Led Zeppelin SUGAR MAMA ("Led Zeppelin" Outtake@Olympic Studios, London, October 1968) (Drum Improv)

Before the Scandinavia in late summer early fall '68, the group took part in a recording session for the "P.J. Proby" LP "Three Week Hero"(released April 8, ‘69).The LP's track "Jim's Blues", with Plant on harmonica, was the 1st studio track to feature all 4 members of what was to become as "Led Zeppelin"."Led Zeppelin" completed the Scandinavian tour as "The New Yardbirds" playing together for the first time in front of a live audience@"Gladsaxe Teen Club", Gladsaxe, Denmark, on Sept 7 '68.The band presented their compositions "I Can't Quit You Baby", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", "Communication Breakdown", "Dazed and Confused", "How Many More Times", and "You Shook Me" in their early dates before brought into the studio."The New Yardbirds" recruited into "Olympic Studios" on Sept 25, '68 at 11pm(+Oct '68)to record their debut LP "Led Zeppelin", done in about 30hrs remained on charts for 73 weeks).Jimmy Page changed the band name from "The New Yardbirds" to "Led Zeppelin" after signing with "Atlantic Records" in '68 with band manager Peter Grant."Led Zeppelin" unfavorable by critics in the early years for their LOUD BOMBASTIC SOUND in clubs!The BRITISH GROUP CLOSING THE '60'S WITH A NEW EXPLOSIVE SHOCK WAVE OF HARD ROCK."LZ" BRANCHING OUT to other STYLES OF MUSIC besides the HEAVY ROCK PSYCHEDELIC sound such as BLUES, FOLK, FUNK, CLASSICAL, and EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF JAZZ with "Bonzo's" light touch of swing in his playing(plays behind the beat).Jimmy Page provided a powerful LP with placing of mics to create a huge ambient reverb sound which would make all the instruments and Robert Plant's powerful vocals STRONG/BIG and not so boxy or muted such as the sounds bands were doing in the '60's.Jimmy experimented with reverse echo and massive reverb on the LP."Sugar Mama" was a rejected/outtake song that did not make the cut on the debut "Led Zeppelin"(released Jan 12, '69 U.S./March 31, '69)for some reason and never made it on any other LZ LP not until "Coda" reissue in 2015."Coda" originally released Nov 26, '82 without "Sugar Mama".The origins of the song is a bit confusing but artist affiliated with the song were Tampa Red, Sonny Boy Williamson I, and Tommy McClennan, John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf.Different versions recorded in 1934 such as "Sugar Mama Blues" by Tampa Red, "Sugar Farm Blues", "Sugar Mama No. 1", recorded May 12, '34, "Sugar Mama Blues No. 2", recorded March 23, '34.Led Zeppelin was notorious for getting in on the act and claiming their own versions and making their way to fame.Their version probably sell'd more anyway LOL!According to research their version was based on the Sonny Boy Williamson I version.Ironically Sonny Boy recorded his version(May 5, '37)the day before the Hindenburg disaster May 6, '37.This version is slightly different than the "Coda" version as the fills are different.This song was recorded in the same session as "Baby Come On Home".Bonzo's dexterity on the bass drum was a real busy challenge on this song as it was in the early days.HAD MY ANKLE BROKEN WHEN DONE!I still could not play it as clean as I wished!NO, Bonham is not using 2 bass drums.JB most likely playing a BLUE SPARKLE(according to John's son Jason Bonham)Slingerland kit in '68 with LZ(22, 13, 16, Zildjian+Zyn cymbals)with a Ludwig Superphonic snare.MANY YEARS it was BELIEVED to be a GREEN SPARKLE, after seeing colorized pictures by a photographer/journalist.Even talk it was a GREEN SPARKLE LUDWIG KIT(NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE ONE PURCHASED IN MID '70).It was not the Ludwig Thermogloss kit on debut!The Slingerland kit was used from summer of '68-Dec '68.Late '68-early Jan '69(1st US tour)Bonham seen with a Ludwig Super Classic Black Diamond Pearl Kit(22,13,16,16)with a chrome Gene Krupa Sound King Slingerland snare.I do have my electric kit tuned up to as close as possible to John's Slingerland kit used on the debut LP sessions.John Bonham born 5/31/48 in Redditch Worcestershire, England and began playing drums at age 5!Making his kit out of plastic containers and coffee tins and was influenced by the big band jazz drummers like Buddy Rich, Max Roach, and Gene Krupa.No lessons but JB was skilled to play in grammar school bands such as "Gerry Levene & the Avengers."!According to John’s brother Mick his mother said “It was just a phase John was going through and he’d grow out of it.”JB worked for his father as a carpenter after leaving "Lodge Farm Secondary Modern School" in '64.He played in an early band called the "Senators" and recorded a single with the group called "She's a Mod" in '64.JB said "I went into the trade with my dad(carpentry)."He had a building business and I use to like it.""But drumming was the only thing I was really any good at." Led Zeppelin Robert Plant–lead vocal Jimmy Page–electric guitars with Leslie Speaker John Paul Jones–bass organ John Bonham–drums Gear RolandmicroCubeGXAmp(Reverb/JCClean) RolandTDK-4PV-Drums LudwigSpeedKing VicFirthSD4Combos BossGE-7Equalizer ZeppelinT's

Added 17 Jun 2026