MonkeyOnMyBack Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I'm sure this has been addressed before, so I welcome the link to an existing thread.. but has it ever really been discussed why this song was not released on LZIII or any other album? It really is such an amazing song, I'm curious about the decision process to exclude what may have been the best song of that bunch from that album, or any subsequent releases until the 4 CD collection. Thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef free Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Why did Hats Off to (Roy) Harper make it over Hey Hey, What Can I Do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I'm sure this has been addressed before, so I welcome the link to an existing thread.. but has it ever really been discussed why this song was not released on LZIII or any other album? It really is such an amazing song, I'm curious about the decision process to exclude what may have been the best song of that bunch from that album, or any subsequent releases until the 4 CD collection. Thanks...It was the B -side of Immigrant Song (1970)and was also on the album "the New Age of Atlantic"(1972), so though I understand the basis of your question, it was in fact released by the band well before the 4CD collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Why did Hats Off to (Roy) Harper make it over Hey Hey, What Can I Do? I've always felt that LZIII should have ended with HHWCID because of the strange way the song ends. It would have been perfect for the formula of one of my favorite Zep albums. HOTRH is more of an outtake song imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychedelic Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I also want to add Poor Tom which was also recorded during Zeppelin 3 sessions, which also would not have seen an album release if Bonham had not passed i think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezer Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Why did Hats Off to (Roy) Harper make it over Hey Hey, What Can I Do?I actually think the band made the right decision. Hats Off to (Roy) Harper was a tribute to Roy Harper. They could've swapped it with Hey Hey but what's the point in releasing a tribute song on a B-side to a single? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phredzeppelin63 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I got the single on an import rack with a bunch of marked down lps for 1 dollar in the 1970s! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenman Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I don't think its ever been officially confirmed but my guess was that it was originally recorded to be the bands first UK single. I remember someone connected with the band stated they'd recorded a song with that in mind and Hey Hey What Can I Do sounds more "pop singlish" than anything else they recorded in that era. If Grant convinced them it was better not to release any singles to retain the album only mystique then it probabley ended up just used in Japan and then stuck in the vault. Its a great track but honiestly I can see why, its just so different to typical Zep that I'm not sure I can see it fitting on any of their albums. LZ 3 for example might have been semi acoustic but those tracks are not really catchy pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyOnMyBack Posted May 14, 2013 Author Share Posted May 14, 2013 It's just a great song. I love the melody, the mix of instruments, Bonham's drums (as usual), and it is definitely one of my absolute favorite vocal performances. To me, it was recorded right at the apex vocally with Robert, where he could hit those high notes with absolute purity and power, while at the same time combining a very pure vocal run that is more remniscient of his later vocal smoothness, a la the HoneyDrippers. A perfect mix of the best of both worlds, just an awesome song. I love it so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLee93 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I too wish they had thrown in HHWCID and Poor Tom on Zepp III in place of HOTRH. I believe that it would have been my top album also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeydrip79 Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 Agreed! HHWCID is a damn good song about a man in a highly dysfunctional relationship and one of my all time favorite Zep tunes. I bought a cd that had HHWCID and Immigrant Song on it in a cardboard case in maybe 1999-2000. Still have it; here it is.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesseNoah Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I might be the only guy in the world who likes HOTRH! Zeppelin couldn't have nailed that nasty acoustic delta blues sound any better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I might be the only guy in the world who likes HOTRH!Zeppelin couldn't have nailed that nasty acoustic delta blues sound any better!I love it - there are lots of us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledded1 Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I really like the fact that it wasn't on the album, it made it more exciting to buy the New age of Atlantic. Having that on was like buying a Zep album in it's own way. Nothing wrong with Hats off cos it fits so well into the 3rd album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLee93 Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 I take back what I said yesterday. I really do like HOTRH. Instead, I wish they had thrown in HHWCID and Poor Tom on Zepp III while keeping HOTRH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 Remember how wild the crowd went when they (Jimmy and Robert) played it at the Orlando '95 show? Great song, it's the opener on an acoustic Zep disc I made for the car - perfect! My father had the original single in his collection I inherited, along with a mono version single of WLL/LLM. It's just a great song. I love the melody, the mix of instruments, Bonham's drums (as usual), and it is definitely one of my absolute favorite vocal performances. To me, it was recorded right at the apex vocally with Robert, where he could hit those high notes with absolute purity and power, while at the same time combining a very pure vocal run that is more remniscient of his later vocal smoothness, a la the HoneyDrippers. A perfect mix of the best of both worlds, just an awesome song. I love it so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyOnMyBack Posted May 15, 2013 Author Share Posted May 15, 2013 Yes, it's very cool that we both share that same show and memory.. that song was one of the absolute highlights of the entire show for me. I remember busily writing down each song as it was being played so I could tell my friends the set list later that night. Remember how wild the crowd went when they (Jimmy and Robert) played it at the Orlando '95 show? Great song, it's the opener on an acoustic Zep disc I made for the car - perfect! My father had the original single in his collection I inherited, along with a mono version single of WLL/LLM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedZebedee Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Has anyone heard the Hootie and the Blowfish version of HHWCID? It gives the original a run for it's money! Just goes to show how strong zep were at the time that they could leave quality songs like that and Poor Tom off the third album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyOnMyBack Posted May 17, 2013 Author Share Posted May 17, 2013 I'm not a Hootie hater by any stretch.. but for me, this song is so uniquely defined by Robert's vocals that I would struggle to really appreciate any alternate version on the same level.. or anywhere close. Hootie stays true to the song, but there is only one version of this song that works for me. Has anyone heard the Hootie and the Blowfish version of HHWCID? It gives the original a run for it's money! Just goes to show how strong zep were at the time that they could leave quality songs like that and Poor Tom off the third album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyingzepp Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Odd opinions in here. Hootie gives nothing a run for anything, sorry. Hats Off i guess you just have to be a blues musician to appreciate is what i've gathered from opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSH1127 Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I personally don't like HOTRH at all. In fact I didn't even include it when uploading LZIII on my iPod. I let it play through when I'm listening on vinyl, but I've always looked at it as a throwaway track. Experimental blues gone ...bleh. Agreed HHWCID is a good song that would have made a better inclusion to the initial record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Odd opinions in here. Hootie gives nothing a run for anything, sorry. Hats Off i guess you just have to be a blues musician to appreciate is what i've gathered from opinions.I'm not a blues musician and I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyingzepp Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 I'm not a blues musician and I love it. Some people get it and some people don't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyOnMyBack Posted May 18, 2013 Author Share Posted May 18, 2013 I think the unsung hero on HHWCID is Mr. Jones. The bass lines that run while Jimmy is mainly playing rhythm chords are incredible, and they add so much to the greatness of the song. Of course, the mandolin is always a nice addition as well. I think that is why I'm not quite as fond of the live versions that Robert & JImmy played in the 90s, as much as I loved hearing it in concert, is that they lacked Jonesy and Bonzo... both notable absences. The original studio track is just absolutely phenomenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonser Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 This is absolutely normal in music world...some bands prefer to keep great songs as singles only I think there is no second bottom here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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