Led Zeppelin debut album

[Skullmiester]

It's 50 years this month that the first Led Zeppelin album was released in the USA. Here in the UK it was March 1969 before it came out, not that I was born then.

For any Zep fans on here - where does it rank for you out of all their albums and did you ever see them live in the states?

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Out of all the albums that's a tough call, I wouldn't put it at the top but probably closer to the bottom which doesn't mean it stinks just means how much of a great band they were, that and I always preferred the latter stuff especially the stuff with the longer tracks, In the Light/Kashmir/Achilles Last Stand/etc. I was only 13 when came to OKC the last time as Zeppelin proper which was the spring of 77. I wasn't allowed to go to concerts for a couple more years. I have seen Plant 3 times solo, Page with the Firm and Page/Plant 98 which were all very good especially the latter 2. Still the best band for my 02.

 

[lukin2006]

I like all of Zeps albums. But for me, I can not rank one better than the others.

 

[Skullmiester]

Out of all the albums that's a tough call, I wouldn't put it at the top but probably closer to the bottom which doesn't mean it stinks just means how much of a great band they were, that and I always preferred the latter stuff especially the stuff with the longer tracks, In the Light/Kashmir/Achilles Last Stand/etc. I was only 13 when came to OKC the last time as Zeppelin proper which was the spring of 77. I wasn't allowed to go to concerts for a couple more years. I have seen Plant 3 times solo, Page with the Firm and Page/Plant 98 which were all very good especially the latter 2. Still the best band for my 02.

It's so tough with zep, my favourite songs and albums change from week to week. I was 9 when Knebworth happened and was too young to, my older brother was there lucky man.
Like you I've managed to see Plant on every one of his solo tours plus Page and Plant, The Firm and Jimmy's Outrider tour that I loved.

There's some brilliant live recordings surfacing now, a recent one from Landover in 77 is on youtube and is immense.

 

[CouchCoach]

I really didn't become aware of them until II and that was full move into the harder side of the Rock genre. Whole Lotta Love has never not stopped me from pausing to appreciate how that opened a whole new world to me. The first time I heard it, I was happily hooked.

Have to say Physical Graffiti is my favorite but not by much because I never heard a Zep album that wasn't good. Every album showed their creativity and versatility.

They were the perfect band. Two of the members considered at the top of their craft and no better front man than Robert Plant, imo. And Page was a master in the studio, on the other side of the glass. It was his tweaking with their sound that created that unique sound.

The one thing that's always pissed me off is when people who should know better like Rolling Stone, Spin and Billboard call them Heavy Metal. Some even claiming they created that. Nonsense, I say. Black Sabbath created it and Tommy Iommi coined the term.

Led Zeppelin was just pure Rock with the ability to make acoustic as powerful as the fully blown tunes. For a band of 4 and 1 doesn't play an instrument, they were magic. The best Rock band ever.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

It's so tough with zep, my favourite songs and albums change from week to week. I was 9 when Knebworth happened and was too young to, my older brother was there lucky man.
Like you I've managed to see Plant on every one of his solo tours plus Page and Plant, The Firm and Jimmy's Outrider tour that I loved.

There's some brilliant live recordings surfacing now, a recent one from Landover in 77 is on youtube and is immense.

Sounds very clear, will give it a full listen when I get more time this evening.

 

[Skullmiester]

Sounds very clear, will give it a full listen when I get more time this evening.

It's immense, with the headphones on listening to the start of Ten Years Gone it sounds like you are sitting on stage.

 

[Runwildboys]

I really didn't become aware of them until II and that was full move into the harder side of the Rock genre. Whole Lotta Love has never not stopped me from pausing to appreciate how that opened a whole new world to me. The first time I heard it, I was happily hooked.

Have to say Physical Graffiti is my favorite but not by much because I never heard a Zep album that wasn't good. Every album showed their creativity and versatility.

They were the perfect band. Two of the members considered at the top of their craft and no better front man than Robert Plant, imo. And Page was a master in the studio, on the other side of the glass. It was his tweaking with their sound that created that unique sound.

The one thing that's always pissed me off is when people who should know better like Rolling Stone, Spin and Billboard call them Heavy Metal. Some even claiming they created that. Nonsense, I say. Black Sabbath created it and Tommy Iommi coined the term.

Led Zeppelin was just pure Rock with the ability to make acoustic as powerful as the fully blown tunes. For a band of 4 and 1 doesn't play an instrument, they were magic. The best Rock band ever.

Agree with everything but Plant's status as a front man. As much as I love his vocals and his personality in interviews, I find him pretty boring to watch.

 

[Skullmiester]

I really didn't become aware of them until II and that was full move into the harder side of the Rock genre. Whole Lotta Love has never not stopped me from pausing to appreciate how that opened a whole new world to me. The first time I heard it, I was happily hooked.

Have to say Physical Graffiti is my favorite but not by much because I never heard a Zep album that wasn't good. Every album showed their creativity and versatility.

They were the perfect band. Two of the members considered at the top of their craft and no better front man than Robert Plant, imo. And Page was a master in the studio, on the other side of the glass. It was his tweaking with their sound that created that unique sound.

The one thing that's always pissed me off is when people who should know better like Rolling Stone, Spin and Billboard call them Heavy Metal. Some even claiming they created that. Nonsense, I say. Black Sabbath created it and Tommy Iommi coined the term.

Led Zeppelin was just pure Rock with the ability to make acoustic as powerful as the fully blown tunes. For a band of 4 and 1 doesn't play an instrument, they were magic. The best Rock band ever.

That's as good a summary as I've read. It was a perfect alignment of the planets when they all found each other (or should I say Jimmy found them) and each member has confirmed that the connection was instant, they immediately knew this was something special.

I liked the fact that they didn't do tv or pander to the media, it made them an underground band, certainly in the UK. I can remember talking to my cousin in about 1982 and she asked me about the music I liked and when I said Led Zeppelin she asked 'Who's he?'

Like you say heavy metal they most certainly were not.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Agree with everything but Plant's status as a front man. As much as I love his vocals and his personality in interviews, I find him pretty boring to watch.

Ok shame on you, you have just been banished to the 7th level of hades aka the Nickleback/Cleveland Browns forums

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

That's as good a summary as I've read. It was a perfect alignment of the planets when they all found each other (or should I say Jimmy found them) and each member has confirmed that the connection was instant, they immediately knew this was something special.

I liked the fact that they didn't do tv or pander to the media, it made them an underground band, certainly in the UK. I can remember talking to my cousin in about 1982 and she asked me about the music I liked and when I said Led Zeppelin she asked 'Who's he?'

Like you say heavy metal they most certainly were not.

Yep, Page and Jones had played on 100's of studio sessions before Zeppelin, Plant had a wonderful voice/lyricist and Bonham well he was a magnificent drummer. Very powerful and also had a light touch. As much as it pains me to say it they did the right thing by not continuing without LeBeast.

 

[Runwildboys]

Ok shame on you, you have just been banished to the 7th level of hades aka the Nickleback/Cleveland Browns forums

Seriously, what does he do but make effeminate motions with his hands and hips? Even Mick Jagger looks like he's putting in some effort. Freddie Mercury put on a show, as did Bon Scott, Ozzie, Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, etc. To me, Plant just looks like he's doing karaoke in a nightclub....but I love to listen to him.

 

[Runwildboys]

That's as good a summary as I've read. It was a perfect alignment of the planets when they all found each other (or should I say Jimmy found them) and each member has confirmed that the connection was instant, they immediately knew this was something special.

I liked the fact that they didn't do tv or pander to the media, it made them an underground band, certainly in the UK. I can remember talking to my cousin in about 1982 and she asked me about the music I liked and when I said Led Zeppelin she asked 'Who's he?'

Like you say heavy metal they most certainly were not.

"Who's he?"........Are you sure you weren't talking about Jethro Tull?

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Seriously, what does he do but make effeminate motions with his hands and hips? Even Mick Jagger looks like he's putting in some effort. Freddie Mercury put on a show, as did Bon Scott, Ozzie, Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, etc. To me, Plant just looks like he's doing karaoke in a nightclub....but I love to listen to him.

He's Robert Plant, the golden God. He can do w/e wants and still looks cool doing it. And asides the girls loved that cucumber he had stuffed in those tight jeans of his If i had to pick one frontman it would be David Lee Roth especially during those early years{74-79or so}.

 

[Skullmiester]

Yep, Page and Jones had played on 100's of studio sessions before Zeppelin, Plant had a wonderful voice/lyricist and Bonham well he was a magnificent drummer. Very powerful and also had a light touch. As much as it pains me to say it they did the right thing by not continuing without LeBeast.

Yeah they absolutely done the right thing, it could never work with a replacement drummer as there understanding on stage was almost telepathic.

Having said that I think with Jason coming of time and after a respectful period of time having passed by the time of the 02 show there was a chance then to do a bit more. They played so well and as Jonesy said it felt like the opening night of a tour but Robert was having none of it.

I'm torn between it being an entertainment industry and he could make millions of people happy vs it will take him back to those of losing his best friend and other dark times he went through.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Yeah they absolutely done the right thing, it could never work with a replacement drummer as there understanding on stage was almost telepathic.

Having said that I think with Jason coming of time and after a respectful period of time having passed by the time of the 02 show there was a chance then to do a bit more. They played so well and as Jonesy said it felt like the opening night of a tour but Robert was having none of it.

I'm torn between it being an entertainment industry and he could make millions of people happy vs it will take him back to those of losing his best friend and other dark times he went through.

Yes Percy is a weird cat...
On one hand he wants nothing to do with Zeppelin but on the other hand plays world music version of Zep songs in his live show. I don't get him sometimes.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Agree with everything but Plant's status as a front man. As much as I love his vocals and his personality in interviews, I find him pretty boring to watch.

Yeah, the greatest lead vocalist of all time was boring.......

 

[Runwildboys]

You need back-up dancers and choreography?

Lol...No, but just standing there, limp wristed and shifting your weight from one hip to the other occasionally makes me wanna watch the drummer.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Lol...No, but just standing there, limp wristed and shifting your weight from one hip to the other occasionally makes me wanna watch the drummer.

......and watching Jimmy Page play guitar isn't too boring either.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

Zeppelin I was my favorite album because I felt it was most pure blues album they made. Zeppelin III was my next favorite just because of how successfully they transitioned to a new sound. I still say How Many More Times track 1 album I is the most pure Zeppelin sounding song ever recorded.