Achilles Last Stand 12/14 (Greatest Hits Show)

Playlist:

-Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)", Raising Sand
-Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, "The Only One", Outrider
-Robert Plant, "Tall Cool One", Now and Zen
-John Paul Jones, "Nosumi Blues", Zooma
-Robert Plant, "Morning Dew", Dreamland
-Jimmy Page and David Coverdale, "Pride and Joy", Coverdale/Page
-Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, "Yallah (The Truth Explodes)", No Quarter
-Robert Plant, "I Believe", Fate of Nations
-Robert Plant, "Road to the Sun", Sixty-Six to Timbuktu
-Jimmy Page, "Band, Sax, and Violence", Death Wish II
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Mighty Rearranger", Mighty Rearranger
-Robert Plant, "Big Log", Principle of Moments
-Led Zeppelin, "Immigrant Song", Led Zeppelin III
-Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog", IV
-Led Zeppelin, "Communication Breakdown", Led Zeppelin I
-Led Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love", Led Zeppelin II
-Led Zeppelin, "All of My Love", In Through the Out Door
-Led Zeppelin, "Kashmir", Physical Graffiti
-Led Zeppelin, "Rock and Roll", IV
-Led Zeppelin, "Travelling Riverside Blues", BBC Sessions
-Led Zeppelin, "Over the Hills and Far Away", Houses of the Holy
-Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven", IV

There you have it, the 10 best Zeppelin tracks ever (in no particular order). Those truly represent everything the band stood for and all of their hard work during the late 60's and early 70's. The post Zeppelin songs are a good look at the band members after the fact but there's so much more.

Since it is the end of the semester for WECB, the show will be gone for just a bit. Don't frown, however, it will be back bigger and better than ever in February bringing the best of Zeppelin and all the tracks you've never heard before. I will continue to update the blog (especially if Jimmy and Jonesy make any tour announcements) and add more content to the site as I enjoy my time off. Happy Holidays and I will talk to you again soon!

December Preview (Two Weeks Late)

I've been working on something for my Audio for New Media class and I wanted to see how it works out. Remember, it's a work in progress and the giveaway mentioned will NOT be happening (sorry, just ran out of shows on that one). Give it a listen and leave some comments...

By the way, here's an example of using Apture for Howlin' Wolf (see older posts for more).

New Site Update: Apture

Great news!!! I found a great new program where I can link you quickly to other web content without having to leave the website. Apture allows a site to link to Wiki articles, Youtube videos, Imeem audio, and other web content with it's own small screen on the website you're on. Cool stuff huh? If you seen anything with a link and a symbol next to it, that means there's more content.

For example, I can mention an artist off-hand like Muddy Waters. I might not be able to explain who he is, but you can scroll over the name and see information on him from Wiki. you can also hear one of his hit songs and see him in concert all without leaving the page. I'm adding on more and more links over old stuff so you might want to look back at old posts again.

There's more to do with Apture so keep your eye out for more cool features.

Achilles Last Stand 12/7

Playlist:

-Led Zeppelin, "D'Yer Maker", Houses of the Holy
-Robert Plant, "Colours of a Shade", Fate of Nations
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "The Enchanter", Nine Lives
-Led Zeppelin, "Achilles Last Stand", Presence
-Led Zeppelin, "Heartbreaker", BBC Sessions
-Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, "Nobody's Fault But Mine", No Quarter
-Led Zeppelin, "The Ocean", How the West was Won
-Led Zeppelin, "Boogie with Stu", Physical Graffiti
-Robert Plant, "Song to the Siren", Dreamland
-The Yardbirds, "Happenings Ten Years Ago", Ultimate!
-Led Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love", The Song Remains the Same (1976)
-Led Zeppelin, "Hots on For Nowhere", Presence
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Black Dog", Sounds Eclectic
-Led Zeppelin, "In the Evening", In Through the Out Door
-Led Zeppelin, "Trampled Underfoot", Led Zeppelin DVD
-Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, "Sons of Freedom", Walking into Clarksdale
-Led Zeppelin, "Baby Come on Home", Complete Studio Recordings
-Heart, "Crazy on You", Essential Heart

Quick note on the Walking Into Clarksdale and No Quarter tracks:
Sadly, the drummer for the Page and Plant project in the 90's Michael Lee passed away at 39. Jimmy did attend the funeral this week.

Don't forget to check out the album of the month below and the new Robert Plant album guide. The last show for the semester is next week. It'll include the top post-Zeppelin tracks hour 1 and the best of Led Zeppelin hour 2. Stay posted since I should have some more content coming soon. As always, talk to you Sunday!

Album of the Month for December: IV

It's about time for a new feature: Led Zeppelin Album of the Month. Of course the first one has to be IV, an album that has not only been the definitive record of the band but also one of the greatest recordings in the history of Rock and Roll.

Release Date: November 8th, 1971
Highest Billboard Chart Position: 2
Sales Status: 23x Platinum (3rd most all-time)
Other Distinctions: #66 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums

Track Listing:
1. Black Dog
It's debatable which of the band's songs is the number on hit. "Whole Lotta Love", "Rock and Roll", "Kashmir", and "Stairway to Heaven" are close, but this might be the song people usually think of when they hear the name Led Zeppelin. The song has all the elements of the classic Zeppelin track: Robert's powerful vocals, Jimmy shredding on the guitar, Jones backing up well on bass, and Bonzo pounding away on the drums. The blues is very prevalent as well. Slow it down and you've got a great blues song on your hands. The song's title comes from a black dog the band kept seeing around the studio while they were recording.

2. Rock and Roll
The band was attempting to write more of an old-fashioned rock and roll song. It has since become one of their most covered songs by bands like Heart and Guns n' Roses.

3. Battle of Evermore
This is a track where Robert could really let his epic creativity flow. He was always a big fan of heroic tales like Lord of the Rings (just listen closely to "Ramble On"). He also got to sing a duet with Fairport Convention singer Sandy Denny. Their vocals intertwine throughout the entire song and it gives the song a very ancient feel. Jimmy's use of the mandolin (his first ever) also adds on a nice touch to the song.

4. Stairway to Heaven
What hasn't been said. One of the greatest rock songs ever. One of the most requested ever. It has caused grown men to cry for no apparent reason. I'm not going to lie: I have thought about staying in a car when I reached my destination because "Stairway to Heaven" was on the radio. The song's origins are actually pretty boring. Once it was recorded, however, the band knew it was going to be something big. Jimmy later had to buy a special guitar with both a 6-string and 12-string guitar on it. He would keep both channels open during live performances so that the 6-string channel would pick up him playing on the 12-string and vice versa. Also, notice how Bonzo's drum part doesn't start until halfway into the song.

5. Misty Mountain Hop
With all of the great tracks on this album, this song gets overshadowed a little bit. It's a great song with a good riff from Jimmy and the drum line really pushes the song along.

6. Four Sticks
Not much to say about this one. It led to the creation of "Rock and Roll" when the band needed a break from finishing this. It is also the song Robert uses today as a tribute to John Bonham because of the complex percussion in the song.

7. Going to California
This one seemed more like a leftover from Led Zeppelin III. It highlights the love of folk for both Jimmy and Robert along with their fondness for the state of California. It was also a tribute to Joni Mitchell, one of Robert's favorite performers who he got a chance to meet while he was with Zeppelin. He declined because he was too nervous to meet her and didn't know what he'd say.

8. When the Levee Breaks
A song originally by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie, this is yet another example of Zeppelin propensity for "borrowing" songs without crediting anyone (just ask Willie Dixon). They gave it a similar sound to "Bring It On Home" with heavy reverb on Robert's voice and a lot of ambient noise. They again try to reinterpret the blues but keep some of the similar elements from older blues recordings.

Random Fact:
IV is in fact an untitled album. In the end, the band decided to release it with nothing on the album cover period. The only indication it was Led Zeppelin were the four symbols on the inside jacket and Jimmy's producing credit. Otherwise, the band left the cover without any signs that Led Zeppelin was involved. Atlantic fought tirelessly to get the band to put SOMETHING on it, but the band refused. Obviously, Atlantic was dead wrong with the album becoming the 3rd best seller ever. Although it is untitled, most people refer to it as Led Zeppelin IV since the first three albums were numbered as well. Other names include Zoso (for Jimmy's symbol) and Four Symbols.

The Robert Plant Solo Album/Post Led Zeppelin Guide

If you've ever wondered whether you could get into Robert's solo career, here's a bit of a guide. Maybe you'll find just the right album to get into:

Part I - Plant joins the 80's and separation from Zeppelin

Pictures at Eleven, 1982
If you want 80's music, this is one of three albums to get. It's his first and is probably the easiest of Robert's early albums to listen to. It doesn't have anything too shocking with a taste of Zeppelin, but it has that 80's synth sound. The best tracks are "Worse Than Detroit", "Like I've Never Been Gone", and "Burning Down One Side". If you have the box set Nine Lives, "Far Post" is probably better than those three.

Principle of Moments, 1983
Plant took a large step towards the 80's sound with this album. It's also another step away from his days with Zeppelin. Everything has a bit more of a synth sound but it's just a tad better than his first solo album. His two biggest solo hits to date, "In the Mood" and "Big Log", the second being the best song on the album, were on this one along with a good opener in "Other Arms" and my personal favorite "Horizontal Departure".

The Honeydrippers, Vol. 1, 1984
However the hell Ahmet Ertegun got Robert to cover 50's music (according to Robert, the agreement took place in a Japanese sex shop), it happened. Artists like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Paul Schaffer (you know, that guy from Letterman) make this a great album. "Rockin' at Midnight" is the best track with a great solo from Beck, but don't forget about "Sea of Love" with Page on guitar.

Shaken n' Stirred, 1985
Hmm. Where to begin. Robert really went hog wild on this one. EVERYTHING went through at least one synth. Stylistically, it is his most unique work to date. This is one of the few albums Robert freely uses backup singers and one of the few that doesn't have a very bluesy track. It's a really hard listen, especially if you haven't heard 80's Plant before. It was hard enough on the band, who left Robert shortly after this album was finished. Highlights include "Little By Little", "Pink and Black", and "Easily Lead". Past that, you've been warned.

Part II - The Comeback

Now and Zen, 1988
With a new band and a new perspective on his music, Robert returned with more of the sound that defined him in Zeppelin. Although it was still very computerized, the sound was much more natural and he brought back the blues he had all but abandoned in his previous album. A strong guitar sound and a little more energy were a much needed change to Robert's music. He now paid homage to his Zeppelin days in "Tall Cool One" and started adding the Middle Eastern sound in songs like "Heaven Knows" that has defined his most recent solo work.

Manic Nirvana, 1990
Of all his albums, this one has the most poppy songs. I'd describe it as Middle Eastern Rockabilly Blues. He had some more upbeat songs and the music was a little more formatted than before. The blues was more apparent (ex. "Tye Dye on the Highway) and the middle eastern sound was still a work and coming in songs like "Nirvana". The best track is easily the opener "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eye on You)." It's a close call between this and Shaken n' Stirred for his worst album.

Fate of Nations, 1993
This is one of Robert's post-Zeppelin highlights. The blues was once again prevalent in his music while he infused Middle Eastern music more than ever before. The album starts of with a bang on "Calling to You" and other songs like "Network News" and "Promised Land" made it a legitimate rock album. He softened the album with "29 Palms", "If I Were a Carpenter", and "I Believe" and was able to put together a great sounding complete work. By far his best until his most recent work in the 2000's.

No Quarter: Unledded, 1994
When MTV comes calling you know there's trouble. Of course, the network wanted a little reunion for Plant and Page. Never even thinking about a certain Mr. Jones, Robert got together with Jimmy and formulated a plan to re-make a fair number of Zeppelin songs for the MTV performance. All in all, most of the Middle Eastern inspired versions weren't bad. Highlights were "Gallows Pole", "Battle of Evermore", and a new track called "Yallah" (since then it has been renamed "The Truth Explodes"). There is a pretty sweet version of "Kashmir" with an Egyptian drum band and the London Metropolitan Orchestra, although the sound mix could have been much better.

Walking Into Clarksdale, 1998 (w/ Jimmy Page)
Ummm...it wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard. The albums is, however, a huge letdown. It includes very good songs like "Most High" and "Please Read the Letter" but the rest just doesn't quite sound right. The big issue was the musical direction of the project. Jimmy still wanted to do blues rock, Robert wanted to infuse more Middle Eastern influence, while the producer Steve Albini added a very modern sound. The Zeppelin magic just wasn't there. Fortunately, Robert realized the same thing and returned to a solo career.

Part III - The Present Day Robert Plant

Dreamland, 2001
Robert formed a new band at the turn of the millenium and found the man to take his music to the next level. Justin Adams had been involved with world music for a long time and was always going between England and Northern Africa. His guitar work added the Middle Eastern twist that Robert had been looking for. With a new band The Strange Sensation, they set out to cover numerous folk songs from Robert's youth. Every song on the album is good, the best being "Darkness, Darkness", "Morning Dew", and "Skip's Song".

Mighty Rearranger, 2005
This has been Robert's best solo effort to date. He took the blues from his childhood, the Middle Eastern music from his world experiences, and took his lyrics from his old tricks of love and epic tales and added a new political voice. Songs ranged from soft ballads to powerful rocks songs. There are so many highlights, but the top three would be "Shine It All Around", "Mighty Rearranger", and "Freedom Fries".

Raising Sand, 2007 (w/ Alison Krauss)
When Robert announced he would join forces with bluegrass star Alison Krauss, many Zeppelin fanatics were perplexed. Had their Golden God gone soft? Well, no. He started working with Krauss because he wanted to return to the Americana types of music that first influenced him as a youngster in England. He would work with acclaimed producer T Bone Burnett and get to record in one of the centers of music in America - Memphis, Tennessee. The album is great and Robert's voice blends perfectly with Krauss. "Gone Gone Gone" was the big hit, but a remade "Please Read the Letter" and a spooky "Nothin'" were tracks that really made this album unique.

There you have it. Plant in a nutshell over the past 20+ years. If you want find more about his work, get Sixty-Six to Timbucktu. It has a fair number of the songs listed above plus some bonus songs from outside his solo albums. Of the extras, "Road to the Sun", "Rude World", "Let That Boogie Woogie Roll" and "Win My Train Fair Home (Live in Timbucktu)" stand out the most. Coming up will be a Jimmy list (which will be shorter) and a John Paul Jones list (which is even shorter at only 4 albums long).

Achilles Last Stand 11/30

Playlist:

-Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog", The Song Remains the Same (2007)
-Robert Plant, "Last Times I Saw Her", Dreamland
-Led Zeppelin, "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp", Led Zeppelin III
-Led Zeppelin, "In the Light", Physical Graffiti
-Led Zeppelin, "Over the Hills and Far Away", How the West Was Won
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Tin Pan Valley", Mighty Rearranger
-Led Zeppelin, "Dazed and Confused", Led Zeppelin
-John Paul Jones, "Daphne", Thundertheif
-Led Zeppelin, "All of My Love", In Through the Out Door
-Them, "Gloria"
-Led Zeppelin, "Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just a Woman)", Led Zeppelin II
-The Honeydrippers, "Rockin' at Midnight", The Honeydrippers Vol. 1
-Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Please Read the Letter", Raising Sand
-Led Zeppelin, "Friends", Led Zeppelin III
-Led Zeppelin, "When the Levee Breaks", IV
-Led Zeppelin, "Black Country Woman", Physical Graffiti
-Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, "Most High", Walking Into Clarksdale
-The Firm, "Fortune Hunter", Mean Business
-Robert Plant, "Skip's Song", Dreamland
-Led Zeppelin, "Hot Dog", In Through the Out Door

Apologies about the last posts. It's pretty hard to post when you don't have a working computer. I'm back up and running so the posts will start coming once again.

By the way, I hope you heard about Paul McCartney. He's not too pleased that Led Zeppelin isn't getting back together with Robert. McCartney agrees with most fans who think it's a shame Jimmy, Jonesy and Bonzo Jr. are continuing their plans without Percy. The good news is that there are reports the new band will not call itself Led Zeppelin. The Alter Bridge singer Mike Kennedy is still the number one suspect to replace Plant but nothing has been confirmed.

The next show will run as normal with a mix of rare finds and Zeppelin's best songs. The week after will be a greatest hits show. It'll start out with the best from the pre and post Zeppelin years and finish with the best Zeppelin tracks ever. If you have any requests, write a comment and I'll see what I can do about putting it on. Talk to you Sunday!

Achilles Last Stand 11/23

Playlist:

-Led Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love", Led Zeppelin DVD
-Robert Plant, "One More Cup of Coffee", Dreamland
-Led Zeppelin, "Hey Hey What Can I Do"
-Led Zeppelin, "Since I've Been Loving You", How the West Was Won
-Led Zeppelin, "What is and What Should Never Be", Led Zeppelin II
-Robert Plant, "Turnaround", Principle of Moments
-The Firm, "Spirit of Love", Mean Business
-Led Zeppelin, "Darlene", Coda
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Freedom Fries", Mighty Rearranger
-Bob Dylan, "The Levee's Gonna Break", Modern Times
-Led Zeppelin, "Stairway to Heaven", How the West Was Won
-Bob Marley and the Wailers, "Lively Up Yourself"
-Led Zeppelin, "Houses of the Holy", Physical Graffiti
-Led Zeppelin, "In My Time of Dying", Led Zeppelin DVD
-Led Zeppelin, "Tangerine", Led Zeppelin III
-Led Zeppelin, "Heartbreaker", Led Zeppelin II
-John Paul Jones, "Tidal", Zooma
-Led Zeppelin, "Travelling Riverside Blues", BBC Sessions
-Crosby, Stills, and Nash, "Southern Cross"

Led Zeppelin: The Reunions

Although everyone is all up in arms about a possible failed reunion, there have been attepmts to bring the band back. Even Robert and Jimmy tried out the full fledged reunion with tour and album. So far, nothing has stuck and through their past events, it's doubtful any reunion attempts will ever work out.

Live Aid, 1985
This was the first time Led Zeppelin reunited after Bonzo's death and the event was broadcasted around the world as a part of the world famous concert. Jimmy's guitar was out of tune, Robert's voice was weak, Phil Collins could never live up to Bonham, and the audio setup was failing. After all of that, the show wasn't that bad and the band had a good time. After renditions of "Rock and Roll", "Whole Lotta Love", and "Stairway to Heaven", the band looked poised to come back and rise to the top again. Unfortunately, the attempt to play a show the next night proved disasterous and reunion plans were scrapped.

Atlantic 40th Anniversary, 1988
The band once again came together with Jason Bonham, son of John, on drums. The audio engineering again failed (Jimmy's guitar was barely audible). Robert seemed dissatisfied and bored playing the old songs. Robert did it for Ahmet Ertegun and was more interested in his solo performance during the same show.

Jason Bonham Wedding, 1990
They played at a wedding. Nothing big and no future plans possible

Knebworth, 1990
Robert had Jimmy come on-stage with him. Nothing would materialize from this reunion either.

MTV Unplugged and No Quarter: Unledded, 1993
Robert and Jimmy (no John Paul Jones) were approached about being in the MTV Unledded program. They agreed but they wanted to go beyond the simple studio performance that most acts had done. Robert and Jimmy wanted to take their songs from the Zeppelin years and remake them with a Middle Eastern twist. They also wanted to travel to Morocco to get inspired by their music and create new songs with authentic artists of the area. Three different parts of the program were created: Welsh quarry scenes, new songs performed with Morrocan musicians, and a performance in London with the London Metropolitan Orchestra and an Egyptian drum group. All of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page's work paid off. The show was a hit, the record sold well, and they had a great world tour. Then...

Walking Into Clarksdale, 1998
Robert and Jimmy recorded a bit of a flop. The record had some highlights (mainly "Most High" and "Please Read the Letter"). Unfortunately, Jimmy and Robert were going in different directions and the producer (Rick Rubin) was going a third direction. Robert wanted the blues-mideast fusion while Jimmy focused on the blues rock and Rubin tried to bring them into the 90's with a hard rock sound. The band behind Jimmy and Robert just didn't measure up and the album sold poorly. After another successful tour, Robert and Jimmy separated again possibly ending one of the last real chances to bring the band back together.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1994
Led Zeppelin entered the Hall of Fame in 1994 as one of the best selling groups ever. John Paul Jones came along and didn't show much of a problem with the fact no one called him about the Unledded project. The band came together with Jason on drums again and help from Aerosmith and Neil Young. The band played well but it was clearly another one time deal.

Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, 2007
After 9 years, Robert finally agreed to another reunion show to honor the man who signed Led Zeppelin to their deal with Atlantic and also guided him through his solo career. They were close friends and Robert always held Ahmet back from convincing him to rejoin with Jimmy and Jonesy. Of all their reunions, this one was the best. They were sharp, clean, and ready to go for the show from their first song. The band looked poised to take the next step and travel the world. Then, Robert's album with Alison Krauss was a huge hit. He wanted to work on the Memphis music that inspired his earliest work and Zeppelin seemed like a step backwards. He wanted to focus on a new aspect of his musical inspiration.

After many reunions, the band has yet to sick together for more than a show. Robert has been the main reason a full-fledged reunion hasn't materialized. He runs his own ship and he doesn't want to be under anyone's watchful eye again. Jimmy is the leader of Led Zeppelin so I doubt that he'll be able to convince Robert to agree to a long tour. One day it could happen, but Robert has to be in dire straits to do so.

Achilles Last Stand 11/16/08

The Playlist:

-Led Zeppelin, "The Rain Song", A Memory Frozen Forever (Berlin 1980)
-Robert Plant, "All the Money in the World", Mighty Rearranger
-Led Zeppelin, "The Song Remains the Same", Houses of the Holy
-Led Zeppelin, "Gallows Pole", Led Zeppelin III
-The Firm, "Dreaming", Mean Business
-Led Zeppelin, "Bonzo's Montreux", Coda
-Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Rich Woman", Raising Sand
-Robert Plant, "Easily Lead", Shaken N' Stirred
-Led Zeppelin, "The Ocean", The Song Remains the Same (2007)
-Robert Plant, "Funny in My Mind (Fixin' to Die)", Dreamland
-Bad Company, "Can't Get Enough", Bad Company
-Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick", Led Zeppelin II
-Jimi Hendrix, "Hey Joe"
-Led Zeppelin, "Kashmir", Led Zeppelin DVD
-The Yardbirds, "Train Kept a Rollin'", Ultimate!
-Robert Plant, "29 Palms", Fate of Nations
-Led Zeppelin, "The Crunge", House of the Holy
-Led Zeppelin, "Good Times, Bad Times", Led Zeppelin I
-Robert Plant, "Like I've Never Been Gone", Pictures at Eleven (Nine Lives Bonus Track)
-Led Zeppelin, "Misty Mountain Hop", IV
-Blind Faith, "Can't Find My Way Home", The 20th Century Collection: Steve Winwood

Sorry the playlist was a tad late this week. I've been pretty busy and haven't been able to finish it. The Robert Plant album guide is on the way. I've gone through his albums up to Fate of Nations so I'm almost done. Jimmy and Jones will follow shortly.

The semester only has about a month left before Winter Break. Only 4 more shows left before WECB goes off the air for the Winter Break so be sure you don't miss a second of Achilles Last Stand on WECB!

Achilles Last Stand 11/9/08 (Robert Plant Special)

The Playlist

-Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog", IV
-Elvis Presley, "Burning Love", Essential Elvis
-Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)", Raising Sand
-Led Zeppelin, "Kashmir", Physical Graffiti
-Robert Plant, "In the Mood", Principle of Moments
-Tinariwen, "Tamatant Tilay", Aman Iman: Water is Life
-Robert Plant, "I Believe", Fate of Nations
-Led Zeppelin, "Since I've Been Loving You", Led Zeppelin III
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Takamba", Mighty Rearranger
-Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth", Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield
-Led Zeppelin, "Over the Hills and Far Away", How the West Was Won
-Robert Plant, "Little By Little", Shaken n' Stirred
-The Honeydrippers, "Sea of Love", The Honeydrippers Vol. 1
-Robert Plant, "Darkness Darkness", Dreamland
-Genesis, "That's All"
-Robert Plant, "You Better Run", Sixty Six to Tumbuktu
-Robert Plant, "Tall Cool One", Now and Zen
-Sonny Boy Williamson, "Bring It On Home", His Best
-Led Zeppelin, "Bring It On Home", Led Zeppelin II
-Robert Plant, "Road to the Sun", Sixty Six to Timbuktu
-Led Zeppelin, "Immigrant Song", Led Zeppelin III
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Mighty Rearranger", Mighty Rearranger

I promised some hippie photos so here you go:

The next one is from his Zeppelin years but shows his hippie side quite well:

I'm still on the search for the one of him protesting the legality marijuana. I know it's in the liner notes of Sixty Six to Timbuktu, it's just a matter of sifting through the millions of other Plant photos online to find it.

The next show will run normally with all kinds of little Zeppelin goodies. I still have some good Plant quotes to play eventually. I'll be on the lookout for others and I'm sure some good Peter Grants and Jimmy Pages are hiding out there too. Any song requests? Add a comment and I'll see what I can do about getting it on.

UPDATE:

Thanks to robertplantfan who has a website (http://press.manicnirvana.com/?p=20) with a pic of Plant holding a Legalize Marijuana sign:

Robert Plant Show This Sunday

Well, the time has come for the first special show. Robert Plant has been plastered across many websites discussing the future of Led Zeppelin so we'll do about with him. I've also been looking back at some old interviews with him. Here's the best from the Dave Letterman Show in 1985:




He's always been an odd man to interview. He either takes the interview seriously and answers questions fully or he will joke around a little bit and just annoy the hell out of the interviewer. He usually goes after interviewers when they obviously don't know what they are talking about. Jay Leno in 1993 was particularly bad. He had no idea what he was talking about and trying to have Robert compare audiences from the past to the present.

Anyway, Robert is pretty easy to cover. His solo music is actually listenable and not bad (compared to Jimmy and Jonesy). His work with Strange Sensation (2001-2005) was outstanding. He was on to something with them and I wouldn't be surprised to see them come back in a couple of years. Of course he has his bad 80's album Shaken 'N' Stirred which is one of his favorites and then there's his early work when he was trying to be a pop singer.

Got any requests? Make a comment on this note and I'll see what I can do. I mean he was with Led Zeppelin so it shouldn't be hard to put something on (unless it's "Moby Dick" or "Bonzo's Montreux"). See ya Sunday!

ELECTION DAY!

Go out and vote or Jimmy will cast a vile spell on you. He'll make the ghost of John Bonham do things in your shoe.

Achilles Last Stand 11/2/08

The Playlist:

-Led Zeppelin, "Down By the Seaside", Physical Graffiti
-The Rolling Stones, "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)", Goats Head Soup
-Led Zeppelin, "What is and What Should Never Be", BBC Sessions
-Led Zeppelin, "Celebration Day", Led Zeppelin III
-Led Zeppelin, "Ramble On", Led Zeppelin II
-Robert Plant, "Last Time I Saw Her (Remix)", Dreamland (Nine Lives Box Set)
-Robert Plant, "Big Log", Principle of Moments
-The Firm, "Radioactive", The Firm
-Led Zeppelin, "Nobody's Fault But Mine", Presence
-Phil Collins, "In the Air Tonight", Phil Collins: Hits
-Led Zeppelin, "Ozone Baby", Coda
-Led Zeppelin, "Immigrant Song", Led Zeppelin III
-John Paul Jones, "Nosumi Blues", Zooma
-Led Zeppelin, "The Rain Song", Houses of the Holy
-Led Zeppelin, "In the Evening", Led Zeppelin DVD
-Led Zeppelin, "Going to California", IV
-Robert Plant, "Another Tribe", Mighty Rearranger
-Led Zeppelin, "Fool in the Rain", In Through the Out Door
-Robert Plant, "Our Song", Sixty-Six to Timbuktu
-Led Zeppelin, "Bring It On Home", How the West was Won
-Foo Fighters, "The Pretender", Echos Silence Patience and Grace

Tonight's show was mostly about the possible reunion. Although most of the members are into it (5/8 to be exact) I don't know about the idea of a Led Zeppelin minus a certain singer. If you heard the rant about why he won't reunite the post before this one explains it more. There's a lot to the story.

If you have any requests for the next show, write them down as a comment and I'll see if I can fit em in. Even if it isn't Zeppelin, I can probably find some way to relate the song or band to them.

Why Robert Plant Won't Reunite With Led Zeppelin

This has been a question that has bothered people for a very long time: why hasn't Led Zeppelin reunited for more than one small show at a time? After the last few months of rumors and confirmed stories, Zeppelin fans see who has kept the band from forming a reunion tour: Robert Plant.

The arguments for why he'd want to rejoin seem so simple, right? He was at the top of the world, one of the most respected singers in rock and roll history. Thousands of fans came from miles around for Led Zeppelin's shows and he would have women from city to city clamoring to spend the evening with him. He was with a band making millions of dollars and releasing great album after great album. Wouldn't he want to get back together and remember the good ol' days? He could make millions of dollars on a tour and be on top of the rock and roll world once again.

In terms of the music, he should fit in perfectly. Not only did the band take its cues from many of his favorite styles of music (blues, folk, and some world), he was able to infuse his lyrics. Robert and Jimmy have a rapport than no other singer-guitarist combination ever had. Their playfulness on stage and their sheer ability to mirror each other during songs like "Dazed and Confused" is remarkable. When they joined together later in the 80's and 90's they still had a close bond when they performed.

Even after all of these reasons to get back together, Robert still won't tour. He has flatly refused each time the subject has come up. Everyone wonders when he is going to break and finally take the opportunity to get back with the boys. Unfortunately, he might not ever break. He has to many reasons not to tour with them.

To understand his reasoning, look at his career all the way back when Led Zeppelin was at its pinnacle in 1975. The band just played the show they always wanted in England at Earls Court. They performed for almost 4 hours and dominated the stage with their musical prowess. Afterward, the band went on vacation (and tax exile) and Robert's family decided to visit a small island. While driving one day, Robert's wife Maureen lost control of the car and crashed with the whole family in the car. Robert hurt his ankle badly, but worse for him was that his wife Maureen was knocked unconscious and in serious condition. Richard Cole scrambled to get Robert and his family back to England to get treated. Unfortunately, due to British tax laws that forced the band into exile, Robert had to leave before Maureen healed. He had to record the next album from a wheelchair away from his home and family.

Led Zeppelin then went on one of their biggest and most successful tours in 1977. Although the band was doing well, another hit to Robert's personal life was about to come. His son Karac was sent to the hospital and died shortly thereafter from a nasty stomach bug. The rest of the tour was cancelled and Robert had his second personal tragedy in two years.

The band returned in 1979 with In Through The Out Door and very successful shows in Knebworth. They began the 80's with a new perspective and felt fresher than ever. They started romping through Europe to begin the new decade. The band looked like it was ready for a huge comeback after being shut in for 3 years. The day before they were scheduled to go to America to continue the tour, John Bonham went out on the town and had numerous drinks. He returned to Jimmy's house and went to sleep. The next morning, he was found dead due to asphyxiation on his own vomit. Robert was devistated. Bonham had been Robert best friend since before the band formed. He had a bond with Bonzo because they were the rookies when the band started, the ones who didn't know the ropes. By December, the band decided that it could not go on without the drummer that defined much of their sound.

Robert was now on his own. His last 5 years with Zeppelin were tumultuous at best. He now had a new challenge: a solo career. For the first time, he was the man in charge. With Led Zeppelin, he was not the leader; Jimmy had guided the band from the beginning. Even when Jimmy's role was decreasing, John Paul Jones had more control of the band, as evidenced by the amount of synthesizers and keys in the last album; if Robert was in charge, it would have been largely folk and blues.

With a new look on life, he started a solo career that began as a fight against his history with Zeppelin. His new albums were filled with new recording methods, odd drum beats provided by Phil Collins, synthesizers dominating each track, and the loss of the edgy guitar-work of Jimmy Page. By his 1985 album Shaken 'n' Stirred, he was obsessed with losing the Zeppelin sound. Everything went through a computer or machine and the song structure was very strange. It flopped badly and his solo career seemed to hit a dead end.

Also in 1985, the band reunited for the first time since Bonham's death for Live Aid. Robert's voice was not quite at full strength, Jimmy's guitar was out of tune, and the drummer Phil Collins didn't seem to fit in, however the band had an excellent time. The next night proved disastrous as they tried to play again with poor results and any thoughts of full fledged reunion were scrapped.

Robert returned in 1988 with a sort of comeback album Now and Zen and a new perspective on his Led Zeppelin days. Not only did he begin to play Zeppelin tunes for the first time solo, he included some clips from Zeppelin songs in the single "Tall Cool One." His sound, however, was still very synthesized and not very bluesy. The band reunited again for the Atlantic 40th anniversary celebration, however technical issues affected their set and Robert seemed to focus more on his solo set.

By 1993, he had two more albums: Manic Nirvana and Fate of Nations. With both, he inched closer to the sound he started in Zeppelin, however he was also putting a new spin on his music. He started taking more and more influences from Middle Eastern culture and added more social commentary in his lyrics. After Fate of Nations, he was approached by MTV with an opportunity.

He was asked to join Jimmy Page for an episode of the popular series Unplugged. Surprisingly, he agreed. He and Jimmy built a plan (one that MTV did not intend) to re-work old Zeppelin songs with a Middle Eastern spin. The show was a huge hit, the album No Quarter was very successful, and the tour brought them both back to the top. Then they decided to make a new album (if you're wondering where Jones is, he was not approached by anyone for either project). The album, Walking Into Clarksdale in 1998, was supposed to be their comeback together. The album performed well on the charts, but it's reception was not great. The songs didn't have the same flair as their Zeppelin days. The drums weren't as smooth, powerful, or consistent as John Bonham and the bass and musical talent of John Paul Jones was missing. Without Bonham, Robert wasn't having as much fun.

Since then, the Zeppelin story has been low key. Robert continues to play some Zeppelin songs, but he is always looking towards the future. His most recent work has included revisiting folk songs of his generation (Dreamland in 2001), creating a powerful middle eastern driven sound (Mighty Rearranger in 2005), and going to Memphis to duet with Alison Krauss (Raising Sand in 2007).

Although he agreed to reunite one more time in 2007, he did so for the man who believed in Led Zeppelin and made them superstars. Ahmet Ertegun was very close to Robert and they had always been talking to each other about getting the band back together. Robert usually had to keep Ahmet from convincing him to reunite, so he felt it was his duty to play in his memory. He hinted that a full reunion was possible, but was unwilling to commit to anything.

Today, he has everything he could desire. He lived the crazy life of a rock star with Zeppelin. He owns a castle, the epic dream he's had for a very long time. He has all the money he could want and will probably get more as Zeppelin continues to market themselves well. He has complete control over his career. If he wants to make an album a certain way, he'll do it. Nobody tells him what to do. He doesn't need to listen to Jimmy or Peter Grant anymore. His career has been the best since Zeppelin broke up, mainly because he is the only one with any successful solo albums since 1980. He has gone beyond the work that Zeppelin did and has no reason to look back.

The main reason he refuses to return is that he can't imagine touring with the band without his best friend John Bonham drumming behind him. To Robert Plant, reuniting with Led Zeppelin is like taking a step backwards and I doubt that he will ever consider joining the band again.

THE RUMORS ARE TRUE (for once)

It has been confirmed: Led Zeppelin may reunite for a tour in the next few months. And we have visual proof of a member (John Paul Jones) confirming plans:


So Jimmy, Jonesy, and Bonzo Jr. have been rehearsing for a tour. Of course my initial suspicions of Robert Plant's reluctance to go out on the road as Led Zeppelin (which is too long and complicated to discuss here) were correct. I wasn't sure if Jimmy and Jonesy wanted to hit the road without the man who's presence on stage is unbeatable. I can't really think of any other voices who can go out and pull off a Robert Plant. I've heard some of the names and listened to some of the singers. Probably the only one I'd see is Steven Tyler, who exutes the same flamboyance and raw power that Robert does. Once again, it will not be the same.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see a Queen-like billing. Led Zeppelin + Steven Tyler or something like that. An album could be on the horizon as well. Jimmy was working on some new material a few years back and Jones has been trying to work on a new album for 2+ years now. Their rapport is outstanding and they could put out some good material. But again, no Plant is just not the same.

They could also cancel all of these plans if they don't find that singer who fills Plant's shoes. Led Zeppelin has been notorious for protecting all of their image and material heavily. They used to beat up bootleggers, have sued choirs for using "Stairway to Heaven", and denied Jack Black the opportunity to use their music numerous times (except for in School of Rock and even that wasn't easy). They have been the masters of marketing the band after the breakup in 1980. Their live album in 2003 How the West was Won reached #1 on the Billboard charts and their 4th incarnation of a greatest hits album Mothership reached #7.

THEY HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP FOR 28 YEARS AND HAD THEIR 4TH GREATEST HITS ALBUM REACH THE TOP 10!!! Either that's a sign of the times in the music industry or they are doing something right. To tell you the truth, it's probably both.

They have a vision for how they want the public to perceive the band. If they really want to keep up the momentum and still have fans respect what the band has accomplished, they should wait for Plant if he is willing to join again or just give up entirely if he flatly denies any opportunity to ever reunite with the Zeppelin.

CMJ Music Marathon in New York = A True Led Zeppelin Party Experience

Ok, maybe it wasn't that crazy. I mean there weren't any groupies, mounds of cocaine, or sharks involved. There were still some great stories going from concert to concert and consumption of a fair amount of tasty beverages along the way. Not to mention some signs of what Zeppelin would do in such a situation:

I know Richard Cole would be all over that and have at least 8 girls for the boys in those 15 minutes.

Overall, I don't think I saw the next reincarnation of Led Zeppelin, but I certainly know of one group that impresses me who I couldn't see. Delta Spirit has been a band of interest from the time I first saw their album. I love the name, suggesting a bit of the Mississippi Delta Blues is incorporated with their songs and attitude. The story of their start is amazing, when lead singer Matt Vasquez was found singing on a park bench in San Diego in the middle of the night. Vasquez has the perfect voice for their music and the band's sound is excellent. Their album was not only consistent, it was varied and creative. I couldn't go to their shows at CMJ because the venue was 21+ and I was hanging with a 20 year old. Fortunately, I already saw them in Boston twice: once at the other Emerson radio station and then I went to their show at the Middle East Downstairs. Both were awesome performances that exceeded my expectations. My favorite part of each of their performances was song "Trashcan" where they had a Brooklyn trashcan lid for percussion. Overall they were just as good live as on the record. If they come by Boston again, you bet that I'm going to see them.

The only group that I'd say reminded me of Led Zeppelin was the Sian Alice Group. They had some similar elements: great vocals from the lead singer, multiple guitars (Jimmy did play two guitars at once if you think about it), a great bass player, a synth, and creative drum beats. The individual musicians all had complex parts but were able to bring it together to one unique and unifying sound. Still, nowhere close to the abilities of the greatest band ever.

Outside of the shows, some panels were seen that were not terribly satisfying. I visited with a rep from an interesting company called Sonicbids that works to create an online network for bands and artists who truely want to be professionals and are looking for ways to expand their promotional outlets. It also helps artist find promoters and book venues. Other than that, I felt like I got a bit of a Zeppelin experience: short days of somewhat important work, long nights at concerts, going to a hotel room (or friend's house) exhausted, and having a good time for a while with friends until finally falling asleep after 4am. Good times were had by all and I'd excitedly jump at another opportunity to go back.

Achilles Last Stand on WECB Online!!

Hooray! I've been doing the show on and off for over three years now at various locations (props to anyone who remembers the WIQH Concord days), so you would think I'd already be with the online game. Well the time has come. Now I can let you know about the latest Led Zeppelin news, give you my playlists, and (technical setup permitting) a complete show podcast. I can comment on crazy Zeppelin rumors any time I want. What fun!

For anyone who doesn't know the show, it has more than meets the eye. Most of the songs are from Zeppelin, but most of the songs that I play from them is not usually heard anywhere else. Sure WZLX in Boston has "Stairway to 7," but do they have the balls to play from a Zeppelin bootleg or a raw cut from the BBC Sessions. I didn't think so.

Then I also play a fair number of tracks from the band members life before and after Zeppelin. It took a lot of work to get those albums too. I bought some in France because I wasn't sure I'd find them elsewhere.

Another aspect of the show are the bands and artists that influenced Zeppelin. For example, a track from a bluesman like Robert Johnson is not so surprising to hear. I know about the various connections in the music world Zeppelin had as well. Roy Harper was one of their favorite artists who not only has a song dedicated to him on Led Zeppelin III, he recorded a whole album with Jimmy Page.

No matter your past listening experience, the show is going to be awesome this week just like any other week. So remember: Sunday, 10-midnight, it's time to let the Led out on WECB!