'Achilles Last Stand' was a little less edgy but more open, a tough trick and this 'opening up' of the sound was repeated throughout the album. The ridden cymbal is big and shiny, never tizzy. The Snare in the opening of 'Tea For One' had an acoustic that came into the room at you - it's a studio trick but impressive nevertheless. Vocals on 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' sound double tracked. A boost to high frequencies? A slight change in bias? Dunno but it's there and though the original is pretty open the Classic is even more so. Running the Classic Records reissue the first noticeable difference is an increase in tape hiss. In the case of my copy of 'Presence' the sound quality is already very good though the original first pressings (purple label if you are checking) are said to be even better. So much great music of the era was so badly recorded and pressed that reissue companies have no problems in transforming the sound. Led Zeppelin and particularly Jimmy Page, were adamant that their discs and production should be of 'classical' standard. To my mind there's no contest.īut the reissue has a tougher job when it comes to sound quality. Then there's the disc itself, pressed in virgin vinyl, 180 gram and again limited in number, against a shiny CD banged out like washers. I know some people are inclined to moan at the cost of some reissues, but I ask you to compare the material value of what is in effect a work of art, produced in a short run and in beautiful detail, with the plastic jewel box and a slip of paper. The 'Led Zeppelin' is embossed on the front and both an 'original' and paper inner sleeve are supplied.
LED ZEPPELIN PRESENCE FULL
Of course the first big advantage with the reissue is the full reproduction of the original gatefold sleeve whereas my 'midprice' copy is a simple single. I have a mint copy circa 1982 of the same album so it was an interesting comparison. The subject of this review is one of Classic Records reissues. The rest maintains a high standard but without scaling the highs that Led Zep I, II, III, and IV seemed to do so effortlessly. Achilles last stand another tour-de-force that should have most practitioners of the 'Heavy Metal' genre weeping on their fretboards. My favourite being 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' is a ripping masterpiece driven by Bonhams power drumming and Page's hard edged guitar work.
Released in 1976, a year after Plant's (vocal) near fatal car crash, there is a certain loss of momentum compared to the earlier albums, and yet there are tracks here to die for. Sadly 'Presence', their 7th studio album is not 'great', but it is very, very good.
LED ZEPPELIN PRESENCE FREE
In their first four albums they invented (arguable), defined (probably), expanded (uncontrovertibly) and then broke free of the restraints of 'Heavy-Metal'.
LED ZEPPELIN PRESENCE MAC
A few manage one - Madonna - 'Like a Prayer', Tracy Chapman - 'Eponymous', Fleetwood Mac - 'Rumours', Michael Jackson - 'Thriller', Beach boys - 'Pet Sounds', Sex Pistols - B*ll**ks etc etc.īut a very select few produce more than one - I won't list the albums but you'll probably pick them yourself, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, David Bowie all pulled the trick off several times.Īnd to this august group must be added Led Zeppelin. Some very good, or even great bands never put together a great album, REM, Queen (the greatest live band.), The Who. It's a word I use sparingly and of course is steeped in personal prejudice but you'll have to put up with that. What makes a great LP record? For me it has to show some stunning and consistent quality, or encapsulate a moment in time, or change the course of music in some significant way - or all three. Classic Records Led Zeppelin "Presence" Led Zeppelin - "Presence" Classic Records reissue
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