Let's have a Led Zeppelin evening!
- Thread starter Stanley Edwards
- Start date
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
My theory about British popular music in the early 70's is that everybody thought the giant classic/heavy rock bands (Stones/Who/Zepppelin/Purple/Heep) were where it was at but really it was the folk scene. (Ironically the two heavy bands who were dismissed at the time - Sabbath and Hawkwind - were the two who have really lasted well.) I like Custard Pie much as anyone, but really the rock scene was pretty tame. Certainly in comparison to the Germans. But also contrast with the folk scene from the austere beauty of Anne Briggs or Shirley and Dolly Collins to the sophistication of Bert Jansch or Davey Graham to the truly freaky like Comus or Jan Duke de Grey or the raw unbridled genius of the Incredible String Band. At certain points (mainly on the third album) Zeppelin looked like they were going to straddle these two worlds and revitalise the stale British rock scene.
So this is how I would like to remember Led Zeppelin. As one the Great British classic dinosaur folk bands.
It's not a great song but you can hear these elements coming together in 1969's Babe I'm Going to Leave You. The finger picking folk guitar the bluesy vocals and the explosions of rock bombast. However overblown and over long this song is, it's pretty fresh for its time. And the cover of Black Mountain Side [sic] demonstrate that they were trying to untap an esoteric connection between European folk and eastern traditions. Ramble On is closer to a fusion between the rock and folk elements. I don't think either side of this coin is particularly interesting but we're beginning to see a more country side to the band.
If there's one song that summarises the brilliance of the band it's Friends. You think you understand the band and then they drop this and it fits with nothing else. OK it's got these fairly typical folky acoustic guitar chops but then it has a chord progression that sounds positively Arabic and Plant's still doing his bluesy throat tearing vocals and yet it all works. What genre is this song? Where does it come from? It's short and sweet, it's weird and trippy. Also it doesn't outstay its welcome - you could almost call it restrained.
The second side of the third album is solid gold. First up you have a reworking of the Fred Gerlach/Leadbelly song Gallows Pole. It's an amazing song really and if anything Zeppelin's version is less exciting and busy than either of the two older versions, but they bring a sombre and subdued arrangement to the first verse which is something quite special and completely fitting with the song. (Of course they didn't give proper credits).
Tangerine gets the acoustic/electric switcheroo that they tried on Ramble On right. Starting with a little 12 string acoustic riff and adding some oldy worldy licks they then up it to an easy going electric country rock and then back to the folk and then just a little taste of guitar rock drama that threatens to break the spell but none of them are straining at the bit to thump out their typical rock bombast, it's just a sweet little tune that's happy for what it is. The different strands all come comfortably together without any fuss or fanfare.
That's the Way continues with the 12 string folky riffs with dreamy electric country slide guitar. And all of sudden Led Zeppelin seem to be part of the singer/songwriter boom with the focus on the vocals and a great little lyric. If Tangerine was subdued, we now have a country/folk song without any rock pretenses at all.
After all that seriousness you've got one of most fun songs ever made in Bron Y Aur Stomp. I'm even happy to hear Bonham thumping that bass drum again. We're now 100% acoustic with the guitars bouncy out a tune and Plant bluesing it up. I like to pretend that Friends is my favourite Led Zeppelin song, but really it's Bron Y Aur Stomp. There's not much to it, but it's just so good.
I regret looking up the lyrics to Hats off to Roy Harper. That's what he's saying - really? Oh dear. But now we're into country blues guitar territory with nods perhaps to Bukka White and maybe Son House (?). Messy, messy slide guitar with accidental dissonances. It's not particularly original but it gave me a taste for that sort of thing that I absolutely still have today. Bloody brilliant really.
It didn't make the album but appears on Physical Graffiti but there's also Bron Y Aur a solo folk guitar piece that I'm less excited by.
I only sniff at Led Zeppelin because they could have been so good. It's the frustration of it.
So this is how I would like to remember Led Zeppelin. As one the Great British classic dinosaur folk bands.
It's not a great song but you can hear these elements coming together in 1969's Babe I'm Going to Leave You. The finger picking folk guitar the bluesy vocals and the explosions of rock bombast. However overblown and over long this song is, it's pretty fresh for its time. And the cover of Black Mountain Side [sic] demonstrate that they were trying to untap an esoteric connection between European folk and eastern traditions. Ramble On is closer to a fusion between the rock and folk elements. I don't think either side of this coin is particularly interesting but we're beginning to see a more country side to the band.
If there's one song that summarises the brilliance of the band it's Friends. You think you understand the band and then they drop this and it fits with nothing else. OK it's got these fairly typical folky acoustic guitar chops but then it has a chord progression that sounds positively Arabic and Plant's still doing his bluesy throat tearing vocals and yet it all works. What genre is this song? Where does it come from? It's short and sweet, it's weird and trippy. Also it doesn't outstay its welcome - you could almost call it restrained.
The second side of the third album is solid gold. First up you have a reworking of the Fred Gerlach/Leadbelly song Gallows Pole. It's an amazing song really and if anything Zeppelin's version is less exciting and busy than either of the two older versions, but they bring a sombre and subdued arrangement to the first verse which is something quite special and completely fitting with the song. (Of course they didn't give proper credits).
Tangerine gets the acoustic/electric switcheroo that they tried on Ramble On right. Starting with a little 12 string acoustic riff and adding some oldy worldy licks they then up it to an easy going electric country rock and then back to the folk and then just a little taste of guitar rock drama that threatens to break the spell but none of them are straining at the bit to thump out their typical rock bombast, it's just a sweet little tune that's happy for what it is. The different strands all come comfortably together without any fuss or fanfare.
That's the Way continues with the 12 string folky riffs with dreamy electric country slide guitar. And all of sudden Led Zeppelin seem to be part of the singer/songwriter boom with the focus on the vocals and a great little lyric. If Tangerine was subdued, we now have a country/folk song without any rock pretenses at all.
After all that seriousness you've got one of most fun songs ever made in Bron Y Aur Stomp. I'm even happy to hear Bonham thumping that bass drum again. We're now 100% acoustic with the guitars bouncy out a tune and Plant bluesing it up. I like to pretend that Friends is my favourite Led Zeppelin song, but really it's Bron Y Aur Stomp. There's not much to it, but it's just so good.
I regret looking up the lyrics to Hats off to Roy Harper. That's what he's saying - really? Oh dear. But now we're into country blues guitar territory with nods perhaps to Bukka White and maybe Son House (?). Messy, messy slide guitar with accidental dissonances. It's not particularly original but it gave me a taste for that sort of thing that I absolutely still have today. Bloody brilliant really.
It didn't make the album but appears on Physical Graffiti but there's also Bron Y Aur a solo folk guitar piece that I'm less excited by.
I only sniff at Led Zeppelin because they could have been so good. It's the frustration of it.
Idris2002
Stay Alive in '25
Sandy Denny, innit.
Hollis
bloody furious
Zep 1 - Otis Rush
Zep 2 - Willie Dixon.
Per Mr Plant - good doc. on now on BBC4 "Robert Plant: By Myself" - comes across really well..
Idaho
blah blah blah
hash tag
Books, not bombs
I know it's not Zep, but not far removed and Page was on it 
. Is it what killed the Yardbirds and gave us Zep?
www.songfacts.com
en.wikipedia.org
. Is it what killed the Yardbirds and gave us Zep?Ha Ha Said the Clown by The Yardbirds - Songfacts
Ha Ha Said the Clown by The Yardbirds song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
www.songfacts.com
Little Games - Wikipedia
seeformiles
Lost in the wood
Thread only bumped because I want to check some of the above links tomorrow! 
seeformiles
Lost in the wood
I’ve got this on an import 7” vinyl, the B side of The Immigrant Song.
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seeformiles
Lost in the wood
I first heard it on the “New Age of Atlantic” compilation but later got the single (black & gold label iirc)
Exactly the same here, compilation album first and then dropped on the single, (red and black label) in the local Northern Soul record importers shop of all places.I first heard it on the “New Age of Atlantic” compilation but later got the single (black & gold label iirc)
hash tag
Books, not bombs
Thanks for the prod Siouxsie
Percy is on DiD on Sunday morning BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Robert Plant, singer and songwriter
He was on some programme chatting to Brain Johnson a while back; what a nice bloke. Pleased to see he is sticking with the music he wants to do
as opposed to appeasing Zep fans.
Mt first serious g/friend has a serious thing about him and those strangulated jeans
Percy is on DiD on Sunday morning BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Robert Plant, singer and songwriter
He was on some programme chatting to Brain Johnson a while back; what a nice bloke. Pleased to see he is sticking with the music he wants to do
as opposed to appeasing Zep fans.
Mt first serious g/friend has a serious thing about him and those strangulated jeans
Siouxsie
Fashionable objector with a uniform fetish
A life on the road series?.....I loved him with Lars and the one with Dolly Parton!Thanks for the prod Siouxsie
Percy is on DiD on Sunday morning BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Robert Plant, singer and songwriter
He was on some programme chatting to Brain Johnson a while back; what a nice bloke. Pleased to see he is sticking with the music he wants to do
as opposed to appeasing Zep fans.
Mt first serious g/friend has a serious thing about him and those strangulated jeans
All episode were great but those two warmed my cockles
blossie33
trailer trash
I believe he has a place there but his main residence is near Kidderminster in Worcestershire.
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
You know the Stairway ‘did they rip it off Spirit’ controversy? Does anyone know the English folk song from way back that had the same descending progression? I did a Google but i could only find an Italian one. I’m pretty sure someone on here posted it a few years back.
surreybrowncap
“Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand"
Yeah - he stays away to avoid Joan's incessant bagpipe playing...
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Page lives next door to Robbie Williams and they fucking hate each other.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Fucking loads of songs use it. One of the examples Page used in court was 'Chim Chimeree' from Mary Poppins.
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
But there was one which was identical for a number of bars. It was an olde English folk song but i can’t find the thing. Old Pagey is more light fingered than Noel Gallagher. I always found it funny that after he’d finished ripping off old blues tunes he then moved onto funk and on the last album Brazilian music.
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