BBC Sessions

A Garden Tapes feature
by Eddie Edwards

Following countless bootleg releases, Led Zeppelin's 1969 and 1971 BBC recordings finally saw the official light of day in 1997. "BBC Sessions" was a very welcome and long overdue release, although some of the available material was omitted from the 2CD set and some of the included tracks were edited.

3rd March 1969
Studio session recorded at the Playhouse Theatre, London
"You Shook Me", "I Can't Quit You Baby" and "Dazed and Confused" are included in full on "BBC Sessions". "Communication Breakdown" was also recorded at this session but was not included.

19th March 1969
Studio session recorded at Maida Vale studio, London
It was not possible to consider material from this date for inclusion on "BBC Sessions" because the master tapes have been wiped. "You Shook Me", "I Can't Quit You Baby" and "Sunshine Woman" were recorded. All three tracks are available unofficially on a recording made from a BBC World Service AM broadcast, although "You Shook Me" is incomplete.

16th June 1969
Studio session recorded at Aeolian Hall, London
"Communication Breakdown", "The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair" and "Somethin' Else" are included in full on "BBC Sessions". "What Is and What Should Never Be" was also recorded at this session but was not included. A hilariously embarrassing interview with presenter Chris Grant was also recorded at this session but was never broadcast.

24th June 1969
Studio session recorded at Maida Vale studio, London
"What Is and What Should Never Be", "Communication Breakdown", "Travelling Riverside Blues" and "Whole Lotta Love" were recorded at this session. All are included in full on "BBC Sessions".

27th June 1969
Live performance at the Playhouse Theatre, London
Just four tracks from the six played at this first live BBC gig have been included on "BBC Sessions".

"Communication Breakdown" is cut by 10 seconds at 2:33 where Robert sang some lines from the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing". It's a great shame that this had to be taken out but apparently agreement could not be reached on copyright and royalties.
"I Can't Quit You Baby" is included in full.
Next to be played were "Dazed and Confused" and "White Summer" but neither of these tracks were chosen for "BBC Sessions". This version of "White Summer" was, however, released on the 1990 "Led Zeppelin" box set and on the extended edition of "Coda" included within the 1993 "Complete Studio Recordings" box set, but with a 15 second cut at 5:06 in both cases!
"You Shook Me" is included in full.
The first few runs through the bass riff of "How Many More Times", over which presenter Alan Black was speaking, have been omitted, then at 0:24 a further 53 seconds consisting of the band member introductions have been cut. The remainder of the track is uncut.
The most complete bootlegs of this concert also include Black's interviews with Jimmy and Robert and a comedy interlude from members of the Liverpool Scene.

1st April 1971
Live performance at the Paris Cinema, London
Zep's final BBC performance was originally scheduled for 25th March but was postponed for a week to allow Robert's voice to recover after a busy month of touring. Disc 2 of "BBC Sessions" features most of this concert but some parts were left out.

"Immigrant Song", "Heartbreaker", "Since I've Been Loving You", "Black Dog", "Dazed and Confused", "Stairway To Heaven", "Going To California" and "That's The Way" are all included in full. "What Is and What Should Never Be" was played next but is not included.

The "Whole Lotta Love" medley has been shortened by about seven minutes by means of three cuts:

At 6:00, 90 seconds worth of guitar solo and "Trucking Little Mama" have been removed
At 9:15 another 90 seconds bites the dust - this time it's "For What It's Worth"
At 11:29 we lose the four minute "Honey Bee"

"Thank You" is included in full but the second encore, "Communication Breakdown", has been omitted.

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