It was 44 years ago…

 Marking the final Led Zeppelin concert with John Bonham on July 7 1980

 Here’s my review of the Casino Records 3LP bootleg that was released  in 2020.

 My thoughts on…

Led Zeppelin

A Memory Frozen Forever

Casino Records Limited Edition 3 LP 180 gr gold vinyl 350 only.

This is the latest in the Casino Records series of Led Zeppelin vinyl presentations. Previous releases have included This follows their excellent Berkeley Days Second Night package in a limited run of 400, I Told You Baby Long Time Ago – Scandinavia March 1969 limited edition of 450 on clear splatter vinyl and The Night Stalker – LA Forum 1975 issued last October in a run of 400 -1 to 200 on gold vinyl – 201 to 00 on clear vinyl. The first two had excellent content and packaging – the Night Stalker was a little bit underwhelming in the presentation.

By and large this one is much improved in the packaging department.

The cover is a colourful triple fold out affair with mostly relevant 1980 Over Europe tour photos taken from a variety of gigs on the tour and an informative and brief sleeve note. Some of it is based on the text in my Feather In The Wind book.

It also has a facsimile 10 x 8 insert of the look out warden official tour poster (based on a front over of Picture Post magazine). The reverse has an Over Europe ’80 visual with the tour dates – this is not an official poster and it’s shame they did not include a facsimile of the other official tour poster that was sold at the gigs depicting four photos taken from the pre tour rehearsals – this is reproduced on the fold out cover.

The actual labels reproduce the look out warden visual and the outer polythene cover also has a sticker stating the numbered copy in the run –mine is 320 of the 350.

However there is one big clunker. The cover photo of John Bonham is clearly a photo from the 1977 US tour – a real shame as the back cover has a very good Bonzo shot that I know is taken from the Berlin gig. That one surely begged to be on the front cover. On further inspection I’d say one of the inside covers of John Bonham is a 1977 shot. This may be a bit nitpicky but it’s nonetheless an annoying lack of attention to detail.

To the music – and what we have here is an undoubted historical artefact

On Monday July 7 1980, Led Zeppelin took the stage for the final night of the tour – and what would ultimately be the last ever Led Zeppelin performance with John Bonham.

The sound quality is excellent being the soundboard source used for the CD versions. Very pleasingly  and unlike the Night Stalker release, virtually all the in between chat is present and correct. I noticed a slight edit in the intro to Trampled Underfoot. To have lost the in between chat would have been a real shame as Plant’s very upbeat and humorous comments say a lot for the general atmosphere of this last night of the tour. He seems genuinely pleased at to how it has all gone – a fact Peter Grant noticed as on the flight back because he got the nod from Robert that a US tour was now viable. Sadly that was not to be. Aside from Jimmy’s usual intro to Black Dog, he also has a words to say as he tunes up for White Summer – this spiel is also left intact. So it’s full marks for the actual presentation of the concert across these six sides.

Overall, it’s an upbeat and interesting swan song performance. Robert Plant is on excellent form and in a jovial mood. At times they do seem to rush proceedings and there are moments of sloppiness – there is also a bit too much reliance on the vocal harmoniser effect which sometimes clouds the clarity of Plant’s voice. However, there is much to enjoy about this final performance because when it’s good, it’s very good indeed.

Being lucky enough to attend five of the shows (though sadly not this final one) I have much affection for this tour  and I personally love the set list. Highlights here include the opening burst of Train Kept a Rollin and Nobody’s Fault But Mine, the stand alone Rain Song and All My Love with that gorgeous extended outro.

Despite Achilles Last Stand being strangely dropped from the set, this was still the longest performance of the tour notably due to some lengthy extended work outs – Trampled Underfoot is a prime example as Page, Jones and Bonham lock into an incessant groove.

Listening now to what would be there last moments together as a band is a moving experience, not least because of the striking content of the final performances of Stairway To Heaven and Whole Lotta Love -both of which are worth the price of admission alone –  because both are delivered in unique arrangements.

Stairway clocks in at over fourteen minutes, half of which is given over to a rambling and totally mesmerising Page solo. It was easily the longest on the tour. Similarly unusual is the version of Whole Lotta Love, somewhat appropriately the last ever song the original Led Zeppelin quartet performed live as a band.

It begins with Page aping the intro of The Who’s Anyway, Anyhow Anywhere and leads on to a rare, totally medley- less arrangement that clocks in at 17 minutes. A mid-section jam has JPJ beefing up a funk riff over which Page teases with the Theremin and then opens up the wah-wah effects. Plant keeps up the pace with suitable primal screams and Bonzo pounds away relentlessly.

These final moments sees them drifting off into their own little world, almost oblivious of the audience. It was as if some sixth sense intuition was telling them that this would be the very last chance to play together and they didn’t want it to end. The camaraderie of recent weeks seems to will them to keep the flame burning for as long as they can on this tour. It triggers a nostalgic throwback to the experimental Zeppelin of the early 70s.

These impromptu performances are clear indications that far from being washed up, the 1980 Led Zeppelin still had that unique creative spark to improvise at will -and to make that improvisation a development rather than an indulgence  –  something that had been in their make up right from the start.

Sadly it all had to end.

“Eye thank yew. Thank you very much Berlin. Thank you very much everyone who’s worked for us and put up with us and all those sort of things, and er… goodnight!”

Summary: It strikes me had they have had the energy for it (and they clearly didn’t) this would have made a very welcome final live official album perhaps for release on the first anniversary in 1981.

As it stands, this is an equally welcome unofficial release that captures on record for the first time a very significant and historic performance. This final night in Berlin is a timely reminder on this 44th anniversary that Led Zeppelin still had new ground to cover and places to go…

Dave Lewis – July 8 2024

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Many thanks to James Cook

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

http://ledzepnews.com/

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Peter Grant interview tapes up for auction:

A collection of three original cassette recordings which total 3 hours and 19 minutes consisting of interviews between Peter Grant, former manager of Led Zeppelin and Ray Coleman, former editor of Melody Maker. The interviews were conducted in November 1988 at Peter Grant’s home in Sussex. They were carried out for a book that Peter was intending to publish in conjunction with Ray but the project never reached fruition, the interviews have remained unpublished to this day. They gave a fascinating insight into Peter Grant’s introduction into the music business: from his employment as a door man at the 2is Coffee Club in London, to his acting career in various films in the late 1950s and then on to working for Don Arden (“…who owes me 1800 quid to this day!”) and finally through to his time with the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.

As may be expected, the most interesting parts of the interviews relate to Led Zeppelin and the group’s beginnings. Some of Peter’s comments on the topics covered are listed below.

• On the end of the Yardbirds: “They (The Yardbirds) split up in May 1967 when there was a huge row between the band… At the last moment a gig had come in for the Image Club in Miami, it was for $5,000…I thought they should do it… We were in a Holiday Inn… They all said ok. (But then) Keith Relf and Jim McCarty said ‘No way’… Jimmy was very pro-doing it, Chris Dreja went along with it…They all wanted to jack it in…In my unlegal mind I wrote a letter which they all signed which gave the right to use the name The Yardbirds to Jimmy…So he could hire who he wanted to…The least I could do was to secure the name for Jimmy…I wasn’t backing Jimmy because he was the best brain in the band or the best musician, I was backing it because I thought it was the right thing to do…So that was the end of The Yardbirds.”

• On the beginning of Led Zeppelin: “I remember Jimmy comes up to the office to see me about something…we were in Oxford Street by the Saville Theatre where Eppy used to hold those Sunday night concerts… I said to Jimmy, ‘What are you going to do? Are you going to go back to sessions…?’ He said ‘I’d like to form a completely new band’… At that time I’d been fortunate enough to see what was happening in America as far as what was called Underground…Jimmy was very heavy into getting a blues type band together…I said to him ‘What about a producer? They didn’t hit it off with Micky (Most) at all, wasn’t his sort of thing…’Who do you fancy as a producer?’ Jimmy said ‘Well I wouldn’t mind having a go at it myself. If you can get me a deal. I’d like to be the producer and do the first album. If I make a mess of it, you can think about getting a producer’.

• On Led Zeppelin’s first album and his search for a record deal for the group: “We did the album in a very short space of time, could have been 10 days…Anyway, we made the album and Jimmy and I went over with a couple of acetates of it and we played it to (Jerry) Wexler, he tried not to look too excited but he was completely, obviously, blown away… Atlantic was the label to be on…Warner Brothers….? Mo begged me to let them have it, I thought no, I’m really committed.”

• On Led Zeppelin’s first gig at the Fillmore East: “Iron Butterfly were the biggest heavy metal group in America. They were giants. I was sure in my mind that Led Zeppelin could slaughter Iron Butterfly…they went on and just slaughtered it. They did five encores!…5 encores!”

• On Led Zeppelin as an album band: “It was never going to be a singles band…We never put out a single here…F*** the BBC. I’m not getting involved in that machinery. No single, no TV or anything. We’re not gonna do it…It was albums only. Never going to be a TV band, we knew right from the start…couldn’t capture it.”

• On Zeppelin’s success: “There was never any, sort of, big headedness or being difficult (amongst the group)…There was always a tremendous sense of humour…it always ended up in a laugh. In ’77 we were staying in the Plaza and we played 6 nights in Washington…by that time the security became so tight that it affected the band very much. It tended to put everybody in little boxes…trapped in little boxes…. I remember it was in November 1975…. and (between) John Paul Jones and Robert it wasn’t strained but, you know… not musical snobbery… We were in Musicland Studios in Munich and I was in the front of the cab and Robert had had that accident and he was still in plaster and all that. He was behind with the lyrics on the ‘Presence’ album…John Paul Jones and Robert Plant were in the back of the cab. We were on our way to the studio, a remark comes up (from Robert to John Paul Jones) ‘I’m behind on my lyrics’, John Paul Jones says ‘It doesn’t really worry me’. Robert says ‘It should do’. John Paul Jones says ‘It doesn’t bother me I haven’t listened to the lyrics on the last 3 albums.’ He went …‘Ok that’s not very nice’…Pretty heavy… but John is a very dry person.”

• On Robert Plant: “Robert always wanted to be leader of the band. Bonzo used to have a wonderful thing he used to say to me. He’d say ‘Look Robert, all you’ve got to do is be out in front of us looking good and we’ll worry about the music. Just get out there and do your bit and wiggle about!’ ”

• On Allen Klein: “I remember he owed me $12,000. I was over in New York, I went to see Allen I’d heard all these stories, I don’t care, straight into the office, across the desk, ‘Where’s my $12,000?’ Marty Machet, his lawyer, came rushing in. I slung Allen back in his chair and said ‘I’m not leaving the office until I get my $12,000’.”

• On the Robert Stigwood and Don Arden Story: “I knew about Stiggie hanging out of the window…I was there…He (Don Arden, music promotor) had him by the ankles hanging out of the window…Stiggie’s trousers were up to his knees…little ginger hairy legs… And in the middle of all this Don (Arden) turns to me and says ‘For Chrissakes don’t let me drop him, Pete!’ ”

Auction details here: The auction ends Monday July 15…

https://auctions.tracksauctions.com/auctions/8965/tracks10000/lot-details/902b7e6a-21f4-41c0-84e6-b1a300fc581c

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TBL 1977 Retro Archive: A week for Badgeholders – 47years gone – June 1977: Part 2

To commemorate those epic six Los Angeles Forum shows of June 1977 of 47 years ago last month, here is the second part of a lengthy overview of the 1977 tour that first appeared in TBL issue 9. The pre-amble sets the scene on the state of play inside Led Zeppelin at the time and leads on to a summary of three of those June performances as heard via the legendary Listen To This Eddie bootleg plus the two Last LA Forum sets issued back in the mid 90s.

Thanks to the late Mike Millard’s superb audience tapes, we can hear lasting evidence of the sheer excitement of the 1977 Led Zeppelin, capturing a week where the sense of on the road fun was never more evident. Read this…and get those 1977 CD remnants on your player…..

TBL 1977 Retro Archive:

….But the LA story doesn’t end there. By the wonder of more silver rarities, this time via two double packages on the Badge holder/Great Dane Italian label, we can continue the progress of the tour and enjoy two more nights at the Inglewood California venue. Allegedly taped by the same guys that did the opening night, ‘The Last LA Forum 2 Days’ contains similar quality audience tapes of the complete performance on June 25 and 74 minutes of the last ever LA Forum show on June 27 – spread over a pair of double disc sets with similar grey graphics, reproducing the No Split In Zepp’ November ’77 NME Jimmy Page interview headline.

So once again we can imagine we’re front row centre as Page stalks the stage in white dragon suit, firing out the chords that will become ‘The Song Remains The Same’. Fresh from a day off and having survived a Keith Moon encore three days previously, the whole band sound on a crest of a touring wave. In general, this fourth night at the Forum is every bit as exciting as the ‘Eddie’ set and the fact that this particular gig contains three additional songs not performed on the opening night is the veritable icing on the cake. So by the time they have romped through the urgent ‘Song Remains’ and a muscular ‘Sick Again’ and Plant has observed that “It’s Saturday night” . . and driven the band through a tough and cooking ‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’ (and, yes, Bonzo is still all there . . .) we can enjoy the first of the set alternatives. In place of ‘Over The Hills’ the boys opt for ‘In My Time Of Dying’. Not that this is any old version of ‘In My Time Of Dying’. It opens perfunctorily enough but it’s soon clear that, as Luis Rey observed in his log, Page is definitely on! So much so that when Plant reaches the “Oh My Jesus” refrain and begins a completely spontaneous version of ‘Rip It Up’ (“Well it’s Saturday night and I just got paid” . . .) Page is immediately with him backed by Bonzo and Jonesy as they skit around this 50s fun for a few seconds before returning to the original theme. Then Robert throws in lines from both ‘You Shook Me’ and Let That Boy Boogie’ (“So many roads”) at the finale. Yes, it’s one of those nights.

“Tonight is the annual general meeting of the LA Badge holders”, Plant tells the audience, sustaining the in-joke theme of the famous ‘For Badge holders Only’ June 23 LA concert. This was a sketch whereby Robert referred to the tour entourage as being privileged badge holders – no doubt equipped with Led Zeppelin United States of America 1977′ tour laminates and passes. Following a no-nonsense delivery of ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’, Robert introduces John Paul Jones. “This features a man who has a badge holder in the wings who we haven’t quite got the spotlight trained on yet . . . for John Paul Jones’ badge holder – ‘No Quarter’.” Following that particular opus, Jimmy can be heard tuning the Telecaster in preparation for Ten Years Gone’ which is duly delivered tight but loose with the man pulling out some undeniably beautiful lyrical guitar phrases. This performance of the song reinforces my opinion that the decision to play this most difficult of on-stage arrangements made for one of the most ambitious and ultimately moving parts of their post ’75 concerts.

The acoustic set unfolds and tonight Plant enigmatically follows the “They say she plays guitar and cries and sings” line in ‘Going To California1 with the comment “And I saw her last night”. Another LA set bonus occurs with the inclusion of Trampled Underfoot’ (previously employed as an encore number on the first leg of the ’77 tour), which is slotted in after ‘Kashmir, a space reserved for ‘Heartbreaker’ on the opening LA night. Robert precedes it by enlightening the audience on the song’s source of reference – namely Robert Johnson’s ‘Terraplane Blues’. “Anybody heard of Robert Johnson? Does anybody remember laughter? Well, Robert Johnson was one of the first guys to liken the automobile to the actual physical side of love making and he recorded a track called Terraplane Blues’. This is a sort of 1975 version equivalent . . . it’s called ‘Trampled Underfoot’.”

Moby Dick/Over The Top’ is graced with the usual cryptic intro though not as extensive as the epic opening night’s lengthy sketch. “As the atmosphere builds in this building I think it’s only right that we should introduce the main stay ot the whole driving force behind sleeping with Led Zeppelin . . . John Bonham Over The Toppppppp!”

And finally to a very reverent Stairway’, complete with typically reverent Plant speech. “So amidst the confusion that surrounds all of us in our lives … as life takes its course (people adjust snare drums and bass drums), yes, it’s all the same . . . having a nervous breakdown . . . who knows? Here’s a song that has the opposite effect of ‘Communication Breakdown’.” Enter Page s opening chords accompanied by an exploding firecracker. The reference to ‘Communication Breakdown’ is not without substance, as, come the encore, instead of the ‘Whole Lotta Love/Rock And Roll’ customary medley, they instead come out of ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and blitz into a short punchy rare ’77 version of ‘Communication Breakdown’ with Robert putting all that Manticore rehearsing with the harmoniser to good effect. “Thank you very much LA. Good Night!”

Just another night on the road? Hardly.

But then it never was just another anything when Led Zeppelin hit Los Angeles. As can be seen by their insistence to throw in the odd set variation, the four experienced a spontaneous rapport with their Califoiamian audience that ensured a high energy performance every time.

From there we move to the final night of the LA stint with disc 2 of the second The Last LA Forum 2 Days’ containing 74 minutes of highlights from another high energy performance.

The action commences with yet another quite awesome Over The Hills And Far Away’. It’s preceded by a tantalising warm up from Jimmy before he embarks on the revolving intro (guaranteed to send shivers down my spine every time). The solo is just out of this world. A series of staggered ripples from the Gibson that swoop and dive across the speakers. It brings to mind that story from the beginning of the ’75 tour when Jimmy informed Robert he was tired at one of the shows and to expect short solos – only to extend Over The Hill to eight minutes – a direct response to the surge of energy created between the band and its audience. In fact ‘Over The Hills’ is nigh on nine minutes on this final LA night. A fitting Swan song.

‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ is next up (dedicated to JJ Jackson, the US DJ), with Bonzo providing another colossal climax. Then it’s to the acoustic set. And not just any old acoustic set. A skit through ‘I Just Can’t Be Satisfied’ sets the scene for the unorthodox nature of the proceedings. “Here’s a song that’s very reminiscent of somewhere we’re going to be in about 24 hours time, it’s a place called England” Plant tells the audience before “The Battle Of Evermore”. Following a delicate ‘Going To California’ (complete with supporting bird whistle from the crowd – “Who’s got that fucking whistle – I think we’ve had enough of that now thanks”, says Plant), we hear one of the most remarkable moments of the tour. The medley of ‘Black Country Woman’/’Bron Y Aur Stomp’ is extended to some 14 minutes to take in a lengthy acoustic solo that develops into ‘Dancing Days’. Yep ‘Dancing Days’ a long deleted live chestnut from the 72/73 era. This version has Bonzo beefing up Jimmy’s acoustic lead and Plant merging the lines of the opening verses to create a spontaneous delivery unique to but a handful of dates on this tour. “How about that. We ain’t done ‘Dancing Days’ for five years. I don’t think we will again” he jokes.

An edited Achilles’ (inspiring visions of that great ’77 cine film excerpt of the track), and a tremendous ‘Stairway To Heaven’ closes the main proceedings. Before that Plant offers up a closing speech. “It’s most peculiar to walk away from the microphone one minute and come back and find it covered in honey. Obviously it’s the last night of the tour! It’s been great. 6 days, 6 nights in LA. It’s been a mindbender”. This particular version of ‘Stairway’ reminds me of the majesty the piece carried back then. The whole Rolf Harris syndrome has rendered the song into laughable parody these days … In 1977 it really did still mean something with Robert’s impassioned delivery (“Bonzo’s got some good news”), and Jimmy performing a meandering solo to match.

We then experience all the craziness of the LA wind up as the band return amidst firecrackers and chaos for one final surge – and Robert gets in another speech. “Before we continue we’d like to thank you for being a great audience. Sincerely, no bullshit. Bunch of geriatrics like us. It’s really hard work, yer know. We’d like to thank all the members of the full supporting cast … the sound and light crew, Showco, a very good sound system as you know. Every night the acoustic set’s no good but the rest has been great. Benji Lefevre, the man from England, for all the funny noises, Ray Thomas from Scotland who can’t tune guitars, Mick Hinton who was a bus conductor in Cambridge and can’t tune the drums, Brian, who’s covered in 7-Up and all the people in the wings who’ve been making rude gestures for 6 days. And most of all the badge holders of California!” Cue ‘Whole Lotta Love’ in to ‘Rock And Roll1 and it’s all over.

And just as they usher themselves offstage and into the limos, there’s one final telling and now poignant comment from Robert to the LA faithful. “Thank you very very much. Never thought we’d come back but we did. And we shall come back again … I think . . . we should all know you all by first names by now but we don’t. . . maybe next time.” Then it was off into the limos into the night and a return to the English sanity. Nobody knew it at the time, of course, but Led Zeppelin’s 8 year old love affair with Los Angeles was at an end.

Reliving the 1977 live experience courtesy of these very enjoyable CD sets, demonstrates how inventive and exciting the band could still be, despite the madness of the touring charade that surrounded their status as the biggest draw in the world.

The plan of course was to hit the major US stadiums in the late summer, culminating in an appearance in front of 95,000 at the JKF Stadium in Philadelphia (ironically the scene of the first public Plant/Page/Jones reunion some 8 years later at Live Aid). Unfortunately they never got that far. In late July at the Oakland Stadium, violent off-stage Incidents would vastly overshadow the on-stage action and those events in turn were rendered almost inconsequential when the tour was promptly halted with the news ot Robert’s family tragedy.

Musically, there can be little doubt that had the tour continued on the wave of optimism that surrounded the June dates, new peaks of creativity would have been scaled that would have led to an equally creative bout of recording for the next studio album (tentatively titled Tight But Loose’), which was scheduled for the end of the year. There was every indication following the cancellation of the tour that the final chapter in the Led Zeppelin story had been written. Despite Page’s autumn round of interviews to dispel the split stories, for a long period Robert had confided to close friends that he would not perform with the group again. Slowly a period of rehabilitation did take place. Initially, they got together at Clearwell in May 1978 and from there it was to Sweden’s Polar Studios, and on into the grand comeback at Knebworth and the rejuvenation attempt in Europe in 1980 before the ultimate tragedy would dictate the final end.

And that’s exactly the reason the music preserved on these LA CD’s is so vital. Along with soon to be issued June 23 ‘Badge holders Only’ set, ‘Listen To This Eddie’ and ‘LA Forum The Last 2 Days’ offer an invaluable record of a series of concerts that alongside the early Fillmore stands and the Earls Court season, rank as some of the most outstanding of the band’s entire career. They really do document, to paraphrase an old Yardbirds’ bootleg, the last hurrah. An era when Led Zeppelin, like the gods of antiquity, still seemed so utterly immortal.

1977 and all that. . . and evenings with Led Zeppelin. Relive them at your earliest convenience.

Dave Lewis 1993. First published in TBL issue 9

Dedicated to all who used to frequent the Saturday Camden and Victoria Record Fairs in London during the early 1990s (Hi Julian, Eddie, Gary, Dave Linwood , Nigel, ,Simon, Tony, Keith, Mark Phil T, etc) where we used to eagerly snap up the latest Zep CD’s in abundance and then swap stories, compare recordings, read Phil T’s excellent Led Boots guide and drink a beer or two in the nearby pub. Great days…

…and of course remembering  the late much missed Andy Adams…

Dave Lewis

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Led Zeppelin at Live Aid – July 13, 1985:

Live Aid  – 39 Years Gone:

For all its ragged missed cues, hoarse vocals and cod drumming, I have great affinity for the ramshackle Zep Live Aid appearance. There’s little doubt that those 15 minutes on stage had a massive impact. Suddenly Led Zeppelin’s name was back in the frame and it was safe to own up to being a fan again.

Before all that, incredible as it sounds now, that early 80’s period had rendered them somewhat forgotten.

Not so after July 13th 1985. After that, all manner of bands were sighting them as an influence , the three of them even tried a reunion the following January and within two years both Plant and Page were recreating Zep songs on stage…and the rest is history…

We watched it here all unfold on TV in some wonderment with our very good friends Alan, Steve and Coral – Coral sadly passed away in 2020.

I vividly finally recall going to bed in the early hours of July 14th with renewed faith – Zep still meant so much to so many people and the very next day I began collating material for a reference work to their music that would eventual form the A Celebration book published in 1991.

The whole Live Aid extravaganza did feel like we were watching something very special and memorable back then and I’m glad it’s recognised that way all these years later. I wrote a quite prophetic piece for the local paper The Bedfordshire Times on Live Aid at the time which said it would be a day to tell your children about. I wasn’t far wrong. here’s the review as published on July 18 ,1985.

While we are on the Live Aid anniversaries –the tenth one back in 1995 occurred on the night Page & Plant played an exhilarating set at the Sheffield Arena – all of 27 years ago . That was the night they merged Since I’ve Been Loving You into Tea For One in a glorious amalgamation. It was a moment of true magic which I’m proud to have been a few feet from.

Here’s TBL contributor Larry Bergmann Jr on Live Aid:

Live Aid…it’s oft been discussed in derogatory fashion over the years, but in fact it is an unforgettable part of the legacy, and perhaps not quite as bad as its reputation suggests.

A walk to nearby Bedford Park last night to see the legend that is Sir Tom Jones – part of the season of excellently organised and now well established summer concerts. At 84 it occurred to me this is the oldest singer I’ve seen perform live.

For Sir Tom, like a few of his peers, age counts for nothing. He simply washed away the years with a set that mixed old and new. His voice was every bit as effective as it ever has been – soulful, stirring and often very moving.

He began with the plaintive I’m Growing Old – it set the tone for a performance that was never just going to rely on former glories.

Though he could have knocked out hit after hit cabaret style, when he did delve into his rich catalogue Sir Tom brought a freshness and contemporary edge to proceedings. His breakthrough hit It’s Not Unusual was delivered in a pleasing Cajun style. Sex Bomb was turned in to a funky reggae stomp.

What was also a delight was the stories Tom told between songs – how he mined a Jerry Lee Lewis album for Green Green Grass Of Home , how he had witnessed Chuck Berry with Elvis before a rousing encore of Johnny B Goode.

Another observation – Sir Tom’s approach mirrors that of another ageing old rocker Robert Plant. Both have stayed true to their roots but have constantly pushed their vocal talent to the max – always in tune with the times.

Sir Tom brought a real sense of drama to his cover of Bob Dylan’s One More Cup of Coffee ( a song Robert Plant covered on his 2002 Dreamland album) and an equally stunning version of Windmills of My Mind – before which, he referenced the late great Dusty Springfield.

Other highlights included a rousing (can it be anything else) Delilah, a playful Kiss, a great cover of Leonard Cohen’s Tower of Song and a joyous What’s New Pussycat.

In a career spanning over 60 years Sir Tom Jones has been there and done it all. Now In his twilight years, his ability to take the audience on an evocative journey was truly wonderful.

The almost autobiographical I’ve Had a Hell of a Life was a suitably moving parting shot.

I’ve been lucky enough to witness many great concerts in Bedford, going right back to when Sir Tom created his first hit in 1964 when I saw The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and The Hollies on a bill at the old Granada Cinema.

Witnessing Sir Tom Jones on a summer evening in Bedford Park can take its rightful place as one of the very best local gig I’ve ever seen.

He was just fabulous – a sentiment shared by all those in attendance and one that you could feel in the air as we filed out for the walk home…

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My thoughts on Nile Rodgers & Chic – Bedford Park July 7 2024:

Another walk to Bedford Park for the final presentation of the superbly organised Summer Sessions concert season and what a finale it was.

Following an excellent set from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Nile Rodgers and Chic took to the stage to a rapturous response from the large crowd.

This really was a case of what was not to like as Nile and his band proceeded to slay the audience with some of the best dance and disco anthems ever created. A party in the park atmosphere was guaranteed.

An opening segment of Le Freak, Everybody Dance, Dance, Dance Dance and I Want Your Love set the agenda and from there, the hits just kept on coming.

As with Tom Jones appearance last Thursday, Nile Rodgers engaged the crowd with some heartfelt and often humorous between song stories.

During the set he told of his cancer battles, paid tribute to his late song writing partner Bernard Edwards, relayed tales of his Grammy Awards and of course his many collaborations.

A story of a young Madonna’s single mindedness preceded a pleasing medley of Like a Virgin and Material Girl. His work with Diana Ross was duly noted with the brilliant I’m Coming Up and Upside Down merging into He’s The Greatest Dance and We Are Family.

There were many other on stage examples of his production credits with the likes of Beyoncé (Cuff It) David Bowie (Modern Love), Daft Punk (Get Lucky and Lose Yourself To Dance) Duran Duran (Notorious) and Sister Sledge (Lost in Music and Thinking of You) all brilliantly performed. The 1979 hit Spacer by Sheila B. Devotion was another delight.

Vocalists Kimberly Davis and Audrey Martells were absolutely outstanding throughout.

Local Bedfordshire musician Alfie Templeman joined them for the home straight which included My Feet Keep Dancing, My Forbidden Lover, a joyous Let’s Dance and a playful Good Times which segued into the Sugarhill Gang’s Rappers Delight.

Nile and the band left the stage with DJ Spoony to the strains of Honey Boy, his latest collaborator with Purple Disco Machine. Proof that at 71 he is in demand as ever.

The backdrop screen flashed up a message that proclaimed ‘’Thank You Bedford!’’

Thank YOU Nile and all the other artists who have made this run of Summer Sessions concerts in Bedford Park so enjoyable.

Dave Lewis – July 8 2024

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New Graham Sharpe book…

Saturday July 6:

Saturday is platterday…a bit of Ziggy Stardust to brighten up a rainy Saturday ahead of popping into the Bedford VIP Record Fair…

Saturday July 6:

England 1 Switzerland 1 – England win 5-3 on penalties…

We got there – penalties were just brilliant!

Sunday July 7:

With Bob & Michaela, the good lady Janet and Anne-Marie at last night’s fantastic Nile Rodgers & Chic concert in Bedford Park…

Wednesday July 10:

A pre match pint to steady the nerves then back home to watch the action unfold- come on England!

Wednesday July 10:

England in the final! Me, the good lady Janet and Phil H are rather excited here !

Update here:

Quite a week with the two Bedford Park concerts and of course England’s progress into the Euro Final. A really incredible achievement -here’s hoping they can give a good account of themselves in the final on Sunday against Spain. That will be a tough one  – they have certainly lifted us all these past few days – thank you Gareth and the boys of 2024 – come on England…

Thanks for listening…