Dazed and confused (Led Zeppelin) (LP 2978 - 2991)

Led Zeppelin  Led Zeppelin (CD and vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1968) *****  

Led Zeppelin  Led Zeppelin II (CD and vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1969) ****  

Led Zeppelin  Led Zeppelin III (CD and vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1970) *****  

Led Zeppelin  Led Zeppelin IV (four symbols) (CD and vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1971) *****  

Led Zeppelin  BBC Sessions (CD, Atlantic Records, 1997) ***** 

Led Zeppelin  House of the Holy (vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1973) ** 

Led Zeppelin  Physical Graffiti (CD and vinyl, Swan Song Records, 1975) ****  

Various  Physical Graffiti Redrawn (CD, Mojo Magazine, 2015) *** 

Led Zeppelin  Presence (CD and vinyl, Swan Song Records, 1976) **** 

Led Zeppelin  In Through the Out Door (vinyl, Swan Song Records, 1979) *** 

Led Zeppelin  Coda (vinyl, Swan Song Records, 1982) ****   

Jimmy Page Robert Plant  No Quarter (CD, Fontana Records, 1994) ***

Various  Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (CD, WEA Records, 1995) ***  

Led Zeppelin  Celebration Day (CD and DVD, Swan Song Records, 2012) ****  

Genre: Rock

Places I remember: CD's from The Warehouse; vinyl - LZ, II, IV DJ Records in Otahuhu, III - music shop in Onehunga Mall, House of The Holy - David Jones Dept Store Sydney, Physical Graffiti - St Lukes' music store, PG Redrawn - Mojo Magazine, Presence/ In through The Out Door/ Coda - Marbecks Records; No Quarter/ Encomium - Hope's Collection; Celebration Day - JB Hi-Fi.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: How Many Times (LZ); Black Dog (IV)

Gear costume: Out On The Tiles (III), Archilles Last Stand (Presence)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: Hunker down! I have a lot of albums by this band as they were a teenage obsession for me - one of the first bands that felt like mine and mine alone. 

Led Zeppelin III was my first taste, then the four symbols album, then I needed to back track to the debut and LZ II. By then I was gone-burger.

Led Zeppelin's debut album came out in 1968! I still find that a remarkable fact. It sounds so fresh and so damned heavy! And it's 1968!! I have touched on this album before in the blog, but it needs repeating - this is a remarkably assured debut album by Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and two relative newbies - John Bonham and Robert Plant.

Every song on it is a classic and it holds up. I still get a visceral thrill out of songs like Good Times Bad Times and How Many Times.

I played Led Zeppelin II a lot in the early seventies. It has some classic songs on it - Whole Lotta Love, The Lemon Song, and Ramble On all still retain their magic. For me, it is an uneven album though, with some songs not of the same standard as those three. And it has Bonzo's solo vehicle - Moby Dick, on it.

Led Zeppelin III was, as I said, my introduction to the band back in 1971. There was a copy for sale in a music store in Onehunga that I used to visit when my mum was shopping there. I was fascinated by the cover and I must have read about the band already in Sounds. So I bought it (remember this is back in the day when I saved and scrutinised music magazines, so a purchase was a special event).

I was gob smacked! The Immigrant Song still thrills me (the opening tracks on the first four albums are all killers). The rest of the album fires along either on beds of acoustic guitars or an almost punk attitude (Bonzo's drumming is exceptional on Out on the Tiles) or else exotic sounds. It is like no other record ever. The production on this 5-star classic album is unparalleled.

I can still feel the thrill of getting home from school and seeing their fourth album, a.k.a. four symbols or four runes, on my bed where dad had left it for me (having bought it for me from DJ Records, close to where he worked in Otahuhu). 

Black Dog remains a favourite all these years later. Putting the needle down on it still charges me up and transports me back to my 13-year-old self. I turn this one up really loud! 

The album is yet another 5-star classic - every track is a masterclass in heavy blues rock. Plus, it has Stairway To Heaven on it - one of their most popular songs.

The BBC Sessions double CD shows the band off as a brilliant live act. They adapt songs for the live setting with great effect and given they are, like The Who, a power trio with an awesome singer, they make one heck of a racket.

Special mention to Robert Plant - he really is good isn't he! He has his lemon squeezed well and truly throughout these 1969 live sessions for Top Gear and other BBC sources on CD1 and the live in London 1971 set on CD2. Remarkable music and a must listen!

In 1973 our family made a trip to Sydney and, naturally, I had a shopping list with me (Moody Blues and Deep Purple were on it too). I was super excited to buy Houses of the Holy but when I got it home in Auckland, I was really disappointed. I still struggle to connect with a lot of this album. It sounds too light and flimsy to me.

It certainly doesn't pack the brutal wallop of IV or the earthiness of III, or the superior blues rock of I. Instead, Robert's singing and Jimmy's tone is higher, or else they are experimenting with different textures. They obviously needed to get this out of their system because the next album was back to their core strengths.

Physical Graffiti is a sprawling double album that I think would have been a killer single. These days they would have put it out with an album of outtakes. There are some great moments on it, but I struggle to listen to it all the way.

The great moments: The Rover; Trampled Underfoot; Kashmir; Down by the Seaside (yes, a weird one, but I love it).

In 2015 Mojo Magazine put out Physical Graffiti Redrawn as a covermount CD - with various artists covering the album, and the disparate nature of the material is truly revealed. There are some great moments though: Blackberry Smoke's The Rover; Miraculous Mule's In My Time Of Dying; Max Jury's Down by the Seaside.

I still looked forward to Presence, and my faith was rewarded big time. The first track of each side - Achilles Last Stand and Nobody's Fault But Mine are jaw-droppingly awesome (they inspire awe so this is appropriate). Wow.

The rest of the album is close to that standard too. Bonzo is in full flight and the whole band is in top form to help him out - plus the material is there.

In Through The Out Door was their final studio effort from 1979. Bonzo died in 1980 and his death killed the band as a recording unit as well. 

In Through The Out Door is dominated by John Paul Jones and isn't as strong as previous albums with the exception of Houses Of The Holy, of course. Instead, the keyboard heavy sound is dense but lacks the presence of Presence in terms of crispness.

Coda, especially on side 1, is a much better swan song than Out Door (sorry). Bonzo is brilliant, Robert's vocals are superb, Jimmy is sublime and JPJ is at his most supportive over these tracks ranging from We're Gonna Groove 1969 to songs from 1978. Side 2 isn't as interesting but great to have as a historic document.

Jimmy and Robert reunited for the MTV UnLedded project (JPJ was apparently unaware of the project and not invited in any case). 

The programme (and this album) was recorded live in Morocco, Wales and London and features interesting LZ covers done in an unplugged fashion, plus some new songs with a Moroccan string band and some Egyptian musicians. It all jells brilliantly. 

Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin is uneven obviously - as with all of these kinds of cover albums. Hootie and the Blowfish do a great Hey Hey What Can I Do (an obscure B side that I've written about before) but none of these versions improve on the originals, mainly because they keep to the original arrangement in most instances.

BTW: Robert Plant and LZ fangirl Tori Amos tackle Down By The Seaside and go for a gothic feel which doesn't work IMHO.

And, deep breath, that's it. Some lows but some cracking highs make up the LZ catalogue. What's that? Oh - you're welcome!

Where do they all belong? I'm not a completist for the band so I haven't bothered with a few of the live albums released post Bonzo, except for the 2007 Albert Hall gig - Celebration Day, with Jason Bonham, which I've written about before. Oh, and a DVD of The Song Remains The Same film. My ears are still ringing from watching that in the movies with Greg Knowles back in the day. Brother, it was LOUD!

The hammer of the gods (Led Zeppelin) #196

Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love; Good Times Bad Times/ Immigrant Song; Hey Hey What Can I Do (Atlantic EP, EP A 220, 1973)

Led Zep were THE band to follow in the early seventies at my school. They were cool as heckfire.

They were an album band - they didn't rely on singles and they didn't need their name on albums (or even album names!). COOL!

This extended play is weird then - coming out in NZ in 1973 - the same year they were releasing Houses Of The Holy. It contains songs from the band's first three albums (1968 to 1970) and a B side from 1970 (the only non album song released during the band's existence).

The two A siders are stone cold classics. Good Times indeed!

Hidden gem: Hey Hey What Can I do began life as a B side to Immigrant Song so it's fitting that it's paired with that song here. 

Immigrant Song was the first Led Zeppelin song I heard and fell in love with (having bought Led Zeppelin III from a shop in Onehunga in 1970, IS is side one, track one).

Hey Hey... is a great track. It wouldn't have been out of place on LZ III so clearly it's a case of an embarrassment of riches. Bonham's drums, Jone's bass and Page's guitar are utterly distinctive and Plant's vocals are superb. 

Carry me back, carry me back (Led Zeppelin)

The Led Zep reunion concert at the O2 from 2007 is finally out on CD and DVD in 379 different formats. That might be a conservative estimate - it's probably nearer 3,790 different formats.

It's called Celebration Day.

I bought the double CD and single DVD version in a CD size case for 20 bucks. Pretty good deal huh?

The package is pretty spiffy I must say. The DVD especially brings the reunion to permanent life.

I love the way Led Zep play on stage. They all cluster around the drum riser like a real band and play looking at each other like a real band. They've played so much together they could stand 30 metres apart like other bands do, without a hitch, but I love that they don't.

Jimmy Page is the epitome of guitar cool, Robert Plant is still the epitome of a rock god vocalist, John Paul Jones is still the ace of bass and Jason Bonham is his father's son.

Favourites? Phew - tough to single anything out but the version of Kashmir is a fitting climax to the set list before the encores (Robert Plant in particular is in mighty voice) and Rock and Roll, the last song, is all you want the song to be and Jason Bonham's impassioned drumming is awesome!

An great concert by a great band. Haven't bought it yet? Why not?

Good times bad times, you know I've had my share (Led Zeppelin)

I felt like something loud to jolt me awake today. Go to album on these occasions is invariably something by Led Zep.

The first one is amazing. It rocks like a beast.

Good Times Bad Times kicks it all off in a powerful rock way.

Given it was recorded in 1968 by Jimmy Page and band (after The Yardbirds deserted him and Led Zep had started life as The New Yardbirds) it is amazingly unlike the Yardbirds in feel and execution. Clearly a work of vision.

What else was around at the time of construction? The Beatles double album called The Beatles on the sleeve but known as The White Album for evermore and Hendrix' Electric Ladyland were in a masterclass of their own. Led Zeppelin joins them for my money.

My old vinyl copy has been played so much there are a few scratches at unfortunate times so I have had to buy CD replacements. For today's session I needed that wonderful clunk as the needle hits the record and a bit of familiar hiss introduces this mighty opening track.

Which side are you on? (Billy Bragg)

I've posted before about my theories regarding The Beatles and The Velvet Underground being polar opposites. Musical tastes are derived from one or the other source (the Wozza theory).

The press often likes to play up a rivalry between bands.

The Beatles vs Stones line of thinking never gained much traction and was bogus anyway. Even though John and Paul gave them a really lame song to record (I Wanna Be Your Man) they still actually liked the Stones and weren't in competition with them. They were plowing different fields.

As are bands generally. They are all trying to carve out a niche for themselves.

From time to time competitions like the graphic below are set up to get music fans who are passionate about 'their band' to duke it out.

It's kinda fun if kinda pointless.

I tried the one above because it includes Nu Zild and aussie bands. It's a weird list that includes some classic bands like The Rolling Stones, Nirvana and Led Zeppelin but there are no Beatles, The Who, Oasis etc etc etc.

Anyway it pitches similar rock bands against each other. So suddenly it's Pink Floyd vs Deep Purple!! Soundgarden vs Smashing Pumpkins!! Tough calls.

In the end my quarter finalists for the above list were: Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, U2, Metallica, Tool, Bruce Springsteen, Smashing Pumpkins.

Semi finalists: Led Zep, Stones, Bruce and Tool.

Finalists: Led Zep vs Bruce.

Champ: Led Zeppelin

See - silly but fun. Give it a go.

I feel like letting my freak flag fly (CSNY)

Leading on from that weird Placibo cover - Sleeping With Ghosts - the next cover theme features similar freakily surreal worlds.

Pink Floyd - Division Bell

ELP - Brain Salad Surgery

Led Zeppelin - 4th album

Pink Floyd - Meddle

Pink Floyd - Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy

Paul McCartney

Expert texpert

My last post hinted at a long history of reading about music. I think it started with a great NZ music paper from the 1970s - 'Groove'. I have clippings from the time - Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Beach Boys, Beatles, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep (sadly yes - I had a thing for the Heep - Very 'Eavy/Very 'Umble and Demons and Wizards were early acquisitions). During the 70's I also collected the UK's 'Sounds' weekly. Lots of great articles and posters - Pink Floyd, Yes, and others were diligently clipped and put into scrapbooks. The 80s were a bit barren - the occasional 'Rolling Stone', 'Circus' and 'Crawdaddy' but there wasn't any weekly or monthly that I actually collected. It was more a case of whatever was on the cover drew my attention. This was until I went into a bookshop in St Lukes in the mid 1990s and saw 'Mojo' magazine The first cover I saw was of Howling Wolf. Um...eh??? Howling Wolf!!!!! This was a monthly that captured my heart and I've collected every copy since. I am the demographic - guys in their late 40s, early 50s who collected 'Sounds' and 'Groove' in their teenage years. And yes it is mainly guys. Go into Real Groovy and count the ratio of grey haired men to women of any age. Particularly if you just concentrate on the vinyl bins.

The latest Mojo had that feature on Ry Cooder I mentioned in the previous post. My top five Cooder albums:
5 Chicken Skin Music - Ry does Tex Mex and it's brill.
4 Boomer's Story - Another fantastic collection of songs. Stand outs - 'Dark end of the street' and 'Rally 'round the flag'.
3 The Border - 'Across the borderline' is one of Ry's best - it appears on at least 2 different albums with different lead singers. This one with Freddy Fender (yes that Freddy Fender) is sublime.
2 Into The Purple Valley - Every song is great and where else will you hear 'FDR in Trinidad'?
1 Showtime - one of the greatest live albums ever - deduct a point for the first song being a studio recording (even tho 'School is out' is a great song).

Looking at the showtime cover I realise that I particularly love vinyl covers that have no title attached of the artist or album title. Showtime has Ry on stage in what looks like a club setting with a weak spotlight on him. He's smiling (make no mistake - this is feelgood music - even when he's playing depression era songs like 'How can a poor man stand such times and live' and 'Dark end of the street'). A poster stuck to the wall is the only hint this is Ry's album and even then Flaco Jiminez's name is equally readable.

My top 5 album covers without title look like this:

5 Wings - Wild Life - Paul in the water with his best innocent pose. Band perched on a tree branch - great picture.
4 Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy - wow - I still remember the thrill of buying this in Sydney. The cover is better than the music inside!
3 The Beatles - Hey Jude - a collection of singles for the US market in 1970 was one of my Christmas presents in 1970. The cover is taken from the last publicity shots taken of the fabs - at John's place - Tittenhurst. They look terrific!
2 John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band - the one with Yoko and John under a tree at Tittenhurst. A fantastic picture - restful and at peace - nothing like the music inside. The Yoko picture reverses the position of the two under the tree.
1 Beatles - Abbey Road - an iconic portrait that needs no words.

Finally - sad news about Phil Spector. I like his mix of Let it Be (rather than Macca's naked attempt) and he deserves credit for the awesome simple sound he got on John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. He's always been weird I guess and the various stories over the years don't paint him as a rational genius I'm afraid. On the news clips he looks like he hasn't got a clue what's going on! Very sad.