Frank Sinatra / Nick Drake / Bonzo / Zep 3

Sometimes only Nick Drake and Frank Sinatra will do.

It’s been the forlorn melancholy tones of those late lamented singers that has soundtracked the last few days here. After the high emotion of Sam’s leaving at the weekend (and boy was it emotional) the more sensitive parts of the Zep catalogue would have been too much to take (Ten Years Gone? – not right now thanks)

So it’s been Way To Blue, Pink Moon, River Man,I Was Made To Love Magic, Northern Sky etc and Frank Sinatra’s desolate latter era album She Shot Me Down (‘’Sinatra grizzled and magnificent, both relishing and releasing the bleakness’’ –as Chris Ingram astutely notes in his re appraisal of the album in this month’s Mojo) that have made some sense this week.

There could be more melancholy as I tap this out on the morning of September 25 with work on TBL firmly on the agenda just the way it was back in my Dents Road bedroom on the exactly the same day back in 1980. On that fateful Thursday I spent the day wrapping TBL 5 and writing an editorial that would never be used after the news that came through that evening.

As I always say…so much has gone …and yet so much remains…

On a brighter note it was a late September Sunday back in 1970 that Radio One DJ Alan Freeman began previewing tracks from the soon to be released Led Zeppelin 3. What a thrill it was to hear the likes of Out On The Tiles and Immigrant Song and Celebration Day. Those were the tracks he played over two consecutive Sundays on the Top 30 Chart run down show I listened to intently every week. I actually taped those previews on my old reel to reel tape recorder at the time – I’d love to hear those tapes again but they are long gone. Listening to Robert’s distinctive vocal slotted in amongst chart fare of the day such as Freda Payne, Hot Chocolate etc was just bizarre back then.

In fact the memories of that first listen to Zep 3 has prompted me to dig out the vinyl and get it on the player fast.

Nick and Frank you’ve been firm friends these past few days, but it’s time to get back to the more raucous and invigorating sounds of the album with the catalogue number Atlantic 2401 002 and spinning wheel to match.

With TBL 22 to construct, another retail Christmas ahead, the Zep Croydon Convention to plan, numerous new Zep books to soak up (just got the Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin illustrated history coffee table book) and the Bedford Beer Festival due in a couple of weeks…life as John Lennon once put it, is just what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. The time for melancholy thoughts have passed.

The autumn’s here and suddenly there’s so much to do and today ’’a ray of sunshine melts the clouds and blows my blues away’’ as the closing song on the first side of the aforementioned Led Zeppelin 3 puts it.

I need to play that track now….

Ramble On karaoke / Good Luck Sam

Picture the scene.

A backstreet pub in downtown Bedford last Friday afternoon.

In comes the weekly karaoke team to set up their 4 to 7 pm slot.

I’m there with my good friend Max about four pubs in on our annual bike ride pub crawl. The Karaoke leader kicks off with Bolan’s Get it On.  Another chap gets up to deliver The Eagles Already Gone. Abba and Dido tunes are duly hammered out. Then it happens. I spot Led Zeppelin’s Ramble On amongst the karaoke catalogue that adorns our table. ‘’Are you going to get up there?’’enquires Max.

Now I’ve only ever sung on a karaoke machine once and that was about 15 years back (Jumping Jack Flash as I recall -remember that night Terry B!)….but hey what the hell you only live once.

A moment of Fosters fuelled bravado follows. I fill in the request slip and take it up. Minutes later your TBL editor is on stage delivering a unique version of said Led Zep 2 staple. ‘’Never had that one sung before’’ says the somewhat startled karaoke host. The pub locals offer polite applause. I swear the guy in front of me was tapping out Bonzo’s part on his lap throughout my performance.

Max has a look of sheer bemusement as I return to our table not least for my ability to get in character (I spent years in front of the mirror back in Dents Road perfecting those Plant stances knowing they’d come in handy one day!)

Soon we are back on our bikes bound for the next ale house, the strains of Boyzone’s No Matter What drifting out the door as the next karaoke hopeful does his best Ronan Keating.

Believe me It was nothing on my Plant impression. So if there’s a Zep tribute band out there in need of a singer I could well be the man. Mind you it would have to be on the proviso of supplying a bicycle capable of whizzing me across ten pubs to supply the necessary dutch courage before I get on stage.

Once again you couldn’t make it up.

52…could prove to be a funny age…

Meanwhile back to reality. Suffice to say the pub crawl bike ride was immensely enjoyable, the ensuing hangover not so… but since then it’s been back to the slog with a batch of e-mails and such like to catch up. TBL 22 to kick start and a whole lot of stuff going on at work.

Most importantly it’s time to bid a fond farewell to our Sam who commences university at UEA in Norwich next week. Well be taking her up on Sunday. I’m terrible at goodbyes at the best of times and fear I will be not be in good emotional repair come Sunday night.

It seems only last week that she was dancing around the room to the Page & Plant version of Four Sticks (always her Zep favourite back then) as the Unledded film aired. It was actually 14 years ago when she was four years old (‘’and that’s a sure fine way to start’’ as the singer once put it).

Time the wheel rolls on and who knows where the time goes

Our not so little lady has developed a will and drive to succeed at what she does that has made us very proud indeed.  A journalistic career is her aim as she undertakes the three year politics, culture and literature courses.

Good luck Sam

We will miss you terribly but..

‘’It’s time to ramble on’’ as your Dad once sang…last Friday.

Back Online / More birthday celebrations

DL 52 at 52

It’s been something of a whirlwind couple of weeks – loads on at work – Sam preparing for UNI, Adam back on the football pitch (in the pre season friendly he looked well sharp with a play maker role looking promising). Two weeks ago was the good lady Janet’s birthday and a lunchtime Sunday roast family meal out was most enjoyable. As was a trip to Hitchin the day before where the sun shone for what might have been the last time this summer  - one of a handful of days it actually did. Purchased some lovely vinyl on the market there including the bizarre 1980’s prime cut single sleeve package of Presence, Hendrix In The West another album I brought with my first pay packet back in ’72 and foolishly sold years later, and the lavish 3 LP live Santana album Lotus that folds out about 12 times…ah you don’t get that on a CD!    Zep wise there’s been the Jimmy Olympics closing Ceremony debate – I thought it was great, yes slightly eccentric but he looked so into it. And then news of the GQ awards where they were reunited to collect their award. It all rolls on…somewhere..

September 12 update:

Was just about to post all this last Thursday the day before my birthday when the computer started playing up – the result being it had to have a full reload which took me offline for nearly a week. Curses!

Apologies therefore for not replying to emails etc. 

Anyway…Suffice to say beers were drunk over the weekend as I reflected on a year that began with the announcement we had all waited  so long for and ended up with Jimmy on the front page of The Sun having performed Whole Lotta Love with a reality TV show winner (albeit a class one!)

As I prone to often remark: You just couldn’t make it up.

The Friday Birthday included a lovely afternoon lunch with our good friends Terry and Marian – Terry came up with 2 fab presents namely Pete Townshend’s Who Came First re issue and Sandy Denny’ Best Of The BBC Sessions. Saturday night was a meal out with Max and Julie – in a restored pub restaurant that used to be one of my 1970’s hang outs when it was known as the Crown cellar bar. As we sat down in the bar late on after a great meal, I kept expecting the room to burst into life with the strains of Thin Lizzy’s Boys Are Back In Town  or Zep’s Rock And Roll, both staple juke box faves thirty years back in the same venue. 

The boy JL came over Sunday to hand a delightful present –an original Frank Sinatra programme packed with illustrations of his vast album catalogue –many of which are stacked next me as I type this – this has prompted me to bring out Frank’s very fine September of My Years LP to play over the next few days.

There’s one more celebration today – an annual bike ride pub crawl with my lifelong mate Max. A last indulgence before the Autumn workload kicks in. Ale houses in the darkest back streets of Bedford will be visited – former glories recalled and plans made for ahead. It’s what blokes do!

Then it will be full on catching up all the emails that have built up, TBL 22 to kick off, work frenzy and Sam to take down to Norwich and bid farewell to next Sunday.

Right I’m off to pump my bike tyres up….    

  

But before that…

As usual forgive the indulgence but here are 52 inspirations from the past twelve months. 

 

DL 52 At 52

The sights,sounds,events,reading matter and general inspirations that have lit up this past twelve months.

 

It has of course been some year …dominated by the events leading up to the night of December 10 2007and the afterglow that has continued to shine on brightly long after that still barely believable reunion.

These are the key moments and inspirations from September to September 

 

 

O2 Press Conference September 12 2007

When hearing was beleiving…

 

Robert Plant Alison Krauss Raising Sand CD

A melancholy delight as the world went slightly mad

 

Uncut Robert Plant interview

Superb interview with Allan Jones..We need to do one last great gig…’’

 

Frank Skinner live at Bedford Corn Exchange

Laughing in the face of adversity with the good lady Janet in the company of another man of the Midlands

 

The Song Remains The Same remastered CD and DVD

For all the controversy over cuts and edits…to these ears and eyes it still thrills

 

Mothership

The one stop Zeppelin hit factory. How exciting it was to see this fly off the MK Zavvi shelves as the tension mounted

 

The Song Remains The Same London Press showing/Madame Jo Jo’s club launch party.

Seeing the film on the big screen again was like reliving my life circa 1976/77. The party wasn’t bad either despite an early start next day at work!

 

Record Collector Zep rarities feature

It was a real buzz to revisit the wealth of Zep collectables and formulate this feature 

 

Your Time Is Gonna Come/The Roots Of Led Zeppelin CD

Excellent collection of pre Zep rarities and oddball one offs. 

 

DL on the BBC 6 0’clock news

Direct from Planet Zeppelin – bizarre!

 

Led Zeppelin 02 Arena December 10 2007

Seeing was believing…. It’s a great life this life of music…was it ever…

 

Led Zeppelin For Your Life 

Always one of my all time faves. Now in the forefront of their catalogue via it’s 02 live debut. Track of the year

 

TBL 19

It was a rush to get that one out with all the 02 activity and one of the hardest writing tasks I’ve undertaken to describe the December 10 events. 

 

02 Third Eye DVD

One man’s seemingly unfeasible quest to bring Plant Zeppelin back into our homes. He more than succeeded.

 

Legendary Reunion Wendy label CD

Another much played souvenir

 

Led Zeppelin  L’Olympia CD

The Zep live archive find of the year – a steller 1969 Zep performance via the French broadcast of the time.

 

Lulu Atco Sessions CD

Welcome package of the very fine singer’s work for Atlantic.

Little wonder she was in attendance at the 02

 

Amazing Journey – Story Of The Who DVD

Superb documentary – a similar Zep project would be welcome

 

Wallbangers FC  annual day out in London

Always a spendid day as we re group to discuss former glories and more. Friends reunited in pubs in the borough of Islington. It beats working!  

 

Thinkfarm Interview

Hearing Mike and Mark’s thoughts on animating the 02 show brought forth the sheer scale of it all. The souvenir box set of pics they gave me has pride of place.

 

The Big Match Revisited on ITV3

The wonder of freeview – watching these 1983 season re runs was hugely nostalgic.

 

BBC Curse of Comedy series on TV

Fascinating study of Hancock,Steptoe and son etc

 

Spurs 2 Chelsea 1 Carling Cup Final

We actually won something! It felt very good indeed

 

JL At 60

The bruv clocked up a milestone age – retirement –what retirement!

 

Sandy Denny Remembered The Music Weaver CD

Wonderful compilation of the much missed first lady of folk rock. The TBL archive was later on hand to assist in the visuals for Robert’s Cropredy tribute performance.

 

TBL20

With John Bonham proud and loud on the cover.

 

Robert and Alison Raising Sand Live at Wembley

Beguiling but unmissable

 

Debbie Bonham Band at the 100 Club

Great to be in Bonham company on the week of his 60th

 

John Bonham at 60 TBL London gathering

And out of our dens to celebrate Bonzo’s greatest beats

 

Jethro Tull This Was extended edition CD

Blues boom classic form 1968 with added goodies

 

Paul Weller 22 Dreams CD

Always a captivating artist –much to enjoy on this sprawling set.

 

Fillmore The Last Days CD

E bay purchase of the year. I’ve been looking for this for ages –had the vinyl box since 1972 – now an ipod fave 

 

David Crosby Voyage box set CD

Still love playing stuff from this wonderful career encompassing set  

 

Foo Fighters live with Jimmy and JPJ at Wembley

Couldn’t make it myself but it looked fantastic. I was in the curry house with Terry B when the texts came through….Ramble On oh yes…

 

Adam’s 100 Goals Award

He kept on slotting them in as well as developing into a deft playmaker.

Seeing him pick up this award made me a very proud Dad

 

Wimbledon 08

In particular the Murray/Gasquet match and thrilling Federer/Nadel final.

 

Zavvi summer sale

A throwback to the old days of real sales. I spent!

 

All You Need Is Love DVD set

Tony Palmer’s epic 1970’s series – it was great talking to the man for the next TBL

 

Bedford River Festival

One of the biggest out door events of it’s kind with 300,000 milling just across from where we live. And the weather held up and yes beers were drunk..

 

Cliff’s Zep ticket collection in my house

A visit from Mark H and Cliff – his ticket collection is simply awesome –hey I held a ticket to Nottingham boat club – history in my hand!

 

Chewing the Zep fat with Mick Wall

A series of most enjoyable long and involved conversations with Mick as he consulted me as he worked on his forthcoming Zep book

 

Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

On DVD and CD – iconic 1960’s film –guaranteed to make me smile

 

Simon Kernick Relentless book

Excellent emerging crime writer.

 

David Grant Elephant book

Hilarious and telling journey through the haze of one man’s memory.

Very close to home for me – my mate Max read it and thought I’d wrote it!

 

Mike Gale Life And Soul Of The Party book

Perfect holiday read (not that we went far!)

 

TBL21

Another outpouring – Martyn’s layout bringing it all to life And key input from Gary D and Eddie E. Thanks boys.

 

Knebworth Exhibition Launch

Good to be back 29 years on in the company of Mark H and Cliff. The memories always linger…on a blind date

 

Spurs 5 Roma 0

Lovely day out at the Lane for Adam’s birthday. The goals flowed….but they haven’t much since!

 

Sam’s Exam results

Politics and English A’s and now Sam is bound for Norwich UEA. Proud parents are we…though we will miss her terribly!

 

Robert Plant 60 at 60

Great to wallow in all these vital vocal performances on a milestone coming of age

 

Jimmy at the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony

Eccentric yes. controversial yes…but such a thrill to see our man spreading a Whole Lotta Love towards 2012

 

Hitchin Market August 30

For the good lady Janet’s birthday a nice stroll around this lovely quaint town. The market was good too with vinyl to buy. I did.