A whole lotta love is coming from Led Zeppelin this fall with the release from Atlantic/Swan Song of The Complete BBC Sessions on September 16. This new collection expands the original double-disc set, from 1997, which was culled from the band's appearances on BBC radio between 1969 and 1971. This updated version has been fully and newly remastered under the supervision by Jimmy Page, and expanded with eight unreleased BBC recordings, including three rescued from a previously "lost" session from 1969.
Following in the footsteps of Led Zeppelin's acclaimed catalogue reissues, The Complete BBC Sessions will be available in multiple formats as follows:
- Deluxe Edition (3CD) - Remastered original album plus a third disc of unreleased audio.
- Deluxe Edition Vinyl (5LP) - Remastered original album, plus a fifth LP of unreleased audio, on 180-gram vinyl.
- Digital Download - Remastered album and unreleased audio will both be available.
- Super Deluxe Boxed Set (3CD/5LP) - This collection includes:
- Remastered album. 2 CDs, each in a replica sleeve.
- Unreleased audio on CD in a separate card sleeve.
- Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl.
- Unreleased audio on 180-gram vinyl.
- High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit.
- 48-page book filled with photos of the band, the recording locations, BBC memorabilia, and session information.
- High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.
This expanded edition of the double platinum set includes extensive session-by-session liner notes written by Dave Lewis, newly updated for accuracy, and notes about all of the band's BBC sessions. Highlights of The Complete BBC Sessions include the debut of a long-lost radio session from April 1969, boasting three songs: "I Can't Quit You Baby," "You Shook Me," and the only recorded performance of "Sunshine Woman." Also featured are two unreleased versions of both "Communication Breakdown" and "What Is And What Should Never Be." Separated by two years, the performances showcase how quickly the band had grown in a short period of time.
The press release quotes Jimmy Page speaking to Guitar World: "The BBC Sessions show in graphic detail just how organic the group was. Led Zeppelin was a band that would change things around substantially each time it played...We were becoming tighter and tighter, to the point of telepathy." Quoted by Wall of Sound, John Paul Jones added: "We'd been on the road a lot by the time those sessions were recorded. The albums were always the starting point of the music, and then we'd take it out and expand it on the road. Then we'd come straight off the road into those BBC studios." Robert Plant revealed to MOJO, "The whole thing was very quaint: the politeness of the audience, the technicians fumbling about, proper hallowed low-key introductions. Like there was some sort of holy moment about to occur."
The Complete BBC Sessions arrives from Atlantic/Swan Song Records on September 16. You can peruse the track listings and access pre-order links below! We will update the remaining links as soon as they become active!
Led Zeppelin, The Complete BBC Sessions (Atlantic/Swan Song 83061-2, 1997 - reissued 2016)
3 CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
5 LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3 CD/5 LP Super Deluxe Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Digital Download: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD 1
- "You Shook Me"
- "I Can't Quit You Baby"
- "Communication Breakdown"
- "Dazed And Confused"
- "The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair"
- "What Is And What Should Never Be"
- "Communication Breakdown"
- "Travelling Riverside Blues"
- "Whole Lotta Love"
- "Somethin' Else"
- "Communication Breakdown"
- "I Can't Quit You Baby"
- "You Shook Me"
- "How Many More Times"
CD 2
- "Immigrant Song"
- "Heartbreaker"
- "Since I've Been Loving You"
- "Black Dog"
- "Dazed And Confused"
- "Stairway To Heaven"
- "Going To California"
- "That's The Way"
- "Whole Lotta Love" (Medley: Boogie Chillun/Fixin' To Die/That's Alright Mama/A Mess of Blues)
- "Thank You"
CD 3 (All tracks other than Track 4 previously unreleased)
- "Communication Breakdown" *
- "What Is And What Should Never Be" *
- "Dazed And Confused" *
- "White Summer"
- "What Is And What Should Never Be" *
- "Communication Breakdown" *
- "I Can't Quit You Baby" *
- "You Shook Me" *
- "Sunshine Woman" *
Joe says
I wonder if "White Summer" is the version that was on the Led Zep Box set from 1990, since it shows as the only track on the extra disc as previously released.
Bill B says
I'm really on the fence about this. On the one hand I have the original cd and I can't remember the last time I listened to it (maybe not since it was released). On the other hand IT'S LED ZEPPELIN!!!!!!
Led Lover says
I was very very disappointed to learn (after buying the CD version) that the "lost" tapes did not include the BBC broadcast form as aired on radio with Communication Breakdown as the opener and featuring the part with Plant's diversion into "It's Your Thing". Also the song goes right into I can't quit you babe with no break and on into a full set uninterrupted. Was Warner THAT paranoid about using 8 seconds of a song due to royalties?
I returned the purchase to the store for credit. I was really looking forward to hearing that original FM radio presentation again in it's entirety. Bad decision, in my opinion.