Led Zeppelin announce details of their inaugural Record Store Day release
Ahead of their 50th anniversary this September, Led Zeppelin will release unheard versions of two seminal songs for Record Store Day.
Available to buy on Saturday 21st April exclusively at independent retailers, the limited-edition 7-inch single release is produced by Jimmy Page and pressed on yellow vinyl.
It will boast an unheard “Sunset Sound Mix” of seminal anthem ‘Rock and Roll’ and it will be backed with an “Olympic Studios Mix” of ‘Friends.’
The unreleased version of ‘Rock And Roll’ provides an additional musical insight into the fabled “Sunset Sound Mixes” of Led Zeppelin IV.
Only two previous “Sunset Sound Mixes” have seen the light of day, the first being the version of ‘When The Levee Breaks’ on the original album and the second the ‘Stairway To Heaven’ mix that debuted on the 2014 deluxe edition.
The “Olympic Studios Mix” of ‘Friends’ is described as being more stripped down and devoid of the orchestration that featured on the Led Zeppelin III version.
> Led Zeppelin will release a limited edition 7” single featuring 2 previously unheard mixes produced by Jimmy Page: the “Sunset Sound Mix” of “Rock And Roll” and the “Olympic Studios Mix” of “Friends.” Available on April 21, exclusively at Independent Music Retailers. #RSD2018 pic.twitter.com/g0lw8NLY8v > > — Led Zeppelin (@ledzeppelin) February 27, 2018
Last month, Led Zeppelin announced they are releasing a new edition of their 2003 live album ‘How The West Was Won’ on Friday 23rd March via Atlantic/Swan Song.
Featuring newly remastered audio, which was done under the supervision of Jimmy Page, it will be available on triple CD, quadruple vinyl, Blu-Ray Audio and Streaming & Digital Download formats together with a Super Deluxe Box Set.
The band’s first ever official illustrated book, the aptly titled Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin, will will be published by Reel Art Press on 2nd October 2018 – 50 years to the month since the band changed their name from The New Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin.
The blurb promoting the 368-page tome reads: “Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin is the first and only official illustrated book to be produced in collaboration with the members of the band.
“Celebrating 50 years since their formation, it covers the group’s unparalleled musical career and features photographs of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham on and offstage, in candid moments and in the recording studio.
“This definitive 368-page volume includes unseen photographs and artwork from the Led Zeppelin archives and contributions from photographers around the world.”
Costing £49.50, Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin is available to pre-order from the Reel Art Press website now. Enter code LZ50 at checkout for free shipping on your pre-order until 1st April 2018.