CD INFORMATION AND REVIEWS
RSM RECORDS | LOS ANGELES, CA | 10/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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.
-- 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 "Scream" 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.
ORIGINAL CONTENT AT: http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/Interviews07/247365.htm
1. The Wanton Song - Alex Ligertwood (Santana): Vocals - Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake): Guitar.
2. Four Sticks - Glenn Hughes (Black Sabbath/Deep Purple): Vocals - Steve Fister (Lita Ford): Guitar - Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot): Drums/Djembe/Doumbek- Neil Citron (Hero): Keyboards.
3. Kashmir - Don Dokken (Dokken): Vocals - Michael Lardie (Night Ranger/Great White): Keyboards - Steve Fister: Guitar.
4. Out On The Tiles - Robin McCauley (Michael Schenker/MSG): Vocals - Reb Beach (Winger/Whitesnake): Guitar.
5. Ramble On - Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt/Quiet Riot): Vocals - Steve Fister: Guitar.
6. The Ocean - Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen): Vocals - Bruce Kulick (Kiss): Guitar.
7. The Immigrant Song - Bobby Kimball (Toto): Vocals - Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses/Rockstar: Supernova): Guitar.
8. Royal Orleans - Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen/Talisman/Soul SirkUS): Vocals - Gilby Clarke: Guitar.
9. Gallows Pole - Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot): Vocals - Steve Fister: Guitar/ Mandolin /Banjo.
10. Custard Pie - Chas West (Bonham): Vocals - Bill Leverty (Firehouse): Guitar.
11. When The Levee Breaks - The 24/7 Overture- Levee Guest Vocalist: Joan Fraley.
12. (They Were) The Eye Of God - Frankie Banali: Drums & Hand Percussion - Neil Citron: Guitar/Bass/Keys/Stringed Instruments.
Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali set out on a mission to pay homage to Led Zeppelin and the man who inspired him to play drums, John Bonham. Frankie gathered an all star line up of guitar players and vocalists, called his buddy Tony Franklin to help out on bass and made what is, hands down, the best tribute to Led Zeppelin every recorded. One of the things that makes this so special is that Banali choose the perfect track listing for diehard Zep fans. Instead of releasing all the tracks that everyone else would release, Frankie choose to dig deep into the Zep catalog and pay tribute to some great songs that are not heard everyday on classic rock radio. "The Wanton Song," "Four Sticks," "The Ocean," "Royal Orleans" and "Custard Pie" are all amazing examples of Led Zeppelin's virtuosity and well rounded vocabulary. Banali reminds the listener that this band was way more than "Stairway to Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love." The result is that one gets to hear new versions of Zep tunes they are not already sick of.
Frankie hand picked the vocalist to fit the song. Don Dokken was slated for "Kashmir" while band mate Kevin Dubrow tacked "Gallows Pole." Glenn Hughes sings like a maniac possessed on "Four Sticks" and Mark Boals delivers big on "The Ocean." Not to be forgotten are some excellent guitar performances by Doug Aldridge of Whitesnake on "The Wanton Song," Bruce Kulick on "The Ocean," Gilby Clarke on "Royal Orleans" and "The Immigrant Song" and Bill Leverty on "Custard Pie." The songs are made true to Zeppelin's vision yet they have the mark of those who are playing on them. It is not a note-for-note reproduction but you will be amazed at how this group of musicians were able to duplicate the sounds and spirit of these classic songs.
"When the Levee Breaks" includes edits from all the songs in the middle performed by what Banali coined The 24/7 Overture. Words can't describe this song and suffice it to say it is a cool surprise for the listener when it comes up. Lastly, "(They Were) The Eye of God" is an original tune written by Banali with guitarist Neal Citron that shows Frankie's love of the band. Perhaps there is not a more fitting tribute to Bonham and Zeppelin than this track. Banali and Citron show their influence for the band within the framework of an original tune.
In the end, this is not what one thinks of when they hear the word 'tribute.' This is not just a bunch of musicians doing something for a quick buck so some businessman can market the brand name Led Zeppelin for money. This is a labor of love for Frankie Banali. The attention to detail proves to be the winner here. Banali painstakingly set out to make a masterpiece dedicated to his heroes. He succeeded. Do yourself a favor and visit www.frankie-banali.com and pick up a copy of 24/7/365 today.
-- Jeb Wright
ORIGINAL REVIEW AT: http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/reviews/Reviews_07/frankiebanali.htm
Album Review 2007
24/7/365: The Tribute To Led Zeppelin - Frankie Banali & Friends
Genre: Covers/Tribute
Review By: Jere
The Rundown
It's almost hard to believe that in the contemporary music scene when you take an in-depth look at it you won't find any artists, bands, or musicians that can live up to the epic legacy that Led Zeppelin were able to create in history of music. Now don't get me wrong there are some great acts out there nowadays but even this day in age you won't find a band out there that will be able to be endure as long as and still remain popular as ever. Times have changed and the industry has changed as well. Gone are the days of actually giving bands the chance to build a career and for a group the likes of Zeppelin they weren't a smash success right out of the gate. It was albums like Led Zeppelin III and IV that made that band such a massive entity in rock genre. I mean for me there hasn't been a band that was more instrumental in giving birth to the arena rock era than Led Zeppelin and I'm sure there are many of you out there that will agree with me with this statement. It doesn't matter who you are or what musical background you come from Zeppelin were/are a band that have gone on to influence millions of people and you can't go that far into the industry without finding one artist or another that wasn't influenced by their incredible ability to hone their craft with musicianship that embraced various forms including blues, folk, country, soul, reggae, rockabilly, jazz, and even classical into one sonic sound that was and forever will be hard rock at its very finest.
With the release of 24/7/365 famed Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali is the mastermind behind a tribute which was done in loving memory of the late great John Bonham and comes nearly 27 years after the drummer's tragic death. Even though John's life was cut far too short the legacy he has left behind with Led Zeppelin remains intact more than ever. If he knew just how powerful his influence would become on thousands of musicians, even to this very day, who knows what his reaction would be. Frankie Banali is one of those musicians that came from the classic era of rock 'n' roll and whose own dreams of being a musician was greatly influenced by Led Zeppelin's dominance. Now Frankie steps forward on this new project bringing along some friends and peers that shaped hard rock and heavy metal in the 1980s. Their goal was to take fans back to the magic that only Zeppelin could bring forth and while other musicians couldn't match Led Zeppelin in their unique style each and every artist featured on this album were focused on releasing a tribute that stay trued to the music but also brought all their styles together to show everyone who is interesting in listening why Led Zeppelin will forever remain one of the most dominant bands to come out of rock 'n' roll.
With enough talent on this entire album to bring legions of hard rock fans together Frankie Banali has taken all the right steps in doing a very moving tribute to Zeppelin. Will 24/7/365 manage to capture all fans in the same vein that Led Zeppelin did? Or will the results be cast aside as just another tribute to a legendary band that every artist has at one time or another covered? One can never tell but sometimes when a wide array of musicians come together to show their talents by paying tribute to those that shaped and changed the music industry altogether the results could end up being the definitive thank you for the sacrifices that Led Zeppelin made.
+'s (Positives)
+ A Moving Tribute Done Right: This is such a dangerous territory to explore since it is basically a tribute album to the material everyone knows. It doesn't matter how well a tribute album is recorded, if the guitars and the vocals work together in bringing new life into classic material, and the production is done with crystal clear precision you simply can't touch the originals. I don't think Frankie or any of the rest of this all-star cast went into the project with that intent. However they did want to make sure to record a fitting tribute that all Zeppelin fans could admire and in my opinion they have just done that. This isn't just one band or artist or musician going and saying "Well I'm a fan of Led Zeppelin and here are my versions of their songs..." instead listeners get an entire album of rock stars bringing a wide variety of unique influences to the recording sessions and that is what makes 24/7/365 an exciting tribute album. The fact that each singer and guitarist was influenced in different ways by Zeppelin is brought out by their performances but they also make sure not to stray away from the original form that made these songs so timeless. There is always a right way and a wrong way to approach an album such as this and I'm happy to say that Frankie Banali has done a top notch job here with a final product that not only would make John Bonham proud but I think it would also impress Robert, Jimmy, and John Paul Jones as well.
+ Wide Array Of Guests: This is a who's who of some of the biggest rock stars of the last 20 + years. If you're a fan of hard rock and heavy metal there should be a majority of names you're familiar with. My hats off to Frankie Banali as I would also thank him for doing this as he went and collected a lot of his friends (and who knew he had so many) to contribute not only their prominently known reputations to this effort but they come into this project with plenty of experience. Who better to pay tribute to Led Zeppelin than musicians who can actually both embrace the material and perform and play it the way its meant to be heard since there are simply no session musicians here. Instead listeners get a tribute like no other.
-'s (Negatives)
- Still Remains A Tribute: Ok first off I'm not complaining here if you've been paying attention to this site this year whenever a tribute/covers album comes our way the defenses go up. This is because its not original material and most of the times it's an easy project to do. I would say this album is an exception to the rule that shows when the proper methods are taken the results can still leave an impact on the listener. All-Star tributes have an advantage to them since there is a wide array of artists contributing their artistic talent to this disc. It's hard to ignore the names involved and even if you are have the same views on tribute/cover albums I'd recommend taking the chance here as while the material will constantly remain familiar it's great to hear some of rock's biggest names try their hand at it.
- Several Key Tracks Missing: This being a Led Zeppelin tribute I have a couple minor criticisms with the album mainly focusing on the track selection. Again these are just minor observations but I felt that this release could of used a version of Stairway To Heaven (despite its long playing time I feel you can't pay tribute to Zeppelin properly without it) as well as tracks like Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog. I would of loved to hear vocalists the likes of Kevin Dubrow or Glenn Hughes or even Paul Shortino try their hand at either one of those tracks. All three of those singers definitely shine on this tribute and maybe it would be a tough challenge to live up to since those Zeppelin songs are classics for a good reason but in the end it would of been interesting outcome. Other than that I felt the track list is a good representation of the Zeppelin catalogue and those who give this tribute album a chance should be pleased with final product.
Overall
With September well under way it is safe to assume that 2007 might go down as the year of the tribute/cover album. Nine months in and the latest tribute album to come our way is the fifth review for this particular release. Upon first receiving the press release from Frankie Banali I had my initial reservations towards this latest tribute but after taking a look at who Banali got to play on it I became quite interested on how the release would end up sounding altogether. When it comes to tribute albums all it takes is one visit to Frankie's website and a look through the discography section to see that he is not a novice when it comes to a project the likes of this. Another thing that really caught my interest here is that Frankie is pretty much the guy who led the charge to do this tribute and after the accolades he has achieved in the last year with the release of the latest Quiet Riot album, Rehab, if there was anyone who could be the driving force behind this undertaking in my opinion there was no better pick than Frankie Banali. Coming from an observer's standpoint this was no easy task to pull off as this is after all Led Zeppelin here folks, it takes a certain amount of credibility to pull off recording versions of material that continues to define the very emphasis of what rock 'n' roll is all about. The one essential thing that you have to remember is if you're an artist and you want to paint a landscape you have to make sure that you have all the proper tools and lets not forget a wide array of colors to bring enthusiam into your art.
As for the artists who paint the landscape they definitely use the best of their abilities to paint a picture that all can take in and enjoy. I think the most distinguishing feature about 24/7/365 is the fact that this is a tribute that was done with musicians that all come from that classic rock era and more importantly they were the generation that were most directly influenced by Led Zeppelin. That alone plays a very big part and I don't think I could see any of today's biggest rock acts being able to pull off a tribute such as this. I'm not saying that any mainstream artist couldn't release a Zeppelin tribute as the results would undoubtedly make for an interesting listen however I don't really think the emotion of the performances would have the same effect. Perhaps the best example of that is the vocalists who appear on the album whether it be Alex Ligerwood, Glenn Hughes, Don Dokken, Mark Boals, Bobby Kimball, Kevin Dubrow, or Chas West (just to name a few) each one of those singers have a high vocal range which thanks in part to their hard rock/heavy metal background they can reach back and belt out vocals that have a bit of Robert Plant influence to them. On the contrary each one of those vocalists are not Robert Plant and use all their own unique approaches to flesh out their interpretations of those tracks. A primary example of that would be Don Dokken's performance on Kashmir as he did a good job on it yet there were a few parts that were considerably noticeable where he couldn't hit those signature Plant wails simply because no one is able to reproduce that voice no matter who you are.
Taking a look at the guitarists who have the challenging task of playing the riffs that Jimmy Page made so famous the line-up is as solid as any classic rock fan would come to expect. Seven virtuosos are able to play this material in a way that has long been forgotten whether it's Doug Aldrich's assertive playing on The Wanton Song or Bruce Kulick's soulfully memorizing technique on The Ocean the whole album features consistent playing that have made each and everyone of these guitarists legends in their own right. I found what made it an enjoyable listen is the way that each and every guitarist featured interpreted the song into his own manner of playing. For example Firehouse's Bill Leverty took on Custard Pie in a way that when you first hear him tear it up you can tell its him yet to hear him playing in the Jimmy Page style was interesting since I've never heard him pay tribute to a guitar god such as Jimmy Page. For all you guitar enthusiasts out there pay attention to the riffs of Steve Fister (best known for his work with Lita Ford) as his playing is featured all over this release. Fister is pretty much the star of the album when it comes to laying down those signature riffs that every Zeppelin fan have come to know and love.
I stated above that a project the likes of this is dangerous territory to explore but I can't help liking the way this latest tribute release was done. It won't appeal to everyone out there I'm pretty certain of that. On the other hand if you're a fan of the artists involved and want an accurate tribute to Led Zeppelin I don't think you'll have to look any further. I honestly couldn't think of anyone better to pay tribute to Zeppelin and considering that the remaining members of Led Zeppelin are joining forces with John Bonham's son, Jason, for a benefit gig for Ahmet Ertegün's education fund, in November, further ignites the hope that Zeppelin will do at least one final tour.
24/7/365 is a reminder that no matter what happens in the music industry, whether good or bad, the music of Led Zeppelin will continue to live on forever and with this fitting tribute to a band that revolutionized rock 'n' roll to remind us all of just how powerful the songs are chances are you will not find a better one anytime soon.
[..]
"
More Than A Tribute!!!!
M. LeTellier | Ringgold, GA | 09/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is more than a tribute CD. Frankie Banali does a great job of incorporating the original song as Zep did it along with his own style; as well as, the styles of the other musicians involved. This is a fantastic example of what a tribute CD should be. It combines the original feeling of the songs with some fresh licks thrown in. Great job Frankie & friends!!!
Mark"
One song makes the album
D. Urstadt | Denver,CO | 12/28/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is about par for the course, as far as cover albums go. It could have included an extra Zep-standard or two, at least instead of the 'overture' which makes up most of When The Levee Breaks. To me, it's makes no sense to put in bits of all the other songs. Being a Dokken fan, I may be biased, but Don's version of Kashmir is absolutely phenomenal."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1