James Cook.

The complete Led Zeppelin News email goes out every weekend. To receive it each week sign up here:http://tinyletter.com/LedZepNews

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John Bonham with Paul McCartney:

Lovely photo of John Bonham with Paul – via Paul McCartney twitter feed

@PaulMcCartney

Rockestra recording session at @AbbeyRoad 1978. Photo by Linda McCartney #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #OnThisDay

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National Album Day:

This Saturday sees the second National Album Day event.

I of course need no prompting to participate in this and on the day amongst others, I will be playing the whole of Led Zeppelin II uninterrupted marking it’s 50 anniversary this month.

Here’s all the info:

Following a successful inaugural year, National Album Day is set to return for its second annual edition on Saturday, 12th October.

The music & artist community will come together with the support of BBC Sounds for a series of events and activities in the lead up to 12th October that will celebrate the UK’s love for the album and the craft that goes into making this culturally significant body of work.

This year National Album Day is themed around the notion of Don’t Skip’, to encourage music lovers to discover albums both new and classic in full, as a complete body of work that tells a story. The theme will also serve to highlight the wellbeing and mental health benefits of album listening as a form of musical mindfulness.

A number of the UK’s most prominent artists have already signed up as album championsfor this year’s National Album Day campaign: No.1 artist Lewis Capaldi, Mercury Prize winners Elbow, BRIT Award nominated Mahalia, and international musician/producer Mark Ronson.

Each album champion not only represents the current, diverse musical talent that is borne out of the UK, but will also reflect on other artists and albums that have inspired, shaped and defined the culture and spirit of British cities and regions.

National Album Day Album Champions, Elbow, said: “Some artists see the album as a collection of short stories, we see the album as a novel. Songs are often included or omitted on account of the balance of the overall record rather than on their individual merits. We looked forward to our B-sides album from the day we wrote our first B-side and we had its title, Dead in the Boot, very soon after we titled the first album Asleep in the Back. In the way that my dad measured time by what car he was driving and not by age of any of his 7 children, we all measure what has happened to us in our adult life by 2

what point we were at on what album. Each of the albums is the memory of a million decisions made together over many years, but you can boil the whole thing down to one single question that we ask each other every single day “What do you want to hear next?” To suggest the album is under threat because of playlists is to suggest that movies will disappear on account of television, they are two completely different things.”

National Album Day Album Champion, Mahalia, said: “I’ve been an ‘album girl’ ever since I was a kid. I’ve always been more interested in a 40 minute listen over a 4 minute one. I think it came from the way my parents used to play music around the house and put on different albums at dinner, when I really got into listening to full projects whilst eating together and talking about our days. I found it comforting then and I still do now. I see myself as an ‘album artist, which in my world means timeless music that you don’t skip past. I want to make whole pieces of work that other little girls like me find comfort in listening to; a 40 to 60 minute dreamland where they can be away from the world. That’s why I’m supporting National Album Day. Streaming has changed everything. I want the kids younger than me to feel about albums how I did.”

National Album Day Album Champion, Mark Ronson, said: “The other day I was feeling down, wandering through Brooklyn with no direction home, and I happened across the WFMU record fair. I spent A LOT of my 20’s in record fairs, but hadn’t been to one in a while. Instantly the sight of all the records, mostly in bins, some tacked onto make-shift cardboard dividers, lifted my entire mood. The infinite possibility of stumbling across some random 60’s psych record or a rare soul record I had never heard of felt so invigorating. All the dealers with their crazy, wildly nerdy knowledge. This community of people who existed around this one thing the album. I was so happy to be a part of that. To care so much about one thing. The album has brought me pure joy since I was old enough to remember. I don’t think it will ever stop doing that.”

BBC Sounds is supporting the day as official broadcast partner through programming and editorial across BBC networks.

Last year’s NAD event coincided with the 70th anniversary of the LP, with numerous artist ambassadors including Paloma Faith, Public Service Broadcasting, Jess Glynne, Novelist, Alice Cooper, and Tom Odell supporting the campaign. It was also celebrated through retail events, Classic Album Sundays artist Q&As and playbacks, and a Network Rail exhibition of iconic album artwork. A social media campaign at 3.33pm on the day saw fans unifying to listen to their favourite album. Details of NAD 2019 activity to be announced in due course

Albums remain hugely popular as part of a changing music landscape 143m albums or their equivalent were either streamed, purchased or downloaded in the UK in 20181 worth approximately £1.3bn at retail, and representing a near 6 per cent rise on the year before. As part of this, 4.2m vinyl LPs were sold a 2000 per cent rise since their low point in 2007. 3

Organised jointly by record labels body the BPI and ERA (Entertainment Retailers Association), representing the nation’s music retailers and digital/streaming platforms, and with the active participation of AIM (Association of Independent Music), National Album Day has the backing and input of the wider music community including industry umbrella body UK Music and its member organisations.

Kim Bayley, Chief Executive Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), said: “After the success of last year’s National Album Day, ERA and the Record Store Day team are thrilled to be working with our friends and colleagues at the BPI and BBC again. We have seen first-hand the success that can be achieved when labels, retailers and the industry come together as united force so we’re expecting an even bigger and better celebration to highlight the art of the album and the joy of long-form listening to music fans of all ages.

Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT Awards, said: “The album is where an artist gives the fullest expression to their creative vision at a given moment in time. It’s a musical novel, where multiple themes can intertwine to deliver a cultural experience deeper than a single song, the summit of a performer’s art. We believe that albums matter to artists and to fans, and after a successful first outing in 2018, we’re excited to step up our celebrations for National Album Day in 2019.”

Paul Pacifico, CEO of AIM said: “As music consumption continues to evolve in the digital age, it’s now more important than ever to celebrate the album format. The holistic experience of long-form listening has defined some of the greatest releases of the modern era, and it remains hugely influential. After the success of the inaugural National Album Day, we can’t wait to see what this year holds.”

Iain McNay, Chairman, Cherry Red Records, and one of the founding voices of NAD, said: As we progress with increasing speed towards a world of shorter and shorter attention spans it is vital we all take the time to listen to the brilliance of our favourite artists. National Album Day is a perfect opportunity to do this. It’s a great chance for people to sit, listen, and allow themselves to fall into the world of somebody else’s genius.”

For more details go to www.http://nationalalbumday.co.uk | @AlbumDayUK

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Ginger Baker RIP:

I was very sad to hear the news of Ginger Baker’s passing. When I got back into music in 1969 he was my fave drummer (until I heard John Bonham).

Fresh Cream was one of the first albums I ever bought, I loved the Blind Faith album and his Airforce project. He was also brilliant in the Graham Bond Organisation. He certainly remained among my fave drummers. His was a style that was nigh on impossible to copy. A flawed man maybe but a flawless drummer. Percussive genius does not even get close.. beyond iconic – there are many tracks I could choose to demonstrate his skill but the way he pushes Sweet Wine along by Cream is just awesome….RIP….

On the player in tribute here – the brilliant 1972 compilation Ginger Baker At His Best –double album US pressing on Polydor. Some great stuff on this – Sweet Wine is included…

 

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Barrie Masters RIP:

It was also very sad to hear the passing of Barrie Masters – lead singer with Eddie and the Hot Rods aged 63. They made some fabulous records including  a brilliant version of Get Out Of Denver from their fantastic Live at the Marquee EP ( YouTube clip below) RIP…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyQTuf9Wj4s

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John Lennon at 79 –

Wednesday October 9 is  John Lennon’s 79th birthday.

The events of 39 years ago surrounding his comeback album Double Fantasy and his shocking death in December are intrinsically linked for me with the tragic events going inside the Zep camp this time back in 1980.
I can vividly remember Simon Bates airing the Starting Over single and there was a real optimism about his return to recording. I purchased the album in the Kings Road in November after a visit to the Swan Song offices. That optimism (as with the Zep events) turned to agony on the morning of December 9th when the news broke here that John Lennon had been shot dead in new York.

I’ve recently been playing a lot of Beatles in preparation for the forthcoming White album 50th anniversary edition – namely their first four albums -Please, Please Me, With The Beatles , A Hard Days Night and Beatles For Sale.

It’s a stark reminder of the sheer exuberant joy of his rasping vocal in those formative years. Performances such as Please Me, Eight Days a Week etc  are ample evidence of his genius –  John Lennon is right up there  in my top five vocalist of all time. His post Beatle output has it’s moments for sure but what he achieved in those short eight years between 1962 and 1969 is awe inspiring. Hearing those innocent upbeat early Beatles tunes has been a tonic this past week.

As has his incredible contributions to the Abbey Road album. Wading through the brilliant  recently 50th anniversary release, John Lennon’s I Want You (She’s So heavy) has never sounded better.

I’ll be playing an assortment of Beatles/Lennon music today.

DL

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Led Zeppelin III – it was 50 years ago this week…

I came across this ad doing some TBL Zep research today..as released 49 years ago this week…I can remember hearing it for the first time back then like it was yesterday…what an album…

New Led Zeppelin Vinyl Bootleg on Casino Records:

A new vinyl bootleg double album due out at the end of the month -looks good…

LED ZEPPELIN “THE NIGHT STALKER” 2LP (Casino Records)

Recorded Live At The Forum, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, United States, March 24,25,27 1975

Recently discovered soundboard recording.

400 NUMBERED COPIES LIMITED EDITION 2LP

1 to 200 GOLD VINYL & 201 to 400 CLEAR VINYL

SIDE A

Rock and Roll

Sick Again

In My Time of Dying

SIDE B

The Song Remains the Same

The Rain Song

SIDE C

Trampled Underfoot

Stairway To Heaven

SIDE D

Whole Lotta Love

Black Dog

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DL Diary Blog

Recent DL vinyl record acquisition: Bronco featuring Jess Roden, Kevyn Gammond and Robbie Blunt – this is their excellent second album Ace of Sunlight released in 1971 (the year they suported Led Zep at the first Wembley Electric Magic show) and features guest appearances from Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs and Fairport’s Trevor Lucus. This is a US pressing on Island with an alternate sleeve to the UK – I found it wading through the racks in Reckless Records in London recently – £1 ? I’ll take it! Update:

 

And there’s more…Wednesday treats at Slide Records – at the always excellent Slide Records in Bedford last Wednesday, I was well pleased to find a copy of the early 70s Island Records sampler Bumpers – even more so when I saw it had the original 29 shillings and eleven price sticker – that is how much it cost in the pre decimal days of 1970 – and all of £1.50 in post decimal days. Its original stickers like this that make record collecting such a joy – a superb timepiece indeed – and it has tracks from Fairport, Nick Drake, King Crimson and Fee etc. Thanks Warren!

It was great to hook up with long time TBL contributor and all round top man Phil Tattershall in St Albans last Thursday. Here we are at the always excellent Empire Records where Abbey Road vinyl box set was sorted oh yes! You can never have too many Abbey Road’s…

I was pleased to read these comments in an email the next day from Phil:

A stonking good day.  I can’t think of too many people
with whom I could spend eight hours plus without embarrassing lulls in
conversation or boredom .   As someone once said, “It is a great life, this life of music.”

On Monday, it was similar story when I met up with TBL contributor and another all round top man Richard Grubb. Again it was great to catch up and discuss many things – sometimes it really is good to talk and reflect – and both those meetings were an absolute tonic during what has been a hectic period – and there’s no let up…

At StudioMix a few days ago where with TBL designer Mick Lowe we began initial preparations for the next TBL mag –issue 46. This is all along way off yet and won’t be out until next year but we have a plan –and that plan is to include a complete reprint of TBL issue 5 from October 1980 – the Over Europe tour special. TBL 46 will mark the 40th anniversary of the final Led Zeppelin tour… more on all this as it unfolds

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Lewis  –  October 8, 2019

Until next time –  have a great  weekend…

TBL Website updates compiled by Dave Lewis

with thanks to Gary Foy and James Cook

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3 Comments »

  • Wools said:

    RIP Ginger Baker. You may have made everyone take a deep breath as you walked towards them but they all said after your passing; that man can play! RIP

  • andrew r said:

    Dave very sad that you will make more effort to celebrate the game changing
    Led zep 2 than messrs PP&J .Ihave waited for some kind of acknowledgement
    of their 50 years but it seems nothing will be forthcoming. Sad especiaaly when the Beatles and Stones roll out 50th anniversary releases with such ease and aplomb.

  • Ian in NZ said:

    Sad to hear about Barrie M. Do Anything You Wanna Do really moved me and partner … from UK to France then to NZ. It was that song each time which tipped us into the new adventure. Who knows, it might make us ‘break out of the city’ again …

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