"Houses Of The Holy: Deluxe Edition" by LED ZEPPELIN (2014 Atlantic/Swan Song 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Jimmy Page Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Many Dreams Come True…" 

Robert Plant once ruminated that Led Zeppelin waited 5 months before releasing their 5th album “Houses Of The Holy” because they wanted to get the album artwork right. And when he saw the 1990s CD reissue in its 5” puniness minus that “HOTH” title bandana that came with 1973 originals – he wondered was it worth the wait? Well the album is back in a brand new 2014 reissue and with its title wraparound restored – properly remastered this time and sporting some rather cool 'extras' too. Here are the crunges, quarter oceans and songs that remain (roughly) the same…

Released October 2014 - this review if for "Houses Of The Holy” by LED ZEPPELIN - the 2CD DELUXE EDITION on Atlantic 8122795827 (Barcode 081227958275) which breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (ORIGINAL ALBUM – 40:59 minutes):

1. The Song Remains The Same

2. The Rain Song

3. Over The Hills And Far Away

4. The Crunge

5. Dancing Days [Side 2]

6. D’yer Mak’er

7. No Quarter

8. The Ocean

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 5^th album "Houses Of The Holy" – released 23 March 1973 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7255 and in the UK on Atlantic K 50014

Disc 2 (COMPANION AUDIO Unreleased Studio Outtakes – 36:13 minutes):

1. The Song Remains The same (Guitar Overdub Reference Mix)

2. The Rain Song (Mix Minus Piano)

3. Over The Hills And Far Away (Guitar Mix Backing Track – No Vocal)

4. The Crunge (Rough Mix – Keys Up)

5. Dancing Days (Rough Mix With Vocal)

6. No Quarter (Rough Mix With JPJ Keyboard Overdubs – No Vocal)

7. The Ocean (Working Mix)

For a supposed DELUXE EDITION the 16-page booklet is adequate at best - colour live shots, the inner sleeve reproduced in the centre pages and a few basic reissue credits on the last few pages. For such an iconic band and prestigious catalogue - you think Atlantic could have pushed the boat out a bit more. It's noticeable also that the track list stick-on sheet that was pasted on to the rear sleeves of I, II and III is now on the outside of the shrinkwrap for you to place wherever you want. It's also irritating because you can barely read the writing on it. But to the really good news...

Like “Led Zeppelin IV” (that also came out Monday 27 October 2014) the much-lauded JIMMY PAGE remaster is properly excellent and a definite improvement on what we had before. Right from the first few seconds of “The Song Remains The Same” the guitars rattle your speakers with renewed power and British machismo. But then I get to what I’ve been after for years (and surely many fan’s favourite track on the record) – “The Rain Song” in gorgeous remastered form. It is hissy for sure in certain places but the acoustic guitars and JPJ’s Mellotron are more to the fore (and in a good way). The Plant vocals and Page Guitars sing now on “Over The Hills And Far Away” while I still laugh at the final “Where’s the confounded bridge?” gag at the end of the rhythmically awkward “The Crunge” (a song that stills sounds to me like its chancing its arm). The Side 2 openers “Dancing Days” and the silly “D’yer Mak’er” both pack a huge wallop (especially Bonham’s drums) while “No Quarter” is hissy for sure during that warbling Mellotron intro and onwards but you forgive it because it’s a Zeppelin I love (as I suspect many do). It ends on “The Ocean” with its witty intro – another rocker that sounds like it’s on the way to somewhere but never really getting there. Then you’re hit with a real surprise – a storming Disc 2…

After the slightly irritating extras on “IV”(the so-called 'works in progress') – these outtakes are actually quite brilliant. While you’d be hard pressed to hear the differences in either “Dancing Days” of “The Crunge” - some of your favourite songs are stripped of their vocals and allow the listener to concentrate on the great chucky rhythms and clever guitar parts. The two that leap out are “Over The Hills And Far Away” and an astonishing almost Prog version of “No Quarter” with John Paul Jones giving it some fabulous keyboard flourishes and arrangements. The “Minus Piano” Mix of “The Rain Song” sounds lovely too with its gorgeous acoustic guitar playing and JPJ’s Mellotron underpinning the song like a well thought out string arrangement. I'm kind of shocked at how good Disc 2 is actually.

Somehow as the years have passed “Houses Of The Holy” has been seen as the runt of the Led Zeppelin LP litter  – and I’m genuinely glad to say that this reissue makes a strong case for major assessment. Why I almost forgive them that pervy sleeve and the photo of them on the inner gatefold of this 2CD set standing by their LED ZEPPELIN jet with their chests bared for the ladies. Thems was the dancing days indeed boys. Roll on the mighty “Physical Graffiti” next year…yummy.

PS: be careful removing the title bandana – it’s snug and will rip easily…

PPS: see also reviews for the 2CD Deluxe Edition versions of "I", "II", "III", "Physical Graffiti" (3-Discs) and the 3-Disc version of  "Mothership: The Very Best Of" 

"Led Zeppelin IV: Deluxe Edition" by LED ZEPPELIN (October 2014 UK Atlantic/Swan Song 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Reissue with Previously Unreleased Material - Jimmy Page Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Gonna Make You Sweat…Gonna Make You Groove…"

I remember walking up to Dolphin Discs in Talbot Street in Dublin in November 1971 and seeing the long-awaited album sleeve to Led Zeppelin's new album be given pride of place in their window display. Even at the tender age of thirteen and twelve - my sister Frances and I were devoted Zeppelites - so I drew closer to ogle. Someone in the shop had made a white cardboard star, drawn "LED ZEP IV! IT'S HERE!!" in the album's inner sleeve calligraphy and stuck the card star on the top right of the untitled matt sleeve. People were stopping to gawk - what's the big deal? But I remember thinking only one thing. Cheeky buggers - the Zeps are now so big they haven't even put a bleeding title on it! How very...well...Rock and Roll!

Fast-forward to 2014 and another reissue and yet another (far better) remaster. Here are the levees breaking, hops on misty mountains and the May Queen bustling in your hedgerow...

Released October 2014 - "Led Zeppelin IV: Deluxe Edition” by LED ZEPPELIN on Atlantic/Swan Song 812279446 (Barcode 081227964467) is a 2CD Remaster and breaks down as follows:

Disc (ORIGINAL ALBUM - 42:38 minutes):

1. Black Dog

2. Rock And Roll

3. The Battle Of Evermore

4. Stairway To Heaven

5. Misty Mountain Hop

6. Four Sticks

7. Going To California

8. When The Levee Breaks

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4^th LP “Led Zeppelin IV” – released 8 November 1971 in the USA on Atlantic SD 7208 and Atlantic 2401012 in the UK. Officially their 4th album was ‘untitled’ but of course is often referred to as "Led Zeppelin IV", "Four Symbols" or "Runes" or "ZoSo" (after the four symbols that appear at the top of the Atlantic Records label - Zodiac letters for each member of the band).

Disc 2 (COMPANION AUDIO Unreleased Studio Outtakes - 40:35 minutes):

1. Black Dog (Basic Track With Guitar Overdubs)

2. Rock And Roll (Alternate Mix)

3. The Battle Of Evermore (Mandolin/Guitar Mix From Headley Grange)

4. Stairway To Heaven (Sunset Sound Mix)

5. Misty Mountain Hop (Alternate Mix)

6. Four Sticks (Alternate Mix)

7. Going To California (Mandolin/Guitar Mix)

8. When The Levee Breaks (Alternate U.K. Mix)

For a supposed DELUXE EDITION the 16-page booklet is adequate at best - colour live shots, the inner sleeve reproduced in the centre pages and a few basic reissue credits on the last few pages. All the original LP artwork is there – the second hand painting Plant bought in Berkshire and stuck to the wall of a derelict building to get the cover shot – the four symbols of the Zodiac for the boys along with Sandy Denny’s on the inner sleeve – the lyrics to “Stairway To Heaven” that we used to all pour over. But for such an iconic band and prestigious catalogue - you think Atlantic could have pushed the boat out a bit more. It's noticeable also that the track list stick-on sheet that was pasted on to the rear sleeves of I, II and III is now on the outside of the shrinkwrap for you to place wherever you want. It's also irritating because you can barely read the writing on it. But to the really good news...

The much-lauded JIMMY PAGE remaster is excellent and a definite improvement on what we had before - especially on the beautiful acoustic tracks "The Battle Of Evermore" and "Going To California". But it's when we hit "Black Dog", "Rock And Roll" and especially the monster "When The Levee Breaks" that the real sonic punch kicks in. The harmonica on "Levee" threatens to run amuck in your living room while that acoustic break in "Four Sticks" after the guitar intro is absolutely huge. It has to be said that there's noticeable hiss on some of the quieter parts in "Stairway" but not enough to be intrusive or detract. The same applies to the John Paul Jones keys in "Misty Mountain Hop" and Bonzo's drums just so powerful. But for me the sonic jewel on here is the mandolin/guitar battles and vocals in the stunning "Battle Of Evermore" with SANDY DENNY guesting so sweetly.

The liner notes for the 'Companion Audio' give it some waffle about 'new material' recorded for the 'works in progress' - it's deliberately ambiguous because you can't feel that a lot of these 'outtakes' were done in the studio with Pro Tools in the last few years and bear little resemblance to 1971. Having said all of that - they are irritatingly brilliant! You'd be hard pressed to spot the differences in either the Basic Track of "Black Dog" or the Alternate Mix of "Rock And Roll" but the Headley Grange version of "The Battle Of Evermore" is fabulous stuff - guitar bits coming at you've never heard before. Having become so accustomed to the finished take of the album's goliath "Stairway To Heaven" - the Sunset Sound Mix feels oddly unsatisfying - even though that beautiful electric guitar break remains virtually intact (and still has the power to thrill). But I'm taken aback yet again by the sheer Zep power of "When The Levee Breaks" where there's more echoing on the guitars and harmonica to a point where it feels like its going to get out of hand (but it doesn't). And that little guitar flourish at the end is Production genius. Wow!

So what we have is a five-star album given five-star sound and four-star presentation (don't get me started on the rip-off Uber Deluxe Edition). I can remember the excitement their albums used to engender on arrival - and this morning - tingles returned - and that's good enough for me (name or no name)...

PS: see also reviews for the 2CD Deluxe Edition versions of "I", "II", "III", "Houses Of The Holy", "Physical Graffiti" (3-Discs) and the 3-Disc version of  "Mothership: The Very Best Of" 

"Survival" by GRAND FUNK RAILROAD [feat Mark Farner] (2002 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry

"…I Can't Get Along With Society…"

With three studio efforts - “On Time” and “Grand Funk” in 1969, “Closer To Home” and the double “Live Album” (both in 1970) under their Capitol Records belt – GRAND FUNK RAILROAD finally delivered what most feel was their best 'studio' album ever – “Survival” (credited simply as GRAND FUNK). It comes complete with the band literally looking like society outcasts and not-to-be-messed-with Neanderthals on the front cover. And with 5 cracking bonus tracks actually worthy of inclusion – this cheap-as-chips CD remaster is a fantastic way into this most American of Rock bands. Here are the cave men details…

Released November 2002 – "Survival" by GRAND FUNK RAILROAD on Capitol 5417252 (Barcode 724354172526) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster and breaks down as follows (73:14 minutes):

1. Country Road

2. All You’ve Got Is Money

3. Comfort Me

4. Feelin' Alright

5. I Want Freedom [Side 2]

6. I Can Feel Him In The Morning

7. Gimme Shelter

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 5th album “Survival” – released April 1971 in the USA on Capitol SW 764 and June 1971 in the UK on Capitol E-SW 764

BONUS TRACKS (all Previously Unreleased):

8. I Can’t Get Along With Society (2002 Remix)

9. Jam (Footstompin’ Music)

10. Country Road (Unedited Original Version)

11. All You’ve Got Is Money (Unedited Original Version)

12. Feelin’ Alright (Unedited Original Version)

The CD remaster on all of their early albums was always going to be tricky – notoriously recorded with no sense of audiophile – but every sense of 'how it feels'. This is down 'n' dirty American Rock with hiss levels that takes no prisoners. EVREN GOKNAR has 24-bit remastered from original tapes and while the hiss is still there – he’s given more muscle to the overall sound. These tracks come at you with renewed power – not dampened down – but allowed to breath. The all-over-the-place vocals are there – as are the guitar/drum combos – and keyboard interludes – but with more punch. It’s well done.

“All You’ve Got Is Money” sounds like Ten Years After unleashed and wild. Once again it’s rough and raw production is the song’s making – this is gritty unapologetic American Rock and is very much the better for it. The remaster lifts up the great duet vocals between Mark Farner and Don Brewer on the near seven-minute ”Comfort” (even if it is hissy) – an unusually ‘soft and melodic’ song in many ways for GFR and one of Side One’s highlights. We hit the album’s first single – their cover of Traffic’s “Feelin’ Alright” (Capitol Records 3095 in April 1971 – reached No. 54). Written by Dave Mason – its staggering Soulful-Rock crossover potential was spotted almost instantly and covered by a slew of huge artists in a very short period of time – Joe Cocker, David Ruffin, Lulu, Rare Earth, Three Dog Night, The Chairmen Of The Board and even Jazzers Hubert Laws and Wade Marcus all had a go. Grand Funk start the song out slow but build into that fantastic groove with Don Brewer’s drums shining throughout.

The near two-minutes of in-studio pissing about at the beginning of the Side 2 opener “I Want Freedom” sounded cool back in the day but irritates now. Better is when the actual song kicks in with Farner’s keyboards to the fore and that cross-speaker drum thing at the end sounding just great. “If you’re bad…you’ll die when you die…” echoes after children explain God and what it means to be ‘good’ at the beginning of “I Can Feel Him In The Morning”. It’s a fabulously over-the-top track but next to their wild finisher – one of my favourites. Speaking of which – their fuzzy-up manic guitar version of the Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” is Grand Funk Railroad” in full sway – boogieing like mad men – to hell with the critics – damn the musical torpedoes.

But what puts this CD into special is the quality of the Bonus Material. “I’ll tell you mister you’d better watch your mouth or you’ll get busted by the police…” Farner sings on the Alternate Mix of the censorship song “I Can’t get Along With Society” which features a more prevalent upfront guitar. “Jam (Footstompin’ Music)” is an early version (they re-recorded it for the “E Pluribus Funk” album in late 1971) and it’s a five-minute fast boogie with a driving Bass line. But the real prizes for fans are three-in-a-row newly reassembled 2002 mixes. First up is “Country Road” which restores the 2nd verse, middle eight and a Guitar solo edited out of the released version (now runs to 7:38 minutes). “All You’ve Got Is Money restores a Guitar solo, harmonica parts and several extra verses pushing the tune to nearly eight and half minutes. The “Feelin’ Alright” extended versions restores the third verse and features an Alternate Vocal on the first verse (it now stretches to just under six minutes).

Derided by critics and beloved by fans in equal measure – Grand Funk Railroad were huge back in the day – and on the evidence of this cool reissue – it’s easy to hear why…

"Grand Funk" by GRAND FUNK RAILROAD [featuring Mark Farner] (2002 Capitol 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Inside Looking Out…"

With their debut “On Time” released only months earlier in August 1969 (a slow burner that eventually charted in October and rose to Number 27) – their second platter simply called "Grand Funk" followed only months later at the tail end of December 1969 – days away from the beginning of the new decade. Capitol Records saw their investment in Michigan’s finest deliver a Number 11 placing on the Rock LP charts – and hearing its heavier than lead-piping tunes in 2015 (a mere 45 years after the event) - it’s easy to hear why ”Grand Funk” with its garish 'red' cover was both lauded and derided in equal measure (much like the band itself really in certain quarters). But I’d argue if you want gutsy Hard Rockling American Rock ‘n’ Roll – then there’s a lot to love about GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. And featuring two rather excellent Bonus Tracks with sympathetic 24-bit Digital Remastering - this still-as-cheap-as-chips CD remaster is a fantastic way into this most American of Boogie bands. Here are the hard-hitting details…

Released November 2002 – "Grand Funk" by GRAND FUNK RAILROAD on Capitol 5393812 (Barcode 724353938123) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ and plays out as follows (59:46 minutes):

1. Got This Feeling On The Move

2. Please Don’t Worry

3. High Falootin’ Woman

4. Mr. Limousine Driver

5. In Need [Side 2]

6. Winter And My Soul

7. Paranoid

8. Inside Looking Out

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 2nd album "Grand Funk" – released January 1970 in the USA on Capitol SW 406 and February 1970 in the UK on Capitol E-ST 307

BONUS TRACKS (both Previously Unreleased):

9. Nothing is The Same (Demo)

10. Mr. Limousine Driver (Extended Version)

Track 9 (along with most of the album) was recorded on 20 October 1969 and is an early attempt at a song that would eventually surface on their 3rd LP “Closer To Home” in June of 1970. This early-take features a different arrangement and Don Brewer on vocals in the middle section.

Track 10 is a 2002 Remix with Alternate Guitar and an Extended Ending

The 12-page booklet is a rather visually pleasing affair – a centre-page spread of Ticket Stubs, Fillmore East Posters and Hand Flyers, uber rare Japanese 7” Single Picture Sleeves and even Studio Track Sheets. Beneath the see-through plastic tray is a picture of their 2nd-only British 45 for “Inside Looking Out” in its Capitol Records label bag. It was belatedly released in good old Blighty in January 1971 on Capitol CL 15668 with “Paranoid” as its B-side (I believe it played at 33 1/3 because of its lengthy playing time). The informative, witty and affectionate liner notes are by STEVE ROESER feature interviews with the band’s main men MARK FARNER (who wrote all the songs) and DON BREWER.

GRAND FUNK were:

MARK FARNER – Guitar, Piano, Harmonica & Vocals

DON BREWER – Drums And Vocals

MEL SCHACHER - Bass

The CD remaster on all of their early albums was always going to be tricky – notoriously recorded with no sense of audiophile – but every sense of 'how it feels'. This is down 'n' dirty American Rock with hiss levels that takes no prisoners. EVREN GOKNAR has 24-bit remastered from original tapes and while the hiss is still there – he’s given more muscle to the overall sound. These tracks come at you with renewed power – not dampened down – but allowed to breath. The all-over-the-place vocals are there – as are the guitar/drum combos – and keyboard interludes – but with more punch. It’s well done.

It opens with the “baby let the good times roll” of “Got This Thing On The Move” – a funky groover with a huge Bass Line and fuzzed-up guitar. Things slink into Free territory with “Please Don’t Worry” with Brewer’s cymbals and drum kit way up in the mix. Capitol put out the double-boogie-commercial “High Falootin’ Woman” as the flip of the equally catchy “Mr. Limousine Driver” on Capitol 2691 in November 1969 – weeks before the album’s late December release (it scraped the Top 100 at Number 97). The audio on both tracks is wickedly good even if the solo guitar separation on “Mr. Limousine Driver” is pretty harsh.

The near 8-minute “In Need” has always been a fave of mine sounding not unlike the Faces circa “Long Player” (dig that natty little Harmonica/Bass battle half way through followed by great grunge guitar). The Funksters get a bit Bluesy on “Winter And My Soul” – even if the vocals let the vocal down somewhat. Another near 8-minute chugger comes in the shape of “Paranoid” where our boys notice “men outside...come to take you away...” (and with the amount of drugs they were doing – that was probably true). It ends on the 10-minute monster “Inside Looking Out” which features the best vocal on the album.

The Bonus Material may seem lean at only two cuts – but they’re both worth owning. “Nothing is The Same” is an early version of a track that would eventually surface on album No. 2 “Close To Home” in June 1970. Audio and structure-wise it feels pretty much the same as the album material – guitars harshly in the left while the drums and vocals linger on the right and centre. The extended “Mr. Limousine Driver” adds on another minute at 5:29 duration and sounds incredible – much cleaner and just as driving with that great guitar boogie in the left channel. That same guitar goes into wild soloing towards the run out...

So there you have it. "Grand Funk" won’t be everyone’s cup of Darjeeling for damn sure but that’s the nature of 'awkward' bands. Derided by critics and beloved by fans in equal measure – Grand Funk Railroad were huge back in the day – and on the evidence of this cool little reissue – it’s easy to hear why…