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).