Led Zeppelin - Studio Magik: Sessions-Outtakes 1968-1980 (2013) [18CD Box Set]

Led Zeppelin built their reputation on their live show. Their studio recordings were, as Jimmy Page stated many times in interviews, a springboard for further live improvisation and exploration. Many songs (“The Rover,” “The Song Remains The Same” and “In The Light” among others) began as riffs discovered on the stage.

However, one can’t create a masterpiece with inferior ingredients. Two members of the band, Page and John Paul Jones, began their career as studio session musicians and understood how to write and craft good songs in the studio.

Page himself engineered the science of capturing a good recording in studio on Led Zeppelin.

Fans and collectors are lucky. Except for The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, no other band has as much outtake and demo material available for analysis, scrutiny, and enjoyment.

From the initial sessions for the first album in Olympic Studio in late summer of 1968 through to the sessions in Stockholm ten years later for In Through The Outdoor, all of Zeppelin’s albums and eras are represented in one form or another.

The twenty hours of music in this box set extend from extremely primitive cassette demos made in the wilds of Snowdonia to initial rehearsals in Headley Grange to perfectly polished alternate takes and mixes of classic songs.

Several attempts have been made in the past to offer a complete collection.

The first is the classic 11 CD set Studio Sessions on Antrabata. This set collected every piece of tape known at the time and presented them in a chronological, cohesive order. Despite the knock against it for using inferior sounding tapes, it remains a popular and sought after item.

Akashic attempted a comprehensive box set in the winter of 1999 called The Final Option. The project was scrapped after only five discs spread out over three titles, Meet Led Zeppelin, Scorpio Rising and The Smithereens were released. And the Akashic contained spurious Houses Of The Holy outtakes. In 2007 the Scorpio label produced the 12 CD set Studio Sessions Ultimate, an impressive update of the Antrabata set.

In the intervening years, many more tracks surfaced including the legendary Led Zeppelin II sessions and superior sounding versions of already existing tracks. Studio Magik gives a much needed overhaul of Led Zeppelin outtakes.

Not only are the new sessions presented, but all of the older tracks have been given a remastering job from the best available sources and are presented in their definitive form.

~ collectorsmusicreviews.com

Tracklist CD1. Led Zeppelin I & II Sessions:

01 Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (Take 8)
02 Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (Take 9, Stopped)
03 Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (Take 9, Complete)
04 You Shook Me
Recorded at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England on September 27, 1968
05 Baby Come On Home (Take 1, Stopped)
06 Baby Come On Home (Take 2, Stopped)
07 Baby Come On Home (Take 3, Complete
Recorded at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England on October 10, 1968
08 Guitar Organ Instrumentals (Take 1)
09 Guitar Organ Instrumentals (Take 2)
10 Guitar Organ Instrumentals (Take 3)
11 Guitar Organ Instrumentals (Take 4)
12 Guitar Organ Instrumentals (Take 5)
13 Guitar Organ Instrumentals (Take 6)
14 Guitar Organ Instrumentals (Take 7)
Recorded at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England on October 1968
15 Moby Dick (Intro & Outro)
16 Drum Solo
Recorded at Mirror Sound, Los Angeles, CA between May 4th and 6th, 1969
17 Sugar Mama
Recorded at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London, England in June 1969
18 We're Gonna Groove
Recorded at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London, England on June 25th, 1969


Tracklist CD2. Led Zeppelin II Multitracks - Whole Lotta Love:

01 Whole Lotta Love (Main Guitar)
02 Whole Lotta Love (Guitar Overdubs)
03 Whole Lotta Love (Bass)
04 Whole Lotta Love (Drums Right)
05 Whole Lotta Love (Drums Left)
06 Whole Lotta Love (Tympani / Tambourine)
07 Whole Lotta Love (Vocals)
08 Whole Lotta Love (Vocal Overdubs)
09 Whole Lotta Love (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 1)
10 Whole Lotta Love (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 2)
11 Whole Lotta Love (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 3)
12 Whole Lotta Love (Multitrack Mixdown Showcase)
Recorded at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England in May 1969


Tracklist CD3. Led Zeppelin II Multitracks - What Is And What Should Never Be:

01 What Is And What Should Never Be (Main Guitar)
02 What Is And What Should Never Be (Bass)
03 What Is And What Should Never Be (Drum Right)
04 What Is And What Should Never Be (Drum Left)
05 What Is And What Should Never Be (Main Vocal)
06 What Is And What Should Never Be (Vocal Overdubs Take 1)
07 What Is And What Should Never Be (Vocal Overdubs Take 2)
08 What Is And What Should Never Be (Guitar and Vocals Overdubs)
09 What Is And What Should Never Be (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 1)
10 What Is And What Should Never Be (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 2)
11 What Is And What Should Never Be (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 3)
Recorded at Groove Studios, New York City and Olympic Studios, London in June 1969



Tracklist CD4. Led Zeppelin II Multitracks - Heartbreaker:

01 Heartbreaker (Main Guitar Take 1)
02 Heartbreaker (Main Guitar Take 2)
03 Heartbreaker (Bass)
04 Heartbreaker (Drum Right)
05 Heartbreaker (Drum Left)
06 Heartbreaker (Guitar, Bass And Drums)
07 Heartbreaker (Vocals)
08 Heartbreaker (Vocals And Guitar)
09 Heartbreaker (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 1)
10 Heartbreaker (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 2)
Recorded And Mixed at A&R Studios, New York City, NY on May 30th and 31st, 1969


Tracklist CD5. Led Zeppelin II Multitracks - Ramble On:

01 Ramble On (Acoustic Guitar)
02 Ramble On (Electric Guitar)
03 Ramble On (Guitar Overdubs)
04 Ramble On (Bass)
05 Ramble On (Drum Right)
06 Ramble On (Drum Left)
07 Ramble On (Vocals)
08 Ramble On (Vocals And GUitar)
09 Ramble On (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 1)
10 Ramble On (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 2)
11 Ramble On (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 3)
12 Ramble On (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 4)
13 Ramble On (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 5)
14 Ramble On (Multitrack Mixdown, Version 6)
Recorded at Juggy Sound Studio, New York City in June 1969


Tracklist CD6. Led Zeppelin III Sessions:

01 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 1, Stopped)
02 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 2, Stopped)
03 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 3, Stopped)
04 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 4, Stopped)
05 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 5, Stopped)
06 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 6, Complete Basic Version)
07 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 7, Stopped)
08 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 8, Stopped)
09 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 9, Stopped)
10 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 10, Stopped)
11 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 11, Stopped)
12 Jennings Farm Blues (Take 12, Complete Full Mix)
Recorded at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England in November 1969)
13 Untitled Guitar Instrumentals
Recorded at Bron-Yr-Aur Cottage, Wales in May 1970



Tracklist CD7. Led Zeppelin III Sessions (Part 2):

01 Guitar Instrumental (Take 1)
02 Guitar Instrumental (Take 2)
03 Poor Tom (Take 1)
04 Guitar Instrumental (Take 3)
05 Guitar Instrumental (Take 4)
06 The Boy Next Door (Take 1)
07 The Boy Next Door (Take 2)
08 The Boy Next Door (Take 3)
09 The Boy Next Door (Take 4)
10 The Boy Next Door (Take 5)
11 My Oh My (Takes 1 & 2)
12 Bron-Yr-Aur (Takes 1 & 2)
13 Guitar Instrumental (Take 5)
14 Guitar Instrumental (Take 6)
15 Guitar Instrumental (Take 7)
16 Bron-Yr-Aur (Take 3)
17 My Oh My (Takes 3 & 4)
18 Bron-Yr-Aur (Take 4)
19 Poor Tom (Takes 2 - 6)
20 Hey Hey What Can I Do (Takes 1 & 2)
21 Immigrant Song
22 Bathroom SOng
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire, England, between May and June 1970
23 Poor Tom (Take 1, Instrumental)
24 Poor Tom (Take 2, With Vocals)
Recorded at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London, England on May 6th, 1970
25 Celebration Day (Instrumental)
26 Hey Hey What Can I Do (Instrumental)
27 Out On The Tiles (Instrumental
Recorded between May and June 1970, Location Unknown


Tracklist CD8. Led Zeppelin III & IV Sessions:

01 That's The Way (Full Mix)
02 Feel So Bad (Takes 1 & 2)
03 Since I've Been Loving You (Vocal Track)
04 Since I've Been Loving You (Full Mix)
Recorded at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, between May and June 1970
05 Stairway To Heaven (Take 1, Instrumental)
06 Blues Guitar / Piano Improvisation
07 Black Dog (Take 1, Acoustic Instrumental)
08 Black Dog (Take 2, Acoustic Instrumental)
09 Black Dog (Rehearsal)
10 No Quarter
11 Stairway To Heaven (Take 2, Instrumental)
12 Stairway To Heaven (Take 3, Instrumental)
13 Stairway To Heaven (Take 4, Instrumental)
14 Electric Guitar Improvisation
15 Stairway To Heaven (Take 5, With Vocals)
16 Stairway To Heaven (Take 6, With Vocals)
17 Stairway To Heaven
18 Night Flight
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire, England, between January and february 1971)


Tracklist CD9. Led Zeppelin IV Sessions:

01 The Battle Of Evermore (Take 1)
02 The Battle Of Evermore (Take 2)
03 The Battle Of Evermore (Take 3)
04 The Battle Of Evermore (Take 4)
05 The Battle Of Evermore (Take 5)
06 The Battle Of Evermore (Take 6)
07 Four Sticks (Take 1, Instrumental)
08 Four Sticks (Take 2, with Vocals)
09 Black Dog
10 When The Levee Breaks (Take 1)
11 When The Levee Breaks (Take 2)
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampshire, England, between January and February 1971)



Tracklist CD10. Bombay Rehearsals & Houses Of The Holy Sessions:

01 Friends (Rehearsing The Tune)
02 Four Sticks (Take 1)
03 Friends (Take 1)
04 Friends (Take 2)
05 Friends (Take 3)
06 Four Sticks (Take 2)
07 Four Sticks (Take 3)
08 Four Sticks (Take 4)
Recorded at EMI Studios Bombay in March 1972
09 Walter's Walk (Take 1, Instrumental)
10 Walter's Walk (Take 2, With Vocals)
11 Walter's Walk (Take 3, With Vocals)
Recorded with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio at Stargroves, Newbury, Berkshire on May 15th, 1972


Tracklist CD11. Houses Of The Holy Sessions & Lucifer Rising:

01 No Quarter (Take 1, Instrumental, Complete)
02 No Quarter (Take 2, Stopped)
03 No Quarter (Take 3, Stopped)
04 No Quarter (Take 4, Instrumental)
05 No Quarter (Take 5, Stopped)
06 No Quarter (Take 6, Stopped)
07 No Quarter (Take 7, Complete)
Recorded at Island Studios, London in June 1972
08 Incubus
09 Damask
10 Unharmonics
11 Damask (Ambient Version)
12 Lucifer Rising
13 Lucifer Rising (Percussive Return)
Recorded at Boleskine House, Loch Ness, Scotland between October and November 1973


Tracklist CD12. Pre-Physical Graffiti Outtakes (Part 1):

01 Untitled Instrumental
02 Untitled Instrumental
03 Ten Years Gone (Takes 1 - 12)
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampsire in November 1973



Tracklist CD13. Pre-Physical Graffiti Outtakes (Part 2):

01 Swan Song
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampsire in November 1973


Tracklist CD14. Physical Graffiti Outtakes (Part 1):

01 The Wanton Song (Take 1)
02 The Wanton SOng (Take 2)
03 Take Me Home (Take 1)
04 Take Me Home (Take 2)
05 In The Morning (Take 1)
06 Trampled Underfoot (Takes 1 - 9)
07 In The Morning (Take 2)
08 Sick Again
09 The Rover
10 Untitled Instrumental
11 ABC Song
12 In My Time Of Dying (Takes 1 - 7)
13 The Wanton Song
14 Trampled Underfoot
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampsire between January and February 1974


Tracklist CD15. Physical Graffiti Outtakes (Part 2):

01 Ten Years Gone (Takes 1 - 4)
02 Boogie With Stu (Takes 1 - 9)
03 Night Flight (Takes 1 - 11)
04 Trampled Underfoot
05 Kashmir
06 Custard Pie
07 In The Light
08 Swan Song (Take 1)
09 Swan Song (Take 2)
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampsire between January and February 1974



Tracklist CD16. Presence & In Through The Out Door Outtakes:

01 Wanton Song
02 Wanton Song
Recorded at Headley Grange Studios, Hampsire between January and February 1974
03 Royal Orleans
04 Tea For One
05 Don't Start Me Talking / All My Lovin'
Recorded at SIR, Hollywood, CA in October 1975
06 Bonzo's Montreux (Take 1)
07 Bonzo's Montreux (Take 2)
Recorded at Mountain Studios, Montreux on September 12th, 1976
08 Fire
09 Carouselambra (Takes 1 - 4)
Recorded in Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire in May 1978
10 Drum Segment
11 Carouselambra
12 Ozone Baby (Take 1)
13 Ozone Baby (Take 2)
14 All My Love
15 Wearing And Tearing
16 I'm Gonna Crawl
17 Fool In The Rain
Recorded at Polar Studios, Stockholm in November 1978


Tracklist CD17. In Through The Out Door Sessions:

01 Carouselambra (Take 1)
02 Wearing And Tearing
03 Fool In The Rain (Take 1)
04 Hot Dog
05 In The Evening
06 Southbound Saurez
07 Darlene
08 Fool In The Rain (Take 2)
09 Carouselambra (Take 2)
10 All My Love
Recorded at Polar Studios, Stockholm in November 1978


Tracklist CD18. In Through The Out Door Sessions & Final Rehearsals:

01 Ozone Baby (Take 1)
02 Ozone Baby (Take 2)
Recorded at Polar Studios, Stockholm on November 14th, 1978
03 Darlene (Take 1)
04 Darlene (Take 2)
Recorded at Polar Studios, Stockholm on November 16th, 1978
05 Wearing And Tearing (Take 1)
06 Wearing And Tearing (Take 2)
Recorded at Polar Studios, Stockholm on November 21st, 1978
07 White Summer (take 1)
08 White Summer (Take 2)
09 Kashmir
10 Achilles Last Stand (Take 1)
11 Achilles Last Stand (Take 2)
12 Stairway To Heaven
Recorded at The Rainbow Theatre, London, between April and May 1980



All thanks go to the original releaser