Led Zeppelin

Dick Heath wrote: the musical box wrote:   Led Zeppelin 1: This record pushed rock music into new territory: Nothing like this had ever been done before.   Can't agree. Several elements of early LZ albums, went back to Jeff Beck (in fact quite a few of us early LZ fans used look out for the lifts from earlier Beck albums, e.g. compare Hangsman's Knee and, Gallows Pole ) - and then Jeff Beck reckons he was trying do something wrt heavy rock along the lines of Vanilla Fudge (explaining Beck Boggert Appice). Have a listen to Jeff Beck's Truth (which had John Paul Jones and Keith Moon, the latter gave rise to LZ's name, in on the sessions) and certainly (Cosa Nostra) Beckola .

If Keith Moon and Page started a new band it would go down like a Lead Zeppelin.

I think it was Led Zeppelin's on stage performance that put them over anyone else in the beginning, because of their improvisation, although the album is also very electric.

Hangedman wrote: Rob The Plant wrote: Just because Axel Rose is a cheap ripoff of one of thegreatest vocalists in history, doesn't put his music anywhere close to Zeppelin. I've created a monster! to me axel rose is only more annoying than robert plant (yes even when i was a lad of 15 and zepplin was my favourite band i didnt like plant all that much). Im not arguing that guns and roses is better than zepplin, because they are far from being as good as zepplin was, they do share a lot with zepplin with style, and in no way was i saying guns and roses should be on the site i was making a joke..... like this thread is

alan_pfeifer wrote: 70soundquality, What is this song your'e talking about?  I don't think Zeppelin ever did a song named that.

You wouldnt think that if you havent heard it. Led Zeppelin, 1979, In through the out door. Carouselambra is the title.

Hangedman wrote: Just thought of something funny, if led zepplin is added as prog that would make guns and roses neo-prog. , my oh my this site would fall apart at the seams.

Just because Axel Rose is a cheap ripoff of one of thegreatest vocalists in history, doesn't put his music anywhere close to Zeppelin.

I've created a monster!

the musical box wrote: danbo wrote: Speaking of Led Zeppelin, shouldn't John Paul Jones be here? Zooma and the Thunderchief are much more progressive than LZ. I think JPJ was the prog link in Led Zep. Some of his keyboard work, especially No Quarter, was pretty over the top. A multi-instrumentalist who was very underappreciated in that band.   Very good point Danbo, JPJ's solo material is very progressive: kind of a sophisticated prog metal feel to some of it?

Actually JPJ's solo stuff (from what i remember, its been three years since ive heard it and it was only assorted things) is much more "prog" than anything zepplin ever did.

I really dont understand how people can can Zeppelin "A blues rock band", it seems so unfair to me... They started off as blues rock and then pushed the bounderies of what music was.  The thing is , Zep's best known material is their blues stuff, but they did so much more; i know no band that encompassed more musical styles. Also, contrary to popular belief they arent a classic rock band!!! How can one put them in the same grouping as Ac/Dc, The Rolling Stones, and The Eagles for that matter?!?! They arent Prog as we know it on this site, but they are indeed the most progressive band in rock history and should be up here just for that. More and more it seems band that"progressed" are being added, so why not Zep: I say we rewrite history: Here are some resongs why they should be added, first an album overview:

Led Zeppelin 1: This record pushed rock music into new territory: Nothing like this had ever been done before. Around this period, Zeppelin also developed a strong following for their live shows: Ian Anderson even admits that Zeppelin blew Tull of the stage many time over... This is mostly a "blues" record, but consider "Dazed and Confused": it takes a blues rock riff and turns it into an intense experience: THERES A BOW SOLO ON GUITAR FOR GODS SAKES!!!!....how is this "Simple rock"?

Led Zeppelin 2: No argument here, a simple hard rock album, NOT PROG.

Led Zeppelin 3: Here we Zeppelin shaping a more unique and distinctive sound. "The Immigrant Song" is a perfect example of them moving away from their blues roots and PROGRESSING. Half of the album is also "folk rock" and on par with anything The Moody Blues or Jethro Tull did during this period, this is not yet a prog album, but the signs are definately showing.

Led Zeppelin 4: The classic... It starts off with two easy and accessable "RADIO friendly" tracks and then becomes a pure progressive album. I challenge any one to say that any off "The Battle of Evermore", "Stairway to Heaven" or "Going To California" isnt prog. LISTEN TO IT! Again, immense progress is shown: This album is leaps an bounds above Zeppelin 3.

 Houses of The Holy: In my opinion the best and most experimental  Zeppelin album. THis entire album (with the exeption of  "the Ocean") is what we would call "Prog". "No Quarter" is on par with any other quintessential prog group's epic: The lyrics are special, the keyboard is superb; the guitar is perfection.The mellotron in the "rain song" as moving as anything i can think of. Let us also consider the cover and the sleeve: Would you see this on an Ac/Dc album? I think not. This album is as progressive as Yes, Pink Floyd or Genesis; its just more accesable and less bombastic.

Physical Grafitti: This double album features Zeppelin exploring even more musical styles than ever before: eastern influence, southern blues, celtic: even a song begining with a simulated bagpipe. "In The Light" and "Kashmir are the highlights, and guess what they are? PROG.

Again im sorry, this is getting long winded, but i have to make my point.

Presence: What seems to be a basic blues rock album is accualy a very complex record under the surface. The bulk of the recrd revolves around the lengthy "Achilles last Stand" and "Tea For ONe":The former being incredibly complex and refering to Greek Mythology(what a classic rock thing to do) and the latter being a blues epic which raised the bar on the genre. We also have complex timing and counter rythem in the bridge of "Nobody's fault but mine". PROG

(sorry if im pissing any one of, but this is the only way to show the bulk of their material is progressive).

In Through The Out Door: a very JPJ/ synth oriented album. It would have been nice to see Zeppelin head into this direction, but unfortunately, John Bonham's death prevented this from happening. It's Zeppelin with heavy orchestration: and i do believe it is once again prog.

Coda: a compilation of old stuff...doesnt really count.

 

Other Reasons?

im sick of typing....later

 

 

zep is DEFINITELY prog. Have you guys even heard their 1979 album? Cerouselambra is a prog song. If it isn't a prog song, then Im not a human being sitting here typing this out.

I dont mind, but this site is pretty bad at picking bands to be labeled as prog.

I dont really like zeppelin, but songs like that, and The Song remains the same, and achielis last stand, etc sound VERY prog to me. Albiet very simple prog, I wouldnt consider a band like Eloy to be "real" heavy duty prog since it is quite rocking and simple.  What about the rain song??? That is a long winded piece with beautiful chord shape/changes with MELLOTRON! Definitely a prog-ish band in my book. Just not the greatest writers all the time

arcer wrote: The only song which Zeppelin ever openly admitted to being prog-influenced was 'The Song Remains The Same' which Jimmy knowingly constructed as an excercise in prog rock-ism.

True, but I'd say Zeppelin had more prog moments than that. For me, Kashmir is their proggiest moment, and Houses of the Holy is their proggiest album.

Like many others in this thread, I too genuflect at the altar of Zep, and if my friends back in the 70s were anything to go by Zeppelin were huge with Prog fans.

Having got all that off my chest, I don't think Zeppelin was ever a prog band in the sense that it is understood on these boards. They took hard rock into places it had never been before, but they remained a hard rock band whether they were blending it with folk, world or any other influences.

threefates wrote: Rob The Plant wrote: I know, I just like to promote Robert Plant. I understand, I like to do the same with Greg... the difference is that Greg was in a prog  band...

I see your point.

I know, I just like to promote Robert Plant.