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The Sunbeam Guide To Led Zeppelin

Richard Morton Jack

Foxcote Books, £12.99

ISBN 1905880065

In the wake of last year’s historic reunion, the ever-creaking Led Zeppelin bookshelf looks set to come under more pressure with no less than three new titles on the way. First is this no-frills hardback.

Richard Morton Jack co-founded the reissue label Sunbeam, and the spin-off book guides are a planned series of reference works on leading icons. This is an A-to-Z encyclopaedia listing that commences with Abba, in whose studios Zeppelin recorded In Through The Out Door in late 1978, and finishes over 200 pages later with an entry for “ZoSo”, Jimmy Page’s mysterious symbol that first appeared as part of the four symbols making up their fourth album’s title. In between, there are countless entries ranging from profiles of artists with even the briefest association (PJ Proby, Julie Felix), to key figures such as Ahmet Ertegun, Richard Cole and, of course, Peter Grant. Zep-related landmarks, song profiles, album listings, gig itineraries, etc all sweep by. The layout is simple and straightforward. Still, it’s a handy one-stop reference work. Serious Zep scholars who want to know the facts, and nothing but, will find it a useful guide to the whos, whats, wheres and whens of the Zeppelin story. Dave Lewis

Record Collector, October 2008

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