LED ZEPPELIN ON 45RPM/ FULL REPORT ON RECORD STORE DAY 2018/LZ NEWS/THE DESTROYER 41 YEARS GONE/DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE
Led Zeppelin on 45RPM…from £1.25 new pence for Whole Lotta Love in 1972 – to £11.99 for Rock And Roll on Record Store Day in 2018…
I’ve been fascinated with Led Zeppelin singles for over 47 years.
Because they were primarily an albums band, for me there’s always been almost an illicit thrill to hear a Led Zeppelin track framed in the 45 RPM seven inch format.
That fasciation goes right back to 1970 when I was aware, through the pages of the NME, that Whole Lotta Love and Immigrant Song had been extracted from the Led Zep II and III albums respectively to become top twenty US hits – Whole Lotta Lov making the top five. I had also read of the attempt to have Whole Lotta Love issued as a UK single back in late 1969.
Of course with limited teenage funds, such delights were well off limits – I could only wonder for instance what an edited Whole Lotta Love sounded like and how Hey Hey What Can I Do ( the previously unreleased B side to Immigrant Song) sounded.
That situation however, all changed one day in early 1972 when scouring the small ads in Sounds music paper as I did each week, I saw an ad that proclaimed:
”US Import Singles including Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love for sale”
I replied to the advert and the seller, a guy in Newcastle with some flamboyant prose in his replies (for some reason he kept referring to me as Dave ‘the rave’) got back to me. Eventually it was settled that I would send £1.25 new pence (the UK had just gone decimal) for the Whole Lotta Love single which I duly did on a postal order. The single took some weeks to arrive – a situation not helped by a Royal Mail strike – but eventually a seven inch package turned up at the door.
Boy was I excited, for there before my very eyes was a copy on the red US Atlantic label of Whole Lotta Love /Living Loving Maid (She’s a Woman). One of my intial reactions was one of shock and wonder at the Atlantic logo – I had only ever seen the block UK version – here was the sprawling A and Atlantic logo on the label. The sleeve, an Atlantic house bag, did have the more familiar logo I was used to.
Whole Lotta Love sounded distinctly different to the way I was used to hearing it as the opening track on Led Zeppelin II. For a start, it did not have that slight cough which opens the album version on Led Zeppelin II. It also edited out the swirling middle section and instead cut straight to John Bonham’s battering ram drum segment. I knew that this edit had been necessary for US radio play purposes. Subsequent versions I acquired and there were a few, did have the full 5 minute 33 second complete delivery.
Not long after I received that initial Led Zep 45, the Newcastle guy got back to me and I saved up another £1. 25 new pence and sent for Immigrant Song/ Hey Hey What Can I Do.
In between that single arriving, I did get to hear the aforementioned previously unreleased B side. In May of 1972 it appeared as the opening track on the sampler album The New Age Of Atlantic. The arrival of Immigrant Song on the US Atlantic label in that distinctive red bag was another red letter collecting day in the Lewis household.
Since those heady days. I’ve acquired many more Led Zeppelin singles that spin at 45RPM.
In June 1975, on my first foreign holiday abroad with my fellow Wallbanger team mates, we visited the local record shop Venus Discs in the Spanish resort of Loret De Mar. As I would soon discover, there were many foreign territories that produced Zep singles in attractive picture sleeves.
Spain was indeed one of them. Thus I was able to invest in no less than six more Zep singles all attractively packaged in unique picture sleeves – some with unique Spanish titles. For example D’yer Ma’ker /The Crunge appeared as El Tintero/La Ilusion with a very bizarre cover.
I was now on a mission to acquire more Zep singles – so the Australian EPs followed, plus singles produced in France, Germany, Portugal, Belguim, Holland, Japan to name but a few countries.
By now I was working in a record shop department. Imagine my delight when in May 1975 the week of the Earls Court shows, the Warner/Elektra/Atlantic record company rep that called on WH Smith where I worked, turned up with a box full of special UK pressings of Trampled Underfoot/Black Country Woman. These were distributed as part of a dealer scheme to order the Zep catalogue. I came away with about five of those limited edition singles.
In the late 1970s I acquired at a hefty cost, the very rare UK promo singles Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown and D’yer Maker. In 1990, to tie in with the Remasters albums, a coupling of Stairway to Heaven/Whole Lotta Love was produced for the Warners/Atlantic reps to hand out – it came with a memo advising that this might well be very collectable one day. Again being in the record shop trade, that one also came my way – along with a limited ten inch pressing.
Bizarrely, when the UK finally got an officially released Led Zeppelin single – another edit of Whole Lotta Love issued in 1997, it came primarily on CD. However there was a promo Juke Box seven inch pressing and yes, I had to have that one too. Only last Friday I added another one to the collection – a copy via the Vinyl Barn of the US Whole Lotta Love single on the Atlantic Oldies series (I already had one of course!)
Basically, I love Led Zeppelin singles and I have a fair few of the lovely things. I have to say my own efforts to collect them pale against the collection of long time TBL contributor Nick Anderson who has well over 1,000 of them.
The advent of Record Store Day has increased the focus on limited edition pressings of singles and albums.
There have already been some Zep related Record Store Day releases- notably a reissue of Jimmy Page’s first solo single She just Satisfies, The Black Crowes with Jimmy Page Live At Jones Beach ten inch, a Them Crooked Vultures picture disc and Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters More Roar mini live set also on ten inch.
Up to now though, there had been no Led Zeppelin official RSD product.
I did mention to Jimmy Page himself at a record fair around 2012 that such a release would be a great idea – and he was certainly not opposed to that happening I therefore did at some point expect something to surface…and what better timing than in this year of their 50th anniversary
When it was announced in February that a coupling of unreleased takes of Rock And Roll and Friends would formulate the first ever official Led Zeppelin release, naturally I was excited at the prospect.
It did not disappoint.
As previously mentioned, the TBL record collecting gang have long since been pitching up an a early hour to get in line for those limited edition goodies. The quest was on to ensure a copy of the Led Zeppelin Record Store Day single was in my hands, come early Saturday on April 21.
I did have the very good fortune to have a promo copy come my way a day before – but I of course, I also needed the official RSD copy.
The plan was hatched late on Friday night that we would be up very early to get in line to have the best possible opportunity of laying our hands on this gem. I say we, as both Tom and Phil my fellow local collectors also wanted the Zep single.
So where to go for this elusive item? The recently opened local record shop Slide I knew were only were receiving a low quantity. We did consider returning to Davids shop in Letchworth where we have been the past two years. However, word came through that Black Circle Records in Leighton Buzzard had a good quantity Zep singles coming in. A call to the manager David (who I used to work with at Virgin) confirmed this. We reckoned if we were in the first 50 people in the queue,we would have a good chance of obtaining a copy.
So it was at approximately 5.50am on the morning of April 21,2018, we found ourselves at place number 34, 35, 36 and 37 in the queue at Black Circle Records. We knew we were that many in line as the very helpful staff provided us with a ticket to confirm our status. Thus we were able to swan off to the local Witherspoons pub for a coffee. At 7.45 we were back in the queue ready for the 8am opening. As ever, it was great to strike up fellow record collecting banter with those in the queue and local lady Lisa Walsh who was in line to purchase a few RSD goodies herself provided us with a bit of a tour of the area while we were waiting to return to the queue.
Black Circle Records had a different strategy to that of David’s and the Rough Trade stores we had previously queued in. In those stores you had your list and requested the items at the counter – where upon they were fulfilled behind the counter. At Black Circle all the stock was racked out in the store in alphabetical order.
This made it something of a scrum once inside. Upon opening, the store let in twenty customers at a time and we were in the store around 8.45. Nervously I approached the singles racking and there was the holy grail – a fair few Led Zep RSD singles all lined up ready for picking.
The deal was done…I had the latest and greatest Led Zeppelin single in my hands – and boy life was good…
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t the only thing I picked out. I’m pleased to say David and the Black Circle Records team did a great job – they had good quantities of most of the items on my list – so I also acquired the following:
Beverley Martyn – Where The Good Times Are album – this features session appearance by Jimmy and JPJ.
Nico – I’m Not Sayin’ / The Last Mile single – the 1965 single produced by Jimmy Page
Lulu – Heaven And Earth And The Stars album
David Bowie -Welcome To the Black Out -Live At Earls Court 1979 (a gig I was lucky enough to be at)
Small Faces – Lazy Sunday Afternoon (Early Mix) / Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake (Alternate Take – Phased Mix) (stereo) single
Steve Ellis – Everlasting Love / Lonely No More single – the lead singer with Love Affair and later Widowmaker – a great singer he is too
The atmosphere in the shop was just fantastic – it was so heartwarming to see fellow collectors indulge in this shared passion of ours – there was some hefty sales going on as the punters piled up their wants lists.
This really is a unique record retailing event and I for one just love being part of it.
Shop manager David even gave me a bonus with my haul – a promo poster of the recently released How the West Was Won album. How kind was that!?
It was good to see long time TBL supporter Jez Firth outside in line ready to get his copy
Elsewhere, the texts and messages were coming from up and down the country and across the waters. Fellow fans keen to relay their own RSD experiences in hunting out the Led Zep single. It really did feel like a communal Zep inspired event – a bit like the multi screenings of the Celebration Day film back in 2012.
Here’s the TBL crew of Tom, Max, myself and Phil outside the shop with mission accomplished.
Back in Bedford we checked out Slide Records – they had also had a very busy time of it and I was able to add The Dream Syndicate – How We Found Ourselves…Everywhere – 12 inch single (which features John Paul Jones) to my RSD haul.
Post RSD, I’ve also picked up the Gordon Jackson album Thinking Back (a lost late 1960s classic featuring the British singer-songwriter backed by the whole of Traffic (thanks John P!) and I’ve ordered the rare Humble Pie album that was only available at the Pie & Vinyl shop in Southsea.
All in all, it was a fantastic day and thanks to all the staff of the shops for making it so.
Even Spurs dismal showing against Manchester United in the evening could not taint what really was an outstanding day
So the aftermath:
Yes, there will be some who missed out, and yes, inevitably copies are rife on eBay -and yes, some will disagree with the whole concept and label it ”a con and a tennyboppish coloured single” as did one disgruntled reader of my piece about the single posted here last Friday.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect all opinions – but I would personally strongly disagree with such a notion.
It’s very easy to be negative – and call me a fool – but the loss of Hello Mary Lou on the new How The West Was Won did not detract from my enjoyment of what is a superb Led Zeppelin live album. You can question the strategy of the reissues if you like…but as for me – I just dig the music for what it is and my appreciation of Led Zeppelin in recent times as been boosted considerably by the re-mastering of their catalogue by Jimmy Page.
I don’t hand out the superlatives just for the sake of doing so -I genuinely believe this Record Store Day release is to be a landmark one – and Rock And Roll/Friends can proudly take its place alongside the long line of Led Zeppelin singles I have collected since sending off my £1.25 new pence to purchase my first such item aged 15 back in 1972.
And I stand by every line of what I wrote about this new RSD coupling last week.
Rock And Roll the Sunset Sound Studios Mix – slightly punchier in the rhythm department and slightly more shrill in the vocal. The guitar solo is more prominent and up front. It’s Rock And Roll…and it’s brilliant…
Friends Olympic Studios Mix – this is an absolute gem. Basically a mix without the string arrangement which allows the stark beauty of Robert’s vocals to shine through – sometimes double tracked to great effect. Behind all that, there’s Jimmy’s relentless Harmony acoustic guitar swirl set against John Bonham’s precise bongo accompaniment. It all speeds up to a clean acoustic chord ending.
‘’It’s very easy’’ repeats the singer…and it is very easy …very easy to love Led Zeppelin in 2018 just as we did when these two cuts first surfaced in 1970 and 1971.
You need this record in your life….simple as that…
I, and countless others across the globe were in the queues early on Saturday to make a special effort to secure this gem. I needed that record in my life because above everything – I’m a fan…
All those who were successful in securing a copy now have what I consider to be a momentous Record Store Day release – and what great fun it’s all been in once again sharing our passion for this great, great band in it’s 50th year…
Dave Lewis – April 23, 2018
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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
Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin released a 7″ vinyl single for Record Store Day on April 21. A promotional video and T-shirt were also released in conjunction with the single. Led Zeppelin magazine Tight But Loose published a written preview of the release here.
Jimmy Page
- “Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story,” the documentary that features Jimmy Page, will be shown on BBC Four on April 27 at 9pm UK time.
Robert Plant
- Robert Plant was interviewed on the first episode of Australian journalist Andrew Denton’s new TV show “Interview.” We covered all of the most interesting bits of the interview here.
- Plant announced two new shows where he will co-headline with Van Morrison: London on October 26, and Dublin on October 28. It has also been announced that Plant will perform at the Bourbon & Beyond festival in Louisville, Kentucky on September 23.
- There’s a feature on Robert Plant in the June 2018 issue of Mojo Magazine. Find out more about the issue here.
Upcoming events:
April 27 – “Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story,” the documentary which features Jimmy Page, will be shown on BBC Four at 9pm UK time.
May 17 – An updated version of Stephen Davis’ Led Zeppelin biography “Hammer of the Gods” will be released.
May 18 – “Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story,” the documentary which features Jimmy Page, will go on sale.
May 26 – Robert Plant will perform at the Bearded Theory Spring Gathering Festival in the UK.
May 27 – Robert Plant will perform at the Bath Festivals in Bath, UK.
June – The gold edition of “Five Glorious Nights” will be released.
June 8 – Robert Plant will perform in Atlanta, Georgia.
June 10 – Robert Plant will perform in Richmond, Virginia.
June 12 – Robert Plant will perform in Columbia, Maryland.
June 13 – Robert Plant will perform in Forest Hills, New York.
June 15 – Robert Plant will perform in Toronto, Ontario.
June 17 – Robert Plant will perform in Chicago, Illinois.
June 19 – Robert Plant will perform in Vail, Colorado.
June 21 – Robert Plant will perform in Berkeley, California.
June 23 – Robert Plant will perform in Stateline, Nevada.
June 24 – Robert Plant will perform in Pasadena, California.
June 26 – Robert Plant will perform in Troutdale, Oregon.
June 27 – Robert Plant will perform in Redmond, Washington.
June 29 – Robert Plant will perform at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in Canada.
July 17 – Robert Plant will perform at the Istanbul Jazz Festival in Turkey.
July 19 – Robert Plant will perform at the Black Sea Jazz Festival in Georgia.
July 22 – Robert Plant will perform at the Vielles Charrues Festival in Carhaix, France.
July 23 – Robert Plant will perform in Paris, France.
July 25 – “Led Zeppelin Live,” a photo book edited by Dave Lewis, will be released and Robert Plant will perform at the Festival de Carcassonne in France.
July 27 – Robert Plant will perform at the Milano Summer Festival 2018 in Milan, Italy.
July 29 – Robert Plant will perform at the Stimmen Festival in Lörrach, Germany.
July 31 – Robert Plant will perform in Pardubice, Czech Republic.
August 1 – Robert Plant will perform in Dresden, Germany.
August 11 – John Paul Jones will perform as part of Snoweye at the Varangerfestivalen in Norway.
September – Official celebrations of Led Zeppelin’s fiftieth anniversary are expected to start this month.
September 14-16 – Robert Plant will perform at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Colorado and the KAABOO festival in California.
September 23 – Robert Plant will perform at the Bourbon & Beyond festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
October – The official Led Zeppelin photo book will be released.
October 16 – “Bring it on Home,” a new biography of Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, will be released.
October 26 – Robert Plant will perform in London, UK.
October 28 – Robert Plant will perform in Dublin, Ireland.
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
Led Zeppelin News Website: Check out the Led Zeppelin news website at
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Led Zeppelin – The Destroyer 41 years Gone:
This one will be on the player this week – the Destroyer bootleg set as recorded in Cleveland all of 41 years ago on April 27. The classic vinyl box set, this April 27, 1977 performance is taken from a well mixed soundboard tape. John Paul Jones’ use of the thundering Alembic bass guitar is well in evidence and his meandering keyboard solo on ‘No Quarter’ is simply captivating – as is Jimmy’s remake able guitar solo interlude. Overall, this is a crystal clear portrayal of the band regaining their crown. The sheer juggernaut power of ’77 Zeppelin blazes through.
The next night’s Cleveland performance April 28 ,which exists in a good audience source is another one to blast out these next few days in celebration
The Return of The Destroyer Fan Gathering – 11 Years Gone:
Another anniversary and again hard to believe that it was all of 11 years ago this week that in collaboration with Julian Walker and Graeme Hutchinson, we staged a special Return of The Destroyer fan gathering at the Knights Templar pub in London. This was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of those memorable shows at the Richfield Coliseum on their 1977 US tour – later to be immortalised on the Destroyer box sets.
It was a great day out – I remember the late Howard Mylett attending along with a host of like minded enthusiasts and TBL supporters including Gary and Carol Foy. Mark Harrison, Eddie Edwards, Graeme Hutchinson, Keith Creek, Gary Davies etc.
Robin Wealleans supplied the video and TV screen – in fact I recall we had a bit of job with the outside glare as it was an unusually hot and sunny spring day. Fan Lisa Haynes Truscott relayed her memories of being in the crowd at the curtailed Tampa date on June 3 1977. We also staged an auction that raised over £1,000 for the ABC charity.
The night before I also interviewed ex Free/Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke at his gig at the Esquires club in Bedford. Crazy days indeed.
Here’s the report of the day that appeared in TBL issue 18. Little did know we know as we gathered on that rather hot day in London, that plans were already underway for Led Zeppelin to stage a spectacular comeback in honour of Ahmet Ertegun- indeed the next time I would see some of the names above would be in the confines of the 02 Arena on that night of nights on Monday December 10, 2007.
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VIP Record Fairs:
There’s a couple of notable VIP Record Fairs upcoming. On Saturday I am aiming to be at the Victoria Fair on Saturday – one of the key London Fairs of the year. I look forward to seeing all that can make it along.
Here is all the gen:
Saturday 28th April
LONDON VICTORIA
Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, Victoria, SW1P 2PB.
London’s very own Vinyl Fest. – the biggest and busiest Record Fair in the
UK
Admission 12 noon £5. Early entry £10 at 10am. Doors close 5pm.
More info
http://www.vip-24.com/venues/londonvictoria.htm
https://www.facebook.com/events/334157583753443/
Sunday 28th January
BIG VIP Record Fairs return to where they started back in the early
1980s!!!
this event is now the BIGGEST SUNDAY RECORD FAIR IN THE UK.
Admission 10.30am to 3.30pm £3. Early entry 9am £6
More info –
http://www.vip-24.com/venues/leicester.htm
https://www.facebook.com/events/880129605492859/
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DL Diary Blog Update:
Friday treat at the Vinyl Barn – at a very warm and sunny Vinyl Barn last Friday and with the Led Zep Record Store Day release nearly upon us, I could not leave a copy of the Whole Lotta Love single in the racks – a US copy on the Atlantic Oldies series which I have of course – but you can never have too many led Zep singles -thanks Darren!
As mentioned above in the lead story, there is now another Led Zeppelin single in the DL collection – and one that was a whole heap of fun to acquire.
Record Store Day 2018 lived up to all the expectations and more…a simply joyous day. In between the usual workload, I will be wading through my RSD haul to provide a few reviews of the goodies I acquired. Watch this space.
Like I said, the day could not be tainted even by Spurs dismal showing against Manchester United. I was flippin’ annoyed though as after a bright start they faded so quickly. They just cannot seem to perform well enough on the big stage to get to that trophy winning stage. They have played some great stuff this season, but alas the silverware remains elusive…
After all the Record Store Day activity, it’s been right back on book activity this week with many a loose end to tie up on the Evenings With Led Zeppelin book – the e-mails and skype sessions continue unabated between co -author Mike Tremaglio and myself – while designer Mick Lowe revises the layout continually as we all collectively strive to make this book as good as it can be – the quest continues…
Dave Lewis – April 25, 2018
Until next time, have a great weekend
Website updates written and compiled by Dave Lewis
with thanks to Gary Foy, Mike Tremaglio and James Cook
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Paul I think he had a plan!
Simon -not sure on that but I would estimate 3,000
Do we know for sure how many of the ‘elusive’ yellows have been pressed?
Hi Dave,
Wow, Your suggestion to Jimmy Page at that record fair back in 2012 could be the reason we
have this exclusive RSD release!
Cheers and Best Wishes!
(P.S., I was also given a promo copy of HTWWW poster, with a very young promo shot of the
band…??)
Great UK TV program about Jeff Beck on BBC4 last Friday night, including sound bites from Jimmy Page – I feel a purchase coming on
i fully agree with you graham one e bay seller has allready sold 75 of this exclusive single.
To Aris Roskam
You misunderstood my comments about HTWWW. They were about the marketing, NOT the sound quality!
James Mason
How can RSD items “already be allocated”….? Doesn’t that make a bollocks of the whole ethos of Record Store Day….?
The things we do for the holy grail that is Rock And Roll!
I had a stressful RSD search for the Zep single, I opted for Blackbarn records in Cambridge, after hearing it was very quiet there last year. I found some on street parking free till 9 and assumed it would all be over and done by then since they opened at 8. Joined the queue of about 25 people, excellent I thought, just as I hoped. The staff came out to do a straw poll before they opened, I trotted up, told them I was after R&R. “All _4_ have been allocated already I’m afraid” ARGH!!! I dashed across town to Lost in Vinyl, and joined the back of the very long queue, shortly after a member of staff gave me ticket 260 odd 🙁
After a half hour of not moving I decided that I’d better go move the car because I’d never get to the shop before the parking was up at this rate. Ran back across town, moved the car, rejoined the ever lengthening queue and finally got in there gone 10am(!) Saw two copies being bought in front of me (my anxiety getting worse and worse), got to the desk “you haven’t got any left have you?”, “yes sure, we got 20 in and still have 9 left”, “WAYHEY!!!!!”
Job done but boy was it a stressful morning.
Agree with you Dave , Love Zep on vinyl ! Got 3 copies of the RSD single.Will be getting HTWWW on vinyl for my 50th.Hopefully Jimmy will have a few more surprises for us before the end of the year.Everonward.
Nice one Nigel!
Hi Dave
Funnily enough I had ticket no.34 at Vinyl Hunter in Bury St Edmunds. Obviously got the single plus a couple of Hendrix 7″.
Best Wishes
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