Tag Archives: Led Zeppelin

1973 COUNTDOWN: #40 — 31

40  MIKE OLDFIELD — TUBULAR BELLS A poll of my favourite Mike Oldfield albums would not have this debut on the podium, but it certainly made an impression as the very first release by Virgin Records. Made an impression when used in a film, too. As a multi-instrumentalist’s calling card Tubular Bells really does take […]

UNDER HIPGNOSIS — THE MARK BLAKE INTERVIEW

Every record collector of a certain age knows the album covers of legendary British design studio Hipgnosis. Now, thanks to a new book by Mark Blake, we can dive into the colourful history of the crew who gave us so many memorable record sleeves. The author kindly agreed to talk to Vinyl Connection. Vinyl Connection: […]

SHOOTOUT AT THE ZEPPELIN CORRAL

Recently I read an entertaining article from the Washington Post about comparing different pressings of LPs and a chap whose life mission it is to establish the ‘best’ version.* The audiophile in question is a person of very strong opinions, and very confident in expressing them. It reminded me of the time I was asked […]

A GAS NEW BAG

It is utterly impossible to view Led Zeppelin without filters. Their image as quintessential ‘rock gods’ of the seventies, the bombast of the music, an incredible popularity that endures to the present… in some ways they have become untouchable.  The curation of the Zeppelin catalogue has been restrained compared to some (hello Estate Hendrix!) and […]

IDES OF MARCH

9 MARCH 1970: Black Sabbath appear at The Roundhouse in London. There’s something special about debut albums, so yesterday I got a real Birmingham blast from this lovely Rhino re-issue. 10 MARCH 1973: The US release of Dark Side Of The Moon A ‘trying to be funny’ post on Dark Side of the Moon was […]

AS WE WIND ON DOWN THE ROAD – ZEPPELIN AND FOLK

This article continues a feature on the bursting forth of folk influences on Led Zeppelin III. It uses as a springboard quotes from Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones and looks at albums that would have been important for the musicians as well as those released in the lead-up to the writing of material […]

BUSTLING TOWARD THE HEDGEROW: LED ZEPPELIN I – III

I – Setting out Led Zeppelin played their first gig on the 7th of September, 1968, in Denmark. The tour was a remaindered Yardbirds commitment but none-the-less a statement of intent for a new/old band with energy, commitment and stamina. They played regularly, often two sets per night, and set off on the first of […]