2008 Woodie Awards
Led Zeppelin marks reunion with two new discs
By Patrick Gardner
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: Entertainment
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Less than a month before one of the biggest rock 'n' roll reunions in history, it should come as no surprise to see Led Zeppelin releasing Mothership, a two-disc collection of 24 digitally-remastered tracks.
Along with this collection comes the re-release of their 1973 concert film, "The Song Remains the Same," and its accompanying soundtrack, both digitally-remastered with previously unreleased footage and tracks on both. For those fans missing pieces of the band's catalogue, their band's complete works have also been released on the iTunes music store this week. Out of all these newly released products hitting the shelves, Mothership lands on top.
At first glance, Mothership looks very reminiscent of Early Days & Latter Days, the band's "best of" compilation. Ironically, this album has been released almost five years to the day of the Early Days & Latter Days release back in 2002. It differs in a few key aspects however. The most apparent difference is the track listing. Mothership has dropped "Ten Years Gone," "What is And What Should Never Be" and "The Battle of Evermore," but picked up four new tracks, including the reggae-influenced "D'yer Mak'er," the radio staple "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Heartbreaker" and the Tolkien-influenced "Ramble On." Also, these 24 tracks are available with one purchase, where as Early Days & Latter Days was released on two separate discs.
Given Zeppelin's daunting catalogue, it would have been impossible to satisfy every Zeppelin fan, but Mothership does an adequate job of representing the band's legendary career. A striking difference between Mothership and all other previous releases is that the remaining three band members have hand-picked the songs for the release. There is no doubt that Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones did their best to pick the songs that best represent the band. However, many lesser known gems did not make the cut, including fan favorites like "Going to California," "Fool in the Rain," and "Tangerine." It is the exclusion of such tracks as these that fail to represent the full spectrum of Zeppelin's musical ability. Zeppelin's softer side is almost completely ignored.
Along with this collection comes the re-release of their 1973 concert film, "The Song Remains the Same," and its accompanying soundtrack, both digitally-remastered with previously unreleased footage and tracks on both. For those fans missing pieces of the band's catalogue, their band's complete works have also been released on the iTunes music store this week. Out of all these newly released products hitting the shelves, Mothership lands on top.
At first glance, Mothership looks very reminiscent of Early Days & Latter Days, the band's "best of" compilation. Ironically, this album has been released almost five years to the day of the Early Days & Latter Days release back in 2002. It differs in a few key aspects however. The most apparent difference is the track listing. Mothership has dropped "Ten Years Gone," "What is And What Should Never Be" and "The Battle of Evermore," but picked up four new tracks, including the reggae-influenced "D'yer Mak'er," the radio staple "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Heartbreaker" and the Tolkien-influenced "Ramble On." Also, these 24 tracks are available with one purchase, where as Early Days & Latter Days was released on two separate discs.
Given Zeppelin's daunting catalogue, it would have been impossible to satisfy every Zeppelin fan, but Mothership does an adequate job of representing the band's legendary career. A striking difference between Mothership and all other previous releases is that the remaining three band members have hand-picked the songs for the release. There is no doubt that Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones did their best to pick the songs that best represent the band. However, many lesser known gems did not make the cut, including fan favorites like "Going to California," "Fool in the Rain," and "Tangerine." It is the exclusion of such tracks as these that fail to represent the full spectrum of Zeppelin's musical ability. Zeppelin's softer side is almost completely ignored.
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Bobby
posted 11/19/07 @ 7:55 PM EST
With Led Zeppelin there really is no such thing as 'greatest hits'. Every single song on every single album was so well crafted and unique, steeped with power and majesty, that to omit any single one of them is criminal. (Continued…)
jean
posted 11/20/07 @ 1:30 AM EST
all of led zeppelin has been dearly loved--however if they are now going to go forth in counrty style and sound such as include alison krauss in any future work they will loose en astoundingly staggering #`s of fans-----that WILL NOT BE BLIND SHEEP AND FOLLOW!
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