Achilles Last Stand 2/26

Playlist:

- Robert Plant, "In the Mood", Principle of Moments
- Pink Floyd, "Have a Cigar", Wish You Were Here
- Led Zeppelin, "Going to California", IV
- Robert Plant, "Why", Now and Zen
- Led Zeppelin, "Dancing Days", Houses of the Holy
- Robert Plant, "Dirt in a Hole", Nine Lives (Dreamland)
- Led Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love", Led Zeppelin II
- Led Zeppelin, "Since I've Been Loving You", How the West Was Won
- Led Zeppelin, "What is and What Should Never Be", BBC Sessions
- Elvis Presley, "A Little Less Conversation"
- Delta Spirit, "Trashcan", Ode to Sunshine
- Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog", IV
- Queen, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
- Led Zeppelin, "Dazed and Confused", The Song Remains the Same (1976)
- Robert Plant, "It Keeps Rainin'", Goin' Home
- Blind Faith, "Can't Find My Way Home"
- Robert Plant, "Far Post", Pictures at Eleven
- Led Zeppelin, "Ten Years Gone", Physical Graffiti

There you have it. Apologies for jetting out in a hurry, I just had a little business to take care of today. If there's a moral to today's show (seems to me like there's always one defining subject), check out Delta Spirit. They're awesome. In either case I'll be back next week and then off the week after that. I get to see Iceland and see what Robert talked about in "Immigrant Song". As usual leave your requests and such and I'll see what I can do.

Delta Spirit: The Next Big Thing

I'm calling it now: Delta Spirit will become the next big band when they release their sophomore album in the next year or so. I know I'm going out on a limb with this, but I can't get enough of the San Diego band. They have the musicians, they have the sound, and they have the personality to hit it BIG. They're currently signed to Rounder Records (a certain Mr. Plant is also involved with the same label) so the have the distribution means.

In terms of music, they have a classic sound but they spin a different edge on it. Most indie bands fall in a trap where their sound is too experimental for mass consumption. Delta Spirit, on the other hand, plays songs that are deep yet very listenable. They infuse folk, rock, blues, and various other styles into a unique structure. Matt Vasquez, the lead singer, has THE voice. All big bands need THE voice, whether it's Chris Martin, Roger Daltrey, or Robert Plant. Vasquez has it both for the studio and on stage. Him and Kelly Winrich craft songs that capture the listener's attention and also vary their writing structure. They won't fall in the trap of making cookie cutter music that other indie bands do.

Another key comes from their live performances. Vasquez leads the crowd like a seasoned veteran on stage and their song selection is outstanding. He speaks to the crowd and connects well with his audience. I've been to two shows at the Middle East Downstairs in Boston (once as an opener, once as the headlining band) and both occasions they rocked the house at the top of their game. They played on the mark and just blasted their music each evening. Vasquez sang at full tilt and still sounded spectacular.

Of course a number of issues could arise. For instance, they have been on tour forever. According to Vasquez, they can't say no when asked. They plan to begin recording an album once this tour finishes, so expect something by next winter. From the new songs I heard, they're on the right track to take off. Still, you never know. I believe they will explode. Either way, keep your eye on Delta Spirit. Don't say I didn't warn you when I said they'd be famous.

Achilles Last Stand 2/19/09

Playlist:

- Led Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love", Led Zeppelin DVD
- Led Zeppelin, "Black Mountain Side", Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin, "Over the Hills and Far Away", How the West Was Won
- Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, "When the World Was Young", Walking Into Clarksdale
- Led Zeppelin, "What is and What Should Never Be", Led Zeppelin II
- Yes, "I've Seen All Good People"
- Robert Plant, "Tall Cool One", Now and Zen
- Led Zeppelin, "Friends", Led Zeppelin III
- Led Zeppelin, "Fool in the Rain", In Through The Out Door
- Robert Plant, "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes On You)", Manic Nirvana
- Led Zeppelin, "Down By The Seaside", Physical Graffiti
- Robert Plant, "Upside Down", Sixty-Six to Timbucktu
- Led Zeppelin, "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do?"
- The Firm, "Closer", The Firm
- Led Zeppelin, "Misty Mountain Hop", The Song Remains the Same (2007)
- The Yardbirds, "Train' Kept a Rolling", Ultimate
- Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Shine It All Around", Mighty Rearranger
- Eric Clapton, "Let It Rain (Delaney Bramlett Mix)", Eric Clapton (Deluxe Edition)
- Led Zeppelin, "No Quarter", Houses of the Holy
- Led Zeppelin, "Trampled Underfoot", Physical Graffiti
- The Rolling Stones, "Do Do Do Do Do (Heartbreaker)", Goats Head Soup

Nothing too exciting this week. I'm still upset over Paul Rodgers hurting Jimmy's credibility although he could have picked an even worse singer. I mentioned a video with Jimmy, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck playing Layla. The second video is Jimmy and Rodgers at the ARMS concert:

Another show next week. If you've got an idea for an album of the month for March leave a comment and I'll consider it. I just want to start on it so it'll be done by the start of month. You can also leave your requests in a comment and I'll see what I can do.

Why Does This Man Keep Getting Gigs?

If you don't know this man you probably should. He's been around for a very long time and has been a part of many acts over his career. His name is Paul Rodgers, adequate singer extraordinaire. The list of folks he's worked with include Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, and the remaining members of Queen. He continues to find work with these great musicians and somehow seems to replace some of the best singers time and time again.

His first two projects were very good. He started with Free, known for their hit "All Right Now", who were one of the most successful acts along with Led Zeppelin in the early 1970's. Rodgers then went on to his second major project with Bad Company. Signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label and using the same manager, Peter Grant, the band found immediate success with their first self-titled album. Not many bands can get away with not only naming a song after themselves but also putting it on their self-titled album. Their first two albums were strong across the board however they didn't really have a diverse repertoire of songs. Rodgers' vocal abilities also held back the band and their hits all had a very similar sound. By 1982, it wasn't going to work anymore.

Paul Rodgers stayed with his family and helped them grow for a while but an opportunity presented itself in 1983 that he couldn't turn down. Eric Clapton wanted to tour the country with one of the biggest charity collaborations in rock and roll history to create awareness for MS. Clapton hit the road with artists like Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, and, most important in this story, Jimmy Page. Paul and Jimmy started working on a new song live on-stage. Jimmy had an old song set aside from his Zeppelin days known as "Swan Song". Paul Rodgers wrote up some lyrics and created a new track called "Midnight Moonlight". Soon the pair decided to create a new band, which is where Paul Rodgers downside started presenting itself.

The Firm began as a new supergroup for Page to mold into one of the biggest bands in the world. He had one of the most successful singers of the 70's in Rodgers and two young up and coming musicians with Tony Franklin and Chris Slade. Jimmy took the latest technology and formed soundscapes unlike anything he did previously. Unfortunately the singing wasn't there along with the lyric writing. Paul Rodgers could write a great hit song but he didn't have a vast array of tricks with his lyrics. His voice seemed overpowered much of the time by the complex arrangements by Jimmy. The first album just had no hook to it and no bite. The second one had a little more strength to it, but by that time the band had lost their opportunity to find success.

So Paul Rodgers went out on his own for a while and continued to release albums every once in a while. Then Queen came calling looking for a singer. He joined the band and released on live album through Best Buy and gained success once again. His voice, however, does not get close to Freddie Mercury. Not even in the same building. Or country. Or planet. He can sing some of the songs well (Tie Your Mother Down isn't bad). For the most part, he just doesn't live up to Mercury at all.

The main issue with Rodgers is that his voice doesn't capture the listener. Singers like Robert Plant, Freddie Mercury, Bono, and Roger Daltry cut through the surrounding instruments no matter the song. Rodgers can be easily masked. His range is limited. He has no tricks up his sleeve. His lyrics are just average rock lyrics. I think he has some talent and he deserved recognition for his work with Free and Bad Company. Unfortunately those bands fit his very specific strengths and he's become one of the more overrated singers in rock history. Hopefully he doesn't bring a great band like Queen down the same path that the Firm went down.

Achilles Last Stand 2/12 (Back on Air!!)

Playlist:

- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)", Raising Sand
- Led Zeppelin, "Out on the Tiles", Led Zeppelin III
- Led Zeppelin, "The Ocean", The Song Remains the Same (2007)
- Robert Plant, "You Better Run", Sixty-Six to Timbuktu
- Robert Plant, "Morning Dew", Dreamland
- Bad Company, "Can't Enough of Your Love", Bad Company
- The Firm, "Spirit of Love", Mean Business
- Led Zeppelin, "Four Sticks", IV
- Led Zeppelin, "The Rain Song", Houses of the Holy
- Jimi Hendrix, "Hey Joe"
- Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog", The Song Remains the Same (2007)
- John Paul Jones, "Down to the River to Pray", Thunderthief
- Robert Plant, "Let The Boogie Woogie Roll", Sixty-Six to Timbuktu
- Led Zeppelin, "Sick Again", Physical Graffiti
- Robert Plant, "Heaven Knows", Now and Zen
- Led Zeppelin, "Ozone Baby", Coda
- Led Zeppelin, "Good Times, Bad Times", Led Zeppelin I
- Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick", Led Zeppelin II

I'm back on air!!! Hooray!!! A little bit of a post-Grammys celebration involved with a couple of track from Raising Sand. It's amazing how that album still has staying power to now. It came out in the summer of 2007. 2007!!! It's also the first show since the announcement that Zeppelin won't be getting together in any form after all. Robert's voice is just that important. I still hope Jimmy puts some tracks out. He was working on an album before the whole Led Zeppelin business came back up. So was Jonesy, who's really made his own voice known musically since he started releasing solo albums in 1999 and 2001. We'll see where all the boys end up. Maybe, just maybe, they will join together one more time. It's just getting a little too late.

I was also joined by Candace Silva and Sean Heary for a bit. Sean being Sean wanted to play some sound effects so I indulged him a little bit. Candace herself is a little crazy for a certain Bruce Springsteen. She's a little obsessed like I am. Ok, overly obsessed. To the point where she could have a Springsteen show. Listen to her show Oh Yes They Did every Tuesday (although it will be Monday with the 3 day weekend, long explaination) 2-4pm. They've got a pretty awesome blog going too.

Keep your eyes open for an expanded explanation of my disliking of Paul Rodgers. If you have any requests for the next show leave a comment. You can also call in during the show at 617-824-8852 for any requests. Only one rule: it has to be Zeppelin related. Of course you can research to find a band related to Zeppelin or you can suggest one and I could make a connection myself. In either case, come back next Thursday 2-4pm on WECB for the best of Led Zeppelin and beyond.

Who Called It!!!

Mr. Plant speaks!! And guess what. HE SAID EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS!!! Shocking right? Here's a link to the story on the Achilles Last Stand fansite:

http://www.led-zeppelin.org/news/index.php?m=2009news#020409a

He doesn't want to disappoint his fans. He wants something frash, something new, and something for the fans to look forward to rather than look into the past. Best line: "we've been incomplete now for 28 years." He misses his friend John Bonham and knows that he won't have the same experience without him. Robert likes to look ahead and find something new to work on rather than pull out the same material again and again. Just think about all the odd versions of Black Dog he's done in the past decade.

Robert won't get back together with Zeppelin for a full tour. Maybe another one off show, but not a tour.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at the Grammys

First of all, congrats to Plant and Krauss for winning FIVE Grammys (Record of the Year for "Please Read the Letter", Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for "Rich Woman", Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "Killing the Blues", Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album for Raising Sand, Album of the Year for Raising Sand).

As you can expect, I freaked out when they played. And when they won Album of the Year. Truthfully I wasn't sure if the collaboration would be accepted when they first released the album but it really got popular after a while. Plant can still sing (not the high notes but he makes his voice work) and really creates a unique sound with Krauss. I expect them to keep working together but knowing Plant he could go another direction without warning.

This Month in Led Zeppelin for February

So every month I will have a monthly update on what happened in Zeppelin history. I originally tried weekly last semester but it's hard when you get a date that's on the border of two weeks. The first show of the month will include a This Month in Zeppelin feature where all of the important events of the month are announced. If there's an extremely important date (i.e. big album releases, deaths, births, ect.), I will talk about it as close to the date as possible as well. The list will end up on the blog. So, without further ado, this month in Led Zeppelin...

• 1969, the band had their first foray into the Billboard Top 40. They would not leave until well after their breakup.
• Feb. 28 1970, their name changes for one night in Copenhagen to "The Nobs" so that Countess Von Zeppelin, upset about the band's first album cover, doesn't sue them for using her name.
• Feb. 14, 1971, the band's long hair prevents them from being allowed into Singapore.
• Feb. 16, 1972, the release date of Houses of the Holy is pushed back due to album sleeve issues.
• Feb. 24, 1975, Physical Graffiti is released and sells incredibly well with over 1 million pre-orders already in place.
• Feb. 16, 1978, John Bonham, Richard Cole, and Peter Grant face a judge for their roles in a brawl during a show in Oakland. They all receive commuted prison sentences and a fine.
• Feb. 15, 1982, Death Wish II, the soundtrack that Jimmy Page recorded for the Charles Bronson film of the same name, is released.
  
• Feb. 11, 1985, Jimmy Page's new band The Firm release their self-titled album
• Feb. 29, 1988, Robert Plant releases his 4th solo album (and 5th since Led Zeppelin broke up) Now and Zen
  
• Feb. 24, 1999, Jimmy and Robert win their first Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for their song "Most High"
• Feb. 13, 2005, Led Zeppelin receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.

The first show is Thursday 2-4pm. Listen for the same great Zeppelin goodies as usual and more only on WECB on wecb.emerson.edu.

Album of the Month for February: Physical Graffiti

For years Jimmy Page wanted to release a double album. He thought about releasing IV as a double album but the band didn't feel like it was appropriate. In 1975, the band had a few extra tracks on hand from their Bron-Yr-Aur cottage sessions and also recorded some new tracks. This ended up being Led Zeppelin's most diverse album with the blues, middle eastern, rock, and folk styles all blended together.

Release Date: February 24, 1975
Highest Billboard Chart Position: 1
Sales Status: 16x Platinum (17th best selling all time)
Other Distinctions: 70th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums

Track Listing
Disc 1
1. Custard Pie
This track plays off of many blues songs from the 1930's. This song never received much notoriety and tends to be overshadowed by the last three tracks on this disc. Robert Plant sampled it later during his solo career in "Tall Cool One"

2. The Rover
Another track that was overshadowed by the rest of the album, it had troubles right from the start. The guitar track was lost by one mixing engineer but another salvaged the track. The band never really played the song live either.

3. In My Time of Dying
The song dates back to Joshua White in 1933, however is better known for Bob Dylan's version. Jimmy Page's guitar just overpowers in the song and he found one of the best uses for his Danelectro guitar. It is the longest song in Zeppelin's studio collection at 11:05 and is a great example of how lose the album is. At the end you can hear them joking around after the track finished.

4. Houses of the Holy
Yes, Houses of the Holy is one of the outtake tracks. How can you tell? It was supposed to be the title track to the previous album Houses of the Holy however it didn't make the cut. In all the ways it doesn't fit Houses of the Holy it works perfectly for this album, especially for the first half. It's a fairly standard Zeppelin rock track.

5. Trampled Underfoot
Robert Plant had a fair number of issues with this song during live shows. He could never remember the lyrics, however he really never needed to. He's never been the best at annunciation anyway. It has a little bit of a funk feel with Jimmy's guitar as well and during live shows could go as long as ten minutes.

6. Kashmir
One of the best known Zeppelin songs ever, it actually originated as a way to tune Jimmy's Danelectro guitar that he used for his middle eastern tracks. On the drums, Bonham pulled off a trick where he would only hit the bass drum once but it would reverberate such that it sounded like he hit it twice. John Paul Jones' keyboard work created the unique sound scape that gave the song it's edge. Add on Plant's lyrical prowess and the song became an epic monster.

Disc 2
1. In The Light
The main inspiration for this song came from Robert and Jimmy's travels to the far East in Thailand and India. They looked for as many musical acts to record (although none of the recordings were ever used). It also shows Jones' musical ability as he recorded one of his finest songs on the synthesizer. It also signaled another direction that Led Zeppelin would follow later on In Through The Out Door.

2. Bron-Yr-Aur
This is a short instrumental track that showed up on The Song Remains The Same. It originated from their Bron-Yr-Aur Cottage sessions when they were in a cottage in the Welsh countryside in 1970. Jimmy never popped this song out on the road and tended to stick with his more successful and well known instrumental tracks "White Summer" and "Moby Dick".

3. Down By The Seaside
Another one of the band's outtakes, this track just missed being on the band's biggest album IV. Sadly it was left for this album instead. The song's influence comes from Neil Young, a musician that both Jimmy Page and Robert Plant admired. Plant was known for singing parts of Buffalo Springfield songs in concert and always kept track of the latest in American folk.

4. Ten Years Gone
An original to the album, the song is suspected to come from a track Jimmy wrote called "Swan Song" (although "Midnight Moonlight" from the Firm years later is suspected of also being from the same track). Jimmy's 14 guitar overdubs makes the instrumental parts highly complex and gives the song a lot of depth. Although Jimmy planned to make this an instrumental track, Robert whipped up some lyrics about an old girlfriend and they had another track for their album.

5. Night Flight
This one originates from their IV sessions. One of the few tracks that Jones gets the main credits for writing up to this point, it ended up mostly as a song to fill up space on the double album.

6. Wanton Song
This one came from a jam session and was rarely played by the band outside their 1975 tour.

7. Boogie With Stu
Yet another track from their IV days, this song includes someone outside the band. Ian Stewart of the Rolling Stones comes in with the boogie-woogie piano. The song never saw the light of day on-stage but it's a great example of how Led Zeppelin liked to connect with the musical styles that influenced them.

8. Black Country Woman
The track begins with Recording Engineer Eddie Kramer asking if they should keep rolling because of the plane flying overhead at the time. The song was recorded Mick Jagger's back yard using the Rolling Stones' mobile studio and they got some more audio than they wanted. It's very raw and adds an interesting dimension to an album that tends to be very polished.

9. Sick Again
This track written by Plant about groupies on the 1973 tour was one of the few from the second disc to make it to the stage. This song ended up being featured in most of their shows and can be seen on the Led Zeppelin DVD.

Random Fact:
On the inside sleeve the band included pictures from various sources, including one night when the band decided to dress up in drag. They were staying in LA and the groupies decided to help them out. Of course, Zeppelin being Zeppelin with a little help from their groupie friends, they came up with a fun idea. George Harrison waited in the lobby for a dinner arrangement while the band took pictures in drag for the album. They took advantage of their ridiculous outfits and surprised him by heading downstairs. Little did they know Stevie Wonder was joining them as well. The band got quite the shock and Wonder thought they dressed in drag as a trick on him.

New Show Time

Ok, I have the new time. The show will be on 2-4pm Thursdays starting February 12th. http://wecb.emerson.edu is the website to listen.