Led Zepplin marathon

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #20 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 01:01 am »

Quote from: VOLKS on 23 Aug 2010, 05:28 pm

Led Zepplin was the greatest rock band of the 70's?..........I would beg beyond belief to differ.......take away Stairway to heaven and you have a band that would have been half as popular as their were...

Well said, Led Zep is nothing more than poorly recorded noise to my ears. Clearly the most overrated schlock of the 70's.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #21 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 02:54 am »

A lot of bands have that one song that brings them huge recognition and tons of fair weather fans. A lot of people buy that one album for that song, and no other albums or maybe one more at most from that band. Most hard core fans of the band end up hating that one song because it gets over played.

A lot of Metallica fans hate Enter Sandman (including me).
Same goes for Nirvana fans with Smells Like Teen Spirit, Pearl Jam with Jeremy, Radiohead with Creep. That list could go on and on.

Saying those bands wouldn't be half as popular without that one song is usually a stretch. Saying they wouldn't be as good or are over rated because of that one song is absurd.

Led Zeppelin has a huge catalog that's greatness/creativity/influence/etc. wouldn't be effected in the least bit if they didn't release Stairway.

The measure of greatness in my book is how many bands list someone as an influence.

I understand why people like The Who. No where near as great as Led Zeppelin, even if Stairway was never written IMO. Just an opinion, so please don't get all worked up about that one. No way to prove or disprove it.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #22 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 02:55 am »

I think the highlight of The Song Remains the Same is Since I've Been Loving You.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #23 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 03:12 am »

I never understood the popularity of Stairway to Heaven.

For me Pink Floyd is the best and most creative band of the 70's. Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were and still are more popular and respected than the sum of everything LZ by the vast majority.

Mag · « **Reply #24 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 04:46 am »

Quote from: Stu Pitt on 24 Aug 2010, 02:55 am

I think the highlight of The Song Remains the Same is Since I've Been Loving You.

There's a version of that song on Jimmy Page & Robert Plant - No Quarter, you might like. I think its better done.

There is also a kick butt version of Kashmire. I heard this on the car radio,coming back from an outta town trip in the taxi. Damn that was good I thought, so bought the album. Only 4 good songs on it though IMO.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 09:33 am »

I used to like Kashmir until I heard it a million times. I think No Quarter is the Plant/Page album with the Middle Eastern back up band, right? It was a good version IMO. Had I not heard the song a million times, I'd like it. Not as over played as Stairway, and a better song IMO, but still played too much in.

It's kinda like Seek and Destroy by Metallica. It used to be one of my favorites until they played a 45 minute version of it when I saw them in 1992. Combine that with them currently closing every concert with it for the past 10 years or so, and I'm done with it. It's a fast forward just about every time I listen to Kill 'Em All.

BobC · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 12:11 pm »

Man, I love Led Zep. Probably my favorite. Not sure I'd be bold enough to make a blanket statement and say they were "the best of the 70's" because everyone has different tastes, but they are in my mind. I never could get into the Who (maybe should give them another listen to be fair).

Lots of great tunes: Immigrant Song, Battle of Evermore, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Going to California, Misty Mountian Hop, Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Achilles Last Stand, In the Evening, The Ocean, In the Light.

....but, even though I like it, I do usually skip past Stairway

Larkston Zinaspic · « **Reply #27 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 12:58 pm »

Quote from: Stu Pitt on 24 Aug 2010, 02:55 am

I think the highlight of The Song Remains the Same is Since I've Been Loving You.

It's an 'unauthorized', illegitimate recording, but this is my favorite rendition of "Since I've Been Loving You":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaqZhaiK4vI

woodsyi · « **Reply #28 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 01:17 pm »

Stairway to Heaven was the slow dance song of choice at my high school prom. My wife, who loves Zep, could not believe that everyone slow danced to it at our 20 year reunion. She is from San Diego and I grew up in Northern Virginia. The other "slow dance" song was Free Bird.

So, I have rather fond memories of these songs.

rcag_ils · « **Reply #29 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 02:57 pm »

For the people who lived through the LZ era know that LZ is more than just "Stairway". Saying which band is better than LZ is totally pointless, it's just like trying to convince a diehard John Denver fan how great Jimmy Page is.

Quote

but Bonham on Zep 2's Moby Dick shows the limitations of power in a drummer's arsenal) I have no idea (or real interest) in who was the best band of any era,

Have you heard the live version if "Moby Dick" in Song Remains the Same? Sometimes live version is much better than the studio version. I think the guitar solo in live version of No Quarter is much better than the solo in live version of Stairway.

I saw Page & Plant in 1995, I am sorry to say that they didn't sound anything like LZ, the lady who sang "Battle of Evermore" with Plant couldn't really sing. Kashmire sounded nice with the orchestra behind them, however.

Yes, Stairway to Heaven was overplayed, but Led Zeppelin is definitely not overrated. And Led Zeppelin is not heavy metal either in my opinion, but headbangers often link LZ with their headbanging gods together.

Anonamemouse · « **Reply #30 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 03:03 pm »

Remember the show they did in London? At the O2?
I was there...

And not very impressed...

Personally I kinda think that Led Zep only got their appreciation through Stairway, when the band suddenly got loads of airplay. The only interesting thing that came from them after that was Big Log, the rest really is not that special in my opinion...

I'd go for The Who a million times over Zep.

Berto · « **Reply #31 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 04:03 pm »

Interesting to read all the various opinions.

Floyd, Zep, Who, throw the Stones in there too, whether we like them or not are all legendary superbands. All are talented, unique, have soft ballads, and can seriously ROCK!!

I do agree w/rcag that the Zepp show I saw in mid 90s (w/the orchestra) was nothing like old live Zep.

On a side note: I did see Van Halen at MSG about a year or so ago and they were awesome. Was funny cause my friend I went with, said Eddy has arthritis and he can't play Hot for teacher or jam like he used too. Eddy played Hot for teacher, he played eruption, to the point where I looked at my friend in disbelief.

He was like " I heard wrong , he is amazing!!"

woodsyi · « **Reply #32 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 04:44 pm »

Perhaps Eddie turned his life around after Valerie left.

In '81 boys worshiped Eddie and girls dug David Lee

. So, they got played at parties, a lot.

tfroncek · « **Reply #33 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 05:07 pm »

Anything by LZ or Van Halen. I turn these up on the car radio. Somehow less is more. All compressed and rolled off and I enjoy it. However, I won't play these on the home system. Led Zepplin stuff is all flat sound stage with no depth whatsoever. I got a couple of Van Halen's CD's, HDCD, digitally remastered and they are horrid SQ.

Who's next would be a great CD except they had worn out the master tape before they made the CD. It's just endless hiss from the tape. Too bad!

Most of this is not the band's fault although I think Jimmy Page gets the discredit for the recording quality of LZ as he personally got involved with engineering them.

My biggest lament around a missed opportunity for better sound quality for older recordings is all of the 96/24 digital remastering that went on a decade ago and it almost all got released on redbook CD only.

Tim

1oldguy · « **Reply #34 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 05:35 pm »

One band to rule them all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjxdmsXzwmQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XOY7lsBVpo&feature=related

rcag_ils · « **Reply #35 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 05:35 pm »

Quote

Led Zepplin stuff is all flat sound stage with no depth whatsoever.

It's very true, their studio stuff wasn't very well recorded. I have the first pressing of Song Remains the Same which I bought in 1976 or 1977, I played the hell out of it, it has very good sound stage and depth, and it still sounds pretty good after all these years. Then I bought two more copies in the late 80's (I suspect they are not the first pressings), and they sound kind of flat.

I have the newer Classic pressing reissues, but they haven't been opened, so I don't know how they sound. I have the reissue "Song Remains the Same" CDs, but some tracks are different cuts from the original 1976 lps, so I am not used to them.

mvwhiting_83 · « **Reply #36 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 07:50 pm »

I personally love Led Zeppelin... It is perfectly understandable if you don't like them. That said you cannot deny their variety and mastery. Folk, Blues, heavy metal, rock, country, funk.... They did it all and did it all well.

As for their fidelity what Rock band out of the 60's and 70's can be characterized as being absolute reference fidlity.

I had an argument with someone the other day, he was saying Zep is the worst of all time. I just walked away. So the facts speak for themselves and all of the above is merely hyperbole.

Great Lyrics from Plant,
Legendary Riffs from Page,
Most underrated bassist keyboard player ever in Jones,
Monster behind the kit in Bonham.

STFU about Stairway to Heaven.

ACHILLES LAST STAND IS THE MOST LEGENDARY EPIC EVER.

mvwhiting_83 · « **Reply #37 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 07:57 pm »

Quote from: Berto on 24 Aug 2010, 04:03 pm

Interesting to read all the various opinions.

Floyd, Zep, Who, throw the Stones in there too, whether we like them or not are all legendary superbands. All are talented, unique, have soft ballads, and can seriously ROCK!!

I do agree w/rcag that the Zepp show I saw in mid 90s (w/the orchestra) was nothing like old live Zep.

On a side note: I did see Van Halen at MSG about a year or so ago and they were awesome. Was funny cause my friend I went with, said Eddy has arthritis and he can't play Hot for teacher or jam like he used too. Eddy played Hot for teacher, he played eruption, to the point where I looked at my friend in disbelief. He was like " I heard wrong , he is amazing!!"

I saw on their last tour with Hagar, and they were all awesome as well. Eddie was unbelievably drunk but that dude can just falt out play..... I love both Roth and Hagar... But VH is dead to me without the founding member - Michael Anthony.

Laundrew · « **Reply #38 on:** 24 Aug 2010, 11:39 pm »

Quote from: Wind Chaser on 24 Aug 2010, 03:12 am

I never understood the popularity of Stairway to Heaven.

For me Pink Floyd is the best and most creative band of the 70's. Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall were and still are more popular and respected than the sum of everything LZ by the vast majority.

I enjoy listening to either band from time to time, I do not really consider myself a huge fan of LZ or PF. However, I would agree with you that PF is a superior group - I think that they have much greater “depth.”

Be well...

vegasdave · « **Reply #39 on:** 25 Aug 2010, 08:19 am »

Led Zeppelin sounds good! Especially on VINYL. It rocks with the 4BSST!!!