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ARMS Tour Opening Night Dallas Nov. 28 1983

Posted by Mark on October 6, 2024
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Ep. 284 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

On November 28, 1983 Jimmy Page walked onstage in Dallas, Texas for his first American appearance in more than 7 years. He was newly free of the chains that heroin addiction had weighing him down, and he was working on getting back to fighting fettle.

Paul Rodgers is joining him for this tour, as Steve Winwood was in the studio and couldn’t reprise his Royal Albert Hall performances. We have the gestation of The Firm as Jimmy and Paul debut Midnight Moonlight, for the first live performance ever.

Overall Jimmy seems ok throughout most of the show. It’s obvious he had practiced with the band as the songs were tight and solid, especially Midnight Moonlight. Paul obviously hadn’t gotten the lyrics committed to memory, as City Sirens has some hilariously mumbled lines. His passionate singing makes up for any flubs.

The recording has the full show with sets by Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and the ensemble jams at the end, finishing up with Goodnight Irene by Ronnie Lane himself.

You can download this full show, and the next night as well right here: https://mega.nz/folder/H8diQRbJ#GYMdDstm3upK0GBQF2pfOw

Led Zeppelin Winterland 4/26/69 DADGAD

Posted by Mark on September 29, 2024
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Ep. 283 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

This is one of the canonical ‘best of’ shows for Led Zeppelin. April 26, 1969 at the Winterland in San Francisco is a high water mark for a band with very… high water. Robert Plant is beyond belief and the rest of the band meets that level, just run with it.

I have covered this show in the long long ago, but I have not repeated any songs, so we have fresh tunes to enjoy. I play Communication Breakdown (the show opener), a How Many More Times that can’t get any better, and a psychedelic cacophony which is As Long As I Have You. This is among the best of the telecaster days. You’ll like it.

You can download the whole recording (both sets) right here: https://mega.nz/folder/S5MD3Z5K#TxbA4fnlNVBJobm6F41Jsg

Or consider becoming a Patron.

Squeeze: My Father’s Place 1980 FM Broadcast

Posted by Mark on September 28, 2024
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Bonus – The Heart of Markness Classic Rock Podcast

This is a fun one! April 2, 1980 at My Father’s Place in Roslyn, NY from an FM broadcast on WLIR. The sound and the performances are stellar. Nice, short, story songs sung impeccably… kinda in a Kinks vein.
If you’re like me you’ll be reminded of a whole bunch of great songs that had slid over the horizon over the years, overshadowed by the fame of “Tempted”. You’ll enjoy this one.

You can download this complete recording here: https://mega.nz/folder/S41HGa5Z#YkWSWVcbb-thxvDrp6KucA

Amazing Vienna 1973 Footage

Posted by Mark on September 27, 2024
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How a 50yr Old 8mm Film Found New Life

A few months ago the prolific and miraculous Eric Levy, aka LedZepFilm released the above incredible super 8 footage of Led Zeppelin playing their legendary show in Vienna in 1973. I’ve done a couple of episodes on this show, because it is so amazingly badass, but having film, wonderful film, to match the audio, was never even a secret wish.

The story of how this footage came to be, and then came to be digitized, color corrected, and synced to the existing audio is fascinating. Led Zeppelin News‘ own James Cook (who I’ve interviewed a couple of times) published a story about the process, which includes an interview with the filmer, Mead Eblan, about that magical night, and how that film survived for 5 decades before seeing the light of day.

This is just one of the myriad films, and audio recordings, which Levy has brought to light, with the occasional help of the Dogs of Doom crew. Eric Levy is arguably the most influential, and consequential, fan in the Led Zeppelin community, at least for the last ten years. His video syncs are amazing.

Take a moment to watch the footage, groove to the amazing music, and read the article James wrote about this amazing find, and how it came to be publicly released. Good stuff, I promise.

Led Zeppelin: St Paul July 9, 1973 Dario Remaster

Posted by Mark on September 22, 2024
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Ep. 282 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

Bonzo is the star of this show. Led Zeppelin in St. Paul, Minnesota July, 9, 1973 is a top tier NA 1973 show. Jimmy and Jonesy are on fire, but John Bonham is head and shoulders above them this night. He plays stuff I’ve not heard before, adding complexity to Heartbreaker and ingenuity to No Quarter and, and bombastic fire to Whole Lotta Love.

The band playing at full tilt reminds one of a cheetah running at top speed in pursuit of prey. Absolute beauty and grace. I must confess, I have covered this show before (Ep. 206) but this recording is a brand new remaster by Dario Romero, and it’s totally worth the repeat performance. The only repeated song is No Quarter, and it’s totally worth the additional listen.

You can download this complete remastered recording right here, courtesy of my Patrons, upon whose shoulders rests this humble, yet mighty, podcast: https://mega.nz/folder/WpdR1IIC#0fSV49X3t5XPIPcUMUrPKQ

The Best Kinks Album You’ve Never Heard

Posted by Mark on September 20, 2024
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To The Bone is A Live/Unplugged Album from 1996

I don’t remember how I found this album. I know I did a deep dive into The Kinks about 5 years ago and grabbed this (digitally) but when Google Play went tits up, I lost it (I probably got it from Google Play, then. Mystery solved) and I’ve been looking for it on streaming services ever since.

I will buy the cd to ensure that I don’t lose out on To The Bone ever again. It’s a double live album (One Album only on the UK release) a live performance, at their KONK studios part electric and part unplugged, and it’s 100% awesome.

The Village Green Preservation Society is absolute effervescent beauty (hands down my favorite). Celluloid Heroes gets new life as an unplugged elegy for lost Hollywood. So many great performances! If it wasn’t an official release I’d do an episode about it.

All the songs you know are on it, including a whole bunch you’ve forgotten about, or never heard. It’s fantastic. You can listen to it on YouTube but you can’t find it on Spotify or Apple Music. It’s either hard copy or this. You should listen to this. I’m just posting the live album (CD2) because that’s what won my heart. I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

If You Love Zep You’ll Love Led Zeppelin News

Posted by Mark on September 19, 2024
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James Cook is Doing Amazing Work on Substack

If you’ve been listening to me for awhile you’ve heard me interview James Cook a couple of times, over the years. He’s a wonderful human being and a hell of a researcher. He’s also a ‘real’ journalist, in that he’s published all over, including Business Insider.

That professional expertise is apparent when reading his fantastic website/social media presence as Led Zep News. However, one can go deeper down the rabbit hole because Mr. Cook publishes very precise, source rich, and expanded in-depth articles for your pleasure and education, on Substack.

Substack is a site in which writers and journalists can publish directly to their audience without being throttled/limited by any kind of authority/boss. It’s a good thing. This in particular is wonderful.

Want to know everything about the $200,000 robbery at the Drake back in 1973 (seen in the Song Remains the Same movie)? Well strap in, because James got all the FBI files about the robbery, the case notes, etc. Super interesting.

It’s $5/month to get deep insightful, intelligent, content about the workings (and playings) of the best rock band in history.

This is a pure fan post. There has been no quid pro quo with James. This is something I’ve wanted to for awhile. Listen to the interviews and decide if you would like to hear more about this stuff.

SUPPORT ME ON PATREON

The Coolest Coffee Cup Ever

Posted by Mark on September 16, 2024
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The Simple Cup of Truth will Change Your Life

Hey there, handsome! Do you love coffee, tea, hot cocoa, etc. but hate slurping scalding hot liquid from your blistered, cupped hands? Dude, I got you! I have a device which will revolutionize the liquid slurping experience.

Behold The Simple Cup of Truth! That’s right, “cup”. It holds the liquid you wish to consume for you, allowing you to use your hands for other things, like shooing away bears.

Allow me to explain. You’ll notice that the “cup” is comprised of two parts joined at two points. The first is the actual “cup” part of the “cup”, by which I mean the cylinder. The perceptive among you may have noted that if one were to pour liquid into a cylinder, it would simply fall through and soil the floor. Guess what, motherfucker? This cylinder has a bottom! The ‘bottom’ of the cup keeps the liquid from spilling out, bringing us to the showstopper.

Attached at two points to the outside of the cylinder you will see a thin hemisphere of baked clay perpendicular to the cylinder wall. Using your thumb and forefingers you can lift the “cup” to your lips and slurp like a gentleperson. Welcome to the aristocracy!

as an additional boon to humanity I have applied positive messages on the outer surface of the cylinder, intended to enlighten and inform. “Music is Good” is a truth both profound and sublime. The Heart of Markness podcast logo is a powerful talisman against nogoodniks and the occasional caribou.

Buy enough to make an igloo of truth in which to repose. Merch of Markness is the place.

Robert Plant w/ Jimmy Page: Hammersmith 1983

Posted by Mark on September 15, 2024
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Ep. 281 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

Robert Plant (right) and Jimmy Page playing together, for the second time since the break up of Led Zeppelin, during the encore of a concert by Plant and his band at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, 13th December 1983. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)

This is a good one. Robert Plant is in amazing voice with lots of oomph. Richie Hayward (from Little Feat) is killing it on drums, Robbie Blunt is a bloody virtuoso with his emotive playing. This is December 13, 1983 at the Hammersmith Odeon, on his Principle of Moments tour.

Jimmy Page had four days prior finished up with the ARMS Tour, and was aflame with renewed enthusiasm for his musical future. The energy and fun the pair are having is evident. Jimmy is playing his typical 1983/84 b-bender solo but with some crunch instead of chorus. It’s an amazing moment in time. These guys did not typically get along in the 1980’s.

I play an incendiary Burning Down One Side, and emotive and evocative Big Log, and the showstopper, Treat Her Right with Jimmy Page. What a night.

You can download this complete concert from Dario Romero’s excellent “low effort matrix” right here: https://mega.nz/file/fgcAXbBS#yVArrUl3uY4eOEpXiI8sqmZmIRiERDsF6dEW9_S1OO4

John Paul Jones – Ft. Lauderdale March 10, 2000

Posted by Mark on September 8, 2024
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Ep. 280 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast

For this episode we hear the thunderous John Paul Jones on tour for his Zooma album, at The Fubar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March, 10, 2000. This is a very well recorded show for around 200 people. The sound and vibe are incredible. Jonesy is very chatty and interactive with the audience.

I play Grind (from Zooma), Crackback (from the Scream for Help soundtrack), and B. Fingers (again from Zooma). Great musician and a great show.

You can download the complete concert right here: https://mega.nz/folder/P0MRXZqI#evYyPBK8n9I1WMRinlhdVQ