“Led Zeppelin” by Led Zeppelin - album review

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TJR says

Following the virtual dissolution of The Yardbirds in August ‘68, guitarist Jimmy Page wasted no time in re-recruiting. In this regard, his hand was forced as The Yardbirds were still contractually obliged to fulfil touring obligations. As soon as that had been achieved, the new quartet took the decision to start afresh as Led Zeppelin. The forced speed at which this chain of events unfolded was perhaps a blessing in disguise; this new group literally shaped their album in a month or two on tour, stepped off a plane, laid it down in a few studio weeks and had an LP in the stores within 4 months of first playing together. At the time of release in January ’69, the dynamic four were: Robert Plant (20, lead vocals, harmonica); Jimmy Page (25, acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, backing vocals); John Bonham (20, drums, timpani, backing vocals) and John Paul Jones (23, bass guitar, Hammond organ, backing vocals). Said Jimmy: “For material, we obviously went right down to our blues roots. I still had plenty of Yardbirds riffs left over. By the time Jeff [Beck] did go, it was up to me to come up with a lot of new stuff. It was this thing where [Eric] Clapton set a heavy precedent in the Yardbirds which Beck had to follow and then it was even harder for me, in a way, because the second lead guitarist had suddenly become the first. And I was under pressure to come up with my own riffs. On the first LP I was still heavily influenced by the earlier days. I think it tells a bit, too…” It’s hard to put my finger on why Led Zepp succeed where so many RAWK groups fail. They’re heavy but cool, not too flashy and seem to have some sort of secret magical powers which are hard to nail down in ink. I feel Led Zeppelin…

The Jukebox Rebel
09–Aug–2008

Tracklist
A1 [02:46] 4.2.png Led Zeppelin - Good Times Bad Times (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham) Rock
A2 [06:41] 7.7.png Led Zeppelin - Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Anne Bredon) Folk Rock / Americana
A3 [06:28] 7.2.png Led Zeppelin - You Shook Me (Willie Dixon, J.B. Lenoir) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A4 [06:26] 8.7.png Led Zeppelin - Dazed And Confused (Jake Holmes, Robert Plant) Rock
B1 [04:34] 6.5.png Led Zeppelin - Your Time Is Gonna Come (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones) Folk Rock / Americana
B2 [02:14] 6.5.png Led Zeppelin - Black Mountain Side (Jimmy Page) Folk
B3 [02:27] 5.6.png Led Zeppelin - Communication Breakdown (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham) Rock
B4 [04:42] 5.7.png Led Zeppelin - I Can’t Quit You Baby (Willie Dixon) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B5 [08:28] 7.6.png Led Zeppelin - How Many More Times (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham) Blues Rock / Soul Rock

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