GIVE A WHOLE LOTTA TBL LOVE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY…

Valentine’s Day is nigh on upon us and there’s a variety of  great TBL products on offer to make the perfect Led Zep Valentine’s Day gift – all provided with a whole lotta love – request and order now!

Led Zeppelin Then As It Was –At Knebworth 1979

The much acclaimed complete story of the final Led Zeppelin UK concerts –the book that will take you back to that field just outside Stevenage during an English summer in 1979..and this time there are  no sleeping bags required.

Order now at:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=1962

Led Zeppelin Feather In the Wind –Over Europe 1980

The definitive chronicle of the final days of Led Zeppelin…this is the Led Zeppelin tour time forgot…until now – remembered and re-assessed in greater detail than ever before.

Order at:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=9965

Led Zeppelin From A Whisper To A Scream – The complete guide to the music of Led Zeppelin  

The comprehensive album by album, track by track analysis of the recorded history of Led Zeppelin –guaranteed to take you back to the music with fresh perspective.

Order at:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=14483

All books signed and dedicated by the author.

Note –let me know who you would like books signed to when ordering.

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The TBL Gift Pack

A great introduction to the world of TBL. This pack includes the following items:

TBL Not just a band T –shirt

TBL magazine issues 33 and 34

Plus the exclusive 10 x 8 art print of the superb Don Cuny on stage at Kezar Stadium image. All for just £12.99 plus postage and packing!

Order at:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=22773

 All orders received despatched as received for speedy delivery

Get that TBL Valentine’s Day request in now!

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Bob Harris on Desert Island Discs: ‘’Robert Plant has been important to me most of my life’’

Plenty of coverage for this lovely story re Bob Harris’ heartwarming comments about Robert on the long running Desert Island Discs radio show:

This one via the Classic Rock website:

Veteran TV and radio presenter Whispering Bob Harris has hailed Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant for providing support after his prostate cancer returned with a vengeance.

The one-time Old Grey Whistle Test host told of his “devastation” at the weekend. Doctors first found he was suffering from an “aggressive” form of the disease in 2007.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4′s Desert Island Discs, Harris said: “I was fortunate – very, very fortunate – to catch it in time. Then it was a question of arresting the growth, and then treatment, two months of radiotherapy. Since then it’s been management.”

He’s been living with the condition for several years now, but admitted he sometimes has to deal with episodes where it comes back in force.

“Every now and again all the readings will go shooting up,” he explained. “That happened to me a couple of years ago when it looked as though it had really got serious again.

“I really needed to talk to somebody. I phoned Robert, and he offered such unbelievably good advice. He really saw me through that moment.

“When we got the all-clear again he said, ‘Fine – well, I’m not going to be phoning you every single day now!’”

Asked to pick the albums he’d take with him to a desert island, Harris chose Plant and Alison Kraus’s Raising Sand, and selected their cover of Everley Brothers track Gone Gone Gone to be played during the show.

“Robert has been important to me for most of my life,” he explained. “The amazing thing is Nashville drew us both through parallel lines. In 2011 we were both given awards. We had this massive hug at the side of the stage: who would ever have thought, forty years ago, that we’d both be here?”

His edition of Desert Island Discs is available to UK listeners for a limited time via BBC iPlayer.  Above pic courtesy Trudie Myerscough-Harris

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/robert-plant-helped-dj-bob-harris-through-cancer/

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Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience Canadian tour dates with Heart: 

Jason Bonham is linking up with Heart for a series of Canadian concerts this summer – here’s the story:

Heart have announced a series of Canadian concerts with special guest Jason Bonham.

Bonham famously played drums during the Led Zeppelin reunion in 2007 at London’s O2 Arena and performed a spectacular version of the band’s Stairway to Heaven with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors. That song, along with a number of other Zeppelin classics, will be performed at the end of each night’s shows by both artists together.

Ann Wilson said of the pairing “Nancy and I are thrilled to be playing with Jason. Awesome rock n roll music every night…miracles apt to happen any old time.”

Nancy adds, “It’s not a tribute as we have the blessings of the gods themselves.”

The dates:

06/14 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

06/15 – Quebec City, QC – Pavillon de la Jeunesse

06/17 – Oshawa, ON – General Motors Centre

06/18 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre

06/20 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Essar Centre

06/22 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre Theatre

06/23 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre-Evraz Place

06/24 – Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

06/26 – Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

06/28 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place

06/29 – Victoria, BC – Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre

A new Heart DVD/CD, “Fanatic Live from Caesar’s Colosseum”,  recorded in Windsor, ON, will be released on February 25, 2014.

http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/02/heart-to-tour-canada-with-jason-bonhams.html

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Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham’s new band California Breed:

This project has been rumoured for some time and has just been officially announced via the Classic Rock website in a story by Mick Wall as follows:

Former Black Country Communion stars, singer-bassist Glenn Hughes and drummer Jason Bonham, have announced the formation of a new band – California Breed. Featuring the astounding talents of 23-year-old singer-guitarist Andrew Watt, the fact that their first album has been produced by Dave Cobb, whose spectacular work with Rival Sons has received so much acclaim, gives a big clue as to what they sound like.

“It’s proper rock,” says Hughes, “but at the same time it’s very now. Andrew is as influenced by Mick Ronson as he is Jimmy Page.”

“I grew up listening to all the grunge bands,” says Watt, “but my dad always played me The Who, the Stones and Led Zeppelin so that became my music too.

“This kid is amazing,” says Bonham. “The first time we met I thought he looked like the white Jimi Hendrix. And he plays in the studio likes he’s onstage!”

The California Breed album is due out in May.

Full story here:

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/features/glenn-hughes-jason-bonham-unveil-california-breed/

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John Bonham Memorial Fund:

The previously mentioned  John Bonham Memorial Fund – which is striving to raise enough money to place a statue in the town centre of John’s birthplace in Redditch are now accepting donations

More details at:

https://goldengiving.com/charity/john-bonham-memorial-fund

http://johnbonhamfund.weebly.com/

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TBL/ HI Fi Lounge Led Zeppelin Day:

Plans are moving along for the one day special event being staged at the Hi Fi Lounge on Saturday March 8th

The hi- fi dealership is situated in an out of town spot in Bedfordshire. It’s situated in a converted granary building in the village of Dunton –just off the A1M –appropriately enough the road to Knebworth and with good links to London and the north.

The location is the HiFi Lounge, 4 The Granary Buildings, Millow Hall Farm, Dunton, Bedfordshire, SG18 8RH

Long time TBL contributor Phil Tattershall visited the Hi Fi Lounge recently and was full of praise for the lay out of the place, the service and the quality of the demonstration hi fi  on offer.

Myself and the TBL crew will be on hand throughout the day and I’ll be hosting various Zep related playbacks alongside presenting various DVD footage etc. There will also be a variety of TBL products on offer and possibly a vinyl box or two.

There will also be the opportunity to view the Hi Fi Lounge extensive selection of high quality hi fi.

This has all the makings of a great day out for Zep and vinyl/hi fi enthusiasts alike.

Full details will follow but we are looking to run the event from 10.30am to around 6pm. Admission is free

Refreshments will be available and there is a nearby pub for further refreshments and meals.

We look forward to seeing all that can make it along

More on this to follow soon

Here’s the link to the Hi Fi Lounge website

http://hifilounge.co.uk/index.php?route=information/events

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Dave Lewis Diary:

Full on here with the writing and design of the next issue of TBL – issue 37 due late March. There’s some great stuff lining up including Andy Croft’s tape analysis of the Feb ’75 US tour, a spotlight on Zep collector Roger Berlin’s magazine collection/museum and all the gen on some illuminating Zep 1 rarities that have surfaced as relayed in Nick Anderson’s Collector column plus Mike Tremaglio’s early 1969 US tour log. More on all this as it unfolds.

Playlist wise plenty of good stuff going down including The Small Faces Greatest Hits and the Mojo Presents Small Faces & Friends free CD in this month’s Mojo –which has a great feature on the mod/soul legends. Zep wise I’m pretty ensconced in the 1975 era right now (but when aren’t I!) the old World Tour Montreal 75 bootleg has been on and a blast of Earls Court…. reading Mark Lewishon’s Beatles In Tune bio has had me on a trawl through some early Beatles mainly Anthology 1 which has the decidedly pedestrian Love Me Do first version with Pete Best on drums – ample evidence why they had to replace him and there are illuminating details on that unfortunate episode in the book. Also on: Children Of The Sun – a very nice Transatlantic label 1970s sampler with the likes of Stray, Skin Alley and Alan Hull on (thank you John P), Bruce Springsteen Born With Nothin’ In Hands which has high quality Born To Run outtakes on (than you again John P) and some soothing Miles Davis in mono namely Milestones and Kind Of Blue (rarely does a a few days go by without that stable diet of cool being played here!). On vinyl, latest acquisitions Dave Mason Alone Together (purchased last week at the excellent Sister Ray store and The Everly Brothers lovely Two Yanks In England.

Happy Birthday Gary…

The esteemed Mr Gary Foy’s birthday is upon us (next Sunday). Before that tomorrow (Friday –tube strikes permitting!) I am meeting up with the boy Foy in London for the first time since the Knebworth book launch at the Olympia Musicmania fair last November. We will of course be indulging in all manner of Zep related waffle as has been our wont since we first conversed at the Robert Plant gig at the Marquee on February 3rd 1988 – all of 26 years ago. We will also be combining work with pleasure with an important meeting required to formulate further Zep circa 1969/70 content for the forthcoming TBL 37. More on all that next time around (and on the TBL facebook page soon). Happy Birthday Mr G!

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All Time Top 20 Tracks and Albums :

As mentioned last week, for our annual day out in London last Friday theWallbanger five of me Dec, Phil, Max and Tom had the task of relaying our all time top 20 albums and all time top 20 tracks lists. This was done in the dark of Islington in a delightful pub with much merriement and debate.

To narrow down 20 albums and 20 tracks – one artist only per entry, is a nigh on impossible task but we all pulled it off with some aplomb. It was great fun dissecting the lists. I’ve re-produced my two lists below. Of course if I sat down to do this task again, the choices may not line up the same – but here’s the snapshot of my raving faves as of last week:

Firstly some qualifying words about the selections:

The criteria for these sections was based on a combination of music prowess, the inspiration these songs have provided over the years and continue to do and the fact they all unlock countless  memories whenever I play them. No excuses for including some offbeat and perhaps unexpected choices…I love ‘em for many reasons – every choice can tell a story (it’ll all be in the memoirs!) and they continue to soundtrack my life. With the albums I’ve also added where I  originally purchased them from…here we go

DL ALL TIME TOP 20 TRACKS – WALLBANGERS REUNION AT 20 – 31/01/14

Friends – Arrival

1970 vocal tour de force written by Terry Reid and performed by the Liverpool based harmony group – takes me right back to the days when I religiously followed the charts and Top of the Pops

A Day In The Life – The Beatles

Could have been so many of theirs…but this is a remarkable creative peak

The Jean Genie – David Bowie

The amazing recently discovered Top of the Pops live performance version from January 1973 – so ahead of the game –sensational!

Chestnut Mere – The Byrds

The jingle- jangle sound of the morning…

Our House – Crosby Stills & Nash

Perfect harmony…

You Can Make Me Dance Sing or Anything – Faces/Rod Stewart

Ultimate good time record number one

Who Knows Where the Time Goes – Fairport Convention

Liltingly beautiful and who does know where it goes…?

Follow You Follow Me – Genesis

No prog rock required here – a simple descending love song inspiring memories of 1978

Shaft – Isaac Hayes

This was played over the PA before I first saw Zep in ’71 – magnificent arrangement

I Want You Back – The Jackson Five

The sound of unabashed euphoria

Going Underground – The Jam

The sound of not putting up with it –memories of spring 1980

Achilles Last Stand – Led Zeppelin

‘’Where the mighty arms of atlas hold the heavens from the earth…’’

Roll Away The Stone – Mott the Hoople

Ultimate good time record number two

Stay Young – Oasis

Evokes memories of great mid 90s retail times for me and the lyrical sentiment is spot on too

Come Into My Life – Robert Plant

Achingly beautiful vocal performance on a blend of dramatic folk rock

Because The Night – Patti Smith Group

A towering performance of a towering Bruce tune

Theme from Fireball XL5 – Don Spencer

Pure childhood nostalgia –first record I owned

When We Were The New Boys – Rod Stewart

‘’And in these smoky pubs the yarns were spun, And many a sweetheart was lost and won – And on these green fields we played for pride- No quarter given, no compromise- ‘’And we held our glasses high –  and we dared to reach for the sky  And we never would grow old – When we were the new boys’’

Lyrics of friendship and comradeship, both of which I’m very lucky to enjoy in spades – a Wallbangers theme tune…

Speak Like A Child – The Style Council

Memories of falling in love with the good lady Janet during a bright spring time in 1983 and one of his best…

Baba O’ Reilly – The Who

What an intro and agreat rallying cry….’’Let’s get together before we get much older…’’ Second best live band of all time. Simple as…

Bubbling Under: Full Moon – Sandy Denny / Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen/Thank You –Jimmy Page & Robert Plant /Survival – Yes/ To Sir With Love – Lulu/ Ceremony – New Order The Universal – Blur/  Metal Guru – T –Rex/ You make Lovin’ Fun –Fleetwood Mac/One of These Nights –The Eagles/Human Nature –Michael Jackson/Haitian Divorce –Steely Dan/Your Song –Elton John/This Charming man – The Smiths/Bus Stop –The Hollies/Baby I love Your way –Peter Frampton/ If I Can’t have You –Yvonne Elliman/Far Far Away –Slade/Going back –Dusty Springfield/ Glad All over – The Dave Clark Five/ /For Your Eyes Only –Sheena Easton/Northern Sky –Nick Drake and loads more!

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DL ALL TIME TOP 20 ALBUMS – WALLBANGERS AT 20 REUNION 31/01/14

Hit Maker – Burt Bacharach

Bought at a record fair late 80’s

Walk on By, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Always something there to remind me, Simply some of the greatest melodies ever written…

The Beatles (White Album) – The Beatles

Bought from Carlows Bedford April 1973.

A massive outpouring from a period of high creativity from the fabbest of four

Young Americans – David Bowie

Bought in WH Smith 1981

Thin white duke on a soulful trip -evocative vocals, soaring strings , perfect mood music…

Crosby Stills & Nash – Crosby Stills & Nash

Bought in WH Smith mid 70s

The most delicate and intricate blending of voices to create perfect harmony

Kind of Blue – Miles Davis

Bought on CD in Our Price Bedford Sept 1999 –I now have a fair few versions!

The coolest of albums – ever present on the TBL deck – a guaranteed mood changer every time for the better

Five Leaves Left – Nick Drake

Bought in Our Price Bedford 1988

Equally as cool and equally as played – forever autumnal

Desire –  Bob Dylan

Bought in WH Smith Bedford the day it came out January 1975

Every song full of vivid imagination – the perfect winter album

Ooh La La – The Faces

Original vinyl version with interchanging sleeve bought in a record fair 2005

A great collaborative album with the entire group shining through on reflective songs such as If I’m On the late side ,Glad and Sorry and the title track

All Things Must Pass – George Harrison

Bought the CD re issue at Our Price 2001 –LP box set off eBay 2012

Full of quality pre and post Beatle Harrisongs

Thriller – Michael Jackson

Bought in WH Smith Bedford 1994

The King of pop for sure in that era..

Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin

Bought in WH Smith Bedford the day it came out Feb 1975

The sky was the objective …not the limit…

Paul McCartney & Wings – Band On The Run

Bought in Carlows Bedford the day it came out December 1973

Peak of his melodic post Beatles powers…

Fate of Nations – Robert Plant

CD bought in Our Price the day it came out May 1993

Captures beautifully the purity and strength of his vocals throughout

Hits of the 70s – Elvis Presley

Bought in Spinadisc Records Northampton 1987

My favourite Elvis period – Wonder of You, I’ve Lost You , Always on my mind…pure class from the undoubted King

Goats Head Soup – The Rolling Stones

Bought in Carlows Bedford the day it came out August 1973

An album that portrays the real heart and soul of the Rolling Stones – Coming Down Again, Angie, Winter, Can You hear the Music being amongst the examples…

A Man Alone – Frank Sinatra

Bought at Spitalfields market 1999 –I have over 100 Frank LPs on vinyl!

Regrets he had a few – and he sings about them here with stark vocal honesty

Dusty In Memphis – Dusty Springfield

CD bought in HMV London 2000

The lady had soul….unique soul at that

Electric Warrior – T-Rex

Original LP Bought at Hitchin Market 2001

The early 70s personified…he was a true star

Marquee Moon – Television

Bought the day it came out WH Smith Bedford March 1977

Got this after reading a captivating review by Nick Kent in the NME – taut brilliant playing – new wave meets old – a glorious one off triumph

Who’s Next – The Who

Bought in WH Smith Bedford in October 1975 just before seeing the Who at Empire Pool Wembley.

An album of pure economy –every note earns its place. Brilliant.

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Bubbling under: Hissing Of Summer Lawns – Joni Mitchell – Never a Dull Moment – Rod Stewart /Talking Book – Stevie Wonder/ Rumours – Fleetwood Mac/ /The Free Story –Free/ The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd/ Tubular Bells –Mike Oldfield/ Blind Faith –Blind Faith/Queen – Night at the Opera/ Glastonbury Fair – Various Artists/ One of These Nights –The Eagles/The River – Bruce Springsteen/Bad Company – Straight Shooter/ Marvin Gaye –What’s Going On/Face Value – Phil Collins/Galveston- Glenn Campbell /Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel/ Stop the Clocks –Oasis/Hendrix in the West – Jimi Hendrix/ The Gift – The Jam/Session with – The Dave Clark Five/ Living In the Past – Jethro Tull/ /Imagine -John Lennon/ Raintown – Deacon Blue/Yes -Going For the One/The Byrds Untitled/Paul Weller Hit Parade and loads more!

DL 31/01/14

So there they are – the way it lined up at the end of January 2014…have a go at this exercise yourselves…it isn’t easy  but a lot of fun! I’d welcome your top 20s to the usual email or TBL comments…get to it!

Until next time…Keep listening, keep reading…

Have a great weekend…

Dave Lewis/Gary Foy – February 6th, 2014.

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