Led Zeppelin on Led Zeppelin by Hank Bordowitz

Led Zeppelin on Led Zeppelin: Interviews and Encounters (Musicians in Their Own Words) is a compilation of interviews with the members of Led Zeppelin through the years in chronological order.

Led Zeppelin on Led Zeppelin reads like a biography of the media's response to Led Zeppelin, from the books first interview from 1968 - a Jimmy Page interview about his new band, by none other than Robin Leach, in Leach’s magazine Go! - or a series from Toronto Globe and Mail's Ritchie York, where the band is treated as new and interesting. Through the mid 70's where the band is granted star status and on to the late 70's where, in a horrifically bad piece of writing/complete hatchet job, NME's Chris Salewicz does a pre-Knebworth interview with Jimmy Page.

Through the latter 80's, the band starts being given legendary status, a status which grows right through to the final interview in 2013. Led Zeppelin on Led Zeppelin is, if nothing else, a comprehensive look at Led Zeppelin's career.

Due to the type of book, a compilation of other writers works, the voices throughout change, some, like Yorke or NME's Nick Kent in 1972, are excellent. Other's like Salewicz or an Australian radio interview that's a mess on paper, are tougher to read. The narrative isn't always consistent, and that can be problematic. On the other hand, with it's breakdown of each interview being a chapter, it is easy enough for the non-reviewer to skip an interview that they find cumbersome or difficult to read.

Led Zeppelin on Led Zeppelin: Interviews and Encounters (Musicians in Their Own Words) is an interesting look at the career of Led Zeppelin, not through the eyes of a specific biographer with an agenda, but from the perspective of the people who were there at the time and charged with the task of writing about it.

Physical Graffiti

It's Physical Graffiti month here at Ramble On Radio as both the 40th anniversary of the albums release, and the new remastered albums hit the store on the same day

This months podcast episodes will be devoted entirely to the album, starting this week with a look at the music on Disc 1. You can always check out the podcast here, or subscribe to it on iTunes here (be sure to leave a review &tc.) and never miss an episode.

Meanwhile, Led Zeppelin has given us a look at the Super Deluxe Edition, in the unpacking video released this week.




And the band has already released one song from the Deluxe Edition, Houses Of the Holy (Rough Mix with Overdubs) and you can expect Brandi and Coke (Trampled Underfoot) [Initial/Rough Mix] soon, probably next week.

Currently at $118 on pre-order, Amazon may have the lowest price going (although price likely subject to change).