FIRST IN A MULTI-PART SERIES
For me, the term heavy metal is like the proverbial scratching of fingernails on the chalkboard.
And that statement is especially true when it comes to someone who wants to put Led Zeppelin in that particular box.
Blues-influenced rock and roll is a way better way to describe the four-man unit. Hard rock? Yes. But they gave many, many soft and progressive and folk touches when they were putting out their music from 1968 to 1980. And that music holds up in 2021 better than any cactus in 100-degree weather. … Analogies, sometimes, aren’t my strength, but you get the picture.
If you like rock and roll and you’ve never listened to Led Zeppelin, I suggest you give it a try. Make sure you play it loud.
And if you haven’t rock and rolled in a while, 97X (a division of BedrockSportsHawaii.com) is bringing you a multi-part series dedicated to the band.
The plan is to bring you one song per part (maybe not every day, but close to it). And it will be anywhere from seven to nine parts. More on that later).
And while I do love Led Zeppelin’s more mellow tunes like “Friends” and “Thank You” and “Tangerine,” I’d rather present to you the good ol’ rip-roaring stuff — one from each of the band’s first seven albums and possibly from the eighth and ninth, where a fitting example is harder to find. These songs to be featured are my personal favorites in this category: relentless, hard driving, mostly fast, and above all — grooving.
Also, for the most part, I am staying away from big hits like “Stairway to Heaven” and “Black Dog” and “Rock and Roll” and “Kashmir” because you’ve probably heard all of those a zillion times. Or, if you haven’t heard those and this article somehow gets you to check out more of Led Zeppelin, then you WILL definitely come across those.
With all of that in mind, the first offering in this series from Led Zeppelin I may look familiar to some of the readers here. That’s because I used it a few months ago in a regular Bedrock Sports 97X feature called “Song of the Daze.”
One guarantee: As we continue with the series, the other featured songs will not be repeats from “Song of the Daze.”
OK, so here we go. Get ready to turn it up and feel the power!!!!! And enjoy by clicking on the album cover below.
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“COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN”
Led Zeppelin I
From 97X’s “Song of the Daze months ago: You can argue with me all you want, but Led Zeppelin IS the gold standard of rock and roll, Now moving on, expect to see more Led Zeppelin tunes in this spot. The music holds up, or, as one of their song titles explains, “The Song Remains the Same.” Today’s offering starts with a hammering guitar by the one and only Jimmy Page, but the high energy continues throughout. And the angst!!! Ever have a communication breakdown? Some things to listen for: the frolicking bass line that stays in the background but beckons your ear to join the groove (best with ear buds on); Page’s twangy, haphazard and understated lead guitar while singer Robert Plant is absolutely WAILING, and of course, the whole reason for the breakdown revealed in the outro: “I want you to love me all night.”
—Nick Abramo
