Another BBC review

[The Carson family <alcuni@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Badgers,
           Here's another 'BBC Sessions' review, this time taken from
the X-Press Magazine from Perth, Australia. Hopefully you'll enjoy this
one.

BBC Sessions - Led Zeppelin
Review by Polly Coufos

In quite a few regards this is an important release for the fondly
recalled Led Zeppelin.

The first set of previously unreleased recordings in 15 years, with this
album, recorded in five sessions between March 1969 and April 1971,
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have finally restored some dignitity (and a
decent cash settlement as well, no doubt) to the composing credits for
such classics as 'Whole Lotta Love'.

It also shows their development through these years and, maybe most
importantly, gives some balance to the band's live reputation after the
dull 'The Song Remains The Same' has sullied their name for over two
decades.

Bang on form, with a few overdubs as was the custom for the BBC radio
broadcasts at the time, this captures the sound of a band not just
expanding boundaries, but kicking down fences and trampling everything
underfoot.

Witness the blues based straight ahead approach sessions of 1969, all
earnest and scholarly, turn into something more by two years later where
John Bonham has stamped his authority with such force, and coincidently
inventing metal as we know it.

Check out the way they tackle Eddie Cochran's 'Something Else' as if it
were some blueprint, then the way they demolish Elvis' 'Mess Of Blues'
like it needed six types of sense smashed out of it.

It's not all brute force of course and Page offers transcendant solos on
'Since I've Been Loving You' and too frequently overlooked "Thank You'.

The album also follows Plant's development to rock God status.

While many of his 1969 histronics are pale imitations of the studio
versions and it is all too clear he was Zeppelin's weak link, within 24
short months he was the world's leading vocalist and the reason rock
stars weren't allowed to button up their shirts.

Historically interesting, these sessions reveal versions of three tracks
from 'Led Zeppelin 4' a full six months before they would be released.

Marvel at how the crowd does not instantly cheer the opening of
'Stairway To Heaven', the most famous opening to any song known to man.
Listen, roar and feel clever.

The set also points to more unsavoury developments. Within the two year
period 'Dazed and Confused' is expanding from six to 18 minutes and
pointing the way for half hour versions in the near future. In the live
sense, remember them this way.

(end of article)

I think this review was a bit different to the ones we've had so far, as
it didn't dwell on the band quotes taken from the interview disc. I
don't *totally* agree with everything the reviewer says, but you get
that don't you? Anyway, bye for now.

                              Nat Carson,
                         alcuni@xxxxxxxxxxxx