Gabrielle, It has been stated by all three members that it wasn't the album "led zep" would make. JPJ & RP took over most of what happened on the album. JP & JB both stated that the next album would be back to what LZ were all about. Jimmy's name is on the album as producer simply because that is how it had always been. JPJ has stated several times that the sessions were pretty much up to he and Robert. Actually JPJ & Robert were drirecting most of the sessions and musical direction, JP at that point was well into the dreggs of Heroin & Alcohol and was not up to his usual form. IMO I feel that ITTOD is not a rerible album, just a bad Zep album. They didn't have that many songs to choose from at that point but did leave a couple off which ended up on Coda. Maybe the term "solo" album is a little off but this album was 90% RP & JPJ, who at the beginning were waiting so long for Jimmy to get going they did start on their own. I remember buying it the day it came out and was very excited when I heard the first sounds of "In the Evening" but aftet that I was a bit taken back. I like "Carouselambra" and "I'm Going to Crawl", they sound like Jimmy was on them, maybe "Fool in the Rain" but the rest were all RP & JPJ. Like I said that is only my opinion based on what I have read through the years. Also the sound of the album and production wise, it didn't hold water for me. Enjoyed your post!

Maybe JP & JPJ didn't attend Robert's son's funeral because it would have been a fiasco, in that there world have been crowds of people and in doing so create a circus atmosphere. One can only speculate, I think that with Page's dabbling in the Aleister Crowly shit may have given the press a field day. I never thought that ITTOD was anything more than a Robert Plant solo record, I think Zep stalled after Physical Graffiti, maybe the double disc was an out as it could have been a single lp; Presence could have had the overflow and been a much better record. At any rate after Presence it was clear Zep needed a break, it couldn't have gone on much longer anyway. They did so much in a short period of time, just like The Beatles did, you just can't go on after that kind of 'rocket to the moon" succsess, you give 110%, it can't last. If either band had stayed together they would not have the legacy they have today. You have to leave people wanting more. The Stones have gone on way to long, same with The Who, they changed music but you forget that because of all the crap recordings since.

I understand Robert's position with Zeppelin but I also see the other side too and believe that it could be feasible to at least make a new album and tour that with Jason. I wouldn't want to see Zep just tour, although yes it would be cool. The sad thing about Jimmy is that he neve really moved forward and he really should have, maybe Jimmy felt that he made his mark and didn't really want to go out and try to compete with that. I believe that Zep made the right decision in 1980 hands down, but, in this day and age things are different and Jason is a fine replacement that makes sense. It's too bad that Robert's hurt about Zep runs that deep but why should he stop making the music he wants to make to re-live Zeppelin. The problem is, is that he keeps bouncing back and forth which is a bit annoying and it would appear in small ways that he wants to downplay the history and a bit over the top at that. Jimmy & Bonham by 1980 were in no condition to play or make another album, In Through the Outdoor is proof positive of that. I don't think Zep would have survived the 80's anyway, although I do believe would have made a comback in the early 90's. The sad fact is that they were falling apart and I think Robert was thinking I need to get off of this train and move on or have no career. I agree with their desicion to disband in 1980 but with Jason around now I think that if they are going to do anything it should be a new album and a tour; without an album no way. I love Led Zep to the end but I feel that Presence marked the end of Zeppelin, In Through the Outdoor was Robert dipping his foot into the solo career pool and if you listen Pictures at Eleven sounded more like a Zep album than ITTO. I am very glad that Jimmy has taken the time to redo all of the albums because they sound fantastic, I have all of the Super Deluxe box sets and am looking forward to Physical Graffiti which is my fav!