LED ZEPPELIN

The debut album from one of the biggest bands in rock history saw the light in Januari 1969, and it shook the world. Supported by continuous touring Led Zeppelin established themselves as one of the pioneers of heavy rock.

Not all the songs are their own writing, 2 cover songs were included (You Shook Me, and I Can't quit You Baby) both by Willie Dixon, as were 2 arangements of traditional folk songs included, of which Babe I'm Gonna Leave You later was contributed to Anne Bredon, who had composed it somewhere in the 50's. 50's american blues was a source of inspiration for early blues rock in general btw (see also, Cream, Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull and many others) . and a very apparant influence in Led Zeppelin's music (The Hunter part in How Many More Times was also not entirely original also).

Despite the large outside influence to their music (Cream, Beck, Dixon), Led Zeppelin were original in sound and how they transformed these influence to their heavy style. The album was recorded in a mere 9 days', hence the raw, warm almost live improvised feel to some of the pieces.

The music ranges from electric guitar blues on You Shook Me, I Can't Quit you Baby, and a more psychedelic aproach on Dazed and Confused and How Many More Times, in which Page used a violin bow to caress his strings, a legendary feature that had it's origin in the Yardbird days of Page. Also a more folky influence was heard in the beautifull ballad's Babe I'm Gonna Leave You and Your Time Is Gonna Come, and the accoustic instrumental Black Mountain Side (with additional tabla drums played by Viram jasani). And of course the Heavy metal side of Led Zeppelin was displayed in the agressive Communication Breakdown and the Yardbird styled poppish metal of Good Times Bad Times that opened the album.

I would not call this progressive rock, but it sure is one beast of a debut album, not to be missed by anyone who likes good music.