BBC Sessions

[LBergJr@xxxxxxx]

Hello Everybody,

   Just thought I would spout off my $.02 about the new release.

   First of all, I'm trying very hard not to be a cantankerous crumudgeon.  I
think it's great that this stuff has been officially released.  If the BBC
were going to release this anyway with or without the consent of the band
then I applaud Jimmy's decision to go ahead and get involved in it.  He has
certainly done a brilliant job of breathing some new life into these old
tapes.  The sound quality blows away any bootleg version I've heard of any of
this material (and I've heard quite a few).

   I also agree with those who have pointed out that for the non-fanatic who
doesn't already have this material, this release is monumental.  Anyone who
hasn't heard these recordings is going to be blown off their feet by them.
 This will easily be the most important rock release of the season.  Having
said that...

   I don't like the "compromise" aspect of it.  They could have added one
disc to this set and released the COMPLETE BBC works.  But of course, a
three-disc set is harder to market than a two-disc set.  I don't like the
"cutting" aspect of it.  I don't like the "It's Your Thing" part of
Communication Breakdown being chopped out.  I don't like the little cosmetic
edits.

   Why Traveling Riverside Blues again?  If there were things being left off,
this should have been the FIRST omission.  It has already been released on
both the 1990 box set and as part of this year's Whole Lotta Love promo.

   The elimination of the last part of the WLL medley from the '71 session is
criminal.  In an otherwise okay performance, that was one part of the show
that really cooked!  What a shame that the casual fan buying this will never
hear Plant's gutsy rendition of "Little Honey Bee" from this medley.

   On the plus side, I am eagerly awaiting Friday's VH-1 special.  Certainly
this release will put Zeppelin back in the spotlight for a while.  That can't
be bad.  It should also prove to be a nice forerunner to the next Page/Plant
release, should they decide to put it out sometime before the end of the
century.  And if we indeed see those videos for Thank You from New York '73
and IMTOD from Earl's Court, then I will sit down like a good little lad and
shut my yap.

   Of course the definitive live Zeppelin release once again eludes us.
 Perhaps one day, Jimmy will finally set the record straight.  Be it Bath
1970, LA 8/21/71, the chronological set Page has been waxing poetic about for
20+ years, or a Dick's Picks type series (NOW we're talking!), this is still
the one project that simply MUST be tackled.  If Robert tries to stop him
again, Jimmy should lock him in the basement for a couple of years until the
thing gets released.

   That's all for now.  Back into lurk mode.  Thanks for your indulgence.

                                                                Larry
Bergmann, Jr.