Led Zeppelin will begin releasing its long-promised catalog reissues this year. Jimmy Page reported the news via his website last week, but the post was removed shortly after. Rolling Stone confirmed the news today with a representative for the band. He added that the reissues “would be released on the Swan Song/Atlantic label, as they were originally.
The first to come out will be the group’s initial three releases, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin III. The post also announced the release of “some of my own material from the archives” that will arrive this year, but he made no reference as to whether this is Jimmy Page solo material or collaborations with other artists from over the decades.
Page first announced the reissues in November 2012. Each album will come out as a deluxe edition that he told Rolling Stone would include “added sonic and visual thrills.” Page explained that he intended the reissues to include alternate mixes of the band’s songs, as well as concert recordings that were never officially released. He also said that the albums will sound much better than the versions now available. “The catalog was last remastered 20 years ago,” he said. “That’s a long time. Everything is being transferred from analog to a higher-resolution digital format. That’s one of the problems with the Zeppelin stuff. It sounds ridiculous on MP3. You can’t hear what’s there properly.”
Read more at Rolling Stone.
source: rollingstone.com
17 Responses
For the love of God, Jimmy, empty the live recording vaults!! Remaster some of that and I don’t mean Song Remains the Same!!
Time to dump those box sets and individual CD issues. Analog rules, the digital transfer better be as good as Neil Young’s. Too bad that doofus Plant won’t work with the other three. JB would be pissed….he was always for what the fans wanted….and if you have ever met his son, you know what a nice guy he is.
Met Jason years ago when he was opening for The Cult and had ripped his hand apart and still toured using half a electronic kit and half a real kit. True performer and refused to take time off to heal. Unbelievably talkative guy and spent tonnes of time with the fans just chatting about his Dad and the Zeppelin guys as well as his own stuff. You’d think he’d grow tired of talking about JB, but he new what the fans wanted to talk about and was gracious about everything.
How about releasing some more live stuff?
Not a fan of reissues. The guys go into a studio, change the mix up a bit, and ring the cash register. What’s the point? (other than more $, without creating anything really new). I do believe ultimately they will do a show or two in the USA. It’s too good to pass up.
As long as the original dynamics are left intact, I’m interested. If they compress them to make them louder for the clueless morons, I’ll spend my money elsewhere. Those original “RL” & “Porky” pressings set the bar pretty high as well as the more recent Classic Records pressings. Short of something amazing, pro quality needledrops of the “Road Case” & a few originals are all you’ll ever need. We shall see….