"…Gonna Make You Sweat...Gonna Make You Groove…"
There seems to be some
confusion over "Mothership" especially with regard to the 'sound'.
While it's not exactly the 'Motherlode' in terms of track content – soundwise
it's streets ahead of what's been offered before and at times just BREATHTAKING
in its clarity.
And in 2016 there are now two versions - the November 2007
original that used John Davis Remasters - and the November 2015 reissue which
uses the new Jimmy Page 2014/2015 Remasters.
CONTENT:
As you'll see from the track
list below - all eight official 'studio' albums from 1969 through to 1979 are
represented on this newly remastered compilation. The awful live double that is
"The Song Remains The Same" from 1976 is wisely not featured at all
on "Mothership" – neither is the 8-song odds and sods compilation
"Coda" from 1982 which contained studio out-takes and live tracks
recorded between 1969 and 1978.
VERSIONS:
There are three 2007 versions
of "Mothership" – the standard 2CD issue (minus DVD) is on Swan
Song/Atlantic 8122 79961 5 (use Barcode 081227996154 in Amazon to locate it)
and a 4LP Vinyl Box Set Edition on Swan Song/Atlantic/Rhino R1 344700 (use the
Barcode 081227995133 to locate that). This review deals with what's been called
the 'Deluxe Edition' issue that offers 2CDs and 1DVD.
UK released November 2007 –
the 2CD and 1DVD version of the "Mothership" compilation by LED
ZEPPELIN on Swan Song/Atlantic 8122 79961 3 (Barcode 081227996130) has all
tracks newly remastered by JOHN DAVIS at Alchemy Mastering in London and plays
out as follows:
Disc 1 (66:18 minutes):
1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Communication Breakdown
3. Dazed And Confused
4. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Tracks 1 to 4 are from their
debut vinyl album "Led Zeppelin" - originally issued 12 January 1969
in the USA on Atlantic SD-8216 and 31 March 1969 in the UK on Atlantic 588 171
5. Whole Lotta Love
6. Ramble On
7. Heartbreaker
Tracks 5 to 7 are from their
"Led Zeppelin II" LP - originally released 22 October 1969 in the USA
on Atlantic SD-8236 and Atlantic 588 198 in the UK
8. Immigrant Song
9. Since I've Been Loving You
Tracks 8 and 9 are from their
"Led Zeppelin III" LP - originally released 5 October 1970 in the USA
on Atlantic SD-7291 and Atlantic 2401 002 in the UK
10. Rock And Roll
11. Black Dog
12. When The Levee Breaks
13. Stairway To Heaven
Tracks 10 to 13 are from
their "Untitled" LP – released 8 November 1971 in the USA on Atlantic
SD 7208 and Atlantic 2401012 in the UK. Officially their 4th album was
'untitled' but of course is often referred to as "Led Zeppelin IV",
"Four Symbols", "Runes" and "ZoSo" (the ZoSo
title derives from the four symbols that appear at the top of the Atlantic
Records label on the November 1971 LP - Zodiac letters for each member of the
band – ZoSo being Jimmy Page).
Disc 2 (69:21 minutes):
1. The Song Remains The Same
2. Over The Hills And Far
Away
3. D’Yer Maker
4. No Quarter
Tracks 1 to 4 are from the
"Houses Of The Holy" LP – released 23 March 1973 in the USA on
Atlantic SD 7255 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50014
5. Trampled Under Foot
6. Houses Of The Holy
7. Kashmir
Tracks 5 to 7 are from
"Physical Graffiti" – a 2LP set released 24 February 1975 in the UK
on Swan Song SSK 89400 and Swan Song SS 2-200 in the USA. It went to Number 1
in both countries and shipped over 8 million copies in the USA alone.
8. Nobody’s Fault But Mine
9. Achilles Last Stand
Tracks 8 and 9 are from the
single album "Presence" – released 31 March 1976 in the USA on Swan
Song SS 8416 and in the UK on Swan Song SSK 59402
10. In The Evening
11. All My Love
Tracks 10 and 11 are from
their 8th and final studio album "In Through The Out Door" – released
15 August 1979 in the USA on Swan Song SS 16002 and in the UK on Swan Song SSK
59410
DVD (2003 Remasters, Excerpts
from the "Led Zeppelin" 2DVD set, Digital DTS Surround, Playback All
Regions)
1. We're Gonna Groove
2. I Can't Quit You Babe
3. Dazed And Confused
4. White Summer
5. What Is And What Should
Never Be
6. Moby Dick
7. Whole Lotta Love
8. Communication Breakdown
9. Bring it On Home
10. Immigrant Song
11. Black Dog
12. Misty Mountain Hop
13. The Ocean
14. Going To California
15. In My Time Of Dying
16. Stairway To Heaven
17. Rock And Roll
18. Nobody's Fault But Mine
19. Kashmir
20. Whole Lotta Love
As you can see -
"Zeppelin II" sees only 3 tracks on Disc 1, while the debut gets 4.
This misses out on gems from "II" like "Moby Dick",
"Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just A Woman)" and "What Is And What
Should Never Be" - odd omissions for an album that is constantly cited in
magazine polls by the public as their "favorite rock album ever".
Worse however is "III", often referred to by fans as their 'acoustic'
album. By only representing it with "Immigrant Song" and "Since
I've Been Loving You", you get the 'feeling' that the album is like its
two predecessors - 'hard rock' - when it actually contains some of their most
beautiful and underrated softer tracks, especially the gorgeous acoustic
workout "That's The Way". Four songs from the iconic and brilliant
"IV" are only right and proper - and some would argue the entire
album should be on here (the lyrics to "Black Dog" title this
review).
Downside: as you can see from
the playing time, a full 13 minutes on Disc 1 could have been used up - and
isn't. Extending the acoustic theme to "IV", the equally wonderful
"The Battle Of Evermore" (Sandy Denny on backing vocals) is missing
too when there was room. Coupled with "That's The Way" - both would
have made for huge bonuses and more importantly made the disc more
representative of the band. The 'acoustic' element of Zeppelin (which was
featured in most of their live sets) is oddly absent here - a mistake I think.
Their diversity as a band - away from just hard rock - is one of the reasons
for their enduring appeal and why fans love them so. "Hey Hey (What Can I
Do Now)" the brilliant non-album B-side to the US 45 of "Immigrant
Song" would have been a tasty choice too - but again - a no show. It's
well cool to see key album cuts like "In My Time Of Dying",
"What Is And What Should Never Be", "Bring It On Home" and
"The Ocean" featured on the truncated DVD – a single 'excerpts' disc
culled from 2003's "Led Zeppelin" 2DVD release – widely praised for
its excellence. It also includes rarities like "We're Gonna Groove"
and "White Summer"...
Upside: Disc 1 has very
clever sequencing on it and listening to the song selection straight through is
a superb and impressive experience. The space around the opening guitars of
"Baby I'm Gonna Leave You" is ethereal and beautiful. The fabulous
guitar-work in the left speaker on "Ramble On" from "II"
catches your ear too - and Plant's double vocals - great. I could hear the band count One Two Three on
the fade in to "Immigrant Song". Genius choice however, goes to the
stunning blues workout of "Since I've Been Loving You" from
"III". Sounding just fantastic, the squeaking of Bonham's drum pedals
can be heard just a few milliseconds before Page launches into that blistering
guitar riff (lyrics above). And finally - at long last - the remastering has
brought out the full ferocity of Bonham's drumming and Plant's harmonica
playing in the simply awesome "When The Levee Breaks" - cleverly
placed before "Stairway" and not after it - rounding off Disc 1 very
nicely.
The sound quality on Disc 1
in particular is BREATHTAKING. Page transferred the original master tapes
carefully to digital in 1991 for "The Complete Studio Recordings" and
John Davis of Alchemy Mastering in London has used these for the 2007
Remasters. They are better and in some cases unbelievably so.
It's clear the band feel that
"Houses" is a bit under appreciated as an album so no less than 4
tracks are featured including the clever placing of the reggae "D'yer
Maker" with Bonham and Jones both playing a rhythm section storm. But to
leave off the melodic winner that is "The Rain Song" is a huge
omission. Three from the mighty "Physical Graffiti" - but again the
wonderful "Ten Years Gone" and the rocking "Custard Pie"
are not here. For me album number six "Presence" was a tedious listen
in 1976 and still is now - despite people trying to reappraise it. I really
don't need to hear the 10 minutes of "Achilles Last Stand" ever again
when the blues finisher "Tea For One" would have been a braver
choice. And last up is "In Through The Out Door" which is featured
here by "In The Evening" - the album's great opener. But the truly
awful "All My Love" finishes Disc 2 when the funkier "For Your
Love" would have been better. Also - as with Disc 1 - with only 69 minutes
used - there was enough room for a more varied musical picture. And even though
its brilliant stuff - why ask fans to pay for a 2003 DVD of material they will
already own - when a live disc should have been Disc 3 - representing the band
in what 'they' feel is their best arena?
The 24-page booklet is both
tasteful yet ever so slightly (and strangely) disappointing. None of the eight
gorgeous and often elaborate album covers are pictured (where the hell is the
artwork that was such an integral to their releases?) and there are mentions of
US 7" single releases in the track by track details but no pictures of any
- nor any fan-pleasing rare 7" picture sleeves from around the world
either. There’s no sense of Led Zeppelin's global effect on Rock - not even a
UK or US discography with catalogue numbers. But DAVID FRICKE's essay using a
November 1968 Atlantic Records publicity announcement as its title ("Hot,
New English Group Led Zeppelin") is very good – offering up a brief but
highly informative history of this colossal rock band and its output across 12
pages. And at least the wholesale nicking of blues tunes is finally
acknowledged in the writer's credits for "Whole Lotta Love" (a Willie
Dixon song made famous by Muddy Waters), Anne Bredon for "Baby I'm Gonna
Leave You" and Memphis Minnie for "When The Levee Breaks".
Some have said this
compilation is 'money for old rope' - I don't see it that way. Without doubt,
the 1991 Remasters by Jimmy Page were way better than the crappy 80s issues
when issued but these 2007 upgrades have been long overdue and sounding as good
as they do - they're to be welcomed. If ever a band deserved lavish attention
spent on their catalogue - it's Zeppelin. The set it flawed for sure - but the
audio is great - and if you don't already own the 2DVD set "Led Zeppelin"
(as yet not on BLU RAY) – then that 90-minute bonus visual disc is going to a
serious treat for newcomers.
2014 and 2015 would
eventually see their catalogue get a Jimmy Page makeover with double and
triple-disc 'Deluxe Editions' of all albums including a 3CD "Coda"
(see reviews for I, II, III, IV, Houses Of The Holy and Physical Graffiti).
There are even Vinyl variants. November 2015 has seen a 2CD and 4LP reissue of
"Mothership" which uses those 2014/2015 Jimmy Page Remasters - the
2CD set is Swan Song/Atlantic 081227950934 and the 4LP Vinyl Box is Swan
Song/Atlantic 08122795109 (same digits are their barcodes - use those to locate
them on Amazon). And although it's not stated anywhere on the actual digipak or
discs – for marketing purposes they've been subtitled "The Very Best Of
Led Zeppelin" on shrink-wrap stickers.
In April 2016 (as I write
this review) the original 2007 2CD variant of "Mothership" is so past
a sell-by-date that it’s been regularly showing up in big supermarkets for a
fiver (amazing value for money) – and I recently saw the new 2015 issue do the
same only five months after its reissue. But I'd argue if you've the readies
plumb for the 2007 "Mothership" ‘2CD/1DVD’ variant instead because
that visual stuff really is worth the extra wedge.
What a band and what a
compilation "Mothership" is. In any of its forms – Led Zeppelin's
"Mothership" tramples (under foot) all pretenders and shows why this
best of British Rock groups is so beloved and revered - and nearly fifty years
after the event – are still one of the most collectable bands on the planet.
"Hey! Hey! Mama"
indeed...
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