Archivio | Articles in english RSS feed for this section

BOOTLEGS: Jimmy Page, L.A. Forum, CA – October 7, 1988 (Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS ) TTTT

ITALIAN / ENGLISH

Mike Millard Legacy intro

Di Mike Millard su questo blog ne abbiamo parlato più volte, amante del rock proveniente dalla west coast americana, dal 1973 al 1992 registrò parecchi concerti tenutisi in quell’area. Lo fece con una strumentazione di qualità, per quei tempi davvero notevole, portandola all’interno delle arene in questione usando diversi stratagemmi (a volte anche fingendosi disabile e quindi su una sedia a rotelle). Le sue sono dunque registrazioni audience, cioè prese dal pubblico, ma di una qualità micidiale; non è un un caso che ancora oggi – tra il giro di appassionati – siano considerate tra i documenti migliori per quanto riguarda l’epoca d’oro della musica rock. Sì perché con le registrazione audience si ha l’idea esatta di cosa fosse andare ad un concerto rock, la performance dell’artista catturato nella sua essenza più pura: l’umore e le scosse emotive del pubblico, la musica messa su nastro senza artifici (e dunque senza le modifiche e i trucchetti presenti nei dischi dal vivo ufficiali), i commenti dei fans che a tratti finivano sul nastro. La fortuna ha voluto che i LZ fossero tra i suoi gruppi preferiti e, ad esempio, le sue registrazione di alcuni dei sei concerti tenuti nel 1977 a Los Angeles sono per tutti noi testimonianze preziosissime. Nel 1994 Millard decise di togliersi la vita, decisione che non ci permettiamo di giudicare e quindi tralasciamo di commentare gli abissi di dolore a cui deve essere andato incontro. Per moltissimo tempo le sue cassette rimasero archiviate nella sua stanza a casa di sua madre, le registrazioni che circolavano provenivano infatti da copie che lo stesso Millard aveva fatto per amici e altri collezionisti. Successe poi che sua madre finalmente affidò ad amici intimi di suo figlio le tante cassette (si parla di 280 concerti registrati) in modo che potessero essere trasferite e quindi salvate su DAT. Sotto all’articolo riporto (oltre al testo che accompagna la registrazione di JP di cui tra poco parleremo) tutta la lunga storia in caso qualcuno fosse interessato. Per chiudere questo breve riassunto, quando si pensava che i master originali di Millard fossero andati persi, ecco che vengono ritrovati, rimasterizzati e messi gratuitamente in circolo da generosi collezionisti e amanti del rock come noi. E’ dunque doveroso mandare un pensiero a Mike Millard perché grazie ai suoi nastri il rock si mantiene vivo e noi possiamo ancora illuderci di vivere in prima persona i momenti più esaltanti della musica che amiamo.

◊ ◊ ◊

Live Recording reflections

NB: in realtà questa nuova remasterizzazione è fatta non dal master originale (è andato perso?) ma da una copia 1 generation.

1988, a due anni dall’ultima attività con i Firm (disco e tour) JPP torna con “Outrider” (apripista / battistrada) l’unico album solista (se escludiamo l’eccellente colonna sonora del 1982 DEATH WISH II, un disco che su questo blog amiamo moltissimo), disco oggi interlocutorio, non troppo a fuoco, prodotto e arrangiato in maniera non troppo convincente, ma all’epoca mi sembrava il gran ritorno del dio della chitarra che tutti conosciamo. L’album arrivò alla posizione 27 della classifica USA conquistando il disco d’oro.

Sette anni fa scrissi su questo blog una recensione di una data del tour relativo (NY 12 novembre 1988), iniziai quel mio write of winter così:

“Ah, l’Outrider tour, l’ultima volta in cui Page è stato Page; pur non essendo stato un avvenimento memorabile nella storia della musica Rock, per i LZ fan rimane un caposaldo nella storia di Jimmy Page chitarrista Rock. La band non era un granché: Jason Bonham alla batteria (all’epoca ancora immaturo e sopra le righe) e un oscuro session man di Capo Verde al basso (tal Durban Laverde) non permisero a Page di raggiungere gli spazi siderali, i viaggi cosmici a cui aveva abituato con i LZ; persino il grandissimo JOHN MILES era stato istruito ad essere una copia di Plant e scrivere cose trite e ritrite per compiacere MTV … tuttavia con un Page finalmente in ottima forma, i mesi di ottobre e novembre di quel OUTRIDER tour del 1988 furono entusiasmanti… un musicista finalmente di nuovo col completo controllo del suo strumento … “

Le prime date del tour (come spesso capitava con Page) non sono un granché, dal punto di vista chitarristico, Page sembra ancora indietro nella preparazione, ma poi le cose cambiano (soprattutto da ottobre inoltrato) e nel resto della tournée si avrà il Page migliore dal 1973, un Page che nemmeno i tour del 1993 con Coverdale&Page e del 1995/98 con Page&Plant rivedranno più.

Nella (ottima) registrazione (del grande Mike Millard) i primi momenti di Who’s To Blame (da Death Wish II – 1982) contengono tagli e distorsioni (dovuti al mettere in funzione l’equipaggiamento) ed è un peccato perché Who’s To Blame a mio avviso è uno dei grandi pezzi di Page, un brano che sarebbe diventato di riferimento se la storia avesse seguito un percorso diverso e fosse finito sull’ipotetico successore di In Through The Out Door. Come sempre capita con le registrazione del mai dimenticato Mike Millard, la qualità audio è ottima (parlando di fonte audience). John Miles alle tastiere e alla voce fa il suo porco lavoro, mentre Page si fa avanti a colpi di hard rock esoterico. Il Forum di Los Angeles esplode quando Jimmy parte col suo primo assolo (sulla Les Paul dotata di Stringbender), ma si sa, Los Angeles era la seconda patria del dirigibile di piombo. Il Prelude (da Death Wish II – 1982) di Chopin non mi ha mai convinto troppo, quell’effetto alla Santo & Johnny suonato con la mano pesante mi è sempre sembrato un po’ imbarazzante, benché Jimmy lo infarcisca con svisate tutte sue.

Col primo pezzo dei Led Zeppelin il Forum deflagra: Over The Hills And Far Away (da Houses Of The Holy 1973 – Led Zeppelin). John Miles canta come Robert Plant fece sul disco, è davvero incredibile; negli Stati Uniti il biondo cantante della Contea di Durham non è conosciuto né apprezzato a dovere, ma qui in Europa – in primo luogo qui alla Domus Saurea – John Errington in arte Miles è un dio. L’assolo di Page (sempre con lo Stringbender) nell’intermezzo in FA#- è oggetto di venerazione da parte del pubblico. Durban Laverde al basso fa il compitino, mentre Jason Bonham enfatizza il lavoro ritmico.

jimmiepage_62.jpg

Page introduce dapprima lo scopo del concerto e quindi il nuovo brano che è Wanna Make Love (da Outrider) introdotto dal riff di Liquid Mercury (da Outrider). Il brano in realtà non è granché, il testo men che meno, bisognava compiacere come scritto MTV e il pubblico medio americano imbambolato in quegli anni da parecchio hair metal di qualità scadente. Miles è comunque bravissimo e Page si diverte con la leva del vibrato. Jimmy introduce la band e dunque parte con Writes Of Winter (da Outrider), strumentale degno di nota ma che soffre quel tempo di batteria che andava di moda negli anni ottanta, roba da Micheal Schenker Group, non da James Patrick Page. L’effetto Rockpalast (come lo chiamiamo io e il grande Stefanino Piccagliani) rovina infatti un po’ tutte le belle cose che Page fa alla chitarra. Jason qui sembra più legnoso del solito. Laverde neutrale some sempre … va mo là che certa gente ne ha avuto di fortuna in campo musicale. Il brano è collegato – in maniera poco fluida – al successivo tramite la sezione aggiuntiva di Whole Lotta Love versione 1979, ma il gruppo è costretto ad interrompersi perché Page rompe una corda. Tear Down The Walls (da Mean Business 1986 – The Firm) comunque inizia poco dopo. Mi è sempre piaciuta, niente di trascendentale, un buon pezzo rock solare comunque arricchito da contrappunti musicali in puro stile Page. Di nuovo giù il cappello per John Miles che dopo aver affrontato vittoriosamente lo stile del Robert Plant dell’immaginario collettivo, convince anche nel raffronto con lo stile del grande Paul Rodgers. L’assolo di chitarra sullo Stringbender è sporcato da un uso non corretto del delay.

Emerald Eyes (da Outrider) è uno strumentale assai carino (dedicato presumibilmente agli occhi di Patricia Ecker, all’epoca moglie del Dark Lord) qui suonato con convinzione da Page aiutato strumentalmente anche da John Miles. Nella registrazione si sente un fan parlare del pezzo dei Firm che sta per essere presentato: Midnight Moonlight (dal primo album dei Firm 1985) w/Black Mountain Side (da LZ I – 1969). MM come sappiamo deriva dal brano strumentale Swan Song composto da Page nel 1973 e mai portato avanti in modo definitivo dai LZ. Page lo riprese in mano nel 1983 e insieme a Paul Rodgers lo trasformò nella bellissima Midnight Moonligh (Lady), lo presentò dal vivo nel tour americano del 1983 del progetto benefico ARMS e lo incluse nel primo album dei Firm nel 1985. Qui lo presenta John Miles che lo canta tra l’altro in maniera divina. Nella parte centrale dedicata ai ricami chitarristici di Page (il brano è in accordatura aperta) Jimmy accenna anche a Black Mountain Side (e a Kashmir) con gran godimento del pubblico. In My Time Of Dying (da Physical Graffiti 1975 – Led Zeppelin) risveglia tutti dall’incanto appena terminato e trascina il Forum verso i sentieri del blues pesante a base di chitarra slide.

LA Forum

Il bel riff di City Sirens (da Death Wish II – 1982) funge da intro all’assolo di batteria di Jason Bonham, assolo che nel tour di cui stiamo parlando non è mai stato memorabile; molto anni 80, sopra le righe e rigido. Gli accenni a Moby Dick e a Rock And Roll sono gratuiti. Someone To Love (dal primo album dei Firm 1985) è un discreto brano di hard rock suonato e cantato qui con convinzione mentre Prison Blues (da Outrider) è un bluesaccio mediocre con un testo imbarazzante (per le sciocche metafore sessuali), non fosse per Page alla chitarra (sempre disposto a rischiare e a dare nuovi colori) sarebbe un pezzo senza nessuna importanza. Su disco Chris Farlowe si cantò addosso, qui John Miles per certi versi cerca di essere meno ridondante.

Laverde-Bonham-Page-Miles 1988

The Chase (da Death Wish II – 1982) è uno strumentale che in questa occasione serve per dar spazio a Page alla sua solista (sempre con lo stringbender) e ai suoi esperimenti sonori che comprendono la sezione archetto di violino, il bizzarro guitar solo versione tour 1977 e la parte finale di Dazed And Confused (dal primo album dei LZ – 1969) a cui manca però lo swing di Jones e John Bonham.

Wasting My Time (da Outrider) fu il primo singolo dell’album, qui è suonata in modo confuso, qualcosa non funziona nella chitarra di Page, (che alla fine accennerà al fatto di aver rotto una corda).

Blues Anthem (da Outrider) mi è sempre piaciuta parecchio, come scrivo spesso è un quadretto blues color pastello in cui mi riconosco molto. Jimmy con la chitarra acustica insieme a John Miles: un paio di strofe, un ritornello, altre due strofe, uno sconclusionato passaggio strumentale a mo’ di assolo, il ritornello e il finale. Ma poi entra la band, e Page alla solista ci regala l’ennesimo assolo con lo Stringbender, poi ancora il ritornello e la chiusura.

Il finale non poteva che essere dedicato (più o meno) ai Led Zeppelin).

In Custard Pie (da Physical Graffiti 1975 – Led Zeppelin) John Miles è di nuovo bravissimo. La sezione ritmica si rivela ancora una volta non all’altezza di Jimmy Page, manca dinamica, swing e magia. Il riff di Custard Pie è arricchito con passaggi tratti da The Ocean e sul finale da Black Dog (con Miles all’armonica).

Il gruppo esce e quindi torna onstage.

Train Kept-a Rollin’ (di Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay e Lois Mann – vecchio cavallo di battaglia degli Yardbirds ripreso dal vivo nel 1968/69 e 1980 dai LZ) è un pezzo che mi entusiasma, sia nella versione di Tiny Bradshaw del 1951, che in quella degli Yardbirds con Jeff Beck e pure in quella degli Aerosmith. Il rifacimento dei LZ non mi è mai parso particolarmente efficace, mentre la versione di Page pare scorra meglio (pur essendo assai simile a quella dei LZ).

Alla vista della doppio manico il pubblico si scalda … il primo arpeggio, le tastiere (suonate da Miles) e il pubblico che canta, questa è la Stairway To Heaven (da IV 1971 – Led Zeppelin) post LZ. La versione non è granché, poco precisa, poco sciolta, nervosa, ma l’emozione è nemica in questi casi. Nell’assolo Page si accartoccia un po’ su se stesso. Inascoltabile il doppio pedale di Jason durante la sezione a bicordi di Page (vedi tour 1975/1977), il figlio del grande John Henry rimarrà sempre un centurione, come diciamo qui dalle mie parti.

Outrider Tour dates

Per i concerti migliori del tour occorrerà aspettare ancora qualche data ma è indubbio che la registrazione di Mike Millard di un concerto del 1988 di Page occorre averla. Concerto comunque godibile, grazie alla versatilità di Miles e alla presenza del Signore Oscuro che tanto amiamo, sì perché un Page con parecchie sbavature ma comunque degno del suo nome è un bel sentire. Page non è un artista solista, al microfono non ci sa granché fare (cosa comunque comune a parecchi chitarristi, in primis Jeff Beck), ma in quegli anni averlo ritrovato dopo il buio del primo post LZ sembrava una gran cosa.

01 Who’s To Blame
02 Prelude
03 Over The Hills And Far Away
04 Liquid Mercury
05 Wanna Make Love
06 Writes Of Winter
07 Tear Down The Walls
08 Emerald Eyes
09 Midnight Moonlight w/Black Mountain Side
10 In My Time Of Dying
11 City Sirens
12 Drum Solo
13 Someone To Love
14 Prison Blues
15 The Chase
16 Bow Solo > Dazed And Confused
17 Wasting My Time
18 Blues Anthem
19 Custard Pie
20 Train Kept A-Rollin’
21 Stairway To Heaven

◊ ◊ ◊

Outrider Tour Sul Blog:

https://timtirelli.com/2013/12/27/jimmy-page-new-york-the-ritz-12-november-1988-bootleg-no-label-bootradr-2012-upload-ttttt/

◊ ◊ ◊

(spaghetti)ENGLISH

Mike Millard Legacy intro

We have talked about Mike Millard on this blog few times, he was a rock music lover from the US west coast and from 1973 to 1992 he recorded several concerts held in that area. He did it with quality equipment, for those times truly remarkable, bringing it inside the arenas in question using different stratagems (sometimes even pretending to be disabled and therefore in a wheelchair). His are therefore audience recordings, that is, taken by the public, but of a deadly quality; it is no coincidence that even today – among the circle of fans – they are considered among the best documents regarding the golden age of rock music. Yes, because with audience recording you have the exact idea of what it was like to go to a rock concert, the artist’s performance captured in its purest essence: the mood and emotional shocks of the audience, the music put on tape without artifice (and therefore without the edits and the tricks present in the official live records), the comments of the fans who sometimes ended up on the tape. Luckily LZ were among his favorite bands and, for example, his recordings of some of the six concerts held in 1977 in Los Angeles are precious testimonies for all of us. In 1994 Millard decided to take his own life, a decision that we do not allow ourselves to judge and therefore we neglect to comment on the abysses of pain that he must have gone through. For a very long time his cassettes remained archived in his room at his mother’s house, the records circulating in fact came from copies that Millard himself had made for friends and other collectors. Then it happened that his mother finally entrusted the many tapes (we are talking about 280 recorded concerts) to close friends of his son so that they could be transferred and then saved on DAT. Under the article I carry over (in addition to the text that accompanies the registration of JPP which we will shortly talk about) the whole long story in case anyone is interested. To close this short summary, when it was thought that the original Millard masters had been lost, here they are found, remastered and put into free circulation by generous collectors and rock lovers like us. It is therefore a duty to send a thought to Mike Millard because thanks to his tapes rock remains alive and we can still delude ourselves to experience firsthand the most exciting moments of the music we love.

◊ ◊ ◊

Live Recording reflections

NB: in reality this new remaster is made not from the original master (has it been lost?) but from a 1 generation copy.

1988, two years after the last activity with the Firm (disc and tour) JPP returns with “Outrider” the only solo album (if we exclude the excellent soundtrack of 1982 DEATH WISH II, a record that we love very much on this blog), an interlocutory record today, not too focused, produced and arranged in a not too convincing way, but at the time it seemed to me the great return of the guitar god we all knew. The album reached position 27 on the US chart, earning a gold record.

Seven years ago I wrote on this blog a review of a relative tour date (NY 12 November 1988), I started my write of winter like this:

“Ah, the Outrider tour, the last time Page was Page; while not a memorable event in the history of Rock music, for LZ fans it remains a staple in the history of Jimmy Page rock guitarist. The band was not that great: Jason Bonham on drums (at the time still immature and over the top) and an obscure session man from Cape Verde on bass (a certain Durban Laverde) did not allow Page to reach the sidereal spaces, the cosmic journeys he had accustomed with LZ; even the great John Miles had been instructed to be a copy of Plant and write standard stuff to please MTV … yet with a Page finally in great shape, the October and November months of that 1988 OUTRIDER tour they were thrilling … a musician finally back in full control of his instrument … “

The first dates of the tour (as often happened with Page) are not very good from the guitar point of view, Page still seems to be behind in the preparation, but then things change (especially from late October) and in the rest of the tour you will have the best Page since 1973, a Page that not even the 1993 tours with Coverdale & Page and the 1995/98 tours with Page & Plant will see again.

In the (excellent) recording (by the great Mike Millard) the first moments of Who’s To Blame (from Death Wish II – 1982) contain cuts and distortions (due to putting the equipment into operation) and it is a shame because Who’s To Blame to my notice is one of Page’s great pieces, a track that would have become a reference if the story had followed a different path and ended up on the hypothetical successor of In Through The Out Door. As always happens with the recordings of the never forgotten Mike Millard, the audio quality is excellent (speaking of source audience). John Miles on keyboards and vocals does his dirty job, while Page steps forward with esoteric hard rock. The Los Angeles Forum explodes when Jimmy plays his first solo (on the Les Paul equipped with the Stringbender), but you know, Los Angeles was the second home of the lead blimp. Chopin’s Prelude (from Death Wish II – 1982) has never convinced me too much, that Santo & Johnny effect played with a heavy hand has always seemed a bit embarrassing to me, although Jimmy stuffs it with his own twist.

With the first Led Zeppelin song the Forum explodes: Over The Hills And Far Away (from Houses Of The Holy 1973 – Led Zeppelin). John Miles sings it like Robert Plant did on the record, it’s really amazing; in the United States, the blond singer from County Durham is not well known or appreciated, but here in Europe – primarily here at the Domus Saurea – John Errington aka Miles is a god. Page’s solo (again with the Stringbender) in the interlude in F # – is an object of public veneration. Durban Laverde does his homework on bass, while Jason Bonham emphasizes the rhythmic work.

Page first introduces the purpose of the concert and then the new song which is Wanna Make Love (from Outrider) introduced by Liquid Mercury‘s riff (from Outrider). The song is not really that great, the lyrics least of all, they had to please MTV as written and the average American public in those years stunned by a lot of poor quality hair metal. Miles is still very good and Page has fun with the vibrato bar. Jimmy introduces the band and therefore plays Writes Of Winter (from Outrider), a noteworthy instrumental that suffers from that drum tempo that was fashionable in the eighties, stuff for the Micheal Schenker Group, not James Patrick Page. The Rockpalast effect (as the great Stefanino Piccagliani and I call it) ruins all the good things that Page does on the guitar. Jason here looks more woody than usual. Laverde sounds neutral as always … it goes there that some people have had luck in the music field. The song is connected – in a not very fluid way – to the next one through the additional section of Whole Lotta Love 1979 version, but the group is forced to stop because Page breaks a string. Tear Down The Walls (from Mean Business 1986 – The Firm) however begins shortly after. I have always liked it, nothing transcendental, a good sunny rock piece however enriched by musical counterpoints in pure Page style. Once again hats off to John Miles who, after having successfully faced the style of the Robert Plant, also convinces in the comparison with the style of the great Paul Rodgers. The guitar solo on the Stringbender is soiled by an incorrect use of the delay.

Emerald Eyes (from Outrider) is a very nice instrumental (presumably dedicated to the eyes of Patricia Ecker, wife of the Dark Lord at the time) played here with conviction by Page, also instrumentally helped by John Miles. In the recording we hear a fan talking about the Firm track that is about to be presented: Midnight Moonlight (from Firm’s first album 1985) w / Black Mountain Side (from LZ I – 1969). MM as we know comes from the instrumental piece Swan Song composed by Page in 1973 and never brought forward definitively by LZ. Page picked it up in 1983 and together with Paul Rodgers transformed it into the beautiful Midnight Moonligh (Lady), presented it live on the 1983 American tour of the ARMS charity project and included it in the Firm’s first album in 1985. John introduces it here. Miles sings it in a divine way. In the central part dedicated to Page’s guitar embroideries (the piece is in open tuning) Jimmy also mentions Black Mountain Side (and Kashmir) to the great enjoyment of the public. In My Time Of Dying (from Physical Graffiti 1975 – Led Zeppelin) awakens everyone from the enchantment that has just ended and drags the Forum towards the paths of heavy blues based on slide guitar.

The beautiful riff of City Sirens (from Death Wish II – 1982) serves as an intro to Jason Bonham’s drum solo, a solo that in the tour we are talking about has never been memorable; very 80’s, over the top and stiff. The hints to Moby Dick and Rock And Roll are gratuitous. Someone To Love (from Firm’s first album 1985) is a decent hard rock track played and sung here with conviction while Prison Blues (from Outrider) is a mediocre blues track with embarrassing lyrics (for the silly sexual metaphors), without Page on guitar (given that he is always willing to take risks and give new colors) it would be a piece without any importance. On record Chris Farlowe sung it with much emphasis, here John Miles in some ways tries to be less redundant.
The Chase (from Death Wish II – 1982) is an instrumental that on this occasion serves to give space to Page’s lead guitar (always with the Stringbender) and to his sound experiments which include the violin bow section, the bizarre guitar solo version 1977 tour and the final part of Dazed And Confused (from the first album of LZ – 1969) which however lacks the swing of Jones and John Bonham.

Wasting My Time (from Outrider) was the first single of the album, here it is played confusingly, something is wrong with Page’s guitar, (who will eventually hint that he broke a string).

I have always liked Blues Anthem (from Outrider) a lot, as I often write it is a pastel-colored blues picture in which I recognize myself a lot. Jimmy with the acoustic guitar together with John Miles: a couple of verses, a chorus, two more verses, a rambling instrumental passage as a solo, the chorus and the ending. But then the band enters, and Page plays another solo with the Stringbender, then again the chorus and the ending

In Custard Pie (from Physical Graffiti 1975 – Led Zeppelin) John Miles is again good. The rhythm section proves once again to be not at Jimmy Page level, it lacks dynamics, swing and magic. Custard Pie’s riff is enriched with passages from The Ocean and at the end from Black Dog (with Miles on harmonica).

The group exits and then returns onstage.

Train Kept-a Rollin ‘(by Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay and Lois Mann – old Yardbirds workhorse shot live in 1968/69 and 1980 by LZ) is a piece that excites me, both in the 1951 version of Tiny Bradshaw , in the one of the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck and also in that of Aerosmith. The one of LZ has never seemed particularly effective, while the version of Page seems to flow better (although very similar to that of the LZ).

At the sight of the double neck the audience warms up … the first arpeggio, the keyboards (played by Miles) and the singing audience, this is the Stairway To Heaven (from IV 1971 – Led Zeppelin) post LZ. The version is not great, not very precise, not very loose, nervous, but the emotion is the enemy in these cases. In the solo, Page curls up a bit on himself. Jason’s double pedal use during the bichord section of Page’ solo (see tour 1975/1977) is a shame, the son of the great John Henry will always remain a centurion, as we say here in my part of the world.

For the best concerts of the tour it will be necessary to wait a few more dates but there is no doubt that Mike Millard’s recording of a 1988 concert by Page is essential. Still enjoyable concert, thanks to the versatility of Miles and the presence of the Dark Lord we love so much, yes because a Page with many smudges but still worthy of his name is a damn good vibe. In my opinion Page is not a solo artist, he doesn’t know much how to deal with the microphone (something common to many guitarists, first of all Jeff Beck) and seems uncertain without a rock-steady project behind him, but in those years having found him after the darkness of the first post LZ seemed a great thing.

◊ ◊ ◊

Other Outrider Tour review:

https://timtirelli.com/2013/12/27/jimmy-page-new-york-the-ritz-12-november-1988-bootleg-no-label-bootradr-2012-upload-ttttt/

◊ ◊ ◊

Note che accompagnano la registrazione / Notes accompanying the recording:

Jimmy Page
The Forum
Inglewood, CA
October 7, 1988
Mike Millard First Generation Tapes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 47

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder

Transfer: Mike Millard First Generation Cassettes > Nakamichi RX-505 (azimuth adjustment; Dolby On) > Sound Devices USBPre 2 > Audacity 2.0 capture > iZotope RX7 > iZotope Ozone 8 > Audacity > Peak Pro 6 > xACT 2.39 > FLAC

Known Faults:
-Distortion and cuts in the first two minutes as Mike gets set up.

Introduction to the Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Series

Welcome to JEMS’ Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone series presenting recordings made by legendary taper Mike Millard, AKA Mike the MICrophone, best known for his masters of Led Zeppelin done in and around Los Angeles circa 1975-77. For the complete details on how tapes in this series came to be lost and found again, as well as JEMS’ long history with Mike Millard, please refer to the notes in Vol. One: http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=500680.

Until 2020, the Lost and Found series presented fresh transfers of previously unavailable first-generation copies made by Mike himself for friends like Stan Gutoski of JEMS, Jim R, Bill C. and Barry G. These sources were upgrades to circulating copies and in most instances marked the only time verified first generation Millard sources had been directly digitized in the torrent era.

That all changed with the discovery of many of Mike Millard’s original master tapes.

Yes, you read that correctly, Mike Millard’s master cassettes, long rumored to be destroyed or lost, have been found. Not all of them but many, and with them a much more complete picture has emerged of what Millard recorded between his first show in late 1973 and his last in early 1992.

The reason the rediscovery of his master tapes is such a revelation is that we’ve been told for decades they were gone. Internet myths suggest Millard destroyed his master tapes before taking his own life, an imprudent detail likely concocted based on the assumption that because his master tapes never surfaced and Mike’s mental state was troubled he would do something rash WITH HIS LIFE’S WORK. There’s also a version of the story where Mike’s family dumps the tapes after he dies. Why would they do that?

The truth is Mike’s masters remained in his bedroom for many years after his death in 1994. We know at least a few of Millard’s friends and acquaintances contacted his mother Lia inquiring about the tapes at the time to no avail. But in the early 2000s, longtime Millard friend Rob S was the one she knew and trusted enough to preserve Mike’s work.

The full back story on how Mike’s master tapes were saved can be found in the notes for Vol. 18 Pink Floyd, which was the first release in our series transferred from Millard’s original master tapes:

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667745&hit=1
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667750&hit=1

Jimmy Page, The Forum, Inglewood, CA, October 7, 1988

The hero comes home.

This week’s jewel from the Millard mine captures the return of Jimmy Page to what one might call his home court in America, the Fabulous Forum, for the one LA show on what remains to date Page’s only proper solo tour. In fact, outside of his performances with Robert as Page/Plant, since the end of Led Zeppelin in 1980 Jimmy has only performed 60-70 proper concerts depending on one’s definition, 37 on this 1988 trek.

Jimmy Page back at the Forum for a single show on his one and only solo tour was indeed a momentous occasion for fans and the man himself. “I’m really looking forward to playing tonight, Jimmy says earnestly at the top of the show. “Every time I’ve been here before it’s been fantastic.” You know he meant every word.

For Millard, the excitement had to be nearly as high. While he had recorded Page at the ARMS Concert in the same venue in 1983, this was the first full concert appearance by Page in Los Angeles since Led Zeppelin wrapped its six-night Forum ’77 stand on June 27.

Millard of course was hardly alone in terms of anticipation, and the crowd is fully engaged in the show, though in true Mike the Mike fashion, he manages to avoid detrimental audience noise on his recording for the most part. But he did have some recording challenges.

As noted above, Mike took a couple of minutes to get his levels right and mics set up, the result of which is a bit of distortion at the start of the show and a few longish dropouts which we have mitigated to the best of our abilities. Also, somewhere in the microphone to tape deck cable chain, which includes a stop at the microphone power packs, something wasn’t plugged in correctly which caused his recording to go out of phase for most of the show. It flips back and forth on part one and stays steadily out of phase for the remainder of the set.

Happily, phase issues are easily corrected by inverting one channel, which only takes a few clicks of the mouse to do seamlessly on a modern digital audio work station. The result after those fixes are applied is a much narrower, nearly mono recording compared to Mike’s typical stereo spread. While pure speculation on my part, the Nakamichi 550 has three microphone inputs, not the usual two: Left, Right and Blend. I have a hunch Mike may have plugged into the blend input which would explain the narrow sound field.

Technical difficulties aside, this is an excellent recording and likely one of the best captures of the Outrider tour, which saw Page joined by Jason Bonham on drums (fresh off the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary Zep reunion), singer John Miles and bassist Durban Laverde. Mike sounds like he is near his sweet spot and the capture is clear and powerful. Samples provided.

The tour setlist is an interesting blend of songs from Outrider, other Page solo work, a few Firm tracks, plus songs from the Led Zeppelin oeuvre: “Over The Hills and Far Away,” “In My Time of Dying,” “Dazed and Confused,” “Custard Pie,” “Train Kept A-Rolln’” and of course “Stairway to Heaven.”

All of the Zep-related songs are played with purpose and having not really heard much from this tour before, I was impressed with Jimmy’s playing. For me, “Over The Hills” stands out with some cool extra riffs in the arrangement. “Custard Pie” is interesting as it was never performed live by Led Zeppelin. Finally, Page made a great decision to perform “Stairway” as an instrumental, letting the song’s magical arrangement and musicality carry the day, while also saving Miles from having to attempt to sing it.

As noted above, Page knew his return to the Forum was special and while the setlist is the standard one for the tour, I’m sure this is one of the best performances he gave in 1988.

###

JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R, Barry G and many others to release Millard’s historic recordings and to help set the record straight about the man himself.

We can’t thank Rob enough for reconnecting with Jim and putting his trust in our Millard reissue campaign. He kept Mike’s precious tapes under wraps for two decades, but once Rob learned of our methods and stewardship, he agreed to contribute the Millard DATs and cassettes to the program. Our releases would not be nearly as compelling without Jim’s memories, photos and other background contributions. As many of you have noted, the stories offer an entertaining complement to Mike’s incredible audio documents.

Big ups to Goody for pitch checking as well as helping address some of the phase and other issues on the recording.

As always, we tip our hat to mjk5510 for his on-going support on JEMS work and beyond. We have friends and we have allies: mjk5510 is both.

Finally, cheers to the late, great Mike the MICrophone. His work never ceases to impress. May he rest in peace.

BK for JEMS

Commenti 8 commenti
Categorie Articles in english, Led Zeppelin, Recensioni musicali

BOOTLEGS: Led Zeppelin, Long Beach, CA March 11, 1975 (Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS and Dadgad) TTT½

26 Lug

ITALIAN / ENGLISH

BOOTLEGS: Led Zeppelin,Long Beach, CA March 11, 1975 (Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS and Dadgad The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 37) – TTT½

Mike Millard Legacy intro

Di Mike Millard su questo blog ne abbiamo parlato più volte, amante del rock proveniente dalla west coast americana, dal 1973 al 1992 registrò parecchi concerti tenutisi in quell’area. Lo fece con una strumentazione di qualità, per quei tempi davvero notevole, portandola all’interno delle arene in questione usando diversi stratagemmi (a volte anche fingendosi disabile e quindi su una sedia a rotelle). Le sue sono dunque registrazioni audience, cioè prese dal pubblico, ma di una qualità micidiale; non è un un caso che ancora oggi – tra il giro di appassionati – siano considerate tra i documenti migliori per quanto riguarda l’epoca d’oro della musica rock. Sì perché con le registrazione audience si ha l’idea esatta di cosa fosse andare ad un concerto rock, la performance dell’artista catturato nella sua essenza più pura: l’umore e le scosse emotive del pubblico, la musica messa su nastro senza artifici (e dunque senza le modifiche e i trucchetti presenti nei dischi dal vivo ufficiali), i commenti dei fans che a tratti finivano sul nastro. La fortuna ha voluto che i LZ fossero tra i suoi gruppi preferiti e, ad esempio, le sue registrazione di alcuni dei sei concerti tenuti nel 1977 a Los Angeles sono per tutti noi testimonianze preziosissime. Nel 1994 Millard decise di togliersi la vita, decisione che non ci permettiamo di giudicare e quindi tralasciamo di commentare gli abissi di dolore a cui deve essere andato incontro. Per moltissimo tempo le sue cassette rimasero archiviate nella sua stanza a casa di sua madre, le registrazioni che circolavano provenivano infatti da copie che lo stesso Millard aveva fatto per amici e altri collezionisti. Successe poi che sua madre finalmente affidò ad amici intimi di suo figlio le tante cassette (si parla di 280 concerti registrati) in modo che potessero essere trasferite e quindi salvate su DAT. Sotto all’articolo riporto (oltre al testo che accompagna la registrazione di RP di cui tra poco parleremo) tutta la lunga storia in caso qualcuno fosse interessato. Per chiudere questo breve riassunto, quando si pensava che i master originali di Millard fossero andati persi, ecco che vengono ritrovati, rimasterizzati e messi gratuitamente in circolo da generosi collezionisti e amanti del rock come noi. E’ dunque doveroso mandare un pensiero a Mike Millard perché grazie ai suoi nastri il rock si mantiene vivo e noi possiamo ancora illuderci di vivere in prima persona i momenti più esaltanti della musica che amiamo.

◊ ◊ ◊

Live Recording reflections

Benché in molti considerino i concerti tenuti dai LZ negli anni che vanno dal 1968 al 1980 delle esperienze cosmiche, degli eventi determinanti per le vite di chi gli ha vissuti (e io non ho nessun dubbio a tal proposito), è ben essere realisti e schietti (e chi frequenta questo blog sa che cerchiamo di esserlo con buona determinazione) e ammettere che dal 1975 in poi i tour del gruppo furono grandiosi dal punto di vista dello spettacolo, del botteghino, del business, ma che non sempre lo furono dal punto di vista musicale. Il chitarrista spento e disconnesso causa uso di sostanze chimiche, il cantante alle prese con grossi problemi alla voce dovuti ad una presunta operazione alle corde vocali (avvenuta forse tra il 1973 e il 1974), a continue bronchiti e influenze e soprattutto ad un uso scriteriato della (incredibile) voce nei primi 5 anni di esistenza del gruppo (se entri a freddo – senza nessun riscaldamento vocale – e parti con Immigrant Song, sera dopo sera, è chiaro che prima o poi paghi dazio). Il tour del 1975 ne è la prova più evidente: il gruppo arriva a Chicago nel gennaio del 1975, Robert Plant si becca l’influenza che per tutta la durata della tournée tormenterà lui e di conseguenza gli spettatori presenti ai concerti. Questo concerto di Long Beach di cui scriviamo oggi non ha grandi estimatori tra i fan storici del gruppo eppure a me a tratti non sembra niente male ma è chiaro che ne parlo perché di questo concerto esiste la registrazione del leggendario Mike Millard, registrazione recentemente rimasterizzata dal Team JEMS in collaborazione con Dadgad (tra l’altro nostro personale amico, che il Dark Lord lo abbia in gloria); sebbene esista da qualche anno anche una eccellente versione soundboard, quello che riescono a dare le Mike Millard recording in termini di pathos non ha confronto, dunque versione questa da preferire.

Il tour del 1975 si apre con due warm-up gig a Rotterdam (11/01) e a Brussels (12/01) per poi prendere il largo nel Nord America dal 18/01 in Minnesota al 27/03 in California e ritornare in Europa in maggio per le cinque date di Earls Court a Londra. Lo show dell’11/03 è la prima di due date che si tengono alla Long Beach Arena, un edificio con una capacità di 15.000 posti per quanto riguarda i concerti.

Long Beach Arena

ANNOUNCER: the house lights are down, now, so you’ll have a good view. The people behind the stage, keep your seats. You have a good seats now. Thank you very much. The American return of Led Zeppelin.”The American return of Led Zeppelin”.

E’ questo che dice l’annunciatore prima che il gruppo si lanci in Rock And Roll. La qualità audio è sin da subito fantastica (come sottolineo sempre, tenendo presente che si tratta di una registrazione audience … presa dal pubblico insomma). Ti sembra di essere al concerto, posizionato nelle prime file. Voce e strumenti sono ben bilanciati e perfettamente distinguibili, i ragazzi della Showco sapevano davvero il fatto loro. La voce di Robert non è disastrosa come mi sembrava di ricordare. Non amo molto Sick Again, un discreto per quanto anonimo brano rock che i LZ hanno comunque spesso suonato dal vivo. Durante l’uso dell’effetto Phaser 90 della MXR, il suo della chitarra copre un po’ troppo gli altri strumenti.

RP: Good evenin’! Good eveeenin’! We must apologize for the, um, the slight delay, but, um, we couldn’t get into the building. And, we haven’t got any tickets. Um, it’s a fact. A sort of well known scalper, well, he, he, you know, I mean, we blew it, you know. And it was blown as well. So tonight we’re gonna tell you what we intend to do. We intend to take six and a half years of changes and give you, and give you just a little taste of the six and a half years. A little bit from here, a pinch of the best. The best rock, if you take my meaning. It starts like this.

Over The Hills And Far Away non è niente male. La qualità audio si conferma altissima. Nel tour del 1975 il suono di chitarra di Page era più pulito del solito, forse persino troppo, un pelo di sustain in più non avrebbe guastato. Buono il lungo assolo di Page, sostenuto come sempre da un inarrestabile Bonham e da un perfetto Jones.

RP: Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Ah, feeling really invigorated by the English weather you, you’ve been havin’, you know. It’s, uh, it’s put us back into the healthy, um, you know, sometimes on the road you gets a bit, uh, and then you get the English weather in L.A., that’s too much. So watch out. If you intend to sit still, forget it. We just managed, uh, not only to get a record label together, but to get an album together, Physical Graffiti. And, um, once again it has a large variety of material and, um, thoughts of our consciousness. We gonna play some of it for you. This is the first one. It comes from way way back, older than my boots.

In My Time Of Dying è suonata molto bene, d’altra parte è un brano in accordatura aperta e con questo accorgimento di solito i chitarristi sono facilitati nell’adempiere al loro dovere. La voce di Robert regge, il chilometraggio blues le dà suggestive sfumature. Bonham è di nuovo uno spettacolo, e Jones tiene tutti agganciati al terreno. Che magnifico bassista.

RP Thank you. I see the front row’s filling up very slowly. Who is Atlantic Records? Bloody state. Right, now this is a song that you definitely will have heard before, unless you’ve had your ears shut for two and a half years. It depicts a tale, or rather it, it lends itself to a series of events and, and places and ports of call throughout the world that we stopped at where, fortunately, the foot of Western man hadn’t trodden too often. And it was in these places that everything seemed to be good and wholesome and cheap and clean. And the red lights always shone brightly. In fact, ‘The Song Always Remained the Same.’

The Song Remains The Same / The Rain Song. L’introduzione di TSRTS è uno di quei momenti che ti fa comprendere come il buraccione LZ sia componente fondamentale del successo interplanetario della band. Qualità audio sempre altissima, tanto che una volta di più occorre mandare un pensiero al grande, grandissimo Mike Millard. The Rain Song in alcuni momenti pare disgiunta, forse a causa dei problemi al Mellotron.

RP: Ladies and gentlemen. For the benefit of anybody who was making a bootleg then, the twelve-string was out of tune on ‘Song Remains the Same.’ Sunny California. Hang on, tick. Is that gonna be alright? We gonna, um, we gonna continue with John Paul Jones trying to manipulate a mobile orchestra. John Paul Jones on mellotron, who I might add is looking a little bit harassed with the sounds that are coming out of it. Harassed. Excuse me. This song is, um, it’s a song that we created, or it created itself in amongst a lot of chaos and, um, change. And yet the song is basically quite a very straight forward, straight thinking thing. Lateral thinking, as my friend James puts it. Uh, this is a song about the wasted land, the land that was once green and fertile. ‘Kashmir.’

In Kashmir (altro pezzo in accordatura aperta) la batteria trattata con effetti non crea l’atmosfera giusta secondo me, il Mellotron continua ad avere problemi ma la versione del pezzo è buona. Robert la canta con grinta.

RP: John Paul Jones on mellotron. A complete Pakistani orchestra, all in one pool player. John’s been studying and concentrating a lot on the keyboards. He’s also got into Chuck Randall and, uh. You will excuse us if we have a good time, won’t you? This is another track that features, uh, hang on, John’s in trouble. And, this short break should be really filled up with a bit of schpeel, but, um, I really can’t tell schpeely things. There’s a man in the wings who is very good at doing Lenny Bruce imitations. This is a track about another song about a journey, um, a journey which will never, ever be finished for anybody. It’s called ‘No Quarter.’

Ogni volta che parte No Quarter ho i brividi: il suono di tastiera galleggiante, quello tondo, corposo e pieno della batteria di Bonham, l’alone di mistero e di sopranaturale del pezzo, la profondità del cosmo che ci schiaccia verso paure ancestrali … ec lavòr, ragàs (come diciamo qui in Emilia)! L’assolo di piano (con qualche problema di collegamento tra i vari cavi che genera fastidiosi rumori di fondo) di Jones e di chitarra di Page stasera sono poco ispirati e un po’ tediosi, alla batteria Bonham invece è sempre superlativo.

RP: John Paul Jones, grand piano. The taste of naughty equipment. We seem to have a little trouble on the keyboard side of things at the moment. There’s a little bit of buzzin’ and hummin’. But nevertheless, we shall hot things up a little bit. Now, a long time ago, in the South of Ameri, in the South of North America, there was a guy called Robert Johnson who wrote a lot of really good blues things, and this maybe should be a tribute to his art, or capabilities, this next song, ‘cuz anyway, it’s, it’s slightly relative in its, where it comes from. This is a song all about motorcars, but on the other hand. The drumming and the hammering is by courtesy of Acme Quaalude Company, Limited, in the back. This is a guy building a chicken pen. Can you hear it? I mean, over to our roving reporter. Shithead. This is called ‘Trampled Underfoot.’

In Trampled Underfoot Robert fatica, ma con stile ed esperienza rende le sbavature quasi un marchio distintivo. Anche qui John Paul Jones e Jimmy Page hanno problemi di ispirazione ma la carica del brano riesce a celare queste performance opache.

RP: Yes, that’s one for the motor car trade, or the trade or the motorcar. Uh, Jimmy just broke two strings, and John Bonham is just about to have a hernia. Hang on a bit. We’d like to dedicate this next song to, uh, The Chateaux Marmont, and the Continental Hyatt House, and all the places where there’s cockroaches on the floor. And, um, we’re gonna feature now, in fact, the, the grand work and the grand percussion skills of the one and only Mr Dynamo! Mr Cockstarch! John Bonham! ‘Moby Dick!’

Durante il giro di Moby Dick, il gruppo pare a tratti fuori tempo, sarà forse per il suono di batteria completamente cambiato e sicuramente peggiorato. Verso la fine il solito lavoro sui timpani sintetizzati, ma anche qui il sound non sembra funzionare e quindi convincere. Ad ogni modo 21 minuti di follia tambureggiante.

RP: Bonzo Bonham! Let’s hear it for John Bonham, ‘Moby Dick!’ John Bonham. John Henry Bonham. Gardener of the year. Good evening. Nice of you to make it. Ahh. I didn’t see you on the way in. …, hold on, vocal diarrhea. A long time ago, uh, when I was nineteen, and we all got together in a room that cost two dollars fifty for a week. Just in case it didn’t work. To see if it could work. The second thing that we tried made us sure. The first thing that we did was sign a contracts. Second thing that we did, we were really sure that we should be together from now until the ultimate finale of the big bright light. And this is the second thing.

Devo ancora rimarcare l’ottima qualità audio, in cuffia a buon volume l’inizio di Dazed And Confused è una meraviglia. Considerati i problemi alla voce, Robert si dimostra un grande: coraggioso e impavido. Benché il gruppo non fosse al suo massimo, la Dazed And Confused del 1975 rappresenta uno dei picchi dei LZ. Tra i 28 e i 40 minuti di esoterismo musicale, dipinto con i colori della decadente grandeur che il gruppo sfoggiava a quel tempo. Scrivo questo al minuto 5:30, sembra incredibile che nel 1975 avessero questa forza espressiva. L’entrata di Bonham prima del magniloquente arpeggio MI- / DO (su cui stasera Robert canta il testo di Woodstock) è uno di momenti ritmici patrimonio della umanità. Se avessi potuto essere presente ad un concerto – seppur standard – come questo e dunque aver vissuto una Dazed And Confused di tale spessore, ne sarei uscito pronto per imbarcarmi su un vascello diretto a sfidare le maestose insidie di Capo Horn. L’uscita di Bonham dalla sezione dell’arpeggio citato è di nuovo un esempio del suo grandissimo talento. Il lavoro del Dark Lord con l’archetto di violino è efficace e seducente. Quando va sugli alti sembra di soccombere al canto delirante delle sirene di Ulisse. Mi fanno davvero pena i fan dei LZ che non vanno oltre il 1972, perché una Dazed And Confused come questa vale tantissimo. La qualità sonora è semplicemente perfetta, che razza di nastro audience questo! Durante la sfuriata elettrica Page è un portento (sporco, illuminato, ispirato) e Bonhan e Jones sono poderosi. 28 minuti di estasi e tempesta elettrica. Solo i Led Zeppelin!

( assente nella registrazione: RP: On guitar, Jimmy Page. That was a combination of, um, key signatures that just will never occur again. Amidst the, um, rushing and the screaming of cowboys. (Our cowboy in the sand.) Um, now and again there comes, uh, a song that we really, really really dig and we find that we can get right across with no trouble at all. This is for the people beyond the third row. The people in the darkness)

Stairway To Heaven inizia bene, la voce di Robert non ha scricchioli e quando entra Bonham tutto sembra paradossalmente ancora più chiaro. La pedaliera basso si sente benissimo, quelli delli Showco erano davvero i numeri uno al quel tempo per quanto riguarda la amplificazione dei concerti Rock. Buono l’assolo di chitarra, che comprende il 4 giri di bicordi che qui alla Domus Saurea appassionano molto.

RP: Long Beach! Thank you very much for your time and, uh, goodnight.
Well?

Come spesso capitava in quegli anni, di ritorno sul palco per i bis, il gruppo si presentava in condizioni discutibili. Il riff di Whole Lotta Love è suonato da Page con poca dinamica e la band sembra scollata. Peggiora anche il suono degli strumenti., Solo il basso di Jones sembra essere all’altezza. The Crunge è un po’ approssimativa, la sezione Theremin invece funziona a dovere. L’intenzione di Plant in Black Dog è quella giusta, peccato il sound meno definito di chitarra e batteria.

Ladies and gentlemen of Long Beach, goodnight. Sleep well. Half a quaalude with water

Registrazione dunque eccellente di un discreto (a tratti ottimo) concerto dei LZ.

Qui l’audio pubblicato due settimane fa su youtube:

◊ ◊ ◊

(macaroni)ENGLISH

Mike Millard Legacy intro

We have talked about Mike Millard on this blog few times, he was a rock music lover from the US west coast and from 1973 to 1992 he recorded several concerts held in that area. He did it with quality equipment, for those times truly remarkable, bringing it inside the arenas in question using different stratagems (sometimes even pretending to be disabled and therefore in a wheelchair). His are therefore audience recordings, that is, taken by the public, but of a deadly quality; it is no coincidence that even today – among the circle of fans – they are considered among the best documents regarding the golden age of rock music. Yes, because with audience recording you have the exact idea of what it was like to go to a rock concert, the artist’s performance captured in its purest essence: the mood and emotional shocks of the audience, the music put on tape without artifice (and therefore without the edits and the tricks present in the official live records), the comments of the fans who sometimes ended up on the tape. Luckily LZ were among his favorite bands and, for example, his recordings of some of the six concerts held in 1977 in Los Angeles are precious testimonies for all of us. In 1994 Millard decided to take his own life, a decision that we do not allow ourselves to judge and therefore we neglect to comment on the abysses of pain that he must have gone through. For a very long time his cassettes remained archived in his room at his mother’s house, the records circulating in fact came from copies that Millard himself had made for friends and other collectors. Then it happened that his mother finally entrusted the many tapes (we are talking about 280 recorded concerts) to close friends of his son so that they could be transferred and then saved on DAT. Under the article I carry over (in addition to the text that accompanies the registration of RP which we will shortly talk about) the whole long story in case anyone is interested. To close this short summary, when it was thought that the original Millard masters had been lost, here they are found, remastered and put into free circulation by generous collectors and rock lovers like us. It is therefore a duty to send a thought to Mike Millard because thanks to his tapes rock remains alive and we can still delude ourselves to experience firsthand the most exciting moments of the music we love.

◊ ◊ ◊

Live Recording reflections

Although many consider the concerts held by the LZ in the years from 1968 to 1980 of cosmic experiences, of the decisive events for the lives of those who lived them (and I have no doubt about it), we got to be realistic and frank (and those who frequent this blog know that we are straight shooters ) and admit that from 1975 onwards the group tours were great from the point of view of the show, the box office, the business, but that it was not always the case from the musical point of view. The guitarist turned off and disconnected due to the use of chemical substances, the singer struggling with major voice problems due to an alleged vocal cord operation (perhaps between 1973 and 1974), to continuous bronchitis and influences and above all to a reckless use of the (incredible) voice in the first 5 years of existence of the group (if without any vocal warming you start a show with Immigrant Song, evening after evening, it is clear that sooner or later you pay duty). The 1975 tour is the most evident proof of this: the group arrives in Chicago in January 1975, Robert Plant gets the influence that for the duration of the tour will torment him and consequently the spectators present at the concerts. This Long Beach concert we are writing about today does not have great admirers among the historical fans of the group and yet at times it does not seem that bad but it is clear that I am talking about it because of this concert there is the recording of the legendary Mike Millard, a recording recently remastered by the JEMS team in collaboration with Dadgad (our personal friend, may the Dark Lord bless him); although an excellent soundboard version exists, what Mike Millard recordings can do in terms of pathos has no comparison, so this version is preferred.

The 1975 tour opens with two gig warm-ups in Rotterdam (11/01) and Brussels (12/01) and then take off in North America from 18/01 in Minnesota to 27/03 in California and return to Europe in may for the five dates of Earls Court in London. The 11/03 show is the first of two dates held at the Long Beach Arena, a building with a capacity of 15,000 seats for concerts.

This is what the announcer says before the group launches into Rock And Roll. The audio quality is immediately fantastic (as I always emphasize, bearing in mind that it is an audience recording … taken by the public in short). You seem to be at the concert, positioned in the front rows. Voice and instruments are well balanced and perfectly distinguishable, the Showco guys really knew what they were doing. Robert’s voice is not as disastrous as I seemed to remember. I don’t like Sick Again, a discreet though anonymous rock song that LZ have often played live anyway. While using the MXR’s Phaser 90 effect, the guitar covers a little too much the other instruments.

RP: Good evenin ‘! Good eveeenin ‘! We must apologize for the, um, the slight delay, but, um, we couldn’t get into the building. And, we haven’t got any tickets. Um, it’s a fact. A sort of well known scalper, well, he, he, you know, I mean, we blew it, you know. And it was blown as well. So tonight we’re gonna tell you what we intend to do. We intend to take six and a half years of changes and give you, and give you just a little taste of the six and a half years. A little bit from here, a pinch of the best. The best rock, if you take my meaning. It starts like this.

Over The Hills And Far Away is not bad. The audio quality is confirmed to be very high. On the 1975 tour, Page’s guitar sound was cleaner than usual, perhaps even too much, a hair of more sustain would have helped the general impression. Page’s long solo is good, supported as always by an unstoppable Bonham and a perfect Jones.

RP: Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Ah, feeling really invigorated by the English weather you, you’ve been havin ‘, you know. It’s, uh, it’s put us back into the healthy, um, you know, sometimes on the road you get a bit, uh, and then you get the English weather in L.A., that’s too much. I know watch out. If you intend to sit still, forget it. We just managed, uh, not only to get a record label together, but to get an album together, Physical Graffiti. And, um, once again it has a large variety of material and, um, thoughts of our consciousness. We gonna play some of it for you. This is the first one. It comes from way way back, older than my boots.

In My Time Of Dying it played very well, on the other hand it is a piece in open tuning and with this trick guitarists are usually facilitated in fulfilling their duty. Robert’s voice is okay, the blues mileage gives it suggestive nuances. Bonham is again sublime, and Jones keeps everyone hooked to the ground. What a magnificent bass player.

The Song Remains The Same / The Rain Song. The introduction of TSRTS is one of those moments that makes you understand how the LZ “buraccione” (sound impact) is a fundamental component of the band’s interplanetary success. Audio quality is always very high, so much so that once more it is necessary to send a thought to the great, great Mike Millard. The Rain Song at times seems disjointed, perhaps due to problems with the Mellotron.

RP: Ladies and gentlemen. For the benefit of anybody who was making a bootleg then, the twelve-string was out of tune on ‘Song Remains the Same.’ Sunny California. Hang on, tick. Is that gonna be alright? We gonna, um, we gonna continue with John Paul Jones trying to manipulate a mobile orchestra. John Paul Jones on mellotron, who I might add is looking a little bit harassed with the sounds that are coming out of it. Harassed. Excuse me. This song is, um, it’s a song that we created, or it created itself in among a lot of chaos and, um, change. And yet the song is basically quite a very straight forward, straight thinking thing. Lateral thinking, as my friend James puts it. Uh, this is a song about the wasted land, the land that was once green and fertile. ‘Kashmir.’

In Kashmir (another piece in open tuning) the drumes are treated with effects and they does not create the right atmosphere in my opinion, the Mellotron continues to have problems but the version of the piece is nice enough. Robert sings it with determination.

Every time No Quarter starts I get chills: the floating keyboard sound, the round, full-bodied Bonham’s drums, the halo of mystery and supernatural of the piece, the depth of the cosmos that crushes us towards ancestral fears .. . ec lavòr, ragàs (as we say here in Emilia, what a great work, boys!)! The piano solo (with some connection problems between the various cables that generate annoying background noises) of Jones and Page’s guita solo tonight are not very inspired and a little tedious, Bonham drums it is always superlative.

RP: John Paul Jones, grand piano. The taste of naughty equipment. We seem to have a little trouble on the keyboard side of things at the moment. There’s a little bit of buzzin ‘and hummin’. But nevertheless, we shall hot things up a little bit. Now, a long time ago, in the South of Ameri, in the South of North America, there was a guy called Robert Johnson who wrote a lot of really good blues things, and this maybe should be a tribute to his art, or capabilities , this next song, ‘cuz anyway, it’s, it’s slightly relative in its, where it comes from. This is a song all about motorcars, but on the other hand. The drumming and the hammering is by courtesy of Acme Quaalude Company, Limited, in the back. This is a guy building a chicken pen. Can you hear it? I mean, over to our roving reporter. Shithead. This is called ‘Trampled Underfoot.’

In Trampled Underfoot Robert struggles, but with style and experience makes the burrs almost a distinctive brand. Here, too, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page have problems of inspiration but the charge of the song manages to conceal these opaque performances.

During the Moby Dick riff section, the group seems maybe out of time, perhaps due to the completely changed and certainly worsened drums sound. Towards the end we have the usual work on the synthesized timpani, but even here the sound does not seem to work and therefore convinces. Anyway 21 minutes of drumming madness.

Still I have to point out the excellent audio quality, in headphones at good volume the beginning of Dazed And Confused is a marvel. Considering the problems with the voice, Robert proves to be great: brave and fearless. Although the group was not at its best, the 1975 Dazed And Confused represents one of the peaks of LZ. Between 28 and 40 minutes of musical esotericism, painted in the colors of the decadent grandeur that the group sported at that time. I write this at 5:30, it seems incredible that in 1975 they had this expressive force. Bonham’s entry before the magniloquent E- / C arpeggio (on which Robert sings Woodstock’s text tonight) is one of humanity’s rhythmic moments. If I could have been present at a concert – albeit standard – like this and therefore had lived a Dazed And Confused of such thickness, I would have come out ready to embark on a vessel directed to challenge the majestic pitfalls of Cape Horn. Bonham’s exit from the aforementioned arpeggio section is again an example of his tremendous talent. The Dark Lord’s work with the violin bow is effective and seductive. When he goes on high tones we seems to succumb to the delusional song of the sirens of Ulysses. I really pity LZ fans who don’t go beyond 1972, because a Dazed And Confused like this is worth a lot. The sound quality is simply perfect, what kind of audience tape this is! During the electric outburst Page is a portent (dirty, illuminated, inspired) and Bonhan and Jones are powerful. 28 minutes of ecstasy and electric storm. Only Led Zeppelin!

(absent in this recording: RP: On guitar, Jimmy Page. That was a combination of, um, key signatures that just will never occur again. Amidst the, um, rushing and the screaming of cowboys. (Our cowboy in the sand.) Um, now and again there comes, uh, a song that we really, really really dig and we find that we can get right across with no trouble at all. This is for the people beyond the third row. The people in the darkness)

Stairway To Heaven starts well, Robert’s voice has no creaks and when Bonham enters everything seems paradoxically even clearer. Jones’ bass pedal is so clear, Showco was really the number one at that time as regards the amplification of the Rock concerts. The guitar solo is focused enough and it includes the 4 bichords lickes that here at Domus Saurea we are very passionate about.

RP: Long Beach! Thank you very much for your time and, uh, goodnight.
Well?

As often happened in those years, returning on stage for encores, the group presented itself in questionable conditions. The Whole Lotta Love riff is played by Page with little dynamics and the band seems to be unglued. The sound of the instruments also worsens. Only Jones’ bass seems to be up to par. The Crunge is a bit rough, the Theremin section works properly. The attitude of Plant in Black Dog is the right one, too bad the less defined sound of guitar and drums make things worse.

Ladies and gentlemen of Long Beach, goodnight. Sleep well. Half a quaalude with water

Therefore excellent recording of a discreet (sometimes excellent) concert by LZ.

Here the audio published two weeks ago on youtube:

◊ ◊ ◊

[Youtube = http: //www.youtube.com/watch? V = flGMqcj9Nv4 & t = 428s]

◊ ◊ ◊

Note che accompagnano la registrazione / Notes accompanying the recording:

Led Zeppelin
Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, March 11, 1975
Mike Millard Master Tapes via JEMS and Dadgad
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 37

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder

Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Yamaha KX-W592 Cassette Deck (Dolby off) > Sony R-500 DAT > Analog Master DAT Clone > Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 > Sound Forge Audio Studio 13.0 capture > Adobe Audition 3.0 > iZotope RX and Ozone > Peak Pro 6 > FLAC

01 Rock And Roll
02 Sick Again
03 Over The Hills And Far Away
04 In My Time Of Dying
05 The Song Remains The Same
06 The Rain Song
07 Kashmir
08 No Quarter
09 Trampled Underfoot
10 Moby Dick
11 Dazed And Confused
12 Stairway To Heaven
13 Whole Lotta Love / The Crunge
14 Black Dog

Known Faults: None

Introduction to the Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Series

That all changed with the discovery of many of Mike Millard’s original master tapes.

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667745&hit=1
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667750&hit=1

Led Zeppelin, Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, March 11, 1975

The time has come.

We now know Mike Millard captured hundreds of great concerts, but without question Mike The Mike’s most famous works are his recordings of Led Zeppelin. Mike recorded his favorite band a total of ten times, five shows in 1975 and another five in 1977.

His now legendary rig, AKG 451 microphones and Nakamichi 550 cassette deck, was purchased in early 1975 for the express purpose of recording the upcoming Zeppelin shows at the Long Beach Arena and The Forum. Mike wanted to upgrade his gear to get the best possible results. Did he ever.

He tested out his new rig at a March 5, 1975 show by Rod Stewart and Faces at the Forum, six days prior to Zeppelin’s first SoCal date in Long Beach. The new equipment passed with flying colors: The Faces tape (Vol. 13 in our series) is outstanding. Mike was ready for “the American return of Led Zeppelin” as the stage announcer says just before the band takes the stage.

Since our Millard series resumed we’ve seen a few message board posts asking why we were waiting to do Mike’s Zeppelin tapes. The answer is we wanted to do them right, which isn’t as simple as it sounds as I will attempt to explain.

All of Mike’s Zeppelin masters in our possession come from the first batch of tapes Rob S borrowed from Mike’s mother and transferred to DAT. It’s no surprise Rob started with Mike’s best-known recordings, but that means our source is a 1644 DAT, not the master cassettes themselves.

The good news is Rob made excellent transfers from cassette to DAT, and while it would have been ideal to do azimuth correction on playback (as we do with all of Mike’s master cassettes), tape alignment doesn’t appear to be a material issue.

Mike’s Led Zeppelin recordings have been widely circulated for decades and exist in bootleg and download form in myriad versions, largely owning to the many remasters in circulation.

The provenance of extant Millard Zeppelin recordings can be cloudy. Around 2010, JEMS transferred a verified, unmarked set of first generation cassettes made by Mike himself. These tapes were transferred Dolby On, though Millard almost certainly played back his masters Dolby Off, which was his standard practice when making copies: master off, copy on.

Where other sources originate is murkier, though we know some trace back to a set of VHS Hi-Fi tapes Mike made from his masters for a collector who sent him a VHS recorder to do the transfers. These VHS tapes were then converted to DAT and often circulate as first-gen sources.

Anyone who has compared JEMS’ flat, Dolby-on transfers with the various remasters from other sources know they sound quite different. Many of us have grown accustomed to the remasters’ sound, which have often gone through a fair amount of processing to boost or drop frequencies, tame hiss, compress, expand, etc. That’s not a criticism of them, simply stating a fact. In fact, some of them are uncanny in terms of the fidelity they derived from the circulating sources.

Given that, the question I pondered about the transfers of Mike’s LZ cassette masters to DAT Rob made in the early 2000s is how would they compare to the remasters? Would they disappoint because the sound we are all used to is somewhat removed from the original sound? Or would that one true generation closer make a difference?

I did a few comparisons between Rob’s DATs and circulating versions, and struggled to land on a clear POV. Because we had a lot of other Millard tapes to work through, I figured the Zep masters could wait.

But a couple of months ago I decided to reach out to Dadgad, as I admired the work he had done on some key Zeppelin soundboards and the JEMS transfer of 6/27/77. Of the folks who had done a substantial number of Zep remasters, I liked what he and Winston did best. That’s my subjective opinion and it is a subject for which many collectors seem to have strong opinions.

There was also a decision to be made about what order to release the Zeppelin shows given the hodgepodge approach we have taken with Millard’s work so far. Chronological felt like the obvious and correct answer. With that decided, I sent Dadgad a sample of the Millard 3/11/75 Long Beach recording and what he sent back convinced me we had found the right path for this tape.

After some back and forth we settled on a version that polishes and sharpens Mike’s master tape while still keeping the music sounding natural. Dadgad found the power in the recording and the performance has never sounded fresher to my ears. Of course, we’re fortunate to have a soundboard recording of this particular show, and a good one at that, but it doesn’t diminish the appeal of Mike’s master which captures the performance and the atmosphere in excellent quality. Samples provided.

The performance itself surely needs no endorsement. As Jim says below, the SoCal run is one of the peaks of the ’75 tour. While I personally lose a little interest in the “Moby Dick” and “Dazed and Confused” portions of these shows, the first half of the set, “Rock and Roll” through “Trampled Underfoot” is pretty fucking great. Listening anew, I found appreciation for Robert Plant’s friendly, casual manner. He may have looked like a rock god fronting the biggest band in the land, but he addressed the audience in a charmingly informal manner.

Here’s what Jim R recalled about the first Led Zeppelin ’75 Long Beach show:

I attended the Led Zeppelin concert with Mike Millard on March 11th, 1975. It was at the Long Beach Arena.

This was the beginning of the wheelchair era, which itself had two phases. Initially, a friend of ours named Mike L (who was partially paralyzed) offered to bring in Mike’s equipment using his personal wheelchair. Mike L got the gear in for this show but was extremely late the following night (3/12) which explains why Mike only got a partial recording of the second Long Beach show. More on that when we post the 3/12 recording. By the time Zep was back in LA for the start of the Forum run on March 24, Millard had gotten his own chair and I pushed him in. “If you want a job done right, you do it yourself.”

We sat in Riser Section 20, Row B. One row up off the floor and even with about the 10th row of the floor. Definitely a PA recording.

During the show, you can hear Plant comment, “I see the front row is filling up slowly… bloody Atlantic Records.” It was opening night in the LA area, and because this was a highly anticipated show, the music industry had numerous ticket holds. Limited inventory due to those holds likely explains why Mike and I sat in the Risers. We had much better seats for the other nights; 5th row on the floor was our “worst” seat.

On March 10, the night before Long Beach, Mike and I actually drove down to San Diego and timed that show for tape flips to make sure we didn’t miss a note in Long Beach. Which begs the question, why didn’t we record the first San Diego show? The answer is the San Diego show was general admission in a venue that was already acoustically challenged. Mike only wanted to record from his preferred locations, which is why we went to such lengths to get the seats he desired for Long Beach and Inglewood. Hard as it is to believe now, if Millard couldn’t record from the location he wanted, he would stand down, preferring no tape at all to a recording not up to his high standards.

Speaking of questions, we have seen a few message board posts inquiring if Mike ever met any rock stars. The answer is yes. Here’s one of those stories.

Between the Long Beach and Forum shows there was a 12-day gap where the band performed in Seattle, Vancouver and a second San Diego concert (bizarrely there was no Bay Area stop on the ’75 tour). LA was their hub for all the West Coast dates. Knowing this, we checked the tour schedule, and on an off night took a drive to the Continental Riot House in Hollywood (Riot instead of Hyatt, as Plant had renamed it). As luck would have it, three of the four members of the group were in the lobby: Plant, Bonham and Jones. Page was presumably up in his room.

I brought along printed photos from the Long Beach 3/12 show where I shot from the 3rd row. Mike and I got autographs from all three guys, who were cordial and liked the pictures. Bonham was especially boisterous and fun. We then followed them to the Rainbow Room where we watched them eat hamburgers.

Led Zeppelin was still near their peak for these ’75 shows. An electric buzz in the building. Awesome shows every night. Mike and I attended all seven Long Beach, LA Forum and San Diego performances. We couldn’t get enough Zep. But it still bugged Mike for years that he didn’t record the full 3/12 show.

I hope you enjoy the March 11 recording. I’ve included some pictures from the show. Keep in mind my pictures from the other performances turned out much better since we had much closer seats.

Cheers to Mike.

###

JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R and Barry G to release Millard’s historic recordings and to help set the record straight about the man himself.

We can’t thank Rob enough for reconnecting with Jim and putting his trust in our Millard reissue campaign. He kept these precious tapes under wraps for two decades, but once Rob learned of our methods and stewardship, he agreed to contribute the Millard DATs and cassettes to the program. Our releases would not be nearly as compelling without Jim’s memories and photos. As many of you have noted, the stories offer a wonderful complement to Mike’s incredible audio documents.

As always, post-production support comes from the skilled hand of mjk5510, our partner and friend.

Finally, cheers to the late, great Mike the MICrophone. His work never ceases to impress. May he rest in peace.

BK for JEMS

Commenti 3 commenti
Categorie Articles in english, Led Zeppelin, Recensioni musicali

BOOTLEG: Robert Plant, San Diego, CA 9 August 1990 (Mike Millard Master Cassettes via JEMS The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 35 1644 Edition) – TTTTT

27 Giu

ITALIAN / ENGLISH

Di Mike Millard su questo blog ne abbiamo parlato più volte, amante del rock proveniente dalla west coast americana, dal 1973 al 1992 registrò parecchi concerti tenutisi in quell’area. Lo fece con una strumentazione di qualità, per quei tempi davvero notevole, portandola all’interno delle arene in questione usando diversi stratagemmi (a volte anche fingendosi disabile e quindi su una sedia a rotelle). Le sue sono dunque registrazioni audience, cioè prese dal pubblico, ma di una qualità micidiale; non è un un caso che ancora oggi – tra il giro di appassionati – siano considerate tra i documenti migliori per quanto riguarda l’epoca d’oro della musica rock. Sì perché con le registrazione audience si ha l’idea esatta di cosa fosse andare ad un concerto rock, la performance dell’artista catturato nella sua essenza più pura: l’umore e le scosse emotive del pubblico, la musica messa su nastro senza artifici (e dunque senza le modifiche e i trucchetti presenti nei dischi dal vivo ufficiali), i commenti dei fans che a tratti finivano sul nastro. La fortuna ha voluto che i LZ fossero tra i suoi gruppi preferiti e, ad esempio, le sue registrazione di alcuni dei sei concerti tenuti nel 1977 a Los Angeles sono per tutti noi testimonianze preziosissime. Nel 1994 Millard decise di togliersi la vita, decisione che non ci permettiamo di giudicare e quindi tralasciamo di commentare gli abissi di dolore a cui deve essere andato incontro. Per moltissimo tempo le sue cassette rimasero archiviate nella sua stanza a casa di sua madre, le registrazioni che circolavano provenivano infatti da copie che lo stesso Millard aveva fatto per amici e altri collezionisti. Successe poi che sua madre finalmente affidò ad amici intimi di suo figlio le tante cassette (si parla di 280 concerti registrati) in modo che potessero essere trasferite e quindi salvate su DAT. Sotto all’articolo riporto (oltre al testo che accompagna la registrazione di RP di cui tra poco parleremo) tutta la lunga storia in caso qualcuno fosse interessato. Per chiudere questo breve riassunto, quando si pensava che i master originali di Millard fossero andati persi, ecco che vengono ritrovati, rimasterizzati e messi gratuitamente in circolo da generosi collezionisti e amanti del rock come noi. E’ dunque doveroso mandare un pensiero a Mike Millard perché grazie ai suoi nastri il rock si mantiene vivo e noi possiamo ancora illuderci di vivere in prima persona i momenti più esaltanti della musica che amiamo.

◊ ◊ ◊

Dopo la fine dei LZ, RP decide di dar vita ad una carriera solista. Il primo e il secondo album diventano dischi di platino in USA (un milione o più di copie vendute). Lo stesso accade per l’EP degli Honeydrippers nel 1984 (album dedicato al rock and roll degli albori). Il terzo album (1985) non va al di là del disco d’oro (500.000 copie vendute, anche se pare raggiunga le 750.000) poi arriva, nel 1987, Now And Zen. Completato con il terzo album il tragitto che porta al distanziamento assoluto dai LZ, Robert torna con una nuova formazione e un nuovo approccio. Al di là dei discutibili suoni anni ottanta, l’album non è male, contiene alcune belle canzoni e riporta Robert al grande successo (3.000.000 di copie vendite solo in America). Manic Nirvana viene pubblicato nel 1990, buon disco di rock moderno, sarà l’ultimo lavoro di RP a diventare disco di platino (se escludiamo i dischi fatti in collaborazione con Page e con Alison Krauss). Ebbi modo di vedere una data (Firenze) del tour che seguì, è quindi un piacere avere a disposizione una registrazione di Mike Millard tratta dal tour di Manic Nirvana.

La potente e suggestiva Watching You (da Manic Nirvana 1990) apre lo show, la qualità audio – considerando che stiamo parlando di una registrazione audience – è spettacolare. La voce di Plant è chiara, sicura e piena di chilometraggio blues. Tramite vocalizzi che provengono da Friends (da Led Zeppelin III 1970) arriva Nobody’s Fault But Mine (da Presence dei LZ 1976) e con essa torna in vita il possente approccio del gruppo che fu. Robert canta benissimo, il gruppo non ha abbastanza blues in corpo per poter competere con la versione originale, ma la rilettura modernista si fa ascoltare comunque. L’assolo di chitarra di Doug Boyle non è niente male davvero.

Robert al quel tempo era fissato con lo psychobilly e Billy’s Revenge (da Now And Zen 1988) ne è una testimonianza, personalmente non ho mai amato il genere e quel tipo di pezzi ma stavolta finisco per ascoltarlo con piacere, sarà l’ottima qualità audio … in cuffia a buon volume questo concerto è uno sballo. Tie Dye On The Highway (da Manic Nirvana 1990) è condotta dalla feroce chitarra di Doug Boyle. Stupisce un po’ Robert, all’epoca cantava in maniera sublime, non lo ricordavo così in forma. Bello il momento con la chitarra “blues” di Boyle e l’armonica di RP. Il pubblico è caldissimo.

La bella In The Mood (da The Priciple Of Moments 1983) riporta la melodia al centro dell’attenzione, e anche qui ottimo assolo di Doug Boyle. Chris Blackwell alla batteria e Charlie Jones al basso fanno un gran lavoro. Robert stuzzica il pubblico accennando That’s The Way (da Led Zeppelin III 1970). Arriva quindi il tempo di battere i sentieri che gli altri non prendono: No Quarter (da House Of The Holy 1973 dei LZ). Non appena Phil Johnstone introduce al piano i primi ricami il pubblico “va giù di melone” come diciamo qui in Emilia. Per quanto la versione sia più che degna e fresca, non si può non notare una certa rigidità ritmica, d’altra parte Bonham e (John Paul) Jones erano di altri universi. Liar’s Dance (da Manic Nirvana 1990) è il quadretto in accordatura aperta (dove tra l’altro RP accenna Gallows Pole da LZ III 1970 e Stairway To Heaven da LZ IV 1971) a cui segue Going To California (da Led Zeppelin IV 1971). Pubblico in visibilio.

Little By Little (da Shaken ‘n’ Stirred 1985) proviene da un album difficile e non proprio riuscito ma è un pezzo che ho sempre amato molto. Bel groove e sviluppo di rilievo. Nirvana (da Manic Nirvana 1990) è un brano che non gradisco e continuo a trovare insipido.

Immigrant Song (da LZ III 1970) rimette in carreggiata il concerto, versione convincente suonata nella tonalità originale (FA#), ben centrato l’assolo modernista di Boyle. Hurting Kind (da Manic Nirvana 1990), singolo designato del disco allora appena uscito, inizia con una lunga introduzione per poi partire con il dovuto ritmo scatenato. Nel mezzo della canzone Robert stuzzica i presenti con gli “oh my jesus” presi da In My Time Of Dying (da Physical Graffiti dei LZ 1975) Ancora da sottolineare la qualità sonora, registrazioni audience di questo calibro sono una meraviglia.

Robert saluta e quando torna per il bis, prima del rush finale, è il delizioso momento di Ship Of Fools (da Now And Zen 1988). Non appena Robert inizia a cantare il pubblico gli dimostra un grande, grande, grande affetto. Wearing And Tearing (da Coda 1982 dei LZ) e una delle outtakes del 1978 tratta dalle sessions di In Through The Out Door del 1979 dei LZ. Rock serratissimo e indiavolato. Il gruppo se ne va e quando rientra se ne parte con Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman) (da LZ II 1969). Interpretazione coinvolgente, grande assolo aggiuntivo di Doug Boyle. Si chiude con Tall Cool One (da Now And Zen 1988), una sorta di Train Kept A-Rollin’ modello anni ottanta. I campionamenti presenti nel pezzi riportano prepotentemente in pista i Led Zeppelin. Verso la fine Robert e il gruppo citano (al di là dei sampler) The Ocean/Black Dog/Custard Pie ei LZ.

Registrazione dunque stupenda, certo non avrà la qualità di un disco dal vivo ufficiale ben registrato col multitraccia, ma il suono del rock che ti ribolle nella pancia è catturato in modo perfetto. Gran bootleg dunque, gran concerto, grande prova di Robert e dei ragazzi … allora era ancora il golden god e dava la paga ai gruppi tipo Whitesnake in quegli anni ormai annegati nel metal radiofonico americano.

◊ ◊ ◊

(broken)ENGLISH

We have talked about Mike Millard on this blog few times, he was a rock music lover from the US west coast and from 1973 to 1992 he recorded several concerts held in that area. He did it with quality equipment, for those times truly remarkable, bringing it inside the arenas in question using different stratagems (sometimes even pretending to be disabled and therefore in a wheelchair). His are therefore audience recordings, that is, taken by the public, but of a deadly quality; it is no coincidence that even today – among the circle of fans – they are considered among the best documents regarding the golden age of rock music. Yes, because with audience recording you have the exact idea of what it was like to go to a rock concert, the artist’s performance captured in its purest essence: the mood and emotional shocks of the audience, the music put on tape without artifice (and therefore without the edits and the tricks present in the official live records), the comments of the fans who sometimes ended up on the tape. Luckily LZ were among his favorite bands and, for example, his recordings of some of the six concerts held in 1977 in Los Angeles are precious testimonies for all of us. In 1994 Millard decided to take his own life, a decision that we do not allow ourselves to judge and therefore we neglect to comment on the abysses of pain that he must have gone through. For a very long time his cassettes remained archived in his room at his mother’s house, the records circulating in fact came from copies that Millard himself had made for friends and other collectors. Then it happened that his mother finally entrusted the many tapes (we are talking about 280 recorded concerts) to close friends of his son so that they could be transferred and then saved on DAT. Under the article I carry over (in addition to the text that accompanies the registration of RP which we will shortly talk about) the whole long story in case anyone is interested. To close this short summary, when it was thought that the original Millard masters had been lost, here they are found, remastered and put into free circulation by generous collectors and rock lovers like us. It is therefore a duty to send a thought to Mike Millard because thanks to his tapes rock remains alive and we can still delude ourselves to experience firsthand the most exciting moments of the music we love.

◊ ◊ ◊

After the end of LZ, RP decides to start a solo career. The first and second albums become platinum in the USA (one million or more copies sold). The same happens for the Honeydrippers EP in 1984 (album dedicated to the early rock and roll). The third album (1985) does not go beyond the golden disc (500,000 copies sold, although it seems it reached 750,000) then arrives, in 1987, Now And Zen. Completed with the third album the journey that leads to absolute distancing from the LZ, Robert returns with a new line-up and a new approach. Beyond the questionable eighties sounds, the album is not bad, it contains some beautiful songs and brings Robert back to great success (3,000,000 copies sold only in America). Manic Nirvana is released in 1990, it is a good modern rock record, it will be the last RP work to become platinum (if we exclude records made in collaboration with Page and with Alison Krauss). I was able to see a date (Florence) of the tour that followed, so it is a pleasure to have a recording of Mike Millard available from the Manic Nirvana tour.

The powerful and suggestive Watching You (from Manic Nirvana 1990) opens the show, the audio quality – considering that we are talking about an audience recording – is spectacular. Plant’s voice is clear, confident and full of blues mileage. Through vocalizations that come from Friends (from Led Zeppelin III 1970) comes Nobody’s Fault But Mine (from Presence of LZ 1976) and with it the mighty approach of the group that came back to life. Robert sings very well, the new group does not have enough blues in the body to compete with the original version, but the modernist reinterpretation is good anyway. Doug Boyle’s guitar solo isn’t bad at all.

Robert at the time was set with psychobilly and Billy’s Revenge (from Now And Zen 1988) is a testimony to this, personally I have never loved the genre and that type of pieces but this time I end up listening to it with pleasure, it may be the excellent audio quality … in headphones at high volume this concert is a blast. Tie Dye On The Highway (from Manic Nirvana 1990) is conducted by Doug Boyle’s ferocious guitar. Robert at the time sang in a sublime way, I didn’t remember him so fit. Nice moment with Boyle’s “blues” guitar and RP harmonica. The audience is hot.

The beautiful In The Mood (from The Priciple Of Moments 1983) brings the melody back to the center of attention, and here too I must underline Doug Boyle’s excellent solo. Chris Blackwell on drums and Charlie Jones on bass do a great job. Robert teases the audience by mentioning That’s The Way (from Led Zeppelin III 1970). So the time comes to choose the path where no-one goes: No Quarter (from LZ’s House Of The Holy 1973). As soon as Phil Johnstone introduces the first embroideries to the piano, the audience “goes down of melon” as we say here in Emilia, meaning going crazy/out of their heads. Although the version is more than worthy and fresh, one cannot fail to notice a certain rhythmic rigidity, on the other hand Bonham and (John Paul) Jones were from other universes. Liar’s Dance (from Manic Nirvana 1990) is the lovely little picture in open tuning (where, among other things, RP mentions Gallows Pole from LZ III 1970 and Stairway To Heaven from LZ IV 1971) and it is followed by Going To California (from Led Zeppelin IV 1971) . The Audience is in raptures.

Little By Little (from Shaken ‘n’ Stirred 1985) comes from a difficult and not quite successful album but it is a piece that I have always loved very much. Nice groove and nice musical development. Nirvana (from Manic Nirvana 1990) is a song that I don’t like and I continue to find bland.

Immigrant Song (from LZ III 1970) puts the concert back on track, a convincing version played in the original key (F# / ), well centered on Boyle’s modernist solo. Hurting Kind (from Manic Nirvana 1990), the single designated of the disc then just released, begins with a long vocals introduction and then starts with the due unleashed rhythm. In the middle of the song Robert teases those present with the “oh my jesus” taken from In My Time Of Dying (from Physical Graffiti of LZ 1975). I have to repeat myself: audience recordings of this caliber are a marvel.

Robert says goodbye and when he returns for the encore, before the final rush, it’s time for the delicious moment of Ship Of Fools (from Now And Zen 1988). As soon as Robert starts singing the audience shows him a great, great, great affection. Wearing And Tearing (from Coda 1982 by LZ) is one of the outtakes of 1978 taken from the sessions of In Through The Out Door by LZ 1979 . Tight and frenzied rock music. The group leaves and when it comes back it dive into Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman) (from LZ II 1969). Engaging interpretation, great additional solo by Doug Boyle. The show closes with Tall Cool One (from Now And Zen 1988), a sort of Train Kept A-Rollin ‘eighties model. The samples in the pieces forcefully bring Led Zeppelins back on track. Towards the end Robert and the group quote (beyond the samplers) The Ocean / Black Dog / Custard Pie.

So, it’s a wonderful recording, it certainly won’t have the quality of an official live album well recorded with multitrack, but the sound of the rock that boils in your belly is captured here perfectly. Great bootleg therefore, great concert, great performance of Robert and the boys … then he was still the golden god and he could won easily on groups like Whitesnake that in those years were drowning in American radio mainstream and blatant metal.

◊ ◊ ◊

Robert Plant, Sports Arena, San Diego, CA. August 9, 1990
Mike Millard Master Cassettes via JEMS
The Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Tapes Volume 35, 1644 Edition

Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder

Transfer: Mike Millard Master Cassettes > Nakamichi RX-505 (azimuth adjustment; Dolby On) > Sound Devices USBPre 2 > Audacity 2.0 capture > iZotope RX6 > iZotope Ozone 6 > MBIT+ resample to 16/44 > xACT 2.39 > FLAC

01 Watching You
02 Nobody’s Fault But Mine
03 Billy’s Revenge
04 Tie Dye On The Highway
05 In The Mood
06 No Quarter
07 Liar’s Dance
08 Going To California
09 Little By Little
10 Nirvana
11 Immigrant Song
12 Hurting Kind (I’ve Got My Eyes On You)
13 Ship Of Fools
14 Wearing And Tearing
15 Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman)
16 Tall Cool One

Known Faults: None

Introduction to the Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone Series

That all changed with the discovery of many of Mike Millard’s original master tapes.

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667745&hit=1
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=667750&hit=1

Robert Plant, Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, August 9, 1990

Our weekly dip into the Millard archive carries on with Mike’s master cassettes of the San Diego stop on the Manic Nirvana tour in support of the album of the same name. As we know, Led Zeppelin topped the list of Mike’s favorite artists and he documented many solo shows post 1980 by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

Speaking of Zep, Plant’s choice of songs to include in the set from his former band include two great picks that Zeppelin never performed live. The first is the LZII ditty “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just A Woman),” which I’ve always found delightful. It is performed with straightforward charm.

The second is the brilliant In Through The Out Door outtake “Wearing and Tearing,” which legend has it was briefly considered for a single release around the time of Knebworth ’79. It’s a high-energy stormer that rides a great riff and, in my opinion, would have been a welcome addition to ITTOD, instead of being released after Bonham’s death on Coda. While I’m on the subject, “Wearing and Tearing” and “Ozone Baby” are both highly underrated and “Darlene” (the third outtake of the ’79 trio) isn’t too shabby either. I genuinely love all three.

The rest of the set smartly mixes Manic Nirvana songs with the best of Plant’s solo career and a few extra Zeppelin nuggets. I particularly like RP’s vocals on “In The Mood” and “Ship of Fools.”

As we’ve previously discussed, the Sports Arena in San Diego is not the Sydney Opera House in terms of acoustics, but Millard’s taping location seems to be ideal on this night and he gets a very fine, close capture without a lot of the hall muddying things up. Samples provided.

Neither Jim, Rob nor Barry were along for the ride this time, so we don’t have a first-person account to share. We do know Mike recorded the opening act, Alannah Myles, the Canadian hard rock singer you might remember from her hit song, “Black Velvet.” He also recorded Plant’s show one night later in Irvine.

###

JEMS is proud to partner with Rob, Jim R and Barry G to release Millard’s historic recordings and to help set the record straight about the man himself.

Three cheers to mjk5510 for his post-production work on this. And to Goody his pitch inspection and beyond.

Lastly, cheers to the late, great Mike the MICrophone. His work never ceases to impress. May he rest in peace.

BK for JEMS

Welcome to a truly extraordinary new chapter of JEMS’ Lost and Found Mike the MICrophone series presenting recordings made by legendary taper Mike Millard, AKA Mike the MICrophone, best known for his masters of Led Zeppelin done in and around LA circa 1975-77. For further details on how some tapes in this series came to be lost and found again, as well as JEMS’ history with Mike Millard, please refer to the notes in Vol. One: http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=500680

To date the Lost and Found series has presented fresh transfers of previously unavailable first-generation copies made by Mike himself for friends like Stan Gutoski of JEMS, Jim R and Barry G. These sources were upgrades to circulating copies, and in most instances marked the first time verified first generation Millard sources had been directly digitized in the torrent era.

Now, we are ecstatic to present what had been previously unthinkable, unimaginable, perhaps even impossible: a direct, high-resolution transfer from Millard’s original master tapes.

Yes, you read that correctly, Mike Millard’s master cassettes, long rumored to be destroyed or lost, have been found. Not all of them, but many, and with them a much more complete picture has emerged of what Millard recorded between his first show in late 1973 and his last in early 1992.

The reason the rediscovery of his master tapes is such a revelation is that we’ve been told for decades they were long gone. Internet myths suggest Millard destroyed his master tapes before taking his own life, an imprudent detail likely concocted based on assumptions that because the master tapes had never surfaced and Mike’s mental state was troubled, he would do something that rash WITH HIS LIFE’S WORK. There’s also a version of the story where Mike’s family dumps the tapes after he dies.

The truth is, Mike’s masters remained in his bedroom for many years after his death in 1994. We know at least a few of Millard’s friends and acquaintances contacted his mother inquiring about the tapes after his death to no avail. But in the early 2000s, longtime Millard friend Rob S was the one she knew and trusted enough to preserve Mike’s work.

Here’s Rob’s account of how Millard’s master tapes were saved:

After Mike left us, I visited his mom Lia occasionally, usually around the holidays. She’d talk about the grandkids and show me pictures. She had no one to help out around the house so I did some minor improvements like fixing a kitchen shelf that collapsed and another time a gate that hadn’t worked for years.

After a few visits, I explained to Lia how the tapes were metal, up to 25 years old already and would eventually deteriorate. She agreed to let me take the tapes and make copies. We went into Mike’s bedroom and it was exactly like I remembered it when I was there years before. I loaded up every tape I could find and went to work copying them. Oldest first, some requiring “surgery.”

Months later when I was done copying, I compared what I had copied to a list Mike had compiled of his masters and realized there were many shows missing. I returned the tapes and asked Lia if we could see if there were any more somewhere else in the house. We went into a back bedroom and found a bunch of boxes filled with more original master tapes. I loaded them up, thanked Lia and left. This was the last time I would see her. I copied the rest of the tapes and stored the masters in a cool dry place until late last year when Jim R. reached out. We had known each other through Mike. After speaking with Jim, and later BK who had tracked him down, I knew their partnership was the “right way” to get this music out to everyone who wanted it, and I’m sure Mike would have agreed.

Initially, Rob copied a large batch of Millard’s master cassettes to DAT and returned them to the house. The second time around, he was given a large portion of the cassette collection, different from what he had copied to DAT.

The first round of DAT transfers features some of Millard’s most famous recordings of Led Zeppelin, ELP, the Rolling Stones and Jethro Tull. The second traunch of actual cassette masters includes his captures of Yes, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Rush and Pink Floyd.

As exciting as it is to access Millard’s masters of the shows we know and love, there are many new recordings in both collections from artist like Elton John, Queen, Thin Lizzy, Eric Clapton, The Who, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Guns N’ Roses, Linda Ronstadt, David Bowie, the Moody Blues, U2 and more.

Even with an information gap in the mid ‘80s when Millard was surely taping but there is no tape or written evidence as to what he captured, we have now confirmed some 280 shows Millard did record. Of those, there are master cassettes for approximately 100 shows, DATs off masters of another 75 and first generation analog copies for 20-25. Together, that nearly quadruples the number of extant Millard recordings. In the coming months we will release more amazing shows from the recovered treasure, some familiar, some entirely new. But we had to start somewhere.

And so we begin this new era of Mike the MIC master tapes with one of the most beloved recordings in the Millard canon: his incredible capture of Pink Floyd on night four of the band’s five show stand at the Sports Arena in LA on the Wish You Were Here tour. This recording has been bootlegged and circulated in many forms, most recently from what are claimed to be (and in fairness probably are) first-generation sources that sound excellent. In fact, we were preparing to post Jim R’s first generation cassettes made by Mike (which have particularly brilliant cassette art) before this fortunate turn of events.

Mike’s master recording is sublime, a sonic marvel not merely for what it captures from the stage but for how little the audience can be heard, save for when you want to hear them. It is full, rich and close in a way that makes the argument for why the best audience recordings can be more satisfying than a soundboard tape. Mike used TDK KR 90 cassettes, an early chrome tape which would soon be rebranded to the more familiar SA 90.

The tapes were recorded Dolby on, but for this edition transferred Dolby off, as Mike did himself when he made copies for friends. The sonic signature should be familiar to those who have done close listening to the best first-generation sourced versions (like buffalofloyd’s update of Sigma’s Definitive Millard), but hopefully that title more accurately applies to this version.

To our ears, the Millard master transfer is everything you love about the extant recording and more: lower lows, clearer highs, less hiss. It is balanced, warm and immersive. We’ve made the recording available in both consumer friendly 1644 and audiophile 2496 editions, with mastering at a bare minimum to let the pure power of the capture shine through. Samples provided.

Millard’s dear friend Jim R was with Mike at the show and shot the original unpublished photos we are fortunate to include with this release. Here’s what he recalls:

Mike and I attended the Pink Floyd concert on April 26, 1975. I pushed him in the wheelchair.

It was the fourth night of a five night stand at the LA Sports Arena. Due to Pink Floyd’s popularity, tickets were in extremely high demand and expensive. As a result, we attended only the one night. Since the LA Sports Arena was owned by LA County, all of the choice seats were controlled by downtown ticket brokers. Fortunately, we were in tight with several of them and had our choice of where to sit.

Ahead of time, we heard about the high quality sound system Pink Floyd was using and that it would be a Quadrophonic setup. Knowing that, we decided on seats a little further back than normal, in the 16th row in order to pickup some of the Quad sound. Indeed it was a fantastic sound system with PA stacks in each corner of the floor.

What really makes this show one of the most memorable of the 200 or so concerts Mike and I attended together was the fact that there were over 500 drug busts made during Pink Floyd’s LA run (detailed in a big LA Times story about the crackdown). Regardless, we were able to sneak in a Nakamichi 550 cassette recorder, which is the size of the yellow pages phone book and nearly 15 pounds. Amazingly, people got busted for a couple joints and somehow we smuggle in a huge tape deck and get away with it. What a rush!

The recording turned out superb and it was aided by a very polite crowd. At the very beginning of the recording Mike says “testing 123.” The lighting was on the dark side (pun intended), and since we sat 16 rows back, my pictures turned out a little on the fuzzy side. Oh well.

Meeting Jim, then Barry and ultimately connecting with Rob has added incredible new chapters to my personal Mike the MIC story that started in 1986 when I first saw a box of Millard tapes and heard stories about how he recorded. I’m lucky and grateful that we all four of us share a deep appreciation for what Mike documented over the years and the on-going belief in his mission to share the music among friends, which is why we do this.

As joyous as this initial Millard master release has been, it is bittersweet. The person who showed me that original box of Millard tapes and told me the stories was Stan Gutoski, the S in JEMS. He met Mike face to face on two occasions and the pair had a few phone calls, sharing notes on how they recorded shows, comparing gear and ultimately trading copies of their recordings. Game respecting game. During a 1992 meet up in SoCal, they even spoke about losing their fathers and hugged each other in camaraderie, something Stan never forgot.

Sadly, on Friday, January 24, 2020, Walter Stan Gutoski, passed away. He was 74.

Stan had gone into the hospital in December because of a spinal infection that severely limited his mobility. I spoke to him at the time, sharing various JEMS updates which always lifted his spirits, even as he sounded weak. He was released, but his condition didn’t improve after he left the hospital, and in mid January I got updates from his son that didn’t sound promising. Last week, his son told me Stan was back in the hospital battling pneumonia, and it was clear his health was rapidly deteriorating. I began to consider how soon I could fly up to see him.

On Thursday night, I asked if there was an opportunity to call Stan in the hospital, and his son said perhaps he could put me on speaker phone for a minute if his dad was up to it. Sensing that might not happen, I followed up with a text: “Please tell Stan I love him dearly and that we found Mike Millard’s master tapes a few weeks ago.”

His son replied, “Wow. The taper’s ‘Ark of the Covenant.’ That’s amazing. I’ll tell him.”

Mid morning the next day, Friday, his son texted, “Good morning. My dad passed away a few minutes ago.”

It was the stomach punch I knew was coming, but not this fast. Way too fast. I started crying. His son then texted:

“My brother and I and my youngest son stayed with him until 6:30 am. He never went to sleep. He kept fighting it. He was impressed about the 280 shows [Millard recorded]. He kept making me repeat the number. He wanted to know what years and what cities/venues. I guess he can just ask him now in person. [They are] hanging with Jared watching Tom Petty and George Harrison play.”

If ever there was a moment of happiness and sadness at the same time, reading that text was it. While I’m not religious, the thought of Mike Millard, Stan Gutoski and our late, great friend Jared Houser (the J in JEMS) all hanging together in heaven is something I am only too happy to believe.

JEMS is thrilled to partner with Rob, Jim R and Barry to release Millard’s historic recordings and to help set the record straight about the man himself. It has been 25 years since Mike passed away and his legend only continues to grow. Along with the tapes, Rob also had a copy of Mike’s tape list circa 1983, which details all his master tapes including his own quality rating system: Stereo-EX, Stereo-Good, Stereo-Fair and Stereo-Poor. He was a tough critic of his own work: the outstanding recording of the Rod Stewart and Faces 1975 show at the Forum only rated Good.

We can’t thank Rob S enough for reconnecting with Jim and putting his trust in our Millard reissue campaign. He has kept these precious tapes under wraps for two decades, but once he learned of our methods and stewardship, he agreed to contribute his DATs and cassettes to the program.

Our production support team also deserves credit. Thanks to Goody for giving this his stamp of pitch approval and to mjk5510 for his essential work on all JEMS projects. We can’t do it without you.

Finally, cheers to the late, great Mike the MICrophone, Jared Houser and Stan Gutoski. May they rest in peace. Can’t wait to hear the heaven tapes someday.

BK for JEMS

View Info file (13.71 KB)

Commenti 6 commenti
Categorie Articles in english, Led Zeppelin, Recensioni musicali

BOOTLEGS: Led Zeppelin, Vienna 16/03/1973 (new 4 source matrix)

29 Apr

ITALIAN / ENGLISH

Il tour europeo del Led Zeppelin del marzo 1973 è – per quanto riguarda le performance – uno dei picchi del gruppo. Sebbene RP tra la fine del 1972 e gennaio 1973 avesse sofferto di problemi alla voce e non fosse probabilmente più il cantante rock con timbro celestiale ed estensione senza limiti che aveva in mente il pubblico, dal punto di vista strumentale la band viaggiava su livelli stellari. La scaletta era la più ricca sino a quel momento, il mood del gruppo era ancora altissimo, il management al pieno della propria capacità e lucidità e Jimmy Page suonava come il Jimmy Page dell’immaginario collettivo. Copenhagen (02/03/1973, Goteborg (04/03/1973), Stoccolma (06/03/1973), poi due spettacoli cancellati in Svezia e Norvegia e quindi Norimberga (14/03/1973) e appunto Vienna il 16/03/1973. Dopo, altri 11 concerti spesi tra Germania e Francia (dove ne vennero comunque annullati altri due per disordini), quattro settimane di pausa e poi via per l’altrettanto leggendario tour americano speso tra maggio, giugno e luglio.

IL concerto di Vienna si tenne alla Stadthalle, sala indoor da 16.000 posti e fu un successo, questo uno stralcio del resoconto di allora del Melody Maker:

“The historic city of Vienna, normally bulging at the seams with Strauss and grand operas, played host on Friday night to Led Zeppelin at the enormous Wiener Stadthalle.
“Introduced as the ‘Rock sensation of the year’, the group took the stage and went straight into a deafening version of ‘Good Times Bad Times’ [sic]. Robert Plant strode around with chest barred and hair flailing, thrusting his pelvic grind at the audience, while Jimmy Page, wearing his Les Paul low-strung, crushed out well amplified chords. ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Misty Mountain Hop’ followed, and both songs included some dynamic drumming from John Bonham, who hammered the skins for all his was worth.
“Things quieted down in ‘Bron-Y-Aur Stomp’, their only acoustic number. Page then brought out his double-necked Gibson for ‘The Song Remains the Same’, from the new album and John Paul Jones who it was announced was suffering from a stomach complaint, provided some superb orchestral effects on the mellotron.
“The opening bars of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ were greeted with a huge roar, and when the band finally broke into ‘Whole Lotta Love’, that was the cue for a general stampede towards the front of the sage.” — Dave Hopkins [Melody Maker, 1973-03-31]

Wiener Stadthalle

La porzione soundboard di questa registrazione esiste da tempo immemorabile e qualunque fan dei LZ che si rispetti ne gode dunque da moltissime lune, ma da poco è stata resa disponibile nei circuiti internet che si occupano di registrazioni dal vivo non ufficiali la versione forse definitiva, quella creata mettendo insieme nel miglior modo possibile le tre registrazioni audience (prese dal pubblico) e quella soundboard (presa dal mixer).

La produzione (che comprende anche le copertine e le note e le specifiche tecniche) è a cura di Nite Owl production. E’ bene precisare che NiteOwl si è servito dell’ottimo lavoro fatto a suo tempo da Winston Remasters con Danke Vienna.

LED ZEPPELIN – 1973-03-16 – Vienna – NEW 4 SOURCE MATRIX (16bit)

Led Zeppelin – “Vienna Fireworks: Live in Europe 1973”
Recorded Friday evening March 16, 1973 at the Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria

STEREO MATRIX of 4 recordings synchronized & mixed together in varying levels & combinations: AUD sources 1-3 and SBD (where available).

SONGS: [2:11:25]
01. introduction [0:57]
02. Rock and Roll (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) [3:48]
03. Over the Hills and Far Away (Page, Plant) [6:41]
04. Black Dog (Jones, Page, Plant) [6:18]
05. Misty Mountain Hop (Jones, Page, Plant) [4:27]
06. Since I’ve Been Loving You (Jones, Page, Plant) [9:09]
07. Dancing Days (Page, Plant) [5:53]
08. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (Jones, Page, Plant) [6:26]
09. The Song Remains the Same (Page, Plant) [5:20]
10. The Rain Song (Page, Plant) [9:19]
— [* = board tape available / optional disc division @ 58:19]
11. Dazed and Confused (Page, Holmes) * [28:30] contains:
San Fransisco (Phillips)
Mars, the Bringer of War (Holst)
12. Stairway to Heaven (Page, Plant) * [10:59]
13. Whole Lotta Love (Bonham, Dixon, Jones, Page, Plant) [25:36] contains:
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love (Wexler, Berns, Burke)
Boogie Chillun’ (Besman, Hooker) *
(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care (Leiber, Stoller) *
Let’s Have a Party (Robinson) *
I Can’t Quit You Baby (Dixon) *
14. Heartbreaker (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) * [8:01]

Il Robert Plant che parte in Rock and Roll è finalmente altra cosa rispetto a quello con continui problemi alla voce delle settimane e mesi precedenti; anche il gruppo pare in forma sin da subito benché serva sempre un po’ prima di carburare. Over the Hills and Far Away mi è sempre sembrata fuori posto come secondo pezzo della scaletta, ma il gruppo qui la suona bene comunque. Nella parte hard rock RP evita i picchi vocali usati nella versione da studio ma il brano sta in piedi ugualmente. La qualità audio audience (il soundboard è relativo solo al secondo disco) è molto buona, il lavoro fatto da Nite Owl sembra già in queste prime battute ottimo, suono corposo e chiaro. Sul finale scoppia un petardo.

RP: Good evening. Good evening! Steady. Now tonight we must be very careful not to do too many things, because Mr Jones, has, uh, colic. Must be careful. So, all your spiritual feelings must go straight to Mr Jones’ stomach, for a bit of health. Beyond that note. Here is a song about, uh, about a rather oversexed, uh, member of the canine family. This is called ‘Black Dog’.

Robert annuncia dunque che John Paul Jones stasera soffre di coliche, ma a sentirlo suonare non si direbbe proprio.

Black Dog è suonata molto bene, il tocco di Page nel riff è di quelli magici, pieno di dinamica. La voce di Robert è aiutata da un po’ di echo (o delay) mentre Jones e Bonham sono sempre una meraviglia da ascoltare. I giochetti di cassa di Bonham sono fenomenali.

RP: Danke schön. This is, uh, an instrum, a number that features Mr Jones on piano. And he’s having a lot of trouble gettin’ about. This is a song that in England, uh, it’s understandable because wherever you go to enjoy yourself Big Brother is not very far behind. And Big Brother is a term used for the paranoid establishment. And, uh, if it’s ever happened to you, you know what it’s like. But this is what comes of walking through the park with a packet of cigarette papers. What does that man mean? This is called ‘Misty Mountain Hop.’

Misty Mountain Hop è il solito trampolino di lancio per l’ennesima grande versione targata 1973 di Since I’ve Been Loving You. Jimmy Page pare spiritato sin dall’inizio; nelle parti lente e riflessive il feeling è di un candore impressionante, al tempo stesso immacolato e dissoluto. L’interplay tra Robert e Jimmy è un meraviglia. La qualità audio si conferma ottima (tenendo sempre presente che stiamo parlando di una registrazione audience). In cuffia la sensazione è quella di essere presenti al concerto.

RP: Thank you. Danke schön. It’s very nice to be here in Vienna. Very nice. You’ve even got some good groupies. Ha ha, ha ha. Um, this is a song, about, uh, this is a song off the new album which comes out sometime this year. The LP is called Houses of the Holy. We all hope you rush out and, uh, look at a copy. And this is a song about little school girls, and, uh, not too little, mind you, not too little, and, uh, my love for ‘em. Remembering what happened to Jerry Lee Lewis, I think I’ll take it easy. Mr, Mr Bonham there? Two hundred pounds? ‘Dancing Days.’

Le versioni live di Dancing Days sono sempre divertenti; John Bonham sembra spassarsela sempre un sacco.

RP: Thank you very much. Very nice to be, uh, walking towards the mic stand. This is our number where we show our age and we have to sit down a little bit. You’ll have to shut up up there! Sshh, sshh. I don’t know what you’re sayin’, but it’s, uh, contrary to the state regulations. Actually, this is a clean up tour for us, as opposed to a mop up. Shut up! Here is a song that was written in the, in the mountains in, in, in Wales, where there is no electricity, no running water, no chicks. Actually, I tell a lie, and plenty of sheep. Ha, ha, ha. It is a song about a little dog who I know very well. …. This is a song called ‘Bron-Yr-Aur.’ Ooops. This is a song with a Welsh title. It’s a song I enjoy singing in foreign parts ‘cuz it reminds me of the good times that I have with my dog. That’s a, now for those pople who can’t speak English, this is called ‘Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp.’ And you can all help us with the aid of your dolies(?). I know. We must wait for Mr Jones who has a bad tummy. Bless you. Now don’t do that, nicht gut. You’ve got it. It’s just the rhythm.

Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (including a bit of That’s The Way) come sempre vede John Bonham alla seconda voce. Solito irresistibile quadretto danzereccio campagnolo.

RP: Another, um, this song is, uh, for a couple in Moulin Rouge. And Mr. Bonham’s delight at the Moulin Rouge tonight. Far out. Ha ha. This is called ‘The Song Remains the Same.’

Con The Song Remains the Same la vaporiera LZ si getta tra le acque agitate del fiume a tutta velocità per poi attraccare in insenature tranquille grazie alla bellezza assoluta di The Rain Song. Da segnalare l’assolo di Page sulla 12 corde durante TSRTS, spettacolare!

RP: John Paul Jones played the mellotron with a bad stomach.

RP: Here is, uh, a song that comes from a long long long time ago. When we were all nineteen. You never did, you schmuck. Wait, stop, go home. On you, the Scotsman. You’d have to be a Scotsman to do that. Anyway, here’s one from a long time ago.

Dazed And Confused è la consueta tormenta elettrica costruita su fasi diverse a loro volta ispirate dalle differenti missioni umane: l’esplorazione del cosmo, degli inferi, del mistero della vita. Che un gruppo Rock sapesse suonare, improvvisare e restare compatto in quel modo è ancora oggi per me un evento inspiegabile. Poco dopo il minuto 5:00 inizia la transizione tra registrazione audience e registrazione soundboard, la qualità audio migliora sensibilmente ma vale pena ribadire ancora che anche la registrazione audience ha comunque il suo perché. Il solito accenno a There Was A Time di James Brown e poi è già tempo di San Francisco. I quattro musicisti si allineano sull’arpeggio di MI minore e DO di Page, Plant vi canta sopra l’immancabile If You’Re Going To San Francisco di Scott McKenzie, quindi tutti insieme vanno a quietarsi per poi perdersi nel mare dell’inquietudine della violin bow section. Page si mette il vestito da negromante, illusionista e stregone e ipnotizza il pubblico con i suoni che fuoriescono dalla sua Les Paul trattata con l’archetto di violino. Abbiamo descritto questo momento tante volte, ma l’effetto che ha sulla nostre psiche non ci permette di esimerci dal magnificare il talento pittorico di Page nel mettere su tela i suoni dell’infinito. Subito dopo, breve botta e risposta da Page e Bonham e via che si parte per la sgroppata a rotta di collo lungo i sentirei dell’improvvisazione più alta. Dopo l’ultima strofa, la chiusura è di nuovo un portento di improvvisazione … mai sentito un gruppo Rock a questo livello. 27 minuti di meraviglia sonora.

RP: (Happiness is a warm gun.) That was an old song called ‘Dazed and Confused.’ And now we’d like to. John Paul Jones’ stomach … This song is for you, Dalia, wherever you are. Oh, there she is.

Stairway To Heaven è piena si sentimento ed è il ritratto perfetto della bellezza musicale. Ognuno ha le sue preferenze ma è indubbio che le versione del tour del 1973 di certi pezzi sono da considerarsi definitive (penso in particolare a STH, SIBLY, NO Q e WLL).

RP: Danke schön. This is a song for people who like to boogie a little bit. In fact, it’s the most basic thing that anybody can possibly do. In fact, we should all be doing it tonight. Ha ha, ha, ha, ha.

Dopo STH torna il piombo Zeppelin. Whole Lotta Love (Ain’t It Funky Now/Sing A Simple Song/Cat’s Squirrel, Boogie Chillum, Boogie Mama, Baby I Don’t Care, Let’s Have A Party, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Lemon Song) si riempie di riferimenti e di divertissement. Si parte, dopo le prime strofe, con accenni strumentali a Ain’t It Funky Now di James Brown, a Sing A Simple Song di Sly & The Family Stone e a Cat’s Squirrell dei Cream. Dopo l’assolo e la terza strofa ci si butta in Boogie Chillum di John Lee Hooker e quindi nella sempre travolgente Boogie Mama, per me – nella versione del live ufficiale del 1973 (1976) TSRTS – uno dei punti più alti del gruppo. Seguono (You Are So Square) Baby I Don’t Care, successo di Elvis scritto nel 1957 da Leiber & Stoller, e Let’s Have A Party anch’essa del 1957 e cantata da Elvis e scritta da Jessie Mae Robinson. Si chiude il siparietto con I Can’t Quit You Baby e The Lemon Song, un lungo unico blues dove i ragazzi provano a smontare i confini delle 12 battute e a riscrivere – da bianchi – la musica dei neri che li ha formati.

RP: Thank you very much and goodnight. That’s, that’s enough. Good.

L’improvvisazione prima di Heartbreaker è da sempre fonte di gioia per i fan; trattasi di 60 secondi scarsi di hard rock funk improvvisato, Jones e Bonham che accontentano Page seguendolo in uno dei suoi riff meravigliosamente strampalati creati sul momento. Nell’assolo centrale Page cerca di parlare al pubblico con la chitarra prima di iniziare la famigliare scarica di note. Sentirlo suonare in maniera così potente, sicura (e sporca) è una delle belle cose della vita. Bourrée, il pezzetto Ragtime e infine la ripartenza con tutto il gruppo. Plant canta la strofa finale un po’ a fatica, è attento a non esagerare, nelle sue condizioni essere arrivato a fine concerto in maniera ben più che dignitosa è tanto, meglio non cadere proprio alla fine.

RP: Thank you very much, Vienna. And goodnight. Thank you very much. It’s been a very nice night

Già, a a very nice night, un gran bella serata quella passata a Vienna 47 anni fa. Gran concerto e gran bella versione di questa registrazione live.

◊ ◊ ◊

MATRIX NOTES:

The general aim was to provide the whole concert in as consistent and upgraded a listening experience as could be stitched together from the various recordings which are all incomplete. While there are always some downsides to matrixing analog recordings that have been manually synchronized, it is hoped that the benefits, such as the improved stereo dimension, of the results outweigh those deficiencies. Further lesser quality audience sources than those described below also exist but were not used.

AUD source #1: The master was reportedly a TDK SA 90 cassette, which matches the 45 + 45 minutes which are extant and captured tracks 2-8 & 12 and parts of 1, 9, 11, 13. Winston Remaster used for the first part (which is unmatrixed on that version). Best of the audience recordings overall, recorded close to the stage towards one side. The guitar is somewhat buried here.

AUD source #2: A lower/medium quality cassette recording at a greater distance to the stage, used only to patch missing AUD sections of tracks 1 & 9-11 (and the encore break before 14).

AUD source #3: Captured most of the concert except for the introduction and notably two gaps in DAC. The master reported to have been recorded with Sony mics to Uher Report reel-to-reel. Close to the quality of AUD.1 but with a different sound balance (guitar is prominent, vocals somewhat buried) and recorded towards the other side of the stage. Matrixing with AUD.1 thus allows reproducing the occasional stereo panning effects of the house mix (which are not present on the SBD): guitar break in Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, bow solo in DAC, Theremin in WLL.

SBD source: Apparently a 60 minute cassette which contains most of tracks 11-14. However, several minutes of 11/DAC & 13/WLL are missing, as the tape was not flipped immediately when the side or reel A ran out. There was probably another cassette on which the first hour of the concert was recorded (or copied), including the beginning of DAC, with the engineer likely missing some two minutes of the song between the cassettes, after the first one stopped and until recording resumed on a fresh tape. The reason why only the second cassette is available (for this and also certain other dates) is perhaps that someone in or with the band wanted a listening copy of just the songs with improvisation. The mix that was recorded is not exactly the same as what was played over the PA, as some of the delay/reverb effects (particularly on the vocals), as well as the panning, heard on the audience recordings are not present.

Track by track breakdown:
tr.01: AUD.2+1. AUD.2 contains half a minute more of the pre-show compared to AUD.1, none of which is on AUD.3.
02-08: AUD.1+3. SBD not available for the first part of the show but AUD.1 & 3 run practically without breaks until the end of BYAS.
09: AUD.1/2+3. AUD.1 has breaks during the intro and its side A completely cuts out @ 1:30 into TSRTS; the taper evidently did not flip the tape and resume recording until well into DAC which gap has here been patched with AUD.2.
10: AUD.2+3. AUD.1 thus does not exist for The Rain Song; the lower quality tape of AUD.2 used to substitute.
11: AUD.2/1+3. AUD.1 continues recording @ 5:00 while AUD.3 cuts out around 6:45 for one minute. Both gaps in DAC have been patched by matrixing with AUD.2, except for the section between roughly 2:50 and 4:00 where that tape itself has a discontinuity.
11: SBD & AUD.1+3. SBD cuts in about 15 seconds after AUD.1, i.e., around 5:15 into DAC from which point on it is the main source for the matrix but augmented with AUD.1 & 3 – and some patching from AUD.2 – as far as they are available.
12: SBD & AUD.1+3. AUD.3 has short cuts in the introduction; SBD cuts out after STH ends as the tape side ran out.
13: AUD.1+3 / SBD & AUD.1+3. Side B of the AUD.1 cassette runs out around 10:15 into WLL but SBD continued recording 4 minutes before that.
13-14: SBD & AUD.3. The segment containing the last 13 minutes of WLL and nearly all of Heartbreaker is therefore a matrix of SBD and AUD.3 since AUD.1 was no longer recording. The encore break is largely cut on both sources between the songs: AUD.3 misses about 2:20 of atmosphere while SBD loses only 1:30 and has the first notes of Heartbreaker intact. For the sake of completeness the missing part has again been patched from AUD.2 although the change in sound is noticeable.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Thanks to all the tapers and the persons who made the digital transfers, and Winston Remasters whose version of AUD source 1 has been appropriated. (Indeed the whole of “Danke! Vienna”, which matrixes only the parts where both AUD.1 and SBD are available, was useful for reference. Note that in the notes to that title, AUD.3 is called “Aud Source 2” whereas here it is referred to as AUD.3.)

Artwork included. A Nite Owl production (NO-2020-12).

◊ ◊ ◊

(broken) ENGLISH

The LZ European tour of March 1973 is – as far as performances are concerned – one of the group’s peaks. Although RP between the end of 1972 and January 1973 had suffered from voice problems and was probably no longer the rock singer with celestial timbre and limitless extension that the audience had in mind, from an instrumental point of view the band traveled on stellar levels. The songlist was the richest so far, the mood of the group was still very high, the management at full capacity and lucidity and Jimmy Page sounded like the Jimmy Page of the collective imagination. Copenhagen (02/03/1973, Goteborg (04/03/1973), Stockholm (06/03/1973), then two shows canceled in Sweden and Norway and then Nuremberg (14/03/1973) and precisely Vienna on 16. Afterwards, another 11 concerts spent between Germany and France (where two more were canceled due to riots), a four-week break and then off to the equally legendary American tour spent between May, June and July.

The Vienna concert was held at the Stadthalle, 16,000-seat indoor hall and it was a success, an excerpt from the Melody maker’s account of the time:

Wiener Stadthalle

The soundboard portion of this recording has existed from time immemorial and any self-respecting LZ fan has therefore enjoyed it for many many moons, but recently the whole recording has been made available, on the internet circuits that deal with unofficial live recordings, in a new version created by putting together the three audience recordings (taken from the audience) and the soundboard (taken from the mixer) in the best possible way.

The production (which also includes the covers and the notes and the technical specifications) is by Nite Owl production. It is good to point out that NiteOwl has made use of the excellent work done at the time by Winston Remasters with Danke Vienna.

LED ZEPPELIN – 1973-03-16 – Vienna – NEW 4 SOURCE MATRIX (16bit)

Led Zeppelin – “Vienna Fireworks: Live in Europe 1973”
Recorded Friday evening March 16, 1973 at the Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria

STEREO MATRIX of 4 recordings synchronized & mixed together in varying levels & combinations: AUD sources 1-3 and SBD (where available).

The Robert Plant that starts in Rock and Roll is finally something else than the one with constant problems with the voice of the previous weeks and months; the group seems to be in shape right from the start although it always serves a little before fueling. Over the Hills and Far Away always seemed to me out of place as the second piece of the setlist, but the group here does it well anyway. In the hard rock part RP avoids the vocal peaks used in the studio version but the song is still standing. The audio audience quality (the soundboard is relative only to the second disc) is very good, the work done by Nite Owl seems already in these first few bars excellent, full-bodied and clear sound. At the end of the song a firecracker breaks out.

Robert therefore announces that John Paul Jones suffers from colic tonight, but hearing him play you’d say he is in perfect shape.

Black Dog is played very well, the touch of Page in the riff is magical, full of dynamics. Robert’s voice is helped by a little echo (or delay) while Jones and Bonham are always a marvel to listen to. Bonham’s bass drum tricks are phenomenal.

Misty Mountain Hop is the usual springboard for yet another great 1973 version of Since I’ve Been Loving You. Jimmy Page seems spirited from the beginning; in the slow and reflective parts the feeling is of an impressive candor, at the same time immaculate and dissolute. The interplay between Robert and Jimmy is a marvel. The audio quality is confirmed to be excellent (always keeping in mind that we are talking about an audience recording). With the headphones the feeling is that of being present at the concert.

Live versions of Dancing Days are always fun; John Bonham always seems to be having a great time.

Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (including a bit of That’s The Way) as usual features John Bonham on backing vocals. Usual irresistible rural dance picture.

RP: Another, um, this song is, uh, for a couple in Moulin Rouge. And Mr. Bonham’s delight at the Moulin Rouge tonight. Far out. Ha ha. This is called ‘The Song Remains the Same.’

With The Song Remains the Same, the LZ steamboat flows into the troubled waters of the river at full speed and then moors in quiet coves thanks to the absolute beauty of The Rain Song. Noteworthy is Page’s solo on the 12 strings during TSRTS, spectacular!

RP: John Paul Jones played the mellotron with a bad stomach.

Dazed And Confused is the usual electric blizzard built on different phases which in turn are inspired by different human missions: the exploration of the cosmos, the underworld, the mystery of life. That a rock band could play, improvise and remain compact in that way is still an inexplicable event for me even today. Shortly after minute 5:00 the transition between audience recording and soundboard recording begins, the audio quality improves significantly but it is worth reiterating that the audience recording also has its charm. The usual hint of James Brown‘s There Was A Time and then it’s already San Francisco time. The four musicians line up on the arpeggio of E minor and C by Page, Plant sings over it the inevitable If You’Re Going To San Francisco by Scott McKenzie, then all together they go to quiet down and then get lost in the sea of restlessness of the violin bow section. Page puts on his necromancer, illusionist and sorcerer outfit and hypnotizes the audience with the sounds that come out of his electric Les Paul treated with the violin bow. We have described this moment many times, but the effect it has on our psyche does not allow us to exempt ourselves from magnifying Page’s pictorial talent in putting the sounds of infinity on canvas. Immediately afterwards, a short call and response from Page and Bonham and off we go for the ride along the paths of the highest improvisation. After the last verse, the closure is once again a portent of improvisation … never heard a Rock group at this level. 27 minutes of sonic wonder.

Stairway To Heaven is full of feeling and is the perfect portrait of musical beauty. Everyone has their preferences but there is no doubt that the 1973 tour version of certain pieces are to be considered definitive (I think in particular of STH, SIBLY, NO Q and WLL).

After STH the lead Zeppelin returns. Whole Lotta Love (Ain’t It Funky Now / Sing A Simple Song / Cat’s Squirrel, Boogie Chillum, Boogie Mama, Baby I Don’t Care, Let’s Have A Party, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Lemon Song) fills up of references and divertissement. It starts, after the first verses, with instrumental hints to James Brown’s Ain’t It Funky Now, to Sly & The Family Stone‘s Sing A Simple Song and to Cream‘s Cat’s Squirrell. After the solo and the third verse they throw themselves in John Lee Hooker‘s Boogie Chillum and then in the always overwhelming Boogie Mama, for me – the version of the official live of 1973 (1976) TSRTS – one of the highest points of the group.Then (You Are So Square) Baby I Don’t Care, an Elvis hit written in 1957 by Leiber & Stoller, Let’s Have A Party also from 1957 and sung by Elvis and written by Jessie Mae Robinson and I Can’t Quit You Baby and The Lemon Song, a long single blues where the boys try to dismantle the boundaries of the 12 bars and rewrite – as whites – the music of the blacks who formed them.

RP: Thank you very much and goodnight. That’s, that’s enough. Good.

The improvisation before Heartbreaker has always been a source of joy for fans; it is a matter of 60 seconds of improvised hard rock funk, Jones and Bonham content Page by following one of his wonderfully bizarre riffs created on the spot. In the central solo Page tries to speak to the public on guitar before starting the familiar burst of notes. Hearing him play so powerfully, lively (and dirty) is one of the good things in life. Bourrée, the Ragtime piece and finally the restart with the whole group. Plant struggles a bit in the last verse, he is careful not to overdo it, in his condition having arrived at the end of the concert in a way more than dignified is so much, better to not fall right at the end.

RP: Thank you very much, Vienna. And goodnight. Thank you very much. It’s been a very nice night

Yes, a very nice night indeed the one in Vienna i 47 years ago. Great concert and great version of this live recording.

◊ ◊ ◊

MATRIX NOTES:

AUD source #2: A lower/medium quality cassette recording at a greater distance to the stage, used only to patch missing AUD sections of tracks 1 & 9-11 (and the encore break before 14).

Artwork included. A Nite Owl production (NO-2020-12).

©Tim Tirelli – april 2020

Commenti 2 commenti
Categorie Articles in english, Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin – “Please Please Me” 28/09/1971 Osaka, Japan – Previously Unreleased Soundboard – Empress Valley 2020

9 Mar

ITALIAN / ENGLISH

Di questo soundboard ne discuto con il mio amico – illustre LZ live recording collector e high level Led Head Amduscia – ormai da diversi anni, da quando insomma ci arrivò la notizia – tramite le nostri fonti – della effettiva esistenza nelle mani della Empress Valley di questo gioiellino e finalmente oggi possiamo godere di questa registrazione soundboard mai sentita prima. Ah, se penso ad alcuni lustri fa quando scambiavo cassette live dei LZ tramite la rete esoterica che avevo tessuto in tutto il mondo e mi accontentavo spesso di registrazioni audience con qualità assai discutibile quando poi negli ultimi anni la Empress Valley Supreme Disc (la mitologica etichetta bootleg nipponica) ha pubblicato parecchi sounboard subito messi a disposizioni della rete dai più generosi… che cambiamento … ormai anche un soundboard di questa portata ci sembra normale amministrazione. Questo nuovo bootleg non è completo, ma poco importa visto che contiene una larga porzione del primo show tenuto alla Festival Hall di Osaka il 28/09/1971. Quello del 1971 in terra giapponese è un tour ritenuto leggendario dai fan dei LZ, il gruppo era probabilmente all’apice delle sue potenzialità, Robert Plant cantava come forse mai nessun altro cantante hard rock aveva mai cantato, il gruppo era coeso, spiritato, divertente, LZ IV stava per essere pubblicato, insomma si era nel periodo d’oro non solo del gruppo ma anche della musica Rock.

AVVERTENZE: per assaporare appieno un bootleg occorre mettersi nella giusta predisposizione d’animo e creare l’atmosfera adatta. Leggo i primi commenti di altri fan (?): “Carino“, “niente male” etc etc…e rimango basito. Non è sufficiente sentire la cosa a pezzi e bocconi, è indispensabile mettersi di buona voglia, preferibilmente in cuffia, riservarsi uno spazio di tempo adeguato e precipitare laggiù negli anni settanta al cospetto di sua maestà il Rock!

La registrazione inizia con la coda dell’assolo di Page in Heartbtreaker (manca dunque la Immigrant Song e la prima parte di HB appunto). Il secondo assolo (quello in cui JPP è accompagnato da Jones e Bonham) è la solita tormenta elettrica. Non appena rientra Plant non ci si può che accorgere della potenza vocale del cantante.

RP: Arigato. Tonight, tonight you will be happy. And so will Phil Carson. This is, uh, this is indeed a pleasure. We had a wonderful, we came from Hiroshima yesterday and, uh, your glorious train was really far out. Long big train with many sleeping and things like that and such. Good milk. And, uh, so we’re in top spirits and, uh, to avoid walking in more bullshit, we’ll go straight on. This is called ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You.’

Ascoltare la batteria d John Bonham in modo così chiaro in Since I’ve Been Loving You è una cosa meravigliosa. Tutto è ben bilanciato, piano elettrico/organo e pedaliera basso perfettamente udibili. Bonham è incontenibile e la voce di Robert Plant è una lama al calor bianco che ti entra il cervello. Il Dark Lord è ispirato e bravo, molto bravo, seppur a tratti un po’ sporco (ma lo sappiamo, è una delle sue caratteristiche). Durante l’assolo di chitarra John Bonham non sta fermo un attimo.

RP: Arigato. I have a terrible problem with my shoes nightly. They keep coming undone. But we, uh, tonight you’ll be more than happy and, thank you. This is one from many moons ago. It’s called, uh, no, I’ll leave you to guess. Mr Jones? Good evening. Right on. This is a thing, in about three weeks time we’ll have a, a new LP coming out, by the fourth album, and, uh, this is one of the tracks from it. It’s called ‘Black Dog.’

LED ZEPPELIN IV non era ancora uscito in quei giorni e chissà cosa ne pensava il pubblico dei nuovi pezzi. Out On The Tile intro/ Black Dog è suonato con la cazzimma tipica dei LZ del 1971. Semplicemente magnifici!

RP: Wait a minute. Um, this is one from about the same time as that. When we, uh, this is the guy, him. Totally different, right. John Paul Jones.

Dazed And Confused live è musicalmente il consueto portento occulto, 30 minuti di interazioni elettriche atte ad evocare il suono delle profondità cosmiche. Nel finale magmatico fuoriesce anche Third Stone From The Sun di Jimi Hendrix.

RP: Yeah goodevening, you must wake up, wake up. This is indeed a great and most honorable pleasure. Far out, man. This is another track off the fourth album, uh, and, um, this, uh, takes on an entirely different mood, really, to anything that we’ve ever done before. And, uh, it’s called ‘Stairway To Heaven.

Stairway To Heaven è eseguita con una purezza ed un candore commoventi.

Col secondo disco inizia l’avanspettacolo: cazzeggio, improvvisazioni di pezzi altrui, la gioia di vivere … un portento insomma.

RP: Arigato. Good evening! You are too quiet. Much too quiet. Dishonorably quiet. It’s not cool. Not far away to the East there is, uh.

Plant sta ancora parlando e Page accenna a Please Please Me (Beatles), Robert non si fa pregare e abbozza il pezzo dei Fab Four. Non contento si butta in From Me To You (Beatles) presto seguito da tutto il gruppo. Uno spasso. Jimmy poi parte con l’intro di Celebration Day e il piombo zeppelin pieno di groove prende di nuovo il sopravvento. Che schianto di band! John Paul Jones superlativo.

Il set acustico inizia con Bron-YR-Aur Stomp a cui è collegata That’s The Way. In quest’ultima Robert a volte si lascia andare a strilli calibrati che ti capovolgono.

LZ Osaka sept 1971

RP: Arigato. Thank you. Thank you. Um, this, this next song is, um, another one from the fourth album. And, uh, this is, uh, no, it’s nothing to do with that at all, man. No, no, now listen, you’ve got to wait. …, there’s no more use saying that. That’s all you know in English. I know a little bit more, you see? Now this is off the fourth album and it’s a sitting down one. ‘Cuz I must have sat through about thirty times for us at two each. If I have spoken more English over here than I ever did in America, it just means I’m happier here, no … ever the same way out. So this is called, uh, ‘Going To California.’ Which is, California being, uh, somewhere between here and the lost continent of Doom (?) and, uh, Atlantis, and, uh, the British Isles. Nevertheless, some people go there. In fact, in California, there is a place called San Francisco and, uh, San Francisco is, uh, I mean, uh, I really wish it could be …, promise they’re not on stage, but it was a wonderful place, so, ‘Going To California.’

Page cambia accordatura – on stage, in diretta, aiutato dal mandolino di Jones – per Going To California. La versione del pezzo è estesa, oltre 8 minuti, parecchi i momenti strumentali sostenuti da chitarra e mandolino; è chiaro che il pezzo in versione live è ancora in divenire, i due musicisti provano e improvvisano, cercano le vie giuste per rendere al meglio questo celestiale quadretto acustico.

RP: Arigato.

Page cambia chitarra acustica, controlla e aggiusta l’accordatura e quindi parte con un bel giro di fingerpicking. Poi Robert si lancia in We Shall Overcame, momento da brividi che continua con Tangerine, versione chitarra voce con Jimmy che nel ritornello canta insieme a Robert. Altro accenno al fingerpicking e quindi i due partono con Down By Th Riverside. Trattasi di spiritual della metà del 1800, pubblicato per la prima volta sembra nel 1918 in una raccolta di canti delle piantagioni. Canzone tra l’altro dai toni pacifisti. Nel corso del pezzo Jones aggiunge l’organo e quindi la pedaliera basso. I LZ non smettono mai di sorprendere.

◊ ◊ ◊

Altro siparietto country prima di ripartire col Rock di What Is And What Should Never Be.

RP: Good evening! It’s our greatest and, uh, most honorable, uh, pleasure, as often as possible, and, uh, I don’t know how you say it in …, but in English, ladies and gentlemen, it’s your old friend, for a summer season, ladies and gentlemen, John Bonham, ‘Moby Dick!’

Moby Dick chiude il bootleg con la sua inesorabile carica percussiva.

RP: John Bonham! ‘Moby Dick!’

All’appello mancano: Whole Lotta Love (+medley) / C’mom Everybody / Hi-Heel Sneekers / Communication Breakdown.

Original Festival Hall – Osaka.

Registrazione dunque da avere a tutti i costi per tornare a sognare e per potersi rendere conto una volta di più di che cosa era la musica Rock e i Led Zeppelin nel 1971. BEST BAND EVER!

La porzione soundboard inizia al minuto 21:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLkRU9SH0wM

(broken) ENGLISH

I am discussing this soundboard with my friend – illustrious LZ live recording collector and high level Led Head – Amduscia for several years now, since in short we got the news – through our sources – of the actual existence in the hands of the Empress Valley of this little gem and finally today we can enjoy this soundboard recording never heard before. Ah, if I think of a few decades ago when I was exchanging LZ live recordings on cassettes through the esoteric network that I had woven all over the world and I was often satisfied with audience recordings with very questionable quality when then in recent years the Empress Valley Supreme Disc (the mythological Japanese bootleg label) has published several sounboards immediately made available to the network by the most generous … what a change … now even a soundboard of this magnitude seems routine. This new bootleg is not complete, but it does not matter since it contains a large portion of the first show held at the Osaka Festival Hall on 09/28/1971. Japan 1971 is a tour considered legendary by LZ fans, the group was probably at the peak of its potential, Robert Plant sang like perhaps no other hard rock singer had ever sung, the group was cohesive, spirited, funny, LZ IV was about to be published, in short it was the golden age not only of the group but also of Rock music.

WARNINGS: to fully enjoy a bootleg, you need to put yourself in the right frame of mind and create the right atmosphere. I read the first comments of other fans (?): “Cute“, “not bad” etc etc … and I am disgusted. It is not enough to hear the thing in pieces and bits, it is essential to put yourself in good will, preferably with the headphones on, reserve an adequate space of time, surrender and precipitate down over there in the seventies in the presence of his majesty Rock music!

The recording starts with the solo of Page in Heartbtreaker (therefore the Immigrant Song and the first part of HB are missing). The second solo (the one in which JPP is accompanied by Jones and Bonham) is the usual electrical storm. As soon as Plant returns, one cannot but notice the vocal power of the singer.

Listening to John Bonham’s drums so clearly in Since I’ve Been Loving You is a wonderful thing. Everything is well balanced, perfectly audible are electric piano / organ and bass pedal. Bonham is uncontainable and Robert Plant’s voice is a whitewashed blade that enters your brain. The Dark Lord is inspired and good, very good, albeit at times a little dirty (but we know, it is one of his characteristics). During the guitar solo John Bonham does not stand still for a moment.

LED ZEPPELIN IV had not yet come out in those days and who knows what the public thought of the new pieces. Out On The Tile intro / Black Dog is played with the typical LZ “cazzimma*” of 1971. Simply magnificent!

*(Napoletanity is something difficult to explain – as the famous “cazzimma”, they are feelings more than simple words, untranslatable terms, guttural sounds, soul assonance. Anyway think about something like cocky/badass attitude. ED)

RP: Wait a minute. Um, this is one from about the same time as that. When we, uh, this is the guy, him. Totally different, right. John Paul Jones.

Dazed And Confused live is musically the usual occult wonder, 30 minutes of electrical interactions designed to evoke the sound of the cosmic depths. Jimi Hendrix’s Third Stone From The Sun also emerges in the magmatic ending.

Stairway To Heaven is performed with moving purity and candor,

With the second disc, the vaudeville begins: fooling around, improvisations of other people’s songs, the joy of living … in short, a portentous.

RP: Arigato. Good evening! You are too quiet. Much too quiet. Dishonorably quiet. It’s not cool. Not far away to the East there is, uh.

Plant is still talking while Page mentions with the guitar Please Please Me (Beatles), so Robert sing a small bit of the Fab Four’s song. Not yt happy he throws himself in From Me To You (Beatles) soon followed by the whole group. A real treat. Jimmy then starts the intro of Celebration Day and the zeppelin leaded groove takes over again. What a band! John Paul Jones is superlative.

The acoustic set begins with Bron-YR-Aur Stomp to which That’s The Way is connected. In the latter Robert sometimes lets himself go to calibrated shrieks that turn you upside down.

LZ Osaka sept 1971

Page changes tuning – on stage, live, aided by Jones’ mandolin – for Going To California. The version of the piece is extended, over 8 minutes, several instrumental moments by guitar and mandolin; it is clear that the piece in live version is still in progress, the two musicians try and improvise, looking for the right ways to make the best of this celestial acoustic picture.

RP: Arigato.

Page changes acoustic guitar, checks and adjusts the tuning and then starts with a nice fingerpicking sketch. Then Robert begins We Shall Overcame, a thrilling moment that continues with Tangerine, guitar/vocals version with Jimmy who sings with Robert in the refrain. Beautiful. Another hint of fingerpicking and then the two start Down By Th Riverside. This is a spiritual from the mid-1800s, published for the first time in 1918 in a collection of plantation songs. this song, among other things, has pacifist tones. Jones adds the organ and then the bass pedal. LZ never cease to surprise.

◊ ◊ ◊

Another country tease before What Is And What Should Never Be.

Moby Dick closes the bootleg with his relentless percussive charge.

RP: John Bonham! ‘Moby Dick!’

The missing tracks: Whole Lotta Love (+ medley) / C’mom Everybody / Hi-Heel Sneekers / Communication Breakdown.

Original Festival Hall – Osaka.

Live recording therefore to have at all costs to be able to return to dream and to be able to realize once more what Rock music and Led Zeppelin was in 1971. BEST BAND EVER!

La porzione soundboard inizia al minuto 21:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLkRU9SH0wM

Commenti 3 commenti
Categorie Articles in english, Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin,Tokyo, Budokan 23/09/1971 new sensational footage

8 Mar

All’improvviso qualcuno carica su youtube un filmato amatoriale dei Led Zeppelin ripresi a Tokyo il 23 settembre 1971 in qualità mai vista prima e tu a momenti non ti ribalti sulla sedia. Mi meravigliano sempre queste novità, quando meno te l’aspetti escono audio-video fino a ieri impensabili. Che meraviglia i Led Zeppelin nel settembre del 1971!

Suddenly someone uploads on Youtube an amateur footage of Led Zeppelin filmed in Tokyo on September 23, 1971 in a never seen before quality and you almost fall on the ground. I am always amazed at these news, when you least expect it, audio-videos of this calibre come out out of the blue. What a wonder the Led Zeppelins in September 1971!

◊ ◊ ◊

The Dark Lord Tokyo 23/09/1971

Commenti 1 commento
Categorie Articles in english, Led Zeppelin

Bad Company “Desolation Angels (40th Anniversary Edition)” 2CD/2LP set (Swan Song/Rhino ) – TTTTT

8 Feb

ITALIAN/ENGLISH

Primavera del 1979, sono un adolescente, la musica rock è il centro di gravità permanente della mia vita, i Led Zeppelin la luce guida, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, ELP, i Free e tutto il resto le altre stelle che guidano il mio cammino. Sfoglio le pagine della rivista settimanale Ciao 2001, come sempre mi soffermo su quelle dedicate alle classifiche e noto che al numero 5 dei long playing più venduti negli USA c’è una new entry: Desolation Angels dei (o della) Bad Company. Incidono per la Swan Song, l’etichetta dei LZ, e sono in procinto di diventare anch’essi uno dei punti di riferimento della mia vita. Sebbene sia Straight Shooter il primo album che acquisto, Desolation Angels è quello che vivo in diretta. Ricordo con tenerezza il Tim di allora rimanere irretito dal visual del gruppo, sei artwork (nel 1979 erano però solo 5), sei copertine che mi hanno formato per quanto riguarda il design, il gusto per l’estetica, e la colorazione cromatica di certi orizzonti. I Bad Company sin dalla loro formazione sono influenzati dalla musica americana, meno Europei dei Free sviluppano a loro modo una connessione tra il rock inglese e quello americano con risultati – per il sottoscritto – strabilianti. Il visual di Desolation Angels (così come quello del successivo Rough Diamonds del 1982) vira in maniera decisa verso il mondo americano toccato nei tour del 1974,75,76 e 77.

La – bellissima – copertina del disco è a cura della Hipgnosis, la leggendaria agenzia di design & photography di Londra. Simon Kirke “Inizialmente pensavo che sarebbe diventata una copertina migliore di come poi è risultata. Ci trovammo in un garage a Londra e posammo intorno alla vecchia Cadillac di Paul, ma non pensavo che sarebbe stata trattata in quel modo minimalizzando tutto. La copertina apribile poi penso sia una dell più costose mai realizzate. I tipi della agenzia andarono a scattare qualche foto di un vecchio garage abbandonato nel deserto a est di Los Angeles e l’intera operazione ci costò un sacco di soldi. Oggi lo si potrebbe fare con Photoshop per 50 sterline.” Forse bisognerebbe ricordare a Kirke che se le copertine dei dischi degli anni settanta sono ancora oggi un punto di riferimento per quanto concerne il design c’è un perché, e che le copertine di oggi fatte con Photoshop e qualche immagine tratta da Image Bank fanno letteralmente schifo.

Dopo il tour del 1977 il gruppo si prende una lunga pausa visto che i 4 anni spesi continuamente sulla fast lane dell’ album-tour-album-tour rischiarono di far saltare il gruppo. Nel giugno del 1978 Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell e Simon Kirke si trovano al Dodgy Demos studio per delle pre session che portarono alle prime bozze di Oh Atlanta e Gone Gone Gone. In luglio il gruppo – completo di Paul Rodgers – si ritrova al Ridge farm studio. I ragazzi sono rilassati, ben disposti e riposati, ci si concentra sulle canzoni, si cercano arrangiamenti alternativi, ci si sorprende di quanto sia ancora piacevole suonare insieme. Sul finire dell’estate del 1978 terminano le registrazioni, un altro un paio di mesi per missaggio, mastering e artwork e il disco è pressoché pronto. Viene chiamato Desolation Angels, dal libro del 1965 di Jack Kerouac. L’idea è di Rodgers, che avrebbe già voluto intitolare così il secondo album (del 1969) dei Free.

Il disco esce a metà marzo, mentre il gruppo è in giro per un vero e proprio tour nel Regno Unito a cui ne seguirà uno – infinito – in estate negli Stati Uniti. Il disco arriverà nella top 10 in UK e nella top 3 in America (dove si guadagnerà 2 dischi di platino = 2 milioni di copie vendute) e diventerà il terzo disco dei Bad Company più venduto. Ricordo ancora la recensione che apparve su Ciao 2001, dove si scriveva che il gruppo cercava strade alternative risultando più fresco e meno noioso di tanti altri loro colleghi dediti all’Hard Rock.

Questa nuova deluxe edition è come al solito spettacolare, quando David Clayton è coinvolto (insieme a Hugh Gilmour e Paul Rodgers) il risultato è garantito: il materiale bonus è tanto e di qualità, il booklet ricco e ben scritto, il remaster dell’album eccellente… è così che vanno fatte queste edizioni.

Nel 1978 Rodgers acquista un Roland synth guitar e da quello strumento nasce l’ispirazione per Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Rodgers), un bell’hard rock grintoso giocato sulle chitarre maschie di Rodgers e Ralphs; esce come singolo e raggiunge la 13esima posizione in America, risultato ottimo se si considera che pur contenendo spunti melodici non è certo un brano da 45 giri.. Superbo Paul Rodgers alla voce.

◊ ◊ ◊

Crazy Circles (Rodgers) è giocato sulle chitarre acustiche e su un mood riflessivo. L’assolo di Mick Ralphs è un gioiellino.

◊ ◊ ◊

Con Gone, Gone, Gone (Burrell) si torna all’Hard Rock di ampio respiro, bello il lavoro di slide guitar e buona la prova del gruppo. Evil Wind (Rodgers) pur non avendo una melodia particolare è uno dei miei pezzi preferiti del gruppo. Introduzione superlativa, l’epica rodgersiana del testo che sventola su galoppata musicale, l’ottima prova di Kirke e Burrell, le grandi doti vocali di Paul Rodgers e quello che – nella coda finale – secondo me è uno dei migliori assolo di sempre di Mick Ralphs.

◊ ◊ ◊

Early In The Morning (Rodgers) è il classico pezzo lento di Paul Rodgers che qui splende nella magnifico nuova rimasterizzazione. Nel finale ancora la sempre efficace epica rodgersiana sospinta da un bell’intervento alla solista di Mick Ralphs

Lonely For Your Love (Ralphs) è il boogie by numbers (© David Clayton) dell’album, ovvero uno dei boogie un po’ dozzinali di Mick Ralphs. In pratica è Can’t Get Enough part 2 ma, amando così tanto il chitarrista in questione, a me risulta comunque molto godibile. Rodgers la canta in un registro altissimo. Oh Atlanta (Ralphs) invece è un signor pezzo, musica americana fatta da inglesi in maniera impeccabile. Armonica, ritmica suadente, chitarre da sogno e il solito grandissimo Paul Rodgers alla voce (con i Little Feat sullo sfondo).

◊ ◊ ◊

Chitarre acustiche per Take The Time (Ralphs), terzo pezzo di Mick. Bello sentire il gruppo così coeso e maturo. Una volta ancora deliziosi i ricami di slide guitar.

◊ ◊ ◊

Rhythm Machine (Burrell/Kirke) è uno spumeggiante rock scritto dai due bei delinquenti che formano la sezione ritmica del gruppo; She Brings Me Love (Rodgers) chiude l’album, canzone d’amore dai rintocchi gospel che beneficia anch’essa enormemente del nuovo remaster.

Il materiale bonus si apre con due versioni di Smokin’ 45 (Alternative Version 1) – Smokin’ 45 (Alternative Version 2) (Sinfield/Burrell/Hinckley), il pezzo di Boz Burrell che avrebbe dovuto essere pubblicato nell’album (lato 1, traccia 3) ma che poi fu escluso e che apparve per la prima volta nel 1999 nella Original Bad Company Anthology (versione che io avrei voluto pubblicata anche qui). In quest versioni alternative io ci sento di nuovo i Little Feat, soprattutto nelle lunghe code finali.

Rock Fever (Ralphs) non fu mai presa troppo in considerazione per la scaletta dell’album, e credo che solo ad un Mick Ralphs fan come me possa davvero interessare. Rock semplice e senza pretese scritto da Mick mentre la band era in esilio nell’isoletta di Jersey, tra Francia e Inghilterra. Brano poi pubblicato nel 1984 sul suo primo album solista Take This!

Rock fever, roll easy, let me save my soul

Rock fever, roll easy, let the good times roll.

Oh yeah, Mick!

◊ ◊ ◊

Oh, Atlanta (Slow Version with Rhodes) per quanto mi riguarda è splendida. Mick al Fender Rhodes piano, Paul all’armonica per un delizioso quadretto in 3/4.

◊ ◊ ◊

A me piacerebbe avere tutto ciò che i Bad Company 1974/82 hanno registrato, ma tre versioni alternative di Rock’n’Roll fantasy sono forse un po’ troppe: Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 1) – Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 2) – Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 3) [2019 Remaster]. La seconda si differenzia per l’organo aggiunto nel ritornello,

Crazy Circles (Alternative Version) ha un bel pianino che ogni tanto fa il controcanto a Rodgers, pure in Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternative Take) c’è un piano inaspettato, il pezzo si differenzia inoltre per un riff che funge da intermezzo e che nella versione originale si può sentire solo nel finale che va a sfumare. Early In The Morning (Alternative Version 1) è cristallina e più viva rispetto all’originale. Lonely For Your Love (Alternative Version 1) è una rough and ready version e Take The Time (Alternative Version 1) ha le percussioni ben presenti ed Mick la suona con la chitarra elettrica.

Evil Wind (Alternative Version) è un work in progress mentre Take The Time (Alternative Version 2) è quasi meglio dell’originale; seguono Lonely for Your Love (Alternative Version 2) e She Brings Me Love (Alternative Version) che mette in evidenza un finale suggestivo.

What Does It Matter (Blues Jam) è il secondo inedito vero e proprio, nulla più che un blues appena abbozzato ma – a mio vedere – dalle grandi potenzialità se la band avesse avuto la voglia di lavorarci sopra. Di nuovo Mick al piano e Paul all’armonica. Per il fan che sono, un momento gustosissimo e imperdibile.

◊ ◊ ◊

Rhythm Machine (Alternative Version) ha il piano più in evidenza e un approccio naturalmente meno sofisticato.
Una versione piuttosto scanzonata di Amen (A cappella) chiude il disco. Trattasi di una canzone gospel portata in classifica nel 1964 dagli Impressions.

◊ ◊ ◊

Deluxe edition dunque eccellente e da non perdere. Mi chiedo a questo punto che fine farà Rough Diamonds, l’ultimo album della original Bad Company, visto che in precedenza le deluxe edition del gruppo sono state pubblicate due a due. Capisco che sia l’album meno fortunato del gruppo (ventiseiesimo in Usa e quindicesimo in UK) ma sarebbe un vero peccato non completare la serie delle deluxe edition. Da fan un ringraziamento alla Rhino (e a Daid Clayton) per l’ottimo lavoro fatto. VIVA BAD COMPANY!

CD1
1. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (2019 Remaster)
2. Crazy Circles (2019 Remaster)
3. Gone, Gone, Gone (2019 Remaster)
4. Evil Wind (2019 Remaster)
5. Early in the Morning (2019 Remaster)
6. Lonely for Your Love (2019 Remaster)
7. Oh, Atlanta (2019 Remaster)
8. Take the Time (2019 Remaster)
9. Rhythm Machine (2019 Remaster)
10. She Brings Me Love (2019 Remaster)
11. Smokin’ 45 (Alternative Version 1) [2019 Remaster]
12. Smokin’ 45 (Alternative Version 2) [2019 Remaster]
13. Rock Fever (2019 Remaster)
14. Oh, Atlanta (Slow Version with Rhodes) [2019 Remaster]
15. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 1) [2019 Remaster]
16. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 2) [2019 Remaster]
17. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 3) [2019 Remaster]
18. Crazy Circles (Alternative Version) [2019 Remaster]

CD2
1. Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternative Take) [2019 Remaster]
2. Early in the Morning (Alternative Version 1) [2019 Remaster]
3. Lonely for Your Love (Alternative Version 1) [2019 Remaster]
4. Take the Time (Alternative Version 1) [2019 Remaster]
5. Evil Wind (Alternative Version) [2019 Remaster]
6. Take the Time (Alternative Version 2) [2019 Remaster]
7. Lonely for Your Love (Alternative Version 2) [2019 Remaster]
8. She Brings Me Love (Alternative Version) [2019 Remaster]
9. What Does It Matter (Blues Jam) [2019 Remaster]
10. Rhythm Machine (Alternative Version) [2019 Remaster]
11. Amen (A cappella) [2019 Remaster]

Distributed By – WEA Records Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Swan Song Records
Copyright (c) – Swan Song Records
Recorded At – Ridge Farm Studios
Mixed At – Marquee Studios
Published By – Badco Music
Lacquer Cut At – Strawberry Mastering

Design, Photography By – Hipgnosis
Engineer – Tony Patrick
Plated By – E.G..*
Producer – Bad Company

LE DELUXE EDITION DEI BAD COMPANY SUL BLOG:

https://timtirelli.com/2017/07/12/bad-company-burnin-sky-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-2017-tttt/

https://timtirelli.com/2017/06/12/bad-company-run-with-the-pack-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-2017-ttttt/

https://timtirelli.com/2015/05/14/bad-company-straight-shooter-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-1974-2015-ttttt/

https://timtirelli.com/2015/04/30/bad-company-bad-co-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-1974-2015-ttttt/

◊ ◊ ◊

(broken) ENGLISH

Spring 1979, I’m a teenager, rock music is the permanent center of gravity of my life, Led Zeppelin the guiding light, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, ELP, Free and all the rest the other stars that guide my path. I leaf through the pages of the weekly music magazine Ciao 2001, as always I focus on those dedicated to the charts and I note that at number 5 of the best selling LPs in the USA there is a new entry: Desolation Angels by Bad Company. They record for the Swan Song, the LZ label, and they are in the process of becoming one of the reference points of my life too. Although Straight Shooter is the first album I buy, Desolation Angels is the one I live in real time. I fondly remember the Tim of the time being ensnared by the group’s visual, six artworks (in 1979, however, there were only 5), six covers that formed me regarding design, the taste for aesthetics, and the chromatic coloring of certain horizons. Since its formation, Bad Company has been influenced by American music, less European than Free they develop in their own way a connection between English and American rock with amazing results in my opinion. The visual of Desolation Angels (as well as that of the subsequent Rough Diamonds from 1982) turns decisively towards the American world touched on the tours of 1974,75,76 and 77.

The – beautiful – album cover is by Hipgnosis, the legendary London design & photography agency. Simon Kirke “Initially I thought it would become a better cover than it turned out to be. We found ourselves in a garage in London and posed around Paul’s old Cadillac, but I didn’t think it would be treated that way by minimizing everything. The gatefold cover then I think it’s one of the most expensive ever made. The guys from the agency went to take some pictures of an old abandoned garage in the desert east of Los Angeles and the whole operation cost us a lot of money. Today we could do it with Photoshop with £ 50. ” Maybe we should remind Kirke that if the covers of the seventies records are still a point of reference as far as design is concerned, there is a reason, and that today’s covers made with Photoshop and some images taken from Image Bank literally do sucks.

After the 1977 tour the group takes a long break as the 4 years spent continuously on the fast lane of the album-tour-album-tour risked blowing up the group. In June 1978 Mick Ralphs, Boz Burrell and Simon Kirke found themselves at the Dodgy Demos studio for some pre sessions that led to the first drafts of Oh Atlanta and Gone Gone Gone. In July the group – complete with Paul Rodgers – meets at the Ridge farm studio. The boys are relaxed, well disposed and rested, they focus on the songs, look for alternative arrangements and they are surprised at how pleasant it is still to play together. At the end of the summer of 1978 the recordings end, another a couple of months for mixing, mastering and artwork and the disc is almost ready. It is called Desolation Angels, from the 1965 book by Jack Kerouac. The idea comes from Rodgers, who would have already wanted to title the second album (from 1969) of Free.

The album comes out in mid-March of 1979, while the group is on a real tour in the United Kingdom followed by one – infinite – in the summer in the United States. The disc will arrive in the top 10 in the UK and in the top 3 in America (where it will earn 2 platinum discs = 2 million copies sold) and will become the third best-selling Bad Company disc. I still remember the review that appeared on Ciao 2001, where it was written that the group was looking for alternative ways, being fresher and less boring than many of their other colleagues dedicated to Hard Rock.

This new deluxe edition is spectacular as usual, when David Clayton is involved (together with Hugh Gilmour and Paul Rodgers) the result is guaranteed: the bonus material is so much and of quality, the booklet rich and well written, the remaster of the album excellent … that’s how these editions should be made.

In 1978 Rodgers bought a Roland synth guitar and from that instrument the inspiration for Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Rodgers) was born, a nice gritty hard rock played with the male guitars of Rodgers and Ralphs; it comes out as a single and reaches the 13th position in America, an excellent result considering that although it contains melodic ideas it is certainly not a 45 rpm track .Superb Paul Rodgers on vocals.

◊ ◊ ◊

Crazy Circles (Rodgers) is played on acoustic guitars and on a reflective mood. Mick Ralphs’ solo is a gem.

◊ ◊ ◊

With Gone, Gone, Gone (Burrell) we return to the Hard Rock of wide scope; beautiful the work of slide guitar and good performance of the group. Evil Wind (Rodgers) despite not having a particular melody is one of my favorite pieces in the group. Superlative introduction, the Rodgersian epic of the text waving on a musical gallop, the excellent performance of Kirke and Burrell, the great vocal talents of Paul Rodgers and what – in the final coda – in my opinion is one of Mick’s best solos ever.

◊ ◊ ◊

Early In The Morning (Rodgers) is the classic slow piece by Paul Rodgers that shines here in the magnificent new remaster. In the end the always effective Rodgersian epic driven by a nice intervention of lead guitar by Mick Ralphs

Lonely For Your Love (Ralphs) is the album’s boogie by numbers (© David Clayton), which is one of Mick Ralphs’ slightly cheesy boogies. It is Can’t Get Enough part 2 but, loving the guitarist in question so much, it is still very enjoyable to me. Rodgers sings it in a very high register. Oh Atlanta (Ralphs), on the other hand, is a great piece, American music made flawlessly by the British. Harmonica, persuasive rhythm, dream guitars and the usual great Paul Rodgers on vocals (with Little Feat in the background).

◊ ◊ ◊

Acoustic guitars for Take The Time (Ralphs), third piece by Mick. Nice to hear the group so cohesive and mature. Once again the slide guitar embroidery is delightful.

◊ ◊ ◊

Rhythm Machine (Burrell / Kirke) is a sparkling rock written by the two beautiful rascals who form the rhythm section of the group; She Brings Me Love (Rodgers) closes the album, a love song with gospel tolls that also benefits enormously from the new remaster.

The bonus material opens with two versions of Smokin ’45 (Alternative Version 1) – Smokin’ 45 (Alternative Version 2) (Sinfield / Burrell / Hinckley), the piece by Boz Burrell that should have been released on the album (side 1 , track 3) but which was then excluded and which appeared for the first time in 1999 in the Original Bad Company Anthology (a version that I would have liked published also here). In these alternative versions I hear the Little Feat feeel again, especially in the long final codas.

Rock Fever (Ralphs) was never taken too much into consideration for the songlist of the album, and I think only a Mick Ralphs fan like me could really care. Simple and unpretentious rock written by Mick while the band was in exile on the isle of Jersey, between France and England. Track then released in 1984 on his first solo album Take This!

Rock fever, roll easy, let me save my soul

Rock fever, roll easy, let the good times roll.

Oh yeah, Mick!

◊ ◊ ◊

Oh, Atlanta (Slow Version with Rhodes) is splendid for me. Mick on the Fender Rhodes piano and Paul on the harmonica for a delightful 3/4 moment.

◊ ◊ ◊

I’d like to have everything Bad Company 1974/82 recorded, but three alternative versions of Rock’n’Roll Fantasy are perhaps too many: Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 1) – Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 2) – Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (Alternative Version 3) [2019 Remaster]. The second is differentiated by the organ added in the refrain,

Crazy Circles (Alternative Version) has a nice piano that every now and then does the counterpoint to Rodgers, even in Gone, Gone, Gone (Alternative Take) there is an unexpected piano, the piece also differs from the original track thanks to the riff that acts as an intermezzo and which in the original version can only be heard in the ending that fades. Early In The Morning (Alternative Version 1) is crystal clear and more alive than the original. Lonely For Your Love (Alternative Version 1) is a rough and ready version and Take The Time (Alternative Version 1) has the percussions very present and Mick plays it on the electric guitar.

Evil Wind (Alternative Version) is a work in progress while Take The Time (Alternative Version 2) is almost better than the original; then Lonely for Your Love (Alternative Version 2) follows and She Brings Me Love (Alternative Version) highlights a suggestive ending.

What Does It Matter (Blues Jam) is the second real unpublished thing, nothing more than a just sketched blues but – in my view – with great potential if the band had the desire to work on it. Again Mick on piano and Paul on harmonica. For the fan I am, a very tasty and unmissable moment.

◊ ◊ ◊

Rhythm Machine (Alternative Version) has a most prominent piano and a naturally less sophisticated approach.
A rather light-hearted version of Amen (A cappella) closes the album. It is a gospel song brought up in 1964 by the Impressions.

◊ ◊ ◊

Distributed By – WEA Records Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Swan Song Records
Copyright (c) – Swan Song Records
Recorded At – Ridge Farm Studios
Mixed At – Marquee Studios
Published By – Badco Music
Lacquer Cut At – Strawberry Mastering

Design, Photography By – Hipgnosis
Engineer – Tony Patrick
Plated By – E.G..*
Producer – Bad Company

LE DELUXE EDITION DEI BAD COMPANY SUL BLOG:

https://timtirelli.com/2017/07/12/bad-company-burnin-sky-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-2017-tttt/

https://timtirelli.com/2017/06/12/bad-company-run-with-the-pack-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-2017-ttttt/

https://timtirelli.com/2015/05/14/bad-company-straight-shooter-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-1974-2015-ttttt/

https://timtirelli.com/2015/04/30/bad-company-bad-co-deluxe-edition-swan-song-rhino-1974-2015-ttttt/

Commenti 1 commento
Categorie Articles in english, Recensioni musicali

BOOTLEGS: The Firm – Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany, December 3rd 1984

31 Mag

ITALIAN/ENGLISH

The Firm – Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany. December 3rd 1984 (upgrade 2016)

LABEL: no label

TYPE: audience

*SOUND QUALITY:TTT½***

PERFORMANCE: TTT½

ARTWORK: no artwork

PACKAGING: no packaging

BAND MOOD: TTTT

COLLECTION ZEP FAN: TTT

COLLECTION CASUAL FAN: T

Jimmy Page impiega più o meno 4 anni per riprendersi dal drammatico delirio dell’ultimo periodo dei Led Zeppelin. La morte di Bonham, il frantumarsi del suo progetto, l’uso feroce di sostanze chimiche pesanti, la mancanza di volontà riguardo l’essere di nuovo il magnifico musicista che era, il radicale cambiamento musicale che avviene tra i due decenni fan sì che i primi anni ottanta siano per lui un periodo di confusione. Una colonna sonora (per la verità ottima) nel 1982, la discutibile partecipazione all’ARMS tour a supporto della ricerca per la sclerosi multipla nel 1983, le sghembe apparizioni come ospite e un disco interlocutorio con Roy Harper. Page non troverà mai più la forza e la lucidità per modellare un proponimento concreto e duraturo ma all’epoca il progetto Firm sembrava l’inizio di una nuova era per il nostro. Il 16 luglio 1984 me ne stavo in piazza Duomo a Pistoia in attesa della sua apparizione per il tributo ad Alexis Korner. Ricordo chiaramente che già ero al corrente del suo sodalizio con Paul Rodgers. In quanto fan dei LZ, della Bad Co e dei Free, ne ero entusiasta. Si vociferava di Cozy Powell alla batteria, ma come sappiamo la sezione ritmica sarà poi formata da Tony Franklin (conosciuto grazie alle recenti collaborazioni con Roy Harper) e Chris Slade (figura nota tra le seconde linee del rock inglese e a quel tempo batterista piuttosto richiesto e in auge).

Sul finire del 1984 la band parte per un mini tour europeo, tour che anticipa l’uscita del primo album prevista per febbraio 1985 (disco che arriverà nella top 20 americana, diventando disco d’oro).

1984
11.29 Gota Lejon, Stockholm
11.30 Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen
12.01 Olympen, Lund
12.03 Kongresshalle, Frankfurt
12.04 Pfalzbau, Ludwigshafen
12.05 Audiomax, Hamburg
12.07 Town Hall, Middlesborough
12.08 Hammersmith Odeon, London
12.09 Hammersmith Odeon, London

A quel tempo i bootleg sono persino stampati anche in Italia, poco dopo infatti riesco ad acquistare nel negozio di dischi da cui mi fornivo regolarmente (nel centralissimo Corso Canalchiaro angolo Piazza Grande di Mutina) il doppio Live in Frankfurt da fonte audience.

Black Cover – The Firm – Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany. December 3rd 1984 – photo TT

Dello stesso bootleg ne stampano anche una versione con la copertina rossa.

Red Cover – The Firm – Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany. December 3rd 1984

34 anni dopo mi decido a cercare un upgrade, cosa non certo impossibile nell’era digitale dove tanto è condiviso in rete. Sono al corrente che ne esiste già una versione uscita …

Versione precedente su cd

ma riesco a trovare una buona versione del 2016 e mi ci butto sopra.

A dir la verità, non è che il miglioramento sia poi così evidente rispetto al bootleg in vinile in mio possesso, ma la tecnologia di oggi non può che migliorare – in fatto di pulizia – vecchie registrazioni live prese dal pubblico, cosicché questo nuovo transfer risulta molto gradevole per un fan dei Firm quale sono.

Il concerto inizia con la classica introduzione usata dal gruppo in quel periodo, la maestosa Jupiter di Gustav Holst da i Pianeti (1914)

◊ ◊ ◊

Il riff di Closer (The Firm – first album – 1985) apre le danze, nonostante sia solo il quarto concerto il gruppo pare coeso e in palla. E’ il periodo in cui Page suona quasi esclusivamente la Telecaster con lo Stringbender, un Page in discreta forma, lontano certamente dallo zenit raggiunto con i LZ, ma – per un fan – tutto sommato niente male. Finito il pezzo il pubblico si di mostra molto caldo e lo sarà per tutto il concerto. Questo è curioso, sono anni in cui il classic rock degli anni settanta non è certo di modo, punk, new wave e in parte NWOBHM la fanno da padroni, il gruppo propone brani da un album non ancora pubblicato o dai recenti dischi solisti (non certo di successo) di Page e Rodgers e si rifiuta di giocare facile inserendo in scaletta qualche pezzo dei LZ o della Bad Co.

◊ ◊ ◊

Segue City Sirens (Jimmy Page – Death Wish II soundtrack 1982). Slade e Franklin formano una ottima seziona ritmica. Quest’ultimo suona un basso fretless, strumento molto in voga negli anni ottanta (e venuto alla ribalta nella seconda metà degli anni settanta grazie a Jaco Pastorius), apparentemente non adattissimo al rock di questo tipo, ma Tony riesce ad essere assolutamente convincente con esso, il lavoro che fa è entusiasmante. La carica del gruppo è contagiosa.

Subito dopo l’ incedere quadrato di Make Or Break (The Firm – first album – 1985) il pubblico inizia a gridare “Jimmy Jimmy” segno che, a dispetto del periodo, l’amore per lui e per i LZ in Germania è ancora forte. Morning After The Night Before (Paul Rodgers – Cut Loose – 1983 album) è un po’ caotica e fuori fuoco ed è seguita da Together (The Firm – first album – 1985). Questa la presenta Jimmy, quando si avvicina al microfono il pubblico si infiamma ancor di più. Con Together il gruppo torna compatto, è evidente che Page sia più a suo agio con i brani a lui direttamente collegati.

The Firm – Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany. December 3rd 1984

Cadillac (The Firm – Mean Business album – 1986) è una outtake del primo album che verrà pubblicata l’anno successivo sul secondo. Il pezzo ha un vago sapore new wave. Prelude (Jimmy Page – Death Wish II soundtrack 1982) è la controversa versione di Page del preludio in MI minore Op 28, n. 4 di Chopin, nemmeno due minuti di musica strumentale con la solista che esegue la melodia in un arrangiamento non certo indimenticabile. Classiche atmosfere Rodgersiane in LA minore per Money Can’t Buy (The Firm – first album – 1985), discreto assolo di Page con l’ausilio del wah wah. Radioactive (The Firm – first album – 1985) è il singolo tratto dall’album. Un tempo sostenuto guidato dall’acustica di Rodgers. Ennesimo sviluppo in minore. Il riff dissonante che rese famoso il pezzo in studio fu suonato da Rodgers (quando tutti per anni pensammo fosse Page) e in ambito live naturalmente da Jimmy Page. Live In Peace (Paul Rodgers – Cut Loose – 1983 album /The Firm – Mean Business album – 1986 ) è il quarto pezzo in minore consecutivo e mi chiedo a cosa pensassero Jimmy e Paul quando buttarono giù la scaletta. Sei giorni più tardi i Firm ne faranno una grande versione all’Hammersmith Odeon di Londra, versione poi pubblicata nel Maxi Single contenente il remix di Radioactive, con in evidenza uno dei più riusciti assoli di Page degli anni ottanta. Qui a Francoforte l’assolo non sembra essere della stessa qualità, ma rimane ad un livello certamente buono; il pubblico applaude convinto. Midnight Moonlight (The Firm – first album – 1985) proviene dalla prima metà degli anni settanta. Page infatti la registrò insieme a Bonham al tempo delle session di Physical Graffiti col titolo provvisorio di Swan Song. I LZ non ne fecero nulla e così Page usò la base per scrivere il pezzo insieme a Rodgers poco prima del tour americano dell’Arms del dicembre 1983, a cui parteciparono entrambi. Brano molto bello, articolato, profondo e per certi versi epico. Rodgers qui a Francoforte la canta molto bene. Nella parte centrale dedicata alla chitarra, Page gioca con l’accordatura aperta, cita White Summer e Black Mountain Side. Quando rientra la band è facile intuire che i Firm avrebbero davvero potuto essere una grande band se solo Page fosse stato più concentrato e volenteroso. La versione live You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling ((The Firm – first album – 1985) dei Righteous Brothers non ha mai convinto del tutto e quasi scompare dinnanzi a quel piccolo capolavoro che è la versione registrata in studio. Qui a Francoforte però l’intenzione è quella giusta e il pezzo fila.

Promo shot 1984 – The Firm

La sezione dedicata agli assoli dei singoli musicisti è un po’ fine a se stessa, erano anni in cui certe cose andavano evitate. Inizia Tony Franklin; tre minuti e mezzo di assolo per poi unirsi al gruppo per lo strumentale The Chase (Jimmy Page – Death Wish II soundtrack 1982). Quattro minuti insieme per arrivare al momento in cui Page prende l’archetto di violino per un esoterico momento zeppeliniano. Il pubblico naturalmente apprezza molto. Nel finale Jimmy aggiunge anche la parte con l’effetto usata nel tour americano del 1977. Segue assolo di batteria. Full Circle ((The Firm – first album outtake) è un’altro inedito del primo album e che mai verrà pubblicato. Hard Rock grintoso seppur senza brividi particolari. Curiosità, sembra contenere, nella parte finale, il giro di accordi poi usato da Jimmy in Over Now dall’album Coverdale-Page del 1993. Someone To Love (The Firm – first album – 1985) chiude il set con la sua consueta carica. Durante l’assolo di Page la chitarra smette di funzionare. Franklin, Slade e Rodgers continuano (con un grande lavoro di basso) sino a che la chitarra di Page torna in vita. Il pubblico risponde alla grande alla richiesta di feedback da parte di Rodgers.

I bis sono costituiti da Boogie Mama (Paul Rodgers – Cut Loose – 1983 album) e Everybody Needs Somebody To Love di Solomeon Burke in una versione molto simile a quella che erano soliti fare i LZ nella tournée europea del 1973. Boogie Mama è un bis niente male, un bluesaccio che si sviluppa in uno scatenato rock and roll. Rodgers, Franklin e Rodgers (voce/chitarra) in alcuni momenti sono incredibili, Page non è male. ENSTL invece non funziona, sarà forse perché non ho mai gradito quell’arrangiamento ma il pezzo non decolla. Dopo circa 5 minuti la band lascia il solo pubblico a cantare il ritornello e se ne va per un paio di minuti, poi ritorna e riprende il pezzo da dove lo aveva lasciato. 11 minuti non certo indimenticabili.

The Firm – Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany. December 3rd 1984

Concludendo, una registrazione audience buona per avere una testimonianza (insieme al soundboard di Londra 9 dicembre 1984) del primo mini tour dei Firm.

The Firm – Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany. December 3rd 1984

Artist: The Firm
Source: Kongreßhalle, Frankfurt, Germany. December 3rd 1984
Time: Disc 1: 59:33
Disc 2: 57:11
Disc 1:
1. Intro (1:30)
2. Closer (4:09)
3. City Sirens (5:03)
4. Make Or Break (5:25)
5. Morning After The Night Before (4:55)
6. Together (4:21)
7. Cadillac (5:28)
8. Prelude (1:51)
9. Money Can’t Buy (4:20)
10. Radioactive (4:28)
11. Live In Peace (6:37)
12. Midnight Moonlight (11:27)
Disc 2:
1. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (6:17)
2. Bass Solo (3:26)
3. The Chase (4:07)
4. Guitar Solo (6:48)
5. Drum Solo (5:28)
6. Full Circle (4:50)
7. Someone To Love (6:48)
8. Boogie Mama (8:07)
9. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (11:21)

◊ ◊ ◊

(broken english)ENGLISH