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EDITORS NOTE:
QUIET RIOT Drummer Frankie Banali has created a labor of love
with his new CD 24/7/365 The Tribute to Led Zeppelin. Frankie invited
many of his best friends to join him on making a heartfelt tribute to
his favorite drummer John Bonham and his band Led Zeppelin. We
invited Frankie to share his thoughts on the CD. He responded with
the essay that follows below, including a track-by-track breakdown of
each song and MP3 samples of each track.
You can
purchase the album at
NEH Records,
Amazon.com or
MDV Entertainment
or buy through the banner at the Top &
Bottom of this page by October 31st and you will be entered to win a
drumhead signed by many of the artists!
-- Jeb Wright, October 2007
24/7/365 THE TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN-
TRACK BY TRACK
Check Out Frankie Banali & Friends New Zeppelin Tribute with
Commentary & Song Samples
By QUIET RIOT'S Frankie Banali
"24/7/365 THE TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN" has been a labor of musical love
and affection for the music created by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John
Paul Jones and John Henry Bonham. Why do a Led Zeppelin tribute CD? For
all the right reasons. No one can top Led Zeppelin and I didn't try to.
No one is John Henry Bonham, so I didn't try to play the drum parts beat
for beat. I wanted to perhaps capture the essence that was John Bonham,
so it really does pay homage to his great talent.
I did it because of my love for the music of Led Zeppelin and the talent
that was and is John Henry Bonham. Led Zeppelin has played a prominent
role in my musical life with the release in 1969 of Led Zeppelin I and
the opening chords of "Good Times Bad Times, through 1982 and the
closing chords of "Wearing and Tearing" from the Coda release, and
continues to play a significant role in my life still to this day
through subsequent releases of both audio and visual mastery which was
clearly evident with the release of How The West Was Won set and DVD.
Frankie Banali & Friends has been a dream come true for me because it
has made it possible to not only to be able to play and record with old
and new musical friends, but also some of my musical heroes like Glenn
Hughes, who I first heard singing and playing bass on the Trapeze record
"You Are The Music We're Just The Band" and Glenn is my favorite singer
in the entire world, and Alex Ligertwood just knocked me out with his
wonderful voice and vocal range on the Brian Auger record "Second Wind"
both of which I first discovered on vynil in 1972. I could not have
accomplished any of my goals for these recordings were it not for the
great musical talents of all who participated.
Having Tony Franklin on bass as my rhythm section partner on the entire
record is nothing short of wonderful for me. He is by far my favorite
bass player to play and record with. He is a gifted and talented bass
player and one of the most wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure
of knowing, playing with and calling my friend. I have had the
opportunity to record with Tony on various projects but this one has
been the most special one on a personal level.
TRACK BY TRACK
1. THE WANTON SONG - 4:06
Alex Ligertwood/Vocals - Doug Aldrich/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of The Wanton Song
I was really impressed with the vocals that Alex had done on the "Second
Wind" record and especially on the track "Freedom Jazz Dance" and I also
very much enjoyed his work with The Average White Band. I think that
Alex's vocals on The Wanton Song are spectacular and he breathed new
life to this classic Led Zeppelin groove.
I've known Doug for over twenty years and we've talked about working
together for all those many years but the situation never presented
itself. I have a lot of respect for Doug as a musician and as a person.
I knew that he would be the perfect guitarist to bring his fiery guitar
style to this track and he made it his own.
2. FOUR STICKS - 4:37
Glenn Hughes/Vocals - Steve Fister/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of Four Sticks
Glenn, as everyone knows, is my favorite singer and it was natural for
me to think of Glenn when it came to Four Sticks because this song is so
different from your typical rock song, even by Led Zeppelin. It is a
very special song that required a very special and dynamic vocal.
Special, atypical, dynamic are all words that also describe the
wonderful talent that is Glenn Hughes. I was blessed to have first
recorded and played live with Glenn for the "Hughes/Thrall" record and
this was a wonderful opportunity to work with Glenn once more. And let's
face it, Glenn could sing from a Chinese phone book and make it make
sense!
Steve Fister is somewhat unknown to some people, but he is likely best
remembered for working with Lita Ford in the 1980's. Steve is by nature
a blues guitarist and an excellent one at that. I had recorded a number
of drum tracks for Steve's record "Dodging' Bullets" and was impressed
with the genuine feel of his blues roots and guitar style as well as
being very capable on a variety of stringed instruments, so he was a
natural to play on a number of these tracks, namely Four Sticks,
Kashmir, Ramble On and Gallows Pole. Steve has been invaluable to these
recordings from it's grass roots onward.
3. KASHMIR - 8:23
Don Dokken/Vocals - Michael Lardie/Keyboards
Steve Fister/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of Kashmir
I think most people are surprised at my choice of Don for the vocal on
"Kashmir" until they hear him sing it. I've known Don since before I was
in QUIET RIOT. Don and I were in a very early version of Dokken, along
with Juan Crocier (ex-Ratt) when Don also played guitar as well. I knew
the subtle characteristics of Don's vocal style and knew he would be the
ideal choice for Kashmir. His vocal turned out very much as I had
envisioned it and I am so happy that he was willing and able to record
this track.
Michael Lardie was the instant choice to play the multi keyboard tracks
for this song. He is keenly aware of the music of Led Zeppelin and
really brought a certain authenticity of sound layers which this track
required. Michael is fabulous on this song and a key element in the
overall sound of this track. The perfect choice.
4. OUT ON THE TILES - 4:03
Robin McCauley/Vocals - Reb Beach/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of Out on the Tiles
Robin is a wonderful singer with arguably one of the best vocal ranges
in the business. Robin came in completely prepared to sing this track
and his pitch was absolute perfection. Like most of the singers on this
record, I had to find singers that could hit all those high Robert Plant
vocal lines and melodies, and Robin did not disappoint. He was the only
choice to sing this wonderful Led Zeppelin track.
I had the opportunity to hear Reb play a number of times with Winger and
knew that he is one of the best shredder's in the business. I also knew
that while working with Whitesnake, he had to understand the blues.
Although Out On The Tiles is not a particular blues based song, it is
definitely a riff oriented song and Reb is one of the best riff
guitarist in music today. Although the original version of this song
does not have a guitar solo, I asked Reb to add one to the ending
section of this track. He blew me away with his psychedelic like solo on
this one.
5. RAMBLE ON - 4:23
Paul Shortino/Vocals - Steve Fister/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of Ramble On
Paul and I have known each other since we worked together on the fourth
QUIET RIOT "QR" release. When I first heard Paul sing the Janis Joplin
classic "Piece Of My Heart" I couldn't believe that he had done such a
wonderful interpretation of the original. Paul was my obvious choice for
this vocal. His smokey Jack Daniels and cigarette tone was perfect for
the verses but he also has the range to carry the upper register vocal
on the choruses which this song demanded. Paul was wonderful on this
track.
6. THE OCEAN - 4:29
Mark Boals/Vocals - Bruce Kulick/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of The Ocean
I knew of Mark through his work with Yngwie Malmsteen, but I did not
know him personally. Engineer/guitarist Neil Citron knew Mark and I
jumped at the opportunity to have him sing on this track. Again, this
song really required those high vocal gymnastics that Robert Plant made
famous, and Mark really did a fantastic job on this song. I was very
fortunate to have him on this track and he became one of the new
friends.
Bruce is world known through his participation in KISS, but I had also
heard Bruce on the "Union" record where his blues roots where very
evident. I knew that he would be perfect to play on this track and he
brought a very authentic guitar style especially on the solo section of
this track. Bruce is also a great guy with solid musical knowledge.
7. THE IMMIGRANT SONG - 2:41
Bobby Kimball/Vocals - Gilby Clarke/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of The Immigrant Song
Bobby has impressed me year after year with his wide range of vocal
styles throughout his career with Toto. Bobby is a genuinely wonderful
singer and person and here again I needed someone that could handle the
high vocal style and range. Not only did I get that, but he put his own
Louisiana blues sound on this vocal. Absolutely wonderful. It was a
privilege to have him on this record.
Gilby is an all out rock and roll guitar player, so who else would I get
but Mr. Clarke to play on this track and Royal Orleans. Gilby brought
some of the Guns and Roses magic to these two songs by delivering great
1970's style guitar solos because he understand that style of music
intimately. I was very fortunate that he was available and wanted to
play on these tracks. He is also a new friend and a great guy to hang
with.
8. ROYAL ORLEANS - 3:01
Jeff Scott Soto/Vocals - Gilby Clarke/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of Royal Orleans
I've known Jeff for likely twenty or more years. Jeff is immensely
talented and he has great rhythm and blues roots. He was the first
singer that came to mind for Royal Orleans and the logical vocalist for
this track. To me Royal Orleans has always been a sort of funk Led
Zeppelin track and Jeff really brought out the funk and the rock on this
one. He is a very underrated singer and you'd be hard pressed to find a
nicer person.
9. GALLOWS POLE - 4:16
Kevin DuBrow/Vocals - Steve Fister/Guitar/ Mandolin /Banjo
Listen to an Audio Sample of Gallows Pole
Everyone knows of my longtime musical association and friendship with
Kevin as members of QUIET RIOT. As in the case of my choice for a
vocalist on Kashmir, for Gallows Pole I instinctively knew that this
song was a perfect vehicle for Kevin to sing on. Most people only
associate Kevin with a very aggressive vocal style and no one really
knows that Kevin can also sing strongly in lower registers. Kevin did an
amazing vocal on this track and was able to cross between the lower
register of the intro and verses and then kick it into high gear for the
chorus section. I am really proud of the vocals Kevin did on this one
even though he thought it to be the wrong song for him to sing. In the
end, he was the right and only choice.
10. CUSTARD PIE - 4:11
Chas West/Vocals - Bill Leverty/Guitar
Listen to an Audio Sample of Custard Pie
I didn't know Chas very well prior to asking him to sing on this track,
but I knew of his work in the Jason Bonham band and especially his
experience at singing some of the Led Zeppelin classics. He was the
obvious choice for this track because he could interpret the lyrics
where the written words are far different than the sung words as was the
case in the original. He did a wonderful version of this vocal. Another
new friend.
Bill is likely one of the most underrated and one of the most deserving
of recognition. I've had the pleasure of knowing Bill for a number of
years through a lot of dates that Firehouse has done with QUIET RIOT.
Bill's guitar talents are boundless and endless. I was very happy to
invite Bill to play on this track and he really brought a lot of life
and passion into the track and particularly the solo section. He was
also able to double some of Tony Franklin's bass riffs on the vamp
section solo at the end of the track. Bill is also another wonderful
person as well and a good friend.
11. WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS - 9:06
The 24/7 Overture- Levee Guest Vocalist: Joan Fraley
Listen to an Audio Sample of When the Levee Breaks
This particular piece was really a wonderful fun adventure. While is
starts with the iconic John Bonham drum groove and also ends with that
same theme, the center section is a group of edits of all the tracks
that came before it on this recording. Neil Citron did a masterful job
at editing all the selected sections and in a sequence that made sense
because they were all done in real time. That is to say, we did not
alter the tempo from track to track to make the edits work, it is all as
the tracks where recorded in the original tempo for each. Neil weaves
editing magic and this track is a testament to his talents behind the
board.
Joan Fraley is a truly great local California but a somewhat unknown
talent. She is a bona fide blues based bass player and vocalist. It was
really wonderful to have her sing on When The Levee Breaks because she
brought the vocal style of Robert Plant to the track while not
sacrificing her laid back vocal sensibility. I really think that her
vocal is as good as any of the great vocalists that are on this record.
12. (THEY WERE) THE EYE OF GOD - 4:04
Frankie Banali/Drums & Hand Percussion
Neil Citron//Guitar/Bass/Keys/Stringed Instruments
Listen to an Audio Sample of (They Were) The Eye
of God
(They Were) The Eye Of God was a title that I think captures a little
bit of the spirit of the Led Zeppelin phenomena that continues still
today, and I hope that the listener will understand that this song pays
homage to Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and the late great
John Henry Bonham.
This is a very special instrumental track. Before recording this song
Neil and I discussed at length what some of the musical qualities that
made Led Zeppelin so unique. Things like that wonderful John Bonham drum
sound and feel, the different colors brought into the songs by the
keyboards of John Paul Jones and also the chord structure and tunings of
Jimmy Page. I also wanted to bring in a little of the "world music"
influences of some of the later Robert Plant recordings by using a rain
stick, shakers, djembe and doumbek hand drums as well as subtle use of a
mandolin and synth to this track. We hoped to capture just a little of
the elements that make Led Zeppelin's music so unique, but did not try
to write a purely "Led Zeppelin" type of song.
So, why do a Led Zeppelin tribute CD? Because it's music
worth remembering and honoring. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul
Jones and John Bonham have left the world a musical legacy that is to me
unequaled and unparalleled.
Personally, a lot has been said about John Henry Bonham. To me, John
Bonham as a man was human, John Bonham as a drummer is immortal. These
recordings are dedicated to his memory with love and respect. God Bless
you Mr. Bonham. |
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