Another Interesting Jimmy Page Revelation

[toomanycats]

The other day I bought a vinyl copy of Al Stewart's 1969 second album called Love Chronicles. I didn't even read the back before putting it in my buggy (that's what they call a shopping cart here in North Carolina), as it was only 25 cents and if it sucked I was only out the price of . . . um, can anybody think of anything that cost only 25 cents anymore? Can't even buy a can of cat food or make a call on a payphone for that anymore.

After getting home and reading the back cover I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jimmy Page is the lead guitarist on this record, which Melody Maker called, "Folk album of the year."

I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and devote the time to listen to this record yet, though I am very anxious to do so and will report back.

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[tobijohn]

. . um, can anybody think of anything that cost only 25 cents anymore? Can't even buy a can of cat food or make a call on a payphone for that anymore.

If you still have payphones up there in North Carolina, then it must be the state time has forgotten. Jeesh, I can't remember the last time I saw one of those, has to be years and years ago.

All I can recall about Al Stewart was alternative radio at the time playing "Year of the Cat" way too often.

[Tonray's Ghost]

Yeah,

In the period between the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, Page was a very active and sought after studio musician

[toomanycats]

. . um, can anybody think of anything that cost only 25 cents anymore? Can't even buy a can of cat food or make a call on a payphone for that anymore.

If you still have payphones up there in North Carolina, then it must be the state time has forgotten. Jeesh, I can't remember the last time I saw one of those, has to be years and years ago.

All I can recall about Al Stewart was alternative radio at the time playing "Year of the Cat" way too much.

Oh yeah, along with Bicentennial fever, Paul McCartney and Wings, Rocky, the Cowboys vs Steelers rivalry, The Gong Show, and bigfoot mania, "Year of the Cat" was pretty much unavoidable in 1976.

But surely you must also remember Al Stewart's massive radio hit from 1978, "Time Passages." That one reached #1 on the Billboard charts. Whenever I hear it I can't help singing along to the chorus in his uniquely lispy Scottish voice. Then I keep doing it all day long and it drives Mrs tmc nuts!

[toomanycats]

Yeah,

In the period between the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, Page was a very active and sought after studio musician

What's so interesting about Page playing on this Al Stewart album is that he appears to have done so during a timeframe that overlaps the recording of the first Led Zeppelin record.

Zeppelin's debut album was recorded from September to October of 68 and released in January of 69.

Al Stewart's Love Chronicles is listed as being recorded between 68 and 69 and was released in September of 69.

Maybe Jimmy recorded his guitar parts for Love Chronicles previous to September of 68, before he became engrossed in playing guitar as well as taking on the role of producer for Led Zeppelin's debut album. But then that doesn't make sense from a production standpoint, as early recording is usually dedicated to foundational tracks, with things like lead guitar often being added later.

The first Led Zeppelin album was recorded at Olympic in London. I can't find any documentation as to where the Stewart's Love Chronicles was recorded. However, if it was also recorded at Olympic, then it certainly would have been easy for Jimmy to pop into the room when convenient and lay down his lead guitar tracks.

I guess the point that I'm emphasizing is that the Jimmy Page on Al Stewart's Love Chronicles is the exact same Jimmy Page (from a time period perspective) that we hear on the debut Led Zeppelin album.

[tobijohn]

But surely you must also remember Al Stewart's massive radio hit from 1978, "Time Passages." That one reached #1 on the Billboard charts. Whenever I hear it I can't help singing along to the chorus in his uniquely lispy Scottish voice. Then I keep doing it all day long and it drives Mrs tmc nuts!

Ugh, another one that was played to death.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I wasn't mellow enough for Al Stewart as a kid, and I guess I'm still not. I just listened to that album, and I must say hearing Page influence in the guitar just wasn't enough to like it overall. It reminds me of a conversation decades ago with a co-writer, when he noted he felt like he should like the Saturday Nite Live band, but just didn't. My answer was that they were amazing musicians, but playing stuff they just didn't personally connect with. You can hear that coming across in otherwise great performances. When session musicians really get into what they're working on, that comes across too, which is why I think the Wrecking Crew created so many hits.

[andrewsrea]

I wasn't mellow enough for Al Stewart as a kid"

Same here. 1976, my line up was Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Kiss, Steve Miller Band, Yes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Who, Queen, etc.

[mozz]

You forgot Frampton comes alive in 76'. Also Kiss Destroyer. Pretty sure at that time we would walk downtown to the Woolworths and buy 45's for 99c.

[helsinkirocks]

. . um, can anybody think of anything that cost only 25 cents anymore? Can't even buy a can of cat food or make a call on a payphone for that anymore.

If you still have payphones up there in North Carolina, then it must be the state time has forgotten. Jeesh, I can't remember the last time I saw one of those, has to be years and years ago.

All I can recall about Al Stewart was alternative radio at the time playing "Year of the Cat" way too often.

This was here in Ohio back in January (although it did not work).

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[jhull54]

Zeppelin's debut album was recorded from September to October of 68 and released in January of 69.

Al Stewart's Love Chronicles is listed as being recorded between 68 and 69 and was released in September of 69.

The first Led Zeppelin album was recorded at Olympic in London. I can't find any documentation as to where the Stewart's Love Chronicles was recorded. However, if it was also recorded at Olympic, then it certainly would have been easy for Jimmy to pop into the room when convenient and lay down his lead guitar tracks.

I guess the point that I'm emphasizing is that the Jimmy Page on Al Stewart's Love Chronicles is the exact same Jimmy Page (from a time period perspective) that we hear on the debut Led Zeppelin album.

I'm going to deduce that the record was recorded in London. No idea where, but I think you're on the right track, because Fairport Convention was a London-based band, and John Paul Jones also appears on the record. Seems to me a strong possibility that it might have happened at Olympic.

[Rollin Hand]

. . um, can anybody think of anything that cost only 25 cents anymore? Can't even buy a can of cat food or make a call on a payphone for that anymore.

If you still have payphones up there in North Carolina, then it must be the state time has forgotten. Jeesh, I can't remember the last time I saw one of those, has to be years and years ago.

All I can recall about Al Stewart was alternative radio at the time playing "Year of the Cat" way too often.

This was here in Ohio back in January (although it did not work).

473649381_10230421622057598_5121868550076886539_n.jpg

[toomanycats]

Franky, I'm a little surprised by the contempt expressed for Al Stewart, as if he deserves the sort of disgust rightfully reserved for Kenny G and Michael Bolton.

While I get and appreciate the many references to more legitimate mid 70s rock musicians, my personal experience during that timeframe was limited to AM radio. I was only 7 years old in 1976.

At 7 years old there was a definite line between the safe music my parents listened to on AM top 40 radio and the "dangerous" world of rock music. The latter was wild, transgressive, with references to drugs and scary long hair weirdo hippie pinko fags and leftist politics. In the mid 70s my main means of access to that world was through Mad Magazine under William Gaines, even though 90% of its satire went over my head. My older cousins had access to that world and gave me furtive glimpses while offering me puffs from their joints and spinning records by Deep Purple, Neal Young, and Queen. I crossed the Rubicon from AM to FM in adolescence, between 6th grade elementary school and 7th grade junior high.

George Carlin called one of his records FM & AM. AM is the “safe,” “good,” “clean,” “morally right” world of my parents, home, church, and middle class, small town domesticity. FM is the wider world, urban, rock music, drinking, drugs, Hollywood, the city, pop culture, liberal socio-cultural-political values, subversive and dangerous ideas about personal freedom. We're talking about music as a soundtrack for rebellion vs conformity. In the language of the 1950s beats and hipsters, the "hip" verses the "square."

[BatUtilityBelt]

Franky, I'm a little surprised by the contempt expressed for Al Stewart, as if he deserves the sort of disgust rightfully reserved for Kenny G and Michael Bolton.

I don't think there was any offense intended. The way I remember those times, music seemed to have a line between two broad categories - songs that make statements and songs that were complacent. The view of the world from my little part of it couldn't embrace the complacent, and we were sometimes annoyed by it instead of getting how some people needed an escape.

[glasshand]

All I can recall about Al Stewart was alternative radio at the time playing "Year of the Cat" way too often.

In all fairness, although that song is overplayed, it is a really good one. I learned the guitar solos a while ago, precisely because the song is outside my usual genres.

[toomanycats]

Okay guys, it's been a a very rough week, involving a serious medical crisis, though I've finally had a chance to listen to this Al Stewart LP.

But onto my critique of the AL Stewart album. It is generally dominated by a big, booming acoustic guitar, which sounds like a Martin dreadnought. Stewart's voice id pushed way up front. It has none of the heaviness of Led Zep and the drums are very subdued.

The first track, "Life and Life Only," has the recognizable Page lead tone of Zed Zeppelin's debut album. Page plays what I'd call somewhat generic sounding lead guitar lines, ubiquitous from the era and heard on Crosby, Stills and Nash or Big Brother and the Holding Company tunes.

"Love Chronicles," which is the title track, has the most of Page on it. The song takes up the majority of side 2, though it is certainly no Pink Floyd "Echoes," neither in depth nor power. I definitely recognize Page's unique Tele voice. He moves between the major and minor pentatonic scales. In the minor mode he often ends a lick on the Major 3rd, giving the same dissonant feeling often heard on Led Zeppelin's first album. When playing lead in pentatonic major he harmonizes melody lines in 3rds in a way that is somewhat reminiscent of "That's the Way" from Led Zeppelin III. There is also some wah pedal employed that has shades of "Dazed and Confused," though it is much more restrained, with none of the implied crazy/violent sex energy that the Led Zep tune projects.

Jimmy play's lead guitar accompaniment to Stewart exactly the way I would. Actually, it would be more correct to say that I would play it exactly the way Jimmy does, and precisely because I have listened to and learned so much from him. Jimmy is not on every song, and when he is, he is restrained. He supports Stewart and doesn't complete with him. If nothing else, Love Chronicles is a lesson by Page in how to be a pro session player with one's ego in check.