Monday, September 25, 2023

On this day 25 September

 On this day Led Zeppelin began recording Led Zeppelin I, the band's opening shot heard round the world. On this day 12 years later, Led Zeppelin was done. 


What made John Bonham such a great drummer? Not just the speed, strength, and power of his playing --which was considerable-- but his ability to hold the rhythm steady while all four of his limbs moved around the beat. 
Holder of elemental energies: Master of Drums. RIP Bonzo. Never forgotten.

1968 25 September On This Day - Led Zeppelin I recording begun
published 2020


1967 25 September On This Day The Yardbirds, Ten Little Indians recorded at Olympic Number Two Studio
♪  Ten Little Indians (Yardbirds 1967) Soundcloud

  • 1966 Yardbirds - Liverpool, England at Liverpool Empire Theatre
  • 1967 Yardbirds - Ten Little Indians recorded at Olympic Number Two Studio; Jimmy Page uses reverse echo effect
  • 1980 John Henry Bonham death 

1967:
Ten Little Indians was written by Harry Nilsson for his 1967 Pandemonium Shadow Show album. The Yardbirds covered it that same year. Jimmy Page, who thought it was an "extremely silly song" (Uncut Magazine, January 2009), used engineering to salvage it with reverse echo, an effect that he was to use later on You Shook MeWhole Lotta Love and When The Levee Breaks.

1980:
People have commented on the fact that Jimmy Page has never chosen to acknowledge John Bonham's death on the Jimmy Page On This Day website home page. To me it's no mystery: Jimmy Page has always been very protective of his personal life, and his feelings about Bonzo's passing would be a most unlikely thing he would discuss in such a public way. 

Jimmy Page has also said that everything that needs to be known about him can be found in his music. I believe this is true about any musician who is true to his art. John Bonham was and remains the only drummer I can consistently listen to and hear music, not just rhythm. He has been called the best rock drummer in the world, and I can't disagree. RIP Bonzo.
1971 John Bonham/Led Zeppelin, Belfast

1977 John Bonham/Led Zeppelin, Landover (L Hensley photo)

RIP Bonzo


♪  Ten Little Indians (Yardbirds, 1967) YouTube
♪  You Shook Me (Led Zeppelin, 1969/2014 remaster) YouTube
♪  When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin, Mothership 2007 remaster) YouTube
♪  Moby Dick (Led Zeppelin, Royal Albert Hall 1970) YouTube
♪  Bonzo's Montreux (John Bonham/Led Zeppelin, Coda Mix construction in progress 1976/2015 remaster) YouTube

 

Sunday, September 24, 2023

On this day 24 September

 England, Japan, US, Mexico, Thailand: A whole lotta love of music for the whole world

1971 24 September On This Day Led Zeppelin, Tokyo at Budokan Hall (day 2)
  • 1966 Yardbirds - Leeds, West Yorkshire, England at Leeds Odeon Theatre
  • 1971 Led Zeppelin - Tokyo, Japan at   Budokan Hall (day 2 of 2)
  • 1988 Jimmy Page - New Orleans, Louisiana at New Orleans Municipal Auditorium
  • 1995 Page & Plant - Mexico City, Mexico at City El Palacio de Los Deportes Arena (day 2 of 2)
  • 1998 Page & Plant - Phoenix, Arizona at American West Arena

1971
A whole lotta experimentation and improvisation during this gig. Tangerine was performed live for the first time. After the show the band visited a geisha house.

1971 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin Tokyo Budokan Hall


1988
Nothing on YouTube from JP's New Orleans show. Looks like I'll have to upload a file myself one of these days. If someone already has it ready to share, let me know!



2011:
This was the first year of the Jesters Care for Kids Gala night, and the first that Jimmy Page attended.
2011 Jimmy Page with Jesters Gala chairman, Woody Underwood

2011 Jimmy Page with Jesters at Care for Kids Gala Night



♪  Led Zeppelin (Tokyo Japan at Budokan Hall - day 2 of 2, 24 September 1971)  
♪  Jimmy Page’s 8mm footage of Japan 
♪  Page & Plant (Mexico City, Mexico at City El Palacio de Los Deportes Arena (day 2 of 2), 24 September 1995)
♪  Page & Plant (Phoenix AZ at American West Arena, 24 September 1998)

Saturday, September 23, 2023

On this day 23 September

 JIMMY PAGE - the new kid on the block

1966 23 September On This DayYardbirds at Royal Albert Hall

  • 1966 Yardbirds - City of Westminster, London, England at Royal Albert Hall
  • 1971 Led Zeppelin - Tokyo, Japan at Budokan Hall (day 1 of 2)
  • 1988 Jimmy Page/Outrider - Dallas, Texas at Starplex Amphitheatre
  • 1995 Page & Plant - Mexico City, Mexico at City El Palacio de Los Deportes Arena (day 1 of 2)
  • 1998 Page & Plant - Las Vegas, Nevada at MGM Grand Garden Arena 

1966 Yardbirds at Royal Albert Hall

1966 Yardbirds promo photo
1971:
The Japanese idolized Led Zeppelin and seemed to be a refreshing change from the loud and disruptive US audiences the band had been experiencing. Robert Plant was probably pretty sick and tired of having to ask the crowds to quiet down, to stop throwing firecrackers and other objects, and to back away from the stage so people wouldn't get crushed. Not that Japanese audiences didn't want a piece of the boys - the band had to stop during Communication Breakdown because fans were crawling onto the stage.
1971 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin - Tokyo, Japan at Budokan Hall (day 1 of 2)

1971 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin - Tokyo, Japan at Budokan Hall (day 1 of 2)

1998 Page & Plant - Las Vegas, Nevada at MGM Grand Garden Arena

2012 Jimmy Page Artwork for Anthony Nolan 2013 charity auction


2012:
Anthony Nolan is a charity dedicated to saving the lives of people with blood cancer and blood disorders. The organization maintains a registry to match individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people with blood cancer and blood disorders who need transplants. In February 2013 Anthony Nolan held the "Bone Idol" auction of celebrities' drawings of bones on eBay to raise funds. Jimmy Page's drawing is in black ink on a blank postcard. It was autographed and dated on the front and came with a note from Jimmy Page's accountant. It sold for £205.00 ($250.90 today in US dollars).



♪ Led Zeppelin (Tokyo Japan at Budokan Hall - day 1 of 2, 23 September 1971) 
♪  8mm footage of Led Zeppelin, Tokyo 23 September 1971) 
♪  Jimmy Page Outrider Tour (Dallas TX at Starplex Ampitheatre,, 23 September 1988) 
♪  Page & Plant (Mexico City at City El Palacio de Los Deportes Arena - day 1 of 2, 23 September 1995)
♪  Page & Plant (Las Vegas NV at MGM Grand Garden Arena, 23 September 1998) 


Friday, September 22, 2023

On this day 22 September

 Blues. Ya gotta love the blues. Unless it's Kashmir.  You can love Kashmir, too.

1965 22 September On This Day John Mayall single produced by Jimmy Page

  • 1965 John Mayall single produced by Jimmy Page released
  • 2012 Jimmy Page at Jesters’ Care for Kids Gala 

I'm Your Witchdoctor & Telephone Blues singles produced by Jimmy Page
1965:
By this time, Jimmy Page had been around the block for a while. He was no pushover. Can you imagine his voice when he made his "suggestions" to the recording engineer? 

Jimmy Page's website has referred to his stint with Immediate Records a few times in the past couple of months. I posted about that on this blog HEREHERE and HERE.

2012:
Different year, same event: The Jesters Care for Kids Gala. I posted about the 2013 event yesterday. In 2012 Jimmy Page donated a guitar that he had himself videoed playing to authenticate its provenance. The guitar sold for 423,000 Thai Baht (nearly $12,000 or  £7600 at today's exchange rate) in the auction at the annual Jesters Gala held in the tourist resort of Pattaya, Thailand on this day in 2012. I posted about this donation in another post earlier, and got the year wrong. Sorry.

2012 Jimmy Page plays Jesters Care For Kids Gala donation guitar

2012 Jimmy Page in Thailand signing guitar to be donated to Jesters

Happy birthday David Coverdale, born this day in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, United Kingdom (72 years old in 2023)
Happy birthday David Coverdale





♪  I'm Your Witchdoctor (John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers) 
♪  Telephone Blues  (John Mayall and the Blues Breakers) 
♪  On Top of the World (John Mayall and the Blues Breakers) 
♪  Double Crossing Time (John Mayall and the Blues Breakers) 
♪  Kashmir (Jimmy Page on guitar donated to Jester's auction, 2012) 

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

On this day 20 September

 A call to ARMS

1983 20 September On This Day Jimmy Page at Royal Albert Hall, ARMS benefit

  • 1968 Led Zeppelin begins recording first album at Olympic Studios
  • 1983 Jimmy Page - Royal Albert Hall, London for ARMS Concert

1971
Led Zeppelin in Japan. Great audiences, lots of sightseeing, a benefit for Hiroshima, and a relaxed and happy Jimmy Page.
Jimmy Page, Japan September 1971
Photo credit:  Koh Hasebe-Shinko Music/Getty Images


1983:
The ARMS Charity Concert started out with the idea for a single performance at Royal Albert Hall in London in support of Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis (ARMS).  The concert was the brainchild of Ronnie Lane, former bassist for The Small Faces and The Faces, who had himself been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The concert was such a success that it was decided to perform a further nine concerts in the US. These performances included Joe Cocker, with Paul Rodgers replacing Steve Winwood in Jimmy Page's set. 

There are a lot of nay-sayers out there who have decided that Jimmy Page was no good at the ARMS concerts. I simply say perhaps these people are "listening" with their eyes or their prejudices - and not their ears.

1983 20 September On This Day text

1983 Royal Albert Hall ARMS benefit musicians

1983 Jimmy Page, Royal Albert Hall ARMS benefit

1983 Jimmy Page, Royal Albert Hall ARMS benefit

1983 Jimmy Page, ARMS benefit

♪  Prelude/City Sirens/Who's To Blame/Stairway to Heaven (Jimmy Page, ARMS RAH 1983) YouTube
♪   Layla (finale with all musicians, ARMS RAH 1983) YouTube
♪  Full concert with Ronnie Lane footage (ARMS RAH1983) YouTube

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

On this day 19 September

 Jimmy Page, from sea to shining sea

1998 19 September On This Day Page & Plant at Hollywood Bowl
  • 1970 Led Zeppelin - New York, NY at Madison Square Garden- 2 Shows
  • 1998 Page & Plant - Hollywood, CA at Hollywood Bowl
1970:
A little over one year from their first concert, Led Zeppelin not only was the only act on the bill, the band was booked for two shows in a row at Madison Square Garden.  At both shows Robert Plant spoke about the death of Jimi Hendrix on the previous day.

Today many consider the MSG performance to be one of the band's very best. Yet a reviewer back then said, "I found the group flashy but dull, somewhat contrived and certainly  not high energy excitement." Do reviewers ever acknowledge how far off they were in their assessment?



1970 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin at MSG
Led Zeppelin MSG 19 Sept 1970

Led Zeppelin MSG 19 Sept 1970



1998:
Most High is from the studio album Walking into Clarksdale, released through Atlantic Records in 1998. By May 1998 it reached #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. In 1999, the song won a Grammy for Page and Plant for Best Hard Rock Performance. 
Most High was released as a single. To me the real winner is the song on the B side, The Window.


Text from 19 September On This Day

1998 Hollywood Bowl setlist

2015:
A little fun at jimmypage.com today, with an interactive image. I've posted a few views from it for you, though none of them contain Jimmy Page or Robert Plant.







♪  Led Zeppelin, New York NY at Madison Square Garden - 2nd show, 19 September 1970)