•
Rating: It is often said about Made In Japan by Deep Purple that "a copy of this album should be present in every home." Okay, masterpiece album, but I think it can, indeed it should, be said about Live At Leeds by The Who, At Fillmore East by the Allman Brothers, Jimi Plays Monterey, and others, among which I would include these BBC Sessions by Led Zeppelin, which I personally believe have nothing, absolutely nothing, to envy from the aforementioned titles.
I still remember the day I bought them, it was a Saturday afternoon in March of 1998. At the time, I only had the Remasters collection and The Song Remains The Same, and in my naivety, I thought there wasn't much else to know about the Zeppelin. I went to the store with the idea of getting a movie on videotape but was captivated by that light cover and those titles, many of which didn't appear in either Remasters or TSRTS. I thought about it for a bit, finally bought them, and I did well.
These BBC Sessions consist of recordings made for English radio between March 1969 and April 1971 and were broadcast in various programs such as Top Gear, One Night Stand, In Concert, etc. The first disc features performances from five different sessions, all from 1969, showcasing the very early Led Zeppelin, the more bluesy ones, grappling with a repertoire from the first two albums, especially the first one, along with some excellent covers like "The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair", "Something Else", and a "Travelling Riverside Blues" very different from Robert Johnson's original thanks to Plant's personalized interpretation and an excellent slide work by Page; a performance that seems to anticipate by a few years the excellent "In My Time Of Dying" from Physical Graffiti. For the first four sessions, these can't be properly called live performances as there are several subsequent overdubs, but they are more live than studio performances, more spontaneous, and with a rawer sound. The last recording session of the first CD is a real live performance, that of June 27, 1969, at Playhouse Theatre (London), finally with an audience present. Four tracks from the first album, thirty-two minutes of a completely live performance with improvisations and variations on the theme, including a pyrotechnic "Communication Breakdown" (of this track in total, considering the other takes, there are three different versions), "You Shook Me", "I Can't Quit You Baby", and closing with a superb "How Many More Times". A performance of pure hard blues, overall very intense, which alone clarifies what kind of stage animals the early Led Zeppelin were. It should be noted that "Dazed and Confused" and "White Summer" were also played that evening, but they were excluded from the collection.
But if the first CD already makes the blood boil in your veins, the second is perhaps even better. Indeed, it is entirely dedicated to the 1971 concert, again in London, but at the Paris Studios (April 1st, but it wasn't a joke). By then, Page & Company already had three albums under their belt and were completing the fourth, from which they performed three tracks. That day, the audience present had the fortune to witness one of the best Led Zeppelin concerts, a performance presented almost in its entirety with this second CD, which, in its seventy-eight minutes, includes ten of the twelve songs from the original setlist. Only "What Is And What Should Never Be" and the final encore "Communication Breakdown" are missing, excluded both for space reasons and because both are already present on the first CD. But aside from some omissions, you can't help but be left speechless in front of some of the most famous classics of a band capable of moving from the hard rock of "Immigrant Song", "Heartbreaker", and "Black Dog" to the soulful blues of "Since I've Been Loving You", from the hallucinogenic improvisations, complete with a bow, of "Dazed And Confused" to the crescendo of the masterpiece "Stairway To Heaven" (in its first radio broadcast), passing through acoustic episodes like "Going To California" and "That's The Way", then heading towards the conclusion with the mythic riff of "Whole Lotta Love", extended here with rock & roll and blues quotes; closing with the splendid "Thank You", perhaps the most beautiful ballad by the Zep, with a spine-chilling solo by Page. All four are in great shape, Bonzo as always devastating and uncontrollable, John Paul Jones as a reliable and solid musician on both bass and keyboards, Jimmy Page more inspired than ever, and Robert Plant in full voice; the overall result is one of the best live performances rock can remember.
Among the live albums by Led Zeppelin, these BBC Sessions are my favorites, and I place them ahead of the excellent How The West Was Won. I prefer them primarily because I think this features the best live Plant ever, who after '72 would start experiencing highs and lows in live performances. Just listen to the hard part of Stairway to Heaven or the end of Since I've Been Lovin You to realize it. Additionally, being recordings for radio programs, they weren't allowed to go overboard with the durations, and they were forced to contain themselves a bit, which I think is a good thing because, unfortunately, live, the four had a flaw (which for some may not even be a flaw) of excessively indulging in instrumental improvisations; here they are free form, but without overdoing it. Personally, I prefer a Dazed and Confused of eighteen minutes over those of twenty-five and more that would come later. Finally, I really like the sound of these two discs, which is rawer, more sincere, more honest, and faithful to the original compared to that of HTWWW, which instead seems to me a bit too "pumped."
When it came out in 1997, this double album was greeted with great enthusiasm by all the group's admirers, who for about twenty years had to "settle" for the only official live The Song Remains The Same (a good album but certainly not portraying the Zeppelin at their best) or, alternatively, resort to some bootleg; and by the way, it should be noted that these same recordings circulated for a long time in that "unofficial" form.
In short, I would say that this live collection is truly a must-have because it shows Led Zeppelin during their most creative phase, spontaneous and direct, able to reach the listener without dwelling too much, without overly reveling in their own skills, and still far from the mannerism that would characterize some later productions.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 You Shook Me (05:15)
You know you shook me
You shook me all night long
You know you shook me, baby
You shook me all night long
You shook me so hard, baby
Baby, baby baby, please come home
I have a bird that whistles
And I have birds that sing
I have a bird that whistles
And I have birds that sing
I have a babe, won't do nothing
Oh-oh, oh-oh, buy a diamond ring, yeah
You know you shook me, babe
You shook me all night long, I know you really really did, babe
I said you shook me, baby
You shook me all night long
You shook me so hard, baby
Babe! Ah-ahh! Ah-ahh! Ah-ahh! Ah-ahhh!
Ah-nah-nahh! Ah-ah-ah-nah-nahh!
You shook me oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh all night long
02 I Can't Quit You Baby (04:23)
Ah, ah
I can't quit you, babe
So I'm gonna put you down for awhile
I said I can't quit you, babe
I guess I got to put you down for awhile
Said you messed up my happy home
Made me mistreat my only child
Yes you did babe, oh
Said you know I love you, baby
My love for you, I could never hide
Oh, you know I love you, babe
My love for you, I could never hide
A-when I feel you near me little girl
I know you are my one desire
Whoa, oh, oh yeah
When you hear me moanin' an' groanin, babe
You know it hurts me deep down inside
Oh, when you hear me moanin' an' groanin', babe
You know it hurts me deep down inside
Oh, when you hear me, honey baby
You know you're my one desire
Yes, you are
Oh, you are
03 Communication Breakdown (03:12)
Hey, girl, stop what you're doin'
Hey, girl, you'll drive me to ruin
I don't know what it is that I like about you, but I like it a lot
Oh, won't you let me hold you, let me feel your lovin' touch
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
Drive me insane
Hey, babe, I got something I think you ought to know
Hey, babe, I wanna tell you that I love you so
I wanna hold you in my arms, yeah
I'm never gonna let you go, 'cause I like your charms
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
Drive me insane
Oh suck it!
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
A-drive me insane, yeah
Communication breakdown (Yeah, I want you to love me all night, I want you to know that)
Communication breakdown (I want, hey, I want, oh)
Communication breakdown (I want you to love me, I want you to love me babe)
Communication breakdown (I want you to love, yeah, I want you to love)
Communication breakdown (Hey, I want you to love yeah)
04 Dazed and Confused (06:41)
Been dazed and confused for so long it's not true
Wanted a woman, never bargained for you
Lots of people talk and few of them know
Soul of a woman was created below, yeah
You hurt and abuse tellin' all of your lies
Run 'round sweet baby, Lord how they hypnotize
Sweet little baby, I don't know where you've been
Gonna love you baby, here I come again
Every day I work so hard, bringin' home my hard earned pay
Try to love you baby, but you push me away
Don't know where you're goin', only know just where you've been
Sweet little baby, I want you again
Ah ahh...
Oh yeah, alright
I don't want your lovin' this time yeah
Oh don't leave me so confused, ah
Ohh baby
Been dazed and confused for so long it's not true
Wanted a woman, never bargained for you
Take it easy baby, let them say what they will
Tongue wag so much when I send you the bill?
Oh yeah, alright
Oh oh...
07 Communication Breakdown (02:41)
Hey, girl, stop what you're doin'
Hey, girl, you'll drive me to ruin
I don't know what it is that I like about you, but I like it a lot
Oh, won't you let me hold you, let me feel your lovin' touch
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
Drive me insane
Hey, babe, I got something I think you ought to know
Hey, babe, I wanna tell you that I love you so
I wanna hold you in my arms, yeah
I'm never gonna let you go, 'cause I like your charms
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
Drive me insane
Oh suck it!
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
A-drive me insane, yeah
Communication breakdown (Yeah, I want you to love me all night, I want you to know that)
Communication breakdown (I want, hey, I want, oh)
Communication breakdown (I want you to love me, I want you to love me babe)
Communication breakdown (I want you to love, yeah, I want you to love)
Communication breakdown (Hey, I want you to love yeah)
08 Travelling Riverside Blues (05:11)
(Johnson/Page/Plant)
Asked sweet mama, Let me be her kid
She said, "You might get hurt if you don't keep it hid"
Well I know my baby, If I see her in the dark
I said I know my rider, If I see her in the dark
Now, I goin' to Rosedale, Take my rider by my side
Still barrelhouse, If it's on the riverside, yeah
I know my baby, Lord, I said, "is really sloppy drunk"
I know my mama, Lord, a brownskin, but she ain't no plum
See my baby, tell her, Tell her hurry home
Had no lovin', since my baby been gone
See my baby, Tell hurry on home
I ain't had, Lord, my right mind, Since my rider's been gone
Hey, she promises, She's my rider
I wanna tell you, She's my rider
I know you're mine, She's my rider
She ain't but sixteen, But she's my rider
I'm goin' to Rosedale, Take my rider by side
Anybody argue with me man, I'll keep them satisfied
Well, see my baby, tell her, Tell her the shape I'm in
Ain't had no lovin', Lord, since you know when
Spoken: Why don't you come into my kitchen
She's a kindhearted lady. She studies evil all the time
She's a kindhearted woman. She studies evil all the time
Squeeze my lemon 'til the juice runs down my leg
Squeeze it so hard, I'll fall right out of bed
Squeeze my lemon, 'til the juice runs down my leg
Spoken: I wonder if you know what I'm talkin' about
Oh, but the way that you squeeze it girl
I swear I'm gonna fall right out of bed
She's a good rider
She's my kindhearted lady
I'm gonna take my rider by my side
I said her front teeth are lined with gold
She's gotta mortgage on my body, got a line on my soul
She's my brownskin sugar plum...
09 Whole Lotta Love (06:13)
You need coolin'
Baby, I'm not foolin'
I'm gonna send you
Back to schoolin'
Way down inside honey, you need it
I'm gonna give you my love
I'm gonna give you my love
Oh, wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
You've been learnin'
Baby, I been learnin'
All them good times, baby, baby
I've been yearnin'
Way way down inside, honey, you need it
I'm gonna give you my love
I'm gonna give you my love
Oh! Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
I don't want, ah
Ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ah-ah, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ah! No, no, no, no
Ah
Lord!
Lo-ooh-whoa-ooh-whoa-ooh-whoa-ooh-whoa!
You've been coolin'
Baby, I've been droolin'
All the good times, baby
I've been misusin'
Way way down inside
I'm gonna give you my love
I'm gonna give you every inch of my love
Gonna give you my love
Hey! Alright! Let's go!
Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
Wanna whole lotta love
Way down inside, woman, you need it
Lord!
My, my, my, my
My, my, my, my
Oh!
Shake for me, girl
I wanna be your back door man
Hey, oh, hey, oh, hey, oh
Oooh ahh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Ooh my, my babe
Keep it coolin' baby
A-keep it coolin' baby
A-keep it coolin' baby
Ah-keep it coolin' baby
Ahh, ahhh-hahhh-oh
10 Somethin' Else (02:07)
Oh, look over there
Here she comes
Here comes that girl again
One that I know since I dont know when
But she dont notice me, when I pass
She goes with all the guys who are out of my class
But that cant stop me from thinkin to myself
Shes sure fine lookin man, shes something else.
Hey, look over there
Across the street
Theres a car just right for me
Took on a quality of luxery
But right now I cant afford the gas
I guessthe cars right out of my class
But that cant stop me from thinkin to myself
That cars fine lookin man, it something else.
Hey, look-a here
Just wait and see
Im gonna work hard and save my dough
Gonna buy the car
Get me that girl and go ridin around
Well go to the shop a right block down
Ill keep on right on dreamin and thinkin to myself
If it all comes true man, wow, thats something else.
Look a-here
Whats all this
Never thought Id do this before
But here I am a-knockin on a door
My cars out front
And its all mine
Justa 41 ford not a 59
Ive got that girl and Im a thinkin to myself
Shes sure fine lookin man, wow, shes something else.
11 Communication Breakdown (03:05)
Hey, girl, stop what you're doin'
Hey, girl, you'll drive me to ruin
I don't know what it is that I like about you, but I like it a lot
Oh, won't you let me hold you, let me feel your lovin' touch
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
Drive me insane
Hey, babe, I got something I think you ought to know
Hey, babe, I wanna tell you that I love you so
I wanna hold you in my arms, yeah
I'm never gonna let you go, 'cause I like your charms
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
Drive me insane
Oh suck it!
Communication breakdown
It's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown
A-drive me insane, yeah
Communication breakdown (Yeah, I want you to love me all night, I want you to know that)
Communication breakdown (I want, hey, I want, oh)
Communication breakdown (I want you to love me, I want you to love me babe)
Communication breakdown (I want you to love, yeah, I want you to love)
Communication breakdown (Hey, I want you to love yeah)
12 I Can't Quit You Baby (06:20)
Ah, ah
I can't quit you, babe
So I'm gonna put you down for awhile
I said I can't quit you, babe
I guess I got to put you down for awhile
Said you messed up my happy home
Made me mistreat my only child
Yes you did babe, oh
Said you know I love you, baby
My love for you, I could never hide
Oh, you know I love you, babe
My love for you, I could never hide
A-when I feel you near me little girl
I know you are my one desire
Whoa, oh, oh yeah
When you hear me moanin' an' groanin, babe
You know it hurts me deep down inside
Oh, when you hear me moanin' an' groanin', babe
You know it hurts me deep down inside
Oh, when you hear me, honey baby
You know you're my one desire
Yes, you are
Oh, you are
13 You Shook Me (10:19)
You know you shook me
You shook me all night long
You know you shook me, baby
You shook me all night long
You shook me so hard, baby
Baby, baby baby, please come home
I have a bird that whistles
And I have birds that sing
I have a bird that whistles
And I have birds that sing
I have a babe, won't do nothing
Oh-oh, oh-oh, buy a diamond ring, yeah
You know you shook me, babe
You shook me all night long, I know you really really did, babe
I said you shook me, baby
You shook me all night long
You shook me so hard, baby
Babe! Ah-ahh! Ah-ahh! Ah-ahh! Ah-ahhh!
Ah-nah-nahh! Ah-ah-ah-nah-nahh!
You shook me oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh ooh oh all night long
14 How Many More Times (11:50)
How many more times
Treat me the way you wanna do?
How many more times
Treat me the way you wanna do?
When I give you all my love, please, please be true
I'll give you all I've got to give
Rings, pearls, and all
I'll give you all I've got to give
Rings, pearls, and all
I've got to get you together baby, I'm sure, sure you're gonna crawl
Oh! Wanna love some other man too?
I was a young man, I couldn't resist
Started thinkin' it over, just what I had missed
Got me a girl and I kissed her and then and then
Whoops, oh Lordy, well I did it again
Now I've got ten children of my own
I got another child on the way that makes eleven
But I'm in constant heaven
I know it's alright in my mind
'Cause I got a little schoolgirl and she's all mine
I can't get through to her 'cause it doesn't permit
But I'm gonna give her everything I've got to give
Oh Rosie, oh girl
Oh Rosie, oh girl
Steal away now, steal away
Steal away baby, steal away
Little Robert Anthony wants to come and play
Why don't ya come with me baby?
Steal away
Alright, alright
Well they call me the hunter, that's my name
Call me the hunter, that's how I got my fame
Ain't no need to hide, ain't no need to run
'Cause I've got you in the sights of my gun
How many more times
Barrelhouse all night long, all right
How many more times
Barrelhouse all night long
Well I've got to get to you, baby
Girl, please come home
Why don't you listen to me babe?
Why don't you please come home?
Why don't you please come home?
Why don't you please come home?
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By Alchimista
The Zeppelin impresses with its ability to render the same song different, 'Communication Breakdown,' in three completely dissimilar executions.
It is an excellent collection of live performances, absolutely a must-have, with no excuses or criticisms.
