Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals
Astra - The Weirding
The Bats - The Guilty Office
Bjork - Voltaic (CD/DVD)
Jay Brannan - In Living Cover
Tom Brosseau - Posthumous Success
Chase Long Beach - Gravity Is What You Make It
Cheap Trick - The Latest
Cher - 3614 Jackson Highway
Climax Blues Band - Back to Back: Sense of Direction/Stamp Album (Bonus Tracks)
Al Cohn/Joe Newman/Freddie Green - Mosaic Select: Al Cohn, Joe Newman & Freddie Green
Shawn Colvin - Live
Christina Courtin - Christina Courtin
Def Leppard - Adrenalize (Deluxe Edition)
Def Leppard - Pyromania (Deluxe Edition)
Dinosaur Jr. - Farm
Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Kurt Elling - Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman
Eryn Non Dae - Hydra Lernaïa
Fast Life Youngstaz - Jamboree
David Frizzell/Shelly West - The Very Best of David Frizzell & Shelly West
Future of the Left - Travels with Myself and Another
Girls at Our Best - Pleasure
Goatwhore - Carving out the Eyes of God
God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl
Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul (Bonus Tracks)
Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs)
Hot Chocolate - Every 1’s a Winner
Jets Overhead - No Nations
Michael Johns - Hold Back My Heart
The Lemonheads - Varshons
Love Is All - Last Choice
The Marvelettes - Forever: The Complete Motown Albums, Vol. 1 Mars Volta - Octahedron
Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness
Tift Merritt - Buckingham Solo
Mount Eerie - Dawn
Alexi Murdoch - Away We Go
Laura Nyro - Mother’s Spiritual
Brian Olive - Brian Olive
John Powell - Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Score)
Regina Spektor - Far
Royal City - Royal City
The Sa-Ra Creative Partners - Nuclear Evolution: The Age of Love
Spooky Tooth - Lost in My Dream: An Anthology 1968-1974
Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
Al B. Sure! - Honey I’m Home
Otis Taylor - Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs
Pete Yorn - Back & Fourth
Tonic - A Casual Affair: The Best of Tonic
The Woggles - Tempo Tantrum
Original Soundtrack - I Love You, Beth Cooper
Original Soundtrack - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Original Soundtrack)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
New Vinyl Releases- June 23
Acid Mothers Temple: Dark Side of the Black Moon: What Planet Are We On? (vinyl)
The Aggrolites: IV (vinyl)
Al Green: Greatest Hits (vinyl reissue)
Al Green: I'm Still in Love with You (vinyl reissue)
Al Green: Let's Stay Together (vinyl reissue)
Au Revoir Simone: Still Night, Still Light (vinyl)
Bibio: Ambivalence Avenue (vinyl)
Black Meteoric Star: Dominatron/Anthem (vinyl)
Brian Olive: Brian Olive (vinyl)
Busdriver: Jhelli Beam (vinyl)
The Church: Untitled #23 (vinyl)
Death Cab for Cutie: Something About Airplanes (remastered vinyl)
Deer Tick: Born On Flag Day (vinyl)
Deerhunter: Rainwater Cassette Exchange (vinyl)
Dinosaur Jr.: Farm (deluxe edition) (vinyl)
Dream Theater: Black Clouds & Silver Linings (3-CD edition) (2-LP vinyl)
Eprhyme: Shomer Salaam b/w My Mouth Is A House Of Prayer (vinyl)
Foreign Born: Person To Person (vinyl)
Future of the Left: Travels With Myself And Another (vinyl)
God Help The Girl: God Help The Girl (vinyl)
Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown (vinyl)
A Hawk and a Hacksaw: Delivrance (vinyl)
Larry Jon Wilson: Larry Jon Wilson (vinyl)
Love Is All: Last Choice EP
Neko Case: Middle Cyclone (vinyl)
of Montreal: For Our Elegante Caste (vinyl)
Pavement: Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Ed. (remastered 4-LP vinyl box set)
R.E.M.: Murmur (remastered vinyl)
R.E.M.: Reckoning (remastered with bonus disc) (vinyl)
Royal City: Royal City (vinyl)
Spinnerette: Spinnerette (vinyl)
Sunset Rubdown: Dragonslayer (vinyl)
Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombones (vinyl reissue)
Tortoise: Beacons of Ancestorship (vinyl)
Venetian Snares: Horsey Noises EP (vinyl)
Wolves in the Throne Room: Black Cascade (vinyl)
Wooden Shjips: Contact EP (vinyl)
Ya Ho Wha 13: Magnificence in the Memory (vinyl)
Young Widows / Pelican: Young Widows Split Series Vol. 3 (vinyl)
Other notable releases:
John Mellencamp: Life Death Live & Freedom (2-CD & DVD edition)
George Jones: A Good Year For The Roses - The Complete Musicor Recordings 1965-1971 Part 2 (4-CD box set)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: 40th Anniversary Edition Box Set (7-CD box set) Buy CCR Music
Neil Young: Rock At The Beach - Live 1989 (dvd)
John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band: Live in Toronto '69 (dvd)
Merchants see vinyl revival
By Kathleen Moore
Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — Vinyl is making a comeback.
The foot-wide records, which had to be carefully handled and could only be played with precisely placed needles, were long ago replaced by cassettes and later smooth-sounding, hand-sized compact discs.
But now vinyl is back, embraced by teenagers who beg for a record player as a birthday present. Local vinyl store owners say their sales are so strong that they’ve kept pace even in the recession.
The resurgence led Niskayuna resident Bruce Northrup to open what may be Schenectady’s only vinyl record store. He sells used books and records at The Old Book Surfer at 2334 Guilderland Ave.
He’s aiming mostly for the adult crowd — “the collector population that are looking for memories of the past” — but other store owners say the real market is children.
Read the rest here: dailygazette.com
Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — Vinyl is making a comeback.
The foot-wide records, which had to be carefully handled and could only be played with precisely placed needles, were long ago replaced by cassettes and later smooth-sounding, hand-sized compact discs.
But now vinyl is back, embraced by teenagers who beg for a record player as a birthday present. Local vinyl store owners say their sales are so strong that they’ve kept pace even in the recession.
The resurgence led Niskayuna resident Bruce Northrup to open what may be Schenectady’s only vinyl record store. He sells used books and records at The Old Book Surfer at 2334 Guilderland Ave.
He’s aiming mostly for the adult crowd — “the collector population that are looking for memories of the past” — but other store owners say the real market is children.
Read the rest here: dailygazette.com
Music News & Notes
New KISS Album Almost Done, Most Likely Exclusive to Wal-Mart
Paul Stanley sent a note over to kissonline.com talking about the new KISS album.
"We're about four days from finishing the new KISS album. Eleven tracks, and it IS everything I've told you. It IS classic. It IS all written within the band. And IT ROCKS BIG TIME! Tommy and Eric both handle lead vocals. The songs, sound and playing will knock your socks off. You will all be as proud and excited as we all are. Oh...and WAIT till you see the cover!"
We ARE just getting started!
The album is, from all indications, going to be another Wal-Mart exclusive. The first clue is a little information that Gene Simmons let drop accidentally (or, knowing Gene, accidentally on-purpose) during an in-studio meet-up with none other than Denise Richards during a guest stint she did on Sirius/XM Radio. In the clip, Gene can be seen talking about how he is going to visit with the CEO of Wal-Mart and they will be dedicating an entire section of their store to the band.
The other clue is that Simmons and Stanley made an appearance at the Wal-Mart shareholder's meeting on June 5.
No release date has been set for the album.
=======================
Monkee Ill Again
The Monkees' Peter Tork has confirmed on Twitter that he has had a re-occurance of the head and neck cancer that was originally found in March. He is currently undergoing radition treatment while still out playing shows.
He wrote on his Facebook page:
...weds I was greeted by the good doctor (may his tribe increase), with the stunning news that 10 weeks after my surgery, the cancer is back. I was so taken aback by the news that I wasn't able to ask much. dr did say that the chance is about 80% that they will "get ahead" of the growth, and be able to control and shrink it...didn't feel a thing during radiation...i thank you for your attention and concern.
========================
Play The Real Thing Kids
So, what do real guitarists think of Guitar Hero and Rock Band? Jimmy Page and Jack White talked about it during a press conference promoting their movie It Might Get Loud.
White said, "It's depressing to have a label come and tell you that is how kids are learning about music and experiencing music."
Page added that he didn't think much could really be learned from the games.
"You think of the drum part that John Bonahm did on Led Zeppelin's first track on the first album, Good Times Bad Times. How many drummers in the world can play that part, let alone on Christmas morning?"
Amen, Mr. Page.
===========================
Antony And The Johnsons To Release "Aeon"/"Crazy In Love" Single
Antony and the Johnsons will release the "Aeon"/"Crazy in Love" double A-side single in the US on August 4th on CD and 7" through Secretly Canadian and on August 3rd in Europe and UK on 7" through Rough Trade. The band appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman for the song's television debut. Antony and the Johnsons' earnest and impassioned cover of Beyonce's "Crazy in Love," a long time live favorite, is being released officially for the first time.
===========================
Jackson's Jewels
Michael Jackson will wear costumes embossed with over 300,000 Swarovski crystals at his comeback gigs in London.
The crystalised elements on the singer's stage outfits will feature 53 different shapes, 40 different sizes and 27 different colours. How Freaking cute, grab man.
Jackson's dance collaborator Kenny Ortega said the partnership had “inspired our fashion and scenic elements to a new state of the art”.
The announcement comes as Jackson prepares to release extra production seats for the gigs at London's O2 Arena, which get under way on July 13.
===========================
R.I.P Jeff Winfield (Left Banke)
Jeff Winfield, the original guitarist for the Left Banke, passed away back on June 11from pneumonia. He played on the group's first album and, later, with the group Birth of Spring who recorded for Mercury.
Walk Away Renee by Dawn Eden
The first hint of industry recognition came from Harry Lookofsky himself. "Mike's father used to come in late at night, on and off," says Cameron, "to check up on the boys and see what they were doing." The boys were doing a lot besides playing, I'll tell you that much! Mike went down one night and introduced 'Walk Away Renee' to us. Steve hated the song, of course. Tom and I thought it had possibilities. We played it and had Steve sing lead on it, and it started coming out pretty good. Mike's father heard it and said, 'Let's try to record it.' And bingo.
The song was inspired by Renee Fladen, a platinum blonde vision. Cameron: "Renee was Mike Brown's big love, and Tommy liked her a lot too. Tall, blonde, and quiet. Mike was like a little kid around her. He'd bring her up to the studio to hear his latest songs, and then we'd all come out and sing. She'd just sit there and listen and smile a lot."
Finn: "Most of the kids were half-runaways in those days. A bunch of teenagers got an apartment together- a crash pad- in Tin Pan Alley, around the Broadway area. Renee lived there part- time when she didn't live with her mother."
"I brought her over to the studio. For a kid of 16, or 17, she was free, liberal, open- minded, sexy- everything. She was just very different for that time, so she bowled Mike over."
Brown: "I met her through the newly formed Left Banke. They would run around, so to speak, because they knew a lot of people. I was hanging around with the group, and it was just in one of those chance encounters that I met her."
Discussing Renee, Brown refers to her in free-spirited terms like those used by Finn: "What people forget is that the main thing that was happening with everybody I was hanging around with- was a new era. That didn't last very long. The reich was supposed to go for a thousand years, and this couldn't last 10. But whether you fell in love or anything else, everybody just sort of floated around."
Brown says that he wrote "Walk Away Renee" one month after he met Renee, in the winter of '65. He then wrote what became the Left Banke's second hit, "Pretty Ballerina" and "She May Call You Up Tonight" (on the Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina LP), both about the very same young woman.
Renee never went out with Brown, dated Finn briefly, and later went out with the group's original drummer, Warren David. "After that," says Finn, "using 60's lingo, she 'split the scene' because of all the different guys liking her. She felt very uncomfortable."
Brown describes his unrequited feelings for Renee: "I was just sort of mythologically in love, if you know what I mean," he says, "without having evidence in fact or in deed." As Brown says this he laughs softly. His laugh sounds like that of one who would rather laugh than cry.
"But I was as close as anybody could be to the real thing," he adds. "As a matter of fact, like in the Twilight Zone or something, if you cross over, you lose what you have. It's only because you're away from it that you can appreciate the beauty of it. Once you've become immersed in it, you can't see the sunlight coming through the window, because you're no longer doing that. You're in that light."
This Date In Music History-June23
Birthdays:
Aimee Anne Duffy - (Duffy) Welsh singer-songwriter (1984)
James MacPherson - Breeders (1966)
Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs - Oasis (1965) Quit the band in Aug 1999.
Rosetta Hightower - The Orlons (1944)
Steve Shelley - Sonic Youth (1962)
Randy Jackson - American musician and record producer, judge on American Idol (1956)
Robert Hunter - lyricist for the Grateful Dead (1941)
They Are Missed:
Born in 1940, Adam Faith, singer and actor. Faith died on March 8, 2003.
Also born on this day in 1940, Stuart Sutcliffe, original bassist of The Beatles for eighteen months (January 1960 - June 1961). Died of a brain hemorrhage on April 10, 1962 (age) 22.
Born today in 1937, Niki Sullivan, guitarist, singer, one of the three original members of Buddy Holly's backing group, The Crickets. He co-wrote a number of his hit songs and sang back-up vocals on 27 of the 32 songs Buddy recorded over his brief career. Sullivan died suddenly of a heart attack on April 6, 2004 (age 66).
Born on this day in 1929, June Carter Cash, country singer, wife of Johnny Cash. Died May 15, 2003 (age 73).
History:
In 1814, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax was born. He was the inventor of the saxophone.
Ray Charles started a 14-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1962 with “Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music.”
In 2007, 1,800 guitarists in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, set a world record for a mass guitar performance of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water." This effort breaks the mark set just three weeks earlier in Kansas City, KS, when over 1,600 played the riff.
In 1965, Motown Records released "Tracks Of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The same song will be a hit for Linda Ronstadt in 1976.
In 1977, a very inebriated Keith Moon joined Led Zeppelin onstage in Los Angeles. He belts seven shades of sh*t out of a tympani on "Moby Dick" and "Rock and Roll," then proceeded to call John Bonham the best living rock drummer in the world today.
The Knack released "My Sharona” in 1979.
The #1 album in the US in 1979 was Supertramp's "Breakfast in America."
In 1975, during his “Welcome To My Nightmare” tour in Vancouver, Canada, Alice Cooper fell from the stage and broke six ribs.
George Harrison started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1973 with “Living In The Material World.”
Pink Floyd made their US Top Forty debut in 1973 with "Money." It reached #13.
In 1990, Buddy Holly’s Gibson acoustic guitar sold for $237,419 in a Sotheby's auction. The guitar was in a tooled leather case made by Holly himself.
13-year-old Keith Sorrentino filed a $500,000 lawsuit against Madonna in 1990, claiming he suffered nightmares and bed-wetting problems after an incident outside Madonna’s home when she allegedly flung him to the ground. Temper, temper Midge.
Nelly started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2002 with “Hot In Here.”
In London in 2003, Eminem gave a $450,000 necklace to a fan in the front row of a concert. He had announced while from the stage that "I'm going to give this to the sexiest woman I see.
In 1976, Paul McCartney & Wings wrapped up their tour at Inglewood, Calif.'s Forum. Sir Paul wouldn't tour the US for another 13 years.
In 1963, Del Shannon charts with "From Me To You, which becomes the first Lennon & McCartney composition to make the Billboard Hot 100.
B.W. Stevenson recorded "My Maria" in 1973.
Elvis Presley cuts "If I Can Dream" in 1968
In 1995, CBS News anchor Dan Rather joins R.E.M. onstage at Madison Square Garden during a soundcheck to perform "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" which referred to a bizarre incident years before when Rather was beaten up by thugs demanding the answer to the question. The performance was shown on David Letterman's "The Late Show."
In 2009, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The 19 year-old R&B singer was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to do six months community service. Brown had faced charges of assaulting Rihanna, 21, during a row in February. The last-minute plea deal came before a hearing at a Los Angeles court at which Rihanna was due to give evidence. The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge also ordered Brown and Rihanna to stay at least 50 yards from each other, except at entertainment industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards. Good, never hit a woman.....
Duran Duran started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1984 with “The Reflex,” the group's first US #1, also a UK #1.
Aimee Anne Duffy - (Duffy) Welsh singer-songwriter (1984)
James MacPherson - Breeders (1966)
Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs - Oasis (1965) Quit the band in Aug 1999.
Rosetta Hightower - The Orlons (1944)
Steve Shelley - Sonic Youth (1962)
Randy Jackson - American musician and record producer, judge on American Idol (1956)
Robert Hunter - lyricist for the Grateful Dead (1941)
They Are Missed:
Born in 1940, Adam Faith, singer and actor. Faith died on March 8, 2003.
Also born on this day in 1940, Stuart Sutcliffe, original bassist of The Beatles for eighteen months (January 1960 - June 1961). Died of a brain hemorrhage on April 10, 1962 (age) 22.
Born today in 1937, Niki Sullivan, guitarist, singer, one of the three original members of Buddy Holly's backing group, The Crickets. He co-wrote a number of his hit songs and sang back-up vocals on 27 of the 32 songs Buddy recorded over his brief career. Sullivan died suddenly of a heart attack on April 6, 2004 (age 66).
Born on this day in 1929, June Carter Cash, country singer, wife of Johnny Cash. Died May 15, 2003 (age 73).
History:
In 1814, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax was born. He was the inventor of the saxophone.
Ray Charles started a 14-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1962 with “Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music.”
In 2007, 1,800 guitarists in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, set a world record for a mass guitar performance of Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water." This effort breaks the mark set just three weeks earlier in Kansas City, KS, when over 1,600 played the riff.
In 1965, Motown Records released "Tracks Of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The same song will be a hit for Linda Ronstadt in 1976.
In 1977, a very inebriated Keith Moon joined Led Zeppelin onstage in Los Angeles. He belts seven shades of sh*t out of a tympani on "Moby Dick" and "Rock and Roll," then proceeded to call John Bonham the best living rock drummer in the world today.
The Knack released "My Sharona” in 1979.
The #1 album in the US in 1979 was Supertramp's "Breakfast in America."
In 1975, during his “Welcome To My Nightmare” tour in Vancouver, Canada, Alice Cooper fell from the stage and broke six ribs.
George Harrison started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1973 with “Living In The Material World.”
Pink Floyd made their US Top Forty debut in 1973 with "Money." It reached #13.
In 1990, Buddy Holly’s Gibson acoustic guitar sold for $237,419 in a Sotheby's auction. The guitar was in a tooled leather case made by Holly himself.
13-year-old Keith Sorrentino filed a $500,000 lawsuit against Madonna in 1990, claiming he suffered nightmares and bed-wetting problems after an incident outside Madonna’s home when she allegedly flung him to the ground. Temper, temper Midge.
Nelly started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 2002 with “Hot In Here.”
In London in 2003, Eminem gave a $450,000 necklace to a fan in the front row of a concert. He had announced while from the stage that "I'm going to give this to the sexiest woman I see.
In 1976, Paul McCartney & Wings wrapped up their tour at Inglewood, Calif.'s Forum. Sir Paul wouldn't tour the US for another 13 years.
In 1963, Del Shannon charts with "From Me To You, which becomes the first Lennon & McCartney composition to make the Billboard Hot 100.
B.W. Stevenson recorded "My Maria" in 1973.
Elvis Presley cuts "If I Can Dream" in 1968
In 1995, CBS News anchor Dan Rather joins R.E.M. onstage at Madison Square Garden during a soundcheck to perform "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" which referred to a bizarre incident years before when Rather was beaten up by thugs demanding the answer to the question. The performance was shown on David Letterman's "The Late Show."
In 2009, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The 19 year-old R&B singer was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to do six months community service. Brown had faced charges of assaulting Rihanna, 21, during a row in February. The last-minute plea deal came before a hearing at a Los Angeles court at which Rihanna was due to give evidence. The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge also ordered Brown and Rihanna to stay at least 50 yards from each other, except at entertainment industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards. Good, never hit a woman.....
Duran Duran started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1984 with “The Reflex,” the group's first US #1, also a UK #1.
'Perfecting Sound Forever': A History Of Audio
Talk of the Nation, June 22, 2009 - In his book, Perfecting Sound Forever, Greg Milner explores the evolution of sound. His history covers the analog days of Thomas Edison through the present day of digital recordings, and the quest for sonic perfection.
Technological advances have complicated the debate about the value of the most accurate reproduction of a sound, versus the most enhanced. Whereas Edison set out to perfectly capture a live performance, today's sound engineers have the ability to create recordings from musicians who aren't in the same room — or aren't even alive at the same time.
Milner takes the reader through major breakthroughs and massive failures in recording history. He also digs into specific recordings from Lead Belly, the Beatles, Mission of Burma, Steve Albini and Massive Attack.
Excerpt: 'Perfecting Sound Forever'By Greg Milner
NPR.org, June 22, 2009 - When a sound wave is generated, the mass is the air itself — or rather, the billions of particles that comprise the air — and the elasticity is the natural tendency of the particles to return to a stable position. These are the characteristics of any sound wave, whether caused by the big bang or by John Bonham's drum intro to Led Zeppelin's version of Memphis Minnie's "When the Levee Breaks." Those two particular sounds are alike in other ways: they are both epic and epochal, and each has been cited as evidence of the hand of God (and in Bonham's case, also His right foot). The latter is easier for us to conceive (though nearly as unlikely to ever be repeated), so let's examine the work performed by Bonham, and its effect on us.
You are very lucky. It is sometime in the early seventies, and you are at a mansion in the English village of Headley. The members of Led Zeppelin are here to make their fourth album, and they have invited you along to watch. Today they will record Bonham's drum part for "When the Levee Breaks." The band wants Bonham's drums to have a booming, reverb-heavy sound. (This is an unusual choice for the time, since the trend in records is toward drums that sound dry, with little resonance.) To achieve the desired effect, they place the drums at the bottom of a stairwell, with the microphone hanging three stories up. You are in the stairwell, a few feet away from the drums. The only person who will be closer to the sound is Bonham.
The engineer announces that the tape is rolling. Bonham counts off the rhythm and then slams his foot down on his kick drum's pedal to begin the beat.......
Read the rest of this intriguing article here: NPR.org
Technological advances have complicated the debate about the value of the most accurate reproduction of a sound, versus the most enhanced. Whereas Edison set out to perfectly capture a live performance, today's sound engineers have the ability to create recordings from musicians who aren't in the same room — or aren't even alive at the same time.
Milner takes the reader through major breakthroughs and massive failures in recording history. He also digs into specific recordings from Lead Belly, the Beatles, Mission of Burma, Steve Albini and Massive Attack.
Excerpt: 'Perfecting Sound Forever'By Greg Milner
NPR.org, June 22, 2009 - When a sound wave is generated, the mass is the air itself — or rather, the billions of particles that comprise the air — and the elasticity is the natural tendency of the particles to return to a stable position. These are the characteristics of any sound wave, whether caused by the big bang or by John Bonham's drum intro to Led Zeppelin's version of Memphis Minnie's "When the Levee Breaks." Those two particular sounds are alike in other ways: they are both epic and epochal, and each has been cited as evidence of the hand of God (and in Bonham's case, also His right foot). The latter is easier for us to conceive (though nearly as unlikely to ever be repeated), so let's examine the work performed by Bonham, and its effect on us.
You are very lucky. It is sometime in the early seventies, and you are at a mansion in the English village of Headley. The members of Led Zeppelin are here to make their fourth album, and they have invited you along to watch. Today they will record Bonham's drum part for "When the Levee Breaks." The band wants Bonham's drums to have a booming, reverb-heavy sound. (This is an unusual choice for the time, since the trend in records is toward drums that sound dry, with little resonance.) To achieve the desired effect, they place the drums at the bottom of a stairwell, with the microphone hanging three stories up. You are in the stairwell, a few feet away from the drums. The only person who will be closer to the sound is Bonham.
The engineer announces that the tape is rolling. Bonham counts off the rhythm and then slams his foot down on his kick drum's pedal to begin the beat.......
Read the rest of this intriguing article here: NPR.org