MOTHERSHIP

In my opinion Led Zeppelin was one of the best Heavy Prog bands. Not complex their music: only a mix between Prog Blues and Classic Music, good example of the nascent heavy metal, just to confuse too many people. Because, true or not true Led Zeppelin was the combination of Blues and Prog Blues of Jimmy Page and the classic instance of the bassplayer/ keyboardplayer John Paul Jones with the power of John Bonham (drums) and the Heavy Metal poetry of Robert Plant (voices). Of course the small use of keyboards are the creator of a big idea: Led Zeppelin invent Heavy Metal, as Deep Purple(but Mk1 and "Fireball" are Heavy Metal?) and Black Sabbath in UK and Blue Oyster Cult in USA, to cite name names known to all. But the weight of arrangements are important and these arrangements are not Rock. The final result is OK metal but not distant to the Symphonic POP of Procol Harum or the Heavy Prog of Uriah Heep or Tempest! I respect all the position of musical critics but I think that my position is not only my personal view.

It is true that Led Zeppelin was a border line band between Prog and Heavy Metal but in my view some parts of Led Zeppelin music was and is 100% Prog. If "Achilles last Stand" sound as a Iron Maiden song (or Saxon song or Judas Priest song) is true. But this song is Heavy Metal? In parts with vocals probably yes. But the soli and the long bridge between part 1 and part 2 of vocals are Prog. "Starway To Heaven" was a great ballad, clearly a prototype of Heavy Metal ballad. But this song was also a great Prog ballad. In my opinion "Babe I'm Gonna leave You" is one of the most sincere and great Folk Prog songs as "Ramble On" is a pure Heavy Prog songs, not distant from Tempest or Uriah Heep. And "Since I've Been Loving You"? Is another Ballad with no Rock arrangements, as "No Quarter" is a personal view of psychedelic Rock. Probably the more Heavy Metal song is "in The Evening", a sort of Rock with synths.

In my personal view I think that "Mothership" is only a "Greatest Hits", a personal view of Jimmy Page about Led Zeppelin music. Probably Page tries to bring out the 70's musical soul from the music of Led Zeppelin. And the magic and innovation is all here, present in tons. Since that this music is not old, this fact it is very obvious.