"The Complete Willy And The Poor Boys" [featuring Bill Wyman, Paul Rodgers, Jimmy Page, Garry Brooker, Chris Rea, Ringo Starr and Andy Fairweather Low] (2015 Edsel 2CD/1DVD Reissue/Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Let Me Love...You All Night Long..."

Tribute albums are always tricky – let alone ones that rely on old Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rhythm ‘n’ Blues tunes as its backbeat. Yet Bill Wyman’s 1985 fund-raiser LP for a terminally ill Ronnie Lane (of Small Faces, Faces and Slim Chance fame) works because its fun and doesn’t let the big name celebrities swamp proceedings - but add to them in a very real way.

Taking its name from a schoolyard nickname and an LP by his favourite American band (1969's "Willy And The Poor Boys" by Creedence Clearwater Revival) – Rolling Stones Bassist BILL WYMAN gathered together a formidable array of big musical names to record an album of favourites that would benefit ARMS (Action For Research Into Multiple Sclerosis). His core band consisted of Andy Fairweather Low on Guitar and Vocals, Mickey Gee of Love Sculpture and Joe Cocker’s Grease Band on Lead Guitar, his Rhythm Kings Rock ‘n’ Roll Pianist Geraint Watkins, Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones on Drums, himself on Bass and the Horn Section (on some tracks) brought up by Willie Garnett and Steve Gregory. Inbetween we get guest appearances by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin on Guitar, Paul Rodgers of Free on Lead Vocals, drummers Terry Williams of Brinsley Schwarz and Henry Spinetti of The Herd and Climax Blues Band, Ray Cooper of Elton John’s Band on Percussion and one appearance of Ronnie’s old band mate Kenney Jones of The Who and Small Faces on Drums (“Sugar Bee”).

The UK LP appeared in May 1985 on Decca/Ripple BILL 1, the 30-minute film/video at Fulham Town Hall came also in 1985 with a further Willy And The Poor Boys ‘Live’ set in 1994 (recorded in Sweden in 1992 – known as “Tear It Up’ in the USA). This is the first time that all 3 have been brought together in one remastered package – and a thoroughly enjoyable Rock ‘n’ Roll romp it makes too. Here are the rowdy details...

UK released 7 August 2015 – "The Complete Willy And The Poor Boys" by BILL WYMAN on Edsel EDSG 8062 (Barcode 740155806231) is a 2CD/1DVD Digipak Set and pans out as follows:

CD 1 (36:35 minutes):

1. Baby Please Don’t Go [Big Joe Williams cover]

Features Chris Rea on Lead Vocals

2. Can You Hear Me [Allen Toussaint song/Lee Dorsey cover]

Features Andy Fairweather Low on Lead Vocals

3. These Arms Of Mine [Otis Redding cover]

Features Paul Rodgers of Free and bad Company on Lead Vocals with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin on Guitars

4. Revenue Man (White Lightning) [Big Bopper cover]

Features Andy Fairweather Low on Lead Vocals

5. You Never Can Tell [Chuck Berry cover]

Features Bill Wyman on Lead Vocals

6. Slippin’ And Slidin’ [Little Richard cover]

Features Paul Rodgers of Free and bad Company on Lead Vocals with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin on Guitars

7. Saturday Night [Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King song/Roy Brown cover]

Featuring Geraint Watkins on Lead Vocals and Keyboards

8. Let’s Talk It Over [Tampa Red cover]

Features Andy Fairweather Low on Lead Vocals

9. All Night Long [Clifton Chenier cover]

Features Bill Wyman on Lead Vocals

10. Chicken Shack Boogie [Amos Milburn cover]

Featuring Geraint Watkins on Lead Vocals and Keyboards

11. Sugar Bee [Eddie Shuler song/Cleveland Crochet cover]

Features Bill Wyman on Lead Vocals and Kenney Jones on Drums

12. Poor Boy Boogie [Bill Wyman and Andy Fairweather Low song]

Features Andy Fairweather Low on Lead Vocals

CD 2 – Live (54:40 minutes):

1. High School Confidential

2. Tear It Up

3.Baby Please Don’t Go

4. Medley: Ooh Poo Pah Doo/Rockin’ Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu

5. Mystery Train

6. Chicken Shack Boogie

7. Stagger Lee

8. What’d I Say

9. Red Hot

10. Lovin’ Up A Storm

11. Medley: Poor Boy Boogie/Hound Dog/Shake, Rattle & Roll/Looking For Someone To Love

12. Land Of 1000 Dances

Recorded 31 July 1992 at the Hotel Tylosand in Halmstad, Sweden

BAND was:

Bill Wyman – Bass and Vocals

Terry Taylor – Guitar and backing Vocals

Jimmy Henderson – Vocals and Harmonica

Andy Fairweather Low – Guitar and Vocals

Gary Brooker – Keyboards and Vocals

Graham Broad – Drums

Maria, Annica, Maggie Ryder & Miriam Stockley – Backing Vocals

Ollie Niklasson – Saxophone

DVD (NTSC/No Regional Restrictions):

1. Poor Boy Boogie

2. You Never Can Tell

3. Chicken Shack Boogie

4. Let’s Talk It Over

5. All Night Long

6. Saturday Night

7. Baby Please Don’t Go

8. These Arms Of Mine

Bonus Documentary – The Making Of Willie And The Poor Boys

Bonus Video – These Arms Of Mine (with Paul Rodgers and Jimmy Page)

WILLY AND THE POOR BOYS BAND was:

Bill Wyman – Bass and Vocals

Charlie Watts – Drums

Andy Fairweather Low – Guitar and Vocals

Geraint Watkins – Keyboards and Vocals

Mickey Gee – Guitar and Vocals

GUESTS: 

Chris Rea – Vocals

Ronnie Wood – Saxophone

Raf Ravenscroft – Saxophone

Mel Collins – Saxophone

Kenney Jones – Drums and Percussion

Henry Spinetti - Percussion

Terry Taylor – Percussion

Ringo Starr – Guest Appearance

The chunky gatefold digipak is a four-flap foldout affair festooned with photos of the band dressed up as Mods and Rockers with a fact-filled 20-page booklet sporting detailed liner notes by DAVID WELLS. Scans and photos come from the Bill Wyman archives, Val Jennings co-ordinated the project and the mastering was done by PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy Mastering. Both CDs sound great – full of vim and vigour – but then so did the original recordings.

It opens with the guttural vocals of Chris Rea laying into “Baby Please Don’t Go” and the album immediately states its Rock ‘n’ Roll and Boogie Woogie credentials – we’re here to party and have some fun. The track choices are clever too – avoiding the huge songs of the genre and favouring forgotten nuggets like Lee Dorsey’s “Can You Hear Me” and the Bip Bopper’s “Revenue Man”. The production is old school – full of warmth and a little echo or sloppiness on those guitar parts to give a more natural feel. Paul Rodgers and Jimmy Page have a Soulful Rock go at Otis Redding’s “These Arms Of Mine” – what a great voice he has – Page’s guitar way back in the mix as the Piano and Brass take centre stage. On the two tracks that Wyman sings (Chuck Berry’s wonderful “You Never Can Tell” and Clifton Chenier’s “All Night Long”) - he’s actually similar to Wilko Johnson in his nasal delivery and in some respects is better than Low or Watkins at the mike (though both exude their love for the music).

Rodgers and Page return for a raucous version of Little Richard’s “Slippin’ & Slidin’” but its actually the piano playing of Watkins that you notice. “Sugar Bee” and their own “Poor Boy Boogie” finish off proceedings in suitable style.

If the retro album was good – the live set saw the project explode into life in front of a small but wildly enthusiastic audience. Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker comes out on lead vocals and tears up the piano too on the Jerry Lee Lewis classic “High School Confidential”. They really start to cook on “Tear It Up” with all the vocals working and that great Rock ‘n’ Roll vibe seeping into the room. It also sounds brilliant – professionally recorded too. The wicked duo guitar opening to “Baby Please Don’t Go” is fantastic and how good is to hear anyone do Elvis’ “Mystery Train”. By the time it gets to “Red Hot” and the rollicking medleys that finish the Tim Young mastered disc – its job done.

Eagle-eyed collectors will note that the DVD sees the first time members of The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Who have played/joined together for a film project (it was filmed 11 and 12 March at the Fulham Town Hall in London). Smartly its also Region Free.

To sum up – the album by itself would be a solid 4-stars, but the Live CD and the Guest Heavy DVD give it a huge boost. Well done to all at Edsel for doing such a great job...

“Stormcock" by ROY HARPER - A Review Of His 5th LP on Harvest Records - Reissued & Remastered By Science Friction Onto CD...

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CLASSIC 1970s ROCK and POP - Exceptional CD Remasters  

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"…Love's Cascades…"

UK released onto CD in 1994 (reissued 1996, 2007 and 2013) – "Stormcock" by ROY HARPER is on Science Fiction HUCD047 (Barcode 679076770478) and is a straightforward remaster of his 5th UK album from May 1971 on Harvest Records SHVL 789. (There’s also a remaster on the Awareness Label).

1. Hors d'Oeuvres [Side 1]
2. The Same Old Rock
3. Old Man Rock And Roll Band [Side 2]
4. Me And My Woman

With only 4 tracks (2 to each side) it might seem lean but it's nothing of the sort. And although it’s nearly 45 years old it remains contemporary and has stood the test of time incredibly well. If anything (re-listening to it in 2014) - you can imagine that this 1971 album is a bit of a secret stepping point for so many new writers and bands – because after 40 minutes with it you can ‘so’ hear how Fleet Foxes, Elbow and Vetiver got their sound.

Beautifully produced by PETER JENNER (Engineered by PHILIP MacDONALD) – the songs are primarily long acoustic workouts with some electric guitars, keyboards, string flourishes, brass and vocal over-layering thrown in. Each song takes it sweet time - allowing you to wrap your ears around the thought-provoking life-observations in the lyrics.

It opens with "Hors d'Oeuvres" – a near nine-minute Nick Drake/Tim Buckley acoustic dreamscape about a man "…whose brains bred answers like flies…" It builds and builds to gorgeous treated vocals towards the end. But then you get the album’s first piece of undeniable Harper genius – and for me one of the great unspoken masterpieces of the Seventies – the 12 and half minute Side 1 closer "The Same Old Rock". The song famously features JIMMY PAGE credited as 'J. Flavius Mercurious' for contractual reasons. You can so hear his "Led Zeppelin III" and "IV" acoustic phase – and his acoustic solo towards the end swirling around multi-layered Harper vocals is just brilliant. You have to say too that the remaster is just gorgeous here (lyrics above). Harper himself rates it as Page’s best ever work…

Side 2 opens with "One Man Rock And Roll Band" – another multi-layered acoustic strum-fest "…welcome back you total stranger…" His treated vocals add so much to the seven and half-minute – the plucked steel strings rattling around your speakers – again the remaster masterful. It ends on the gorgeous 13-minute "Me And My Woman" with lush orchestration from long-time Mike Oldfield collaborator DAVID BEDFORD. Even after all these years – the 'freshness' of it all still amazes me. And it's so uniquely Roy Harper…

"Stormcock" is a Ye Olde English name give to the Mistle Thrush bird – a feathery morning singer and apparently the artist's nickname on occasion. Spread your wings on this secret CD masterpiece and let your spirits fly...

"Led Zeppelin III: Deluxe Edition" by LED ZEPPELIN - October 1970 UK Third Studio Album on Atlantic Records (2014 UK Atlantic/Swan Song 'Deluxe Edition' 2CD Jimmy Page Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review and 315 More Like It 

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ALL THINGS MUST PASS
1970

Your All-Genres Guide To

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"...That's The Way..."

I suspect like many fans - I bought all three of these 2CD DELUXE EDITIONS on the day of release (Monday 2 June 2014 here in the UK). And after the initial disappointment of the "Led Zeppelin" debut version with its questionable sound on some tracks and its rubbish bootleg-sounding live bonus disc - I'm thrilled to say that "II" and "III" are entirely different beasts.

For me it's not the more applauded and revered "II" that tickles my spine - but the fabulous 'Acoustic' expansion of the British Super Group's songwriting chops on "III" that puts them head and shoulders above all the rest. This beauty has always made my eyes water and my quadruple bypass beat a little faster. Well - "III" now sounds fabulous - and the 'Companion Audio' CD actually warrants the word 'bonus' with some truly spine-tingling new additions. Here are the Tiny Flowers and Hangman Riding Many A Mile details...

UK released 2 June 2014 (3 June in the USA) – "Led Zeppelin III: Deluxe Edition" by LED ZEPPELIN on Atlantic/Swan Song 8122796449 (Barcode 081277964498) is a 2CD Reissue/Remaster and plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (43:11 minutes):

1. Immigrant Song

2. Friends

3. Celebration Day

4. Since I've Been Loving You

5. Out On The Tiles

6. Gallows Pole [Side 2]

7. Tangerine

8. That's The way

9. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp

10. Hats Off To (Roy) Harper

Tracks 1 to 10 are the vinyl album "Led Zeppelin III" - originally released 5 October 1970 in the USA on Atlantic SD-7291 and Atlantic 2401 002 in the UK

Disc 2 (41:33 minutes):

1. The Immigrant Song (Alternate Mix)

2. Friends (Track - No Vocal)

3. Celebration Day (Alternate Mix)

4. Since I've Been Loving You (Rough Mix Of First Recording)

5. Bathroom Sound (Track No Vocal)

6. Gallows Pole (Rough Mix)

7. That's The Way (Rough Mix With Dulcimer - Backwards Echo)

8. Jennings Farm Blues

9. Key To The Highway/Trouble In Mind

Tracks 1 to 9 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 'Rough/Alternate Mixes' of Seven album tracks with two New Songs - the Instrumental "Jennings Farm Blues" (which turns out to be an early rockier version of "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp") and a stunning new double cover-version outtake called "Keys To The Highway/Trouble In Mind".

The three-way foldout Mini LP Sleeve Repro has its problems. The original rear sleeve photo is now placed in the centre and that rear shot of their four faces has been replaced with a rather garish 'negative' artwork shot giving you the feeling that the thing 'just doesn't look right'. Worse - the 'moveable wheel' on the front flap is stationary unlike those beautiful Japanese SHM-CD repro’s of the original vinyl LP – so the fun of turning those photos underneath is lost. Don’t get me wrong – this 2CD DE version is pretty to look at - but I have the Japanese SHM-CD from September 2008 on WPCR-13132 and with its over-sized artwork faithful to the original is a thing of genuine beauty (as was the original 1970 vinyl LP). And what would it have taken to have the original British Atlantic Records Plum Label design on CD 1 (as the Japanese issue does) and the Green and Orange colour on the new CD2?

The 3-way gatefold card sleeve also features alternative colour artwork on the rear with a stuck-on track list (these new releases now reflect their Swan Song label as well as Atlantic Records for the first time). The 16-page booklet has gorgeous black and white/colour photos of the band live at the time (the three sat doing an Acoustic set), relaxing in Wales in the tiny knackered-looking 18th Century Cottage 'Bron-Yr-Aur' where much of the album was written/inspired by. But like "I" and "II" - there are only two pages at the rear that give you the basic track info - bugger all else. There's no liner notes - no history of the album and its importance (a huge fan favourite) - and nothing from Page or Plant. It's good - but it could have been great - and frankly why isn't it?

As Zep fans know the album was conceived in deepest Wales where the band was recovering after extensive world touring (recorded in Headley Grange). Perhaps all that head-banging abroad and rural lack of running water/electricity brought out the 'inner calm' in our heroes - because setting aside the Rock of "Immigrant Song" and the straight-up Blues of "Since I've Been Loving You" - the album primarily featured softer acoustic tracks (ballads even)  - and is so much the better for it.

I moaned about the sound quality on some tracks on the debut - that problem doesn't appear here. From the opening "1, 2, 3..." count-in on "The Immigrant Song" you'll be hammering those Speaker Gods of yours with a possible neighbourhood disturbance restraining order. It's HUGE. The double-whammy "Friends/Celebration Day" leaps out of each channel with new details while the squeaking of Bonham's drum seat can now be clearly heard on the lead-in to the mighty "Since I've Been Loving You". Ending Side 1 - "Out On The Tiles" has wonderful presence - especially on the "All I need is you and all your love...ooh yeah" sung chorus.

Now the magic starts - "Gallows Pole" has always sent fans - and 44 years later - it just blows you away. The mandolin and banjo build up are followed with Bonzo's manic drums - shooting the whole Acoustic/Rock song up into the stratosphere - fantastic stuff and aurally spiffing. "Tangerine" is gorgeous and the sloppy count-in only adds atmosphere to the tenderness. But then I'm in tears. I recently reviewed Mott The Hoople's 1974 CBS album "The Hoople" with the gorgeous Ian Hunter ballad "Trudi's Song" on it. It got me to compiling a 70's FEST CD-R called "Songs To Make A Grown Man Cry" (see separate review and list). Top of that bawl-crawl is Led Zeppelin's gorgeous "That's The Way" - which in its new 2014 guise will make true fans blub like a big girl's blouse. This is what I've waited decades to hear (Cameron Crowe too). And then it all ends with a chipper "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" and the slightly throwaway "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper". Job done.

But there's better to come. Disc 2 is a stunning addition. You get Alternate Mixes of "The Immigrant Song" and "Celebration Day" with Rough Mixes of "Since I've Been Loving You" and "Gallows Pole" - all of which feature fascinating different guitar parts and the occasional vocal flourish. "Bathroom Sound" is an early run through of "Out On The Tiles" without vocals and "Jennings Farm Blues" turns out to be a first version of "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" with Page feeling for the song (it's very cool). But then you're hit with a solar plexus - the fabulous Big Bill Broonzy/Big Joe Turner double cover of "Key To The Highway/Trouble In Mind". It's a two-man show - Page on Acoustic guitar in the left speaker with Plant on treated warbling vocals and heavy harmonica on the right. It's just stunning - with Robert Plant blowing some truly hair-raising Blues Harp - fans will flip for it. Downside - the fab non-album B-side "Hey Hey What Can I Do Now" to the American 45 of "Immigrant Song" is AWOL - when in remastered form - it would have been a rather tasty cherry on top (it’ll undoubtedly be on a massively expanded “Coda” reissue to come).

So there you have it. Not just brilliant but a legend intact and expanding (despite those packaging niggles).

Were Led Zeppelin really as good as we remember them? And in 1970 - were they even the best band in the world?

You bet your hairy-assed airship-sized balls they were...

PS: see also reviews for the 2CD DELUXE EDITION versions of "I", "II", "IV", "Houses Of The Holy", "Physical Graffiti" and the Very Best Of set "Mothership"

"Led Zeppelin II: Deluxe Edition" by LED ZEPPELIN (2014 Atlantic/Swan Song 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Jimmy Page Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Whole Lotta Love..."

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WHOLE LOTTA LOVE - 1969
Rock, Pop and Genres Thereabouts
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After the initial disappointment of the "Led Zeppelin" debut 2CD DELUXE EDITION with its questionable sound on some tracks and its rubbish live bonus disc - I'm thrilled to say that "II" is an entirely different beast. It sounds great and the 'Companion Audio' CD actually warrants the word 'bonus' (mostly).

UK released 2 June 2014 (3 June in the USA) - "Led Zeppelin II: Deluxe Edition" by LED ZEPPELIN on Atlantic/Swan Song 8122796453 (Barcode 081227964535) is a 2CD Remaster set and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (41:40 minutes):

1. Whole Lotta Love

2. What Is And What Should Never Be

3. The Lemon Song

4. Thank You

5. Heartbreak [Side 2]

6. Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman)

7. Ramble On

8. Moby Dick

9. Bring It On Home

Tracks 1 to 9 is the vinyl album "Led Zeppelin II" - originally released 22 October 1969 in the USA on Atlantic SD-8236 and Atlantic 588 198 in the UK

Disc 2 (32:44 minutes):

1. Whole Lotta Love (Rough Mix With Vocal)

2. What Is And What Should Never Be (Rough Mix With Vocal)

3. Thank You (Backing Track)

4. Heartbreaker (Rough Mix With Vocal)

5. Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman) (Backing Track)

6. Ramble On (Rough Mix With Vocal)

7. Moby Dick (Backing Track)

8. La La (Intro/Outro Rough Mix)

Tracks 1 to 8 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 'Rough Mixes' of Seven album tracks with one New Song - the Instrumental "La La"

The 3-way gatefold card sleeve features alternative colour artwork on the rear with the original LP gatefold inner spread on the inside flaps - sided by two new photos of the band during recording. There's a stuck-on track list on the rear and the artwork now reflects the Swan Song label as well as Atlantic. The 16-page booklet has gorgeous black and white/colour photos of the band live at the time - but there are only two pages at the rear that give you the basic track info - but bugger all else. There's no liner notes - no history of the album and its importance (once rated as Britain's favourite Rock album) - and nothing from Page or Plant. It's good - but it could have been great - and frankly why isn't it?

I moaned about the sound quality on some tracks on the debut - that problem doesn't appear here. From the opening wallop of "Whole Lotta Love" - it feels huge and detailed. The cymbals and bass of "What Is And What Should Never Be" are wonderfully clear and "The Lemon Song" sounds suitably grungy (as it was intended). The fade in of "Thank You" is lovely - but it's the sheer power riffage of "Heartbreaker" and its various mad guitar breaks that puts hairs on your chest. Both "Maid" and "Ramble On" have accentuated power (especially in the breaks that feature Bonzo's drums) - and of course it finishes with the lethal one-two sucker punch of "Moby Dick" (crystal clear John Bonham solo) and the Harmonica Blues Boogie of Willie Dixon/Sonny Boy Williamson's "Bring It On Home". Job done.

Disc 2 is a genuine blast - backing tracks with different guitar parts and the occasional vocal jab from Plant. It's a fascinating insight into how they worked and built a tune. It's clear these versions were good - just not good enough. The solos in "Heartbreaker" bear this out - most of the finished solo flourishes that we know and love are in there but some aren't quite 'there' - so presumably Page simply kept working them later until he got those licks to his satisfaction. And it's bizarre to hear the first guitar part of "Moby Dick" - then hear it suddenly stop (no solo) and Bonham then count in the drums as the second guitar part finishes the song. The "La La" outtake with its Motown organ bop and wild acoustic/electric guitar breaks is interesting - but feels most throwaway of the lot.

I also bought 1970's "III" this morning and frankly it's the best of the bunch - with fantastic outtakes and two cool new tracks - one of which has me drooling (see separate review).

Were Led Zeppelin really as good as we remember them? Were they even the best band in the world?

With airship-sized knobs on...and then some...

PS: see also reviews for the DELUXE EDITION versions of "I", "III", “VI”, “Houses Of The Holy”, “Physical Graffiti” (3-Discs) and “Mothership: The Best Of” (3-Discs)

"Led Zeppelin" [aka "Led Zeppelin I"] by LED ZEPPELIN (2014 Atlantic/Swan Song 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Jimmy Page Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Good Times Bad Times…" 

 

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WHOLE LOTTA LOVE - 1969
Rock, Pop and Genres Thereabouts
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When the CD first arrived as a format in 1984 - few Led Zeppelin fans would have thought it would take 30 years for decent remasters of the fave crave - but unfortunately after hearing these dreadfully dull-sounding new versions - they may want to wait another thirty. It's not all bad of course but I'd swear that the "Mothership" 2007 remasters sound way better and far more alive - and the 2012 Japanese SHM-CD again features better sound. Anyway here are the details...

UK released 2 June 2014 (3 June in the USA) - "Led Zeppelin: Deluxe Edition" by LED ZEPPELIN on Atlantic/Swan Song 8122796457 (Barcode 081227964573) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Remastered by the band's guitarist JIMMY PAGE and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (44:56 minutes):

1. Good Times Bad Times

2. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You

3. You Shook Me

4. Dazed And Confused

5. Your Time Is Gonna Come [Side 2]

6. Black Mountain Side

7. Communication Breakdown

8. I Can’t Quit You Baby

9. How Many More Times

Tracks 1 to 9 are their debut 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 on vinyl LP

Disc 2 – LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA (71:16 minutes):

1. Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown

2. I Can’t Quit You Baby

3. Heartbreaker

4. Dazed And Confused

5. White Summer/Black Mountain Side

6. You Shook Me

7. Moby Dick

8. How Many More Times

Tracks 1 to 8 are a PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED concert recorded live at The Olympia Theatre in Paris France on 10 October 1969 (Broadcast 2 November 1969 by the French Radio Station 'Europe 1')

The 3-way gatefold card sleeve features alternative artwork on the rear with the original back cover of the LP moved to the inside left flap. The two other inner flaps feature classy black and whites but I must say the alternate artwork leaves me cold. The 16-page booklet has gorgeous black and white/colour photos of the band live at the time - but that's where the good news stops. There are two pages at the rear that give you the basic track info but bugger all else - there are literally no liner notes - nor any history of the album and its importance - nothing from Page or Plant. It's good - but it could have been great - and frankly why isn't it? And as one other reviewer has pointed out - relistening to the album in its entirety - only hammers home what an astonishing debut it was (and still is). But in my heart that's nothing to the sound...

I'm certain the sound quality on this album is going to be a bone of contention for many. Don't get me wrong - it does sound very clean - it has power (if you crank it up) - but there's absolutely something missing. To my ears there's no life to these remasters - no air around the instruments - a sort of dead dampened feel to them. I don't know if noise suppression was used and the only reference to 'remastering' is craftily put on the sticker and not any part of the booklet (so no sources are listed). But to my ears the "Mothership" versions are infinitely better. I've done an A/B of the 4 ML remasters with what's on here - and the 2007 versions are full of real presence and power. "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You" for instance is very clean - but again - it feels oddly restrained. Tracks like the Acoustic and Tabla "Black Mountain Side" sound fabulous - as does the barnstorming finisher "How Many More Times" - but "Good Times Bad Times" and "Communication Breakdown" don't thrill like they should.

The live disc fluctuates wildly on the sound front - a best approximation is a passable bootleg recording. On the double-opener "Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown" you can so hear the power and magic of a band tearing into its audience with a point to prove - but tracks like "Moby Dick" and "Heartbreaker" sound like rubbish (even if Jimmy Page's guitarwork is off the charts brilliant). Speaking of his axe - the guitar disappears into the mix way too often as does John Paul Jones' Bass and John Bonham's drums. Bluntly if any major label put this out as an official release they would be loudly panned by everyone – especially fans. Also where is the 1969 studio outtake "Baby Come On Home" or the brill "Travelling Riverside Blues" from the 1990-4CD "Led Zeppelin" Box Set - which would have made ideal bonus tracks on Disc 1?

I suppose it's a matter of taste when it comes to sound - and I'm open to correction. And there will be those who can quite easily accept what's on Disc 1 - but I for one have to admit to feeling major disappointment after all this wait. Thank God I didn't fork out ninety quid for the Super Deluxe. Answers on a missing mastertape please...

PS: see also reviews for the 2CD Deluxe Edition versions of "II", "III", "IV", "Houses Of The Holy", "Physical Graffiti" (3-Discs) and "Mothership: The Best Of" (3-Discs)