"Bootleg Him!" by ALEXIS KORNER – April 1972 US Double-Album on Warner Brothers and August 1972 UK Double-Album on RAK Records – including the groups Blues Incorporated, New Church, Duo, CCS and Alexis Korner Solo Material recorded between 1961 to 1971 – featuring Alexis Korner on Vocals and Guitars, Cyril Davies on Harmonica and Vocals, Herbie Goins on Lead Vocals, Robert Plant pre Led Zeppelin on Lead Vocals, Paul Rodgers of Free on Harmony Vocals, Larry Power on Guitar, Peter Thorup of CCS and Snape on Vocals and Guitar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ray Warleigh, Alan Skidmore, Chris Pyne, John Surman, Henry Lowther, Lol Coxhill, Victor and Annette Brox, Graham Bond, Brian Smith, Keith Stanger on various Horns, Chris McGregor, Keith Scott and Johnny Parker on Piano, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox of Pentangle on Double Bass and Drums, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker of Cream on Bass and Drums, Andy Fraser of Free and Chris Hodgkinson on Bass with Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones on Drums (November 1999 UK Castle Music/Essential Reissue – 2LPs onto 1CD Remastered) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Had My Fun..."

Following on from his "Alexis" debut album for Mickie Most's RAK Records in July 1971 (SRAK 501 being a wee bit of an underwhelming affair truth be told and especially given his fantastic output with C.C.S. at the time) – Blighty punters were greeted with the sprawling 2LP set "Bootleg Him!" by Alexis Korner in August 1972. 

It featured gorgeous but oddly inappropriate Roger Dean space-creature in winged-cape and denim-boots artwork on the front of its laminated gatefold sleeve whilst sporting a very flash four-page insert and endless other text details on the inside. Despite some copies having gold price stickers to catch your money-conscious eye - RAK Records SRAKSP 51 wasn't a cheap double-album of current material - but a ten-year career retrospective of unheard rarities from 1961 to 1971. Highlighting his staggering contribution to British Blues and in particular Blues-Rock – all of it featuring a cast of luminaries that took me a few hours to type out I can tell you. 

"Bootleg Him!" had first been issued in the same elaborate gatefold packaging in the USA - April 1972 on Warner Brothers 2SX 1966 – albeit in a card sleeve rather than laminate. As you can see from the detailed track-list provided below - only three of the 20 session songs were actually credited to ALEXIS KORNER. The other seventeen cuts feature bands AK either formed or fronted or did both - Blues Incorporated for the whole of the first LP - with Duo, New Church and Collective Consciousness Society (CCS) taking up the second (neither Duo nor New Church ever managed actual releases). 

And man what a hotchpotch "Bootleg Him!" is. Styles vary from straight up Acoustic Blues like his atmospheric cover of "Corina Corina", a song made famous by Atlantic Records Big Joe Turner in the Fifties, or the live purist Jazz soloing of "Honesty" where everyone in the band seems to have a go, much to the enthusiasm of the crowd or the Rock vs. Prog Rock elements of "Sunrise" from Side 2 of the self-titled October 1970 C.C.S. debut album where the musicians listed are maybe as many as 20. It's a bit of a ride. 

As you can see from the track-by-track musician lists below, famous and not-so-famous luminaries include the fabulous Harmonica playing of Cyril Davies - soul boy Herbie Goins on Vocals - Horn players from the Prog Rock and Jazz scene like John Surman, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ray Warleigh, Chris Pyne, Alan Skidmore, Henry Lowther, Lol Coxhill, Harold Beckett, Victor and Annette Brox and Graham Bond play alongside Chris McGregor, Keith Scott and Johnny Parker on Piano, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker of Cream on Bass and Drums, Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser of Free on Harmony Vocals and Bass, Drummer Charlie Watts of The Stones and perhaps more genuinely gobsmacking than them all put together is a young 20-year old vocalist down to London in the shape of a throat-shredding Robert Plant pre Led Zeppelin (his session was September 1968). All this and people like Danny Thompson and Terry Cox from Pentangle and it's enough to make my Irish head spin. Let's get retrospective...

UK released November 1999 - "Bootleg Him!" by ALEX KORNER (and Others) on Castle Music/Essential ESMCD 806 (Barcode 5017615880625) offers the full 20-track double-album Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (75:14 minutes):

Side 1:
1. She Fool Me - BLUES INCORPORATED (Billy Boy Arnold cover)
AK on Vocals and Guitar, Cyril Davies on Harmonica, Ken Scott on Piano, Colin Bowden on Drums

2. I'm A Hoochie Coochie Man - BLUES INCORPORATED (Willie Dixon song, Muddy Waters cover)
Cyril Davies on Lead Vocals and Harmonica, AK on Guitar, Dave Stevens on Piano, Dick Heckstall-Smith on Sax, Jack Bruce of Cream on Double-Bass with Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones on Drums 

3. Yellow Dog Blues - BLUES INCORPORATED (W.C. Handy cover, Instrumental)
AK on Electric Guitar, Chris Pyne on Piano, Ray Warleigh on Alto Sax, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox of Pentangle on Double Bass and Drums

4. I Wonder Who - BLUES INCORPORATED (Alexis Korner song)
AK on Lead Vocals and Electric Guitar, John Surman on Baritone Sax, Chris Pyne on Trombone with Dave Holland on Double Bass 

5. Dee - BLUES INCORPORATED (Alexis Korner song, Instrumental)
AK on Acoustic Guitar, John Surman on Baritone Sax, Chris Pyne on Trombone with Dave Holland on Double Bass

Side 2:
6. Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me - BLUES INCORPORATED (Charles Mingus cover)
AK on Lead Vocals and Electric Guitar, Alan Skidmore on Tenor Sax, Chris Pyne on Trombone with Danny Thompson and Terry Cox of Pentangle on Double Bass and Drums 

7. Rockin - BLUES INCORPORATED (Alexis Korner song, Instrumental)
AK on Electric Guitar, Graham Bond and Dick Heckstall-Smith on Alto and Tenor Saxes, Johnny Parker on Piano, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker of Cream on Double Bass and Drums 

8. Honesty (Live) - BLUES INCORPORATED (Dave Baker cover)
AK on Electric Guitar, Ray Warleigh on Alto Sax with Chris Pyne on Trombone with Danny Thompson and Terry Cox of Pentangle on Double Bass and Drums 

9. I Got A Woman - BLUES INCORPORATED (Ray Charles cover)
Herbie Goins on Leads Vocals, AK on Electric Guitar, Ray Warleigh on Alto Sax with Brian Smith and Nigel Stanger on Tenor Saxes and Danny Thompson and Terry Cox of Pentangle on Double Bass and Drums 

10. Mighty Mighty Spade & Whitey - NEW CHURCH & FRIENDS (Curtis Mayfield cover)
Lead Vocals and Guitars by AK and Peter Thorup of CCS, Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser of Free on Harmony Vocals and Electric Bass, Annette Brox on Harmony Vocals and Tambourine, Alto Sax by Ray Warleigh, Baritone Sax by John Surman, Tenor Sax by Lol Coxhill, Trombones by Chris Pyne and Malcolm Griffiths, Trumpets by Harold Beckett and Henry Lowther with Drums by John Marshall 

Side 3:
11. Corina Corina - DUO (Blues Traditional, Joe Turner cover)
Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar by AK with Victor Brox on Trumpet
 
12. Operator - DUO (Steve Miller (of the UK), Alexis Korner and Robert Plant song)
Robert Plant on Lead Vocals and Harmonica, AK on Acoustic Guitar with England's Steve Miller on Piano
 
13. The Love You Save - DUO (Joe Tex cover)
AK on Lead Vocals and Electric Guitar with Victor Brox on Piano 

14. Jesus Is Just Alright - NEW CHURCH (Arthur Reynolds cover)
Peter Fensome on Lead Vocals, AK on Harmony Vocals and Mandoguitar, Peter Thorup of CCS and SNAPE on Harmony Vocals and Electric Guitar, Ray Babbington on Bass with Annette Brox on Harmony Vocals and Tambourine 

15. That's All - ALEXIS KORNER (Traditional Blues cover)
AK on Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar with Chris Hodgkinson on Bass

Side 4: 
16. Evil Hearted Woman - DUO (Mance Lipscombe cover)
AK Lead Vocals and Tiple Guitar, Peter Thorup on Acoustic Guitar with Chris Hodgkinson on Bass 

17. Clay House Inn - ALEXIS KORNER (David Ward song)
AK on Lead Vocals and Acoustic, Larry Power on Electric Guitar, Chris McGregor on Piano, Chris Hodgkinson on Bass and Jack Brooks on Drums

18. Love Is Gonna Go - ALEXIS KORNER (Alexis Korner, Duffy Power song) 
AK on Lead Vocals and Acoustic with Chris Hodgkinson on Bass

19. Sunrise - CCS (Alexis Korner song)
AK and Peter Thorup on Lead Vocals and Guitars with all of CCS

20. Hellhound On My Trail - DUO (Robert Johnson cover)
AK on Tiple Guitar with Peter Thorup of CCS and Snape on Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

Although the KIT AIKEN liner notes gives us a very informative overall view in the six-leaf foldout inlay - it's hardly the densely worded gatefold and four-page insert that came with original LPs where it even reproduced a Rolling Stones article on AK verbatim (there is more info in this review). You get some period photos and a silver sticker on the jewel case informing us that release gives you 'Britain's Blues Legend Remastered Repackaged with New Liner Notes' without ever telling us who remastered what and when. And in October 2020, this 1999 Castle Music CD appears to be still the only real way of getting this release on decent sounding digital that won't cost you a limb. Some of the live tracks aren't audiophile for sure and the C.C.S. cut is a tad hissy, but the rest has real meat - clean and clear too. There is nice naturalty to the audio. 

If you skip to the Muddy Waters cover "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and clock the line-up - is it any wonder that the thing is a harmonica-driven R&B swinger - Cyril Davies doing a great job on Lead Vocals. The two instrumentals of "Yellow Dog Blues" and "Dee" are slow Blues for a starter and surprisingly Acoustic and Double Bass prettiness for desert. I will confess that I don't much like the Mingus cover "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me" - but "Rockin" is a fab little shuffler where the brass shimmy and shake (shame it isn't the best audio perhaps). The first LP ends with a track that will surely end up on an Ace Records 'New Breed' dancer CD compilation - Herbie Goins fronting a skirt-shaking version of the Ray Charles classic "I Got A Woman". 

The second LP opens with worries about the USA in AK's sexy Funk-Soul-Rock cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Mighty Mighty Spade & Whitey" - the lyrics warning all colours that they will pay a crumbling-tower price if they "...stand divided, sort of undecided...".  In September 1968, Alexis Korner literally captured lightning-in-a-bottle when he brought in Robert Plant to record two numbers in London - "Operator" and "Steal Away". Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page got wind of his vocal prowess and the rest is Led Zeppelin history. Plant would in fact acknowledge Korner's session and patronage by singing snatches of steal away on Zep's "How Many More Times" on the 1969 debut album. Plant plays Harmonica and literally shreds the microphone in a fantastic Blues rendition. In fact given that Zeppelin had just had a fourth Number One album in November 1971 with their "Stairway To Heaven" beast of an album - it seems like both Warner Bros and RAK Records missed something of a selling-trick on this one by not advertising how good this RP inclusion on "Bootleg Him!" was/is. And on "Bootleg Him!" goes to the left-for-dead Blues of "The Love You Save" and the acoustic shuffle of "Evil Hearted Woman" and so much more. 

What I love about double-albums is the sheer splurge of them - and this little British beauty is for me one of the great forgotten wonders of the age (even if it is harking back to a decade prior). I can't help thinking that someone like Esoteric Recordings who did such a great job with the CCS catalogue (see my review for "Tap Turns The Water: The CCS Story") should do an AK Box Set covering the RAK Records years. 

In the meantime, if you gotta keep movin' baby, well, get this "Hellhound On Your Trail"...

PS: if you want more (all) of Alexis Korner from the 60ts, see also my review of "Every Day I Have The Blues: The Sixties Anthology" released 16 November 2018 on Grapefruit Records. Nine of the 20 tracks listed above from "Bootleg Him!" are featured in that 3CD Clamshell Box Set (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13).

And Castle Music reissued the "Alexis" album from July 1971 on RAK Records SRAK 501 on CD in 2007 as part of their huge reissue program for Korner dubbed "The Alexis Korner Collection – The Godfather Of British Blues Remastered". Castle Music CMRCD 1470 (Barcode 5050749414700) is deleted now in 2020 (like all of these titles) but can be easily be found on Amazon or Auction sites like eBay.  

"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...

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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..."

This Review Along With 337 Others Is Available In My

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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…" 

 

This Review Along With 337 Others Is Available In My

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WHOLE LOTTA LOVE - 1969
Rock, Pop and Genres Thereabouts
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

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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)