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Like many a die-hard rock fan, Led Zeppelin is my favourite group of all time. Not to be satisfied with owning just their legendary albums, I recently picked up a copy of their studio-live album The BBC Sessions.
Recorded during the early phases of Zeppelin’s inception, the album features
multiple versions of classic songs like “You Shook Me,” “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown” among others. This is the closest that later generations can get to experiencing an early live Led Zeppelin show. The album does a masterful job of highlighting the more improvised side of the band.
Comprised of tracks featured on their first four studio albums, The BBC Sessions offers a unique look at the formation of such classics as “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog” and “Immigrant Song.”
The highlight comes at the midway point of disc two, where a nearly twenty-minute version of “Dazed and Confused” takes the listener on an insane trip into the realm of experimental guitar, reminiscent of the great jam bands of the sixties. The track is simply incredible and features some of Page’s signature guitar stylings, such as the use of a cello bow on an electric guitar. The result of this experimental style is a haunting interlude that smacks of middle-eastern spirituality.
The album also includes the previously unreleased track, “Travelling Riverside Blues,” my personal favourite Zeppelin tune. I recommend The BBC Sessions to anyone who might be interested in rekindling their love for Led Zeppelin or anyone who enjoys a good jam.
