Presence [Deluxe Edition]

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Led Zeppelin Presence Deluxe Edition 2 CD Box Set with Amazon AutoRip released Friday 31st July 2015. Jimmy Page has achieved great clarity in his deluxe re-mastering. The sound is dynamic and breathes. Presence is a 7-song hard-driving rock album of electric guitars, with the exception of the blues song Tea For One, which is similar in style to Since I’ve Been Loving You. The album has an urgency, because Led Zep considered that it may be their last. The album is both a triumph, and testament to, the will-power of Jimmy Page. Jimmy’s guitar-playing had never been better. The album title of Presence, was suggested to Led Zep, because they were considered to have an “Aura/Presence” about them. The album commences with the epic Achilles’ Last Stand. The galloping bass-line of John Paul suggests urgency. It has brilliant arrangements, and orchestration. Jimmy employees his guitar-army, Robert’s singing is sensational, and all is held together by the out-standing drumming of John. The 10.22 minutes make it an epic, and one in which the listener can immerse themself in, but it is all over before you know it, and it leaves you wanting more! The lyrics are autobiographical, and reference the broken ankle of Robert Plant (Achilles’ heel), the yearning of Robert and Jimmy to travel to the East, with the hope that the West (Albion) would return to its origins, and that the album may be their last-ever, that is, Led Zeppelin’s last-stand. The beginning and end are the same, which gives Alpha and Omega, but the end overdub suggests a cycle, that is, moving forward, rather than circling. Jimmy plays the Fender Stratocaster, so that, the bass-drum of John Bonham can clearly be heard, this also allowed the bass of John Paul Jones to shine through. The band are firing on all cylinders, and Robert’s vocals are exceptional. Achilles is my personal all-time favourite Led Zep composition (my others are Stairway To Heaven, and, Kashmir). For Your Life is funky with dance-qualities, with great guitar, and is a good-time track. The guitar-tones are awesome, and the drumming is great. Royal Orleans is funky, with dance-qualities, and pairs-well with For Your Life. Royal Orleans offers the advice of: “If you take your pick – careful how you use it”. Nobody’s Fault But Mine is hard-blues and hard blues-rock, which is used as a confessional. It is funky, with great arrangements, great orchestration, with both an harmonica, and, a guitar solo. Candy Store Rock is funky blues, with hints of rock’n’roll. It is a fun-track, with a skipping and bopping-beat. Hots On For Nowhere is funky, and Jimmy hints at The Faces (he had been jamming with Ron Wood) , and is another fun track, with great guitar and drumming. Tea For One reminds one of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac in its use of beautiful blues guitar-tones from the Gibson Les Paul. Robert is in autobiographical mood once again, and the lyrics are both plaintive and reflective. It ends with a beautiful minor 9th chord (suggests both blues and jazz). It is a totally electric album, with no acoustic instruments, except for the harmonica, which is used once, and also has no keyboards. Jimmy had never played with such feeling, such emotion, such maturity, such majesty, and excelled himself with the light and shade. Jimmy makes great use of the B-Bender on the Fender Telecaster. Jimmy Page honours Peter Grant, by giving him credit as Executive Producer. The Swan-Song Records logo is of Apollo (The Sun, The Truth, Music, and, Healing).The Companion Disc has five tracks: 1) Two Ones Are Won (Achilles Last Stand) (Reference Mix), 2) For Your Life (Reference Mix), 3) 10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod (Pod) (Reference Mix), 4) Royal Orleans (Reference Mix), 5) Hots On For Nowhere (Reference Mix). The accompanying 16-page booklet is also excellent, with lots of photographs in both colour, and, black-and-white. Presence was recorded and mixed in the November and December of 1975 at Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany, and originally released on the 23rd March 1976. Presence is my personal favourite Led Zeppelin album. Award 5 Stars!

The seventh album by Led Zeppelin, 'Presence' tends to suffer from being the one straight after the masterpiece that was 'Physical Graffiti'. While it doesn't match up to that album it is still an essential listen. Known to be the favourite of Jimmy Page, it's important to recognize the circumstances in which it was made.Recorded during a particularly difficult time for the band, and for Robert Plant especially, it is for this reason that Page in particular regards this album as a triumph against adversity. The production is deliberately hard and loud and is Zeppelin going back to basics. No keyboards or orchestras on the final track listing, just guitar, bass and drums played by musicians at the top of their game.The new deluxe edition continues the good work done by Jimmy Page and John Davis, with the welcome return of the longer mix of 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' that appeared in 1990 and was then ditched for all subsequent re-issues which reverted the track back to it's original vinyl length. Note also a longer fade out on the monumental opener 'Achilles Last Stand'.As for the bonus disc, it must be said that for an album with so little outtake material there is actually some essential stuff here. Zeppelin forums are already full of discussion about the alternate mix of 'Royal Orleans', containing as it does a bizarre vocal that appears to be John Bonham (Jimmy Page has said it's Plant but that can't be the case) and the mysterious '10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod (Pod).This latter track is a huge surprise - A beautiful, piano-led instrumental that sounds like it belongs on the end credits of a movie (If it isn't used soon I'd be very surprised) it's worth the price of the deluxe edition alone.The other alternate mixes are interesting but not radically different. Still great to have though.As pointed out earlier, some Zeppelin fans find 'Presence' a tough listen and tend to dismiss it rather too easily. It deserves better. Certainly, John Bonham drums superbly throughout, John Paul Jones uses his newly-acquired 8 string bass to great effect and Jimmy Page gives possibly his best ever solo's in 'Achilles Last Stand' and 'Tea For One'. Of course, Robert Plants' vocals are rather strained at times but then again he was confined to a wheelchair for the sessions and his anger and unhappiness are clearly evident - Emotional on 'Tea For One', railing against the whole LA drug/groupie scene in 'For Your Life' and having a pop at some of his fellow band members and management in 'Hots On For Nowhere'. ("Now I got friends who will give me their shoulder/ When I should happen to fall/ With time and his bride growing older/ I got friends who will give me f*** all").The only expletive ever used in the whole of the bands recorded output, it shows just how low he had sunk. Of course, further tragedy and trouble would strike Plant personally and he continued his diatribe on the groups final album 'In Through The Out Door'. (the track 'Carouselambra' is widely believed to be a bitter attack on Jimmy Page).That's not to say there isn't some lighter moments here. 'Candy Store Rock' features Page pulling out as many rockabilly licks as he can muster, complete with 50's style slapback echo and although the track doesn't really go anywhere it's not that bad.Elsewhere, 'Royal Orleans' is a short and snappy groove that's said to be about a true-life incident involving the normally reticent John Paul Jones and a 'female' conquest who wasn't all 'she' appeared to be!To sum up, I regard this album as a fantastic statement and the companion disc and improved sound are the icing on the cake. Don't leave this out of your Zeppelin library.