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LISTEN: Jimmy Page’s very first studio production unveiled 56 years on

The first album that Jimmy Page ever produced is seeing the light of day more than half a century on.

Published 14th Mar 2017

Long before The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, a 17-year-old Jimmy joined forces with Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds for a historic 1961 recording session at RG Jones Sound Studio in Morden, London.

With Jimmy at the production helm, the band recorded a 12-song demo entitled ‘The Beginning’ that included a cover of the rhythm and blues classic ‘Money’, initially recorded by Barrett Strong and later made famous by The Beatles.

The tracks have never been released nor heard since they were initially laid down.

Chris Farlowe comments: “We would play anywhere just for the buzz and it was at one of these gigs that we met a very young boy called Jimmy Page, who liked my band and my guitarist Bobby Taylor.

“Jimmy suggested that he wanted to record a demo album of the band, so he booked the RG Jones studio in Morden, London, and now after 56 years, it is to see the light of day.

"The album contains some of the great R&B numbers and a few obscure tracks but it is a cracking record and, as it was recorded in 1961, it is somewhat historical as well."

Commenting on ‘Money’, Farlowe told Rolling Stone: "When I first heard 'Money' by Barrett Strong I just flipped out, for to me it's one of the greatest records ever recorded and has been recorded by many of the great artists, including the Beatles.

"With the great help and vision of Jimmy Page, I was the first English artist to record it. I am very proud of it as well of all the others on my new 1961 album, The Beginning."

Released on 30th April, Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds: The Beginning is available to pre-order now and comes in a standard and deluxe format. A limited edition 1-LP, 1-CD set is also available signed by Jimmy and Farlowe – this will set you back a whopping £196.10.

The track-listing is as follows:

  1. Entry of the Slaves
  2. Spring is Near
  3. What’d I Say
  4. Let the Good Times Roll
  5. Sticks and Stones
  6. Kansas City
  7. I’m Moving On
  8. Just a Dream
  9. Matchbox
  10. Money
  11. Hurtin’ Inside
  12. Watch Your Step