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Canadianzepper

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Everything posted by Canadianzepper

  1. It's like that long lost girlfriend, all the memories, but it's long over. What they did was captured on tape, thankfully. It cannot be replicated. Once Bonham was gone, even if they found a suitable replacement, that spirit was gone. Had been gone for some time, even as they still created great music. After so long, so many rides, too many life experiences, it was never going to be the same. You can hear a clear difference in the passion even in the songs early compared to later. It gets tiring and you only have so much mojo then it becomes a fun job, but still a job. Sadly (or maybe fortunately), for me at least; the best we have now is watching reaction videos on youtube of a new generation hearing it for the first time. I like watching their reactions, their confusion, their shock that such inspiring music exists. Once in awhile I'll listen to some old live boots and hear something I haven't heard before, but it's clearly all been done. Since I cannot rehear the music again for the first time, it's fun to see others do so. What would be the ultimate gift from the grave would be if Page did as he said he would and releases a tell all book, "the truth" if you will about the band and their experiences. I'd pay top dollar for that book, and I know millions of other would as well.
  2. Probably Coverdale/Page and the Page/Plant No Quarter album and subsequent tour.
  3. When asked, I deliver Yes, all very talented musicians obviously, but without Pages talent, vision, producing, they would make a great band together, but not the Legend they are. Consider that Plant and Bonham were in the Band of Joy together prior to Zeppelin. Page was just on another planet.
  4. Most controversial? - I'd have to say I assume that in their Prime, like many great talents be they athletes or businessmen, I probably wouldn't have personally enjoyed any of their company save for JPJ who seemed the most grounded (or maybe the best actor). Who knows how well known people are when you really know them, we only vie them from afar and through stories, and much of the negative stories came from the alcohol and youth, but, just from early interviews, they were arrogant, maybe even outright A-Holes. Musically they had earned that Right I suppose and they certainly weren't alone in the industry. - Another somewhat controversial concept is that I think they stole LESS from the Blues than they are accused of. It was due to Plants lazy writing efforts of these blues songs early that caused their bad reputation. Songs like When the Levee Breaks are nothing like the originals, save for lyrics. - Without Page there is no Led Zeppelin. Before, during or even today with the reissues. Everyone agrees nobody could be replaced and still be called Led Zeppelin, I always felt any of the other three could be replaced with lesser talent and they would still be a great band, Page was irreplaceable, without him you had little to nothing. - Grant was the 5th member of the group, a major part of their success, even as he was probably also responsible for much of their bad press and reputation
  5. All of their albums are unique from one another, but HoTH might be the most unique for them musically. It's the one album where if you just heard the instrumentals, and didn't know; you couldn't say for sure it was Jimmy Page. I don't know how to explain it, maybe he used different gear for that album but it's entirely progressive, upscale constructions, with insanely tight timing even by their standards. No blues rock at all on that album, it almost sounds anti-rock, if that were possible. PG is my favourite album, but HoTH really to me showed how broad their talents, creativity and influences were. Of all the stand alone albums they made, it might be it's own genre.
  6. ..., just heading off to sleep. This band Led Zeppelin, they are pretty good.
  7. Damn I never thought of this, you've given me some motivation to eat healthier and try to survive to that age so I can enjoy the celebrations!
  8. No judgement on my part, just a point I always remember, that of all the quotes I have heard probably describes Zeppelin the most accurately, it was by Prince of all people and he suggested to the effect, I paraphrase, "look at Led Zeppelin, every song of theirs made you feel different." That's not just good music, that great musicianship and it's keenly true of the band and a song like Tea For One. So, back to my roundabout defense of Tea For One, a song I didn't particularly like either (or that entire album truth be told); it's a song you have to almost feel depressed to listen to. Maybe not that far gone, but, you have to almost act out the lyrics, lie on the bed looking at a clock in the hotel room and wish you were 1000 miles away back with the ones you love. Pages work on the song is great too, a top 5 solo in my opinion. Anyways, maybe that does something for how you see it, maybe not. Many people like Hot Dog for instance, and I've never liked the song, though I might sing it if drunk and wanted to present a parody of some hillbilly ho-down somewhere. I'm sure many don't view it that way, but I always have. As you said, to each their own. Per the thread, when I first listened to LZ I actually enjoyed this album a great deal, liked their "newer" stuff, as time went on I realized I was wrong about the guitar.
  9. I don't know about a particular song, though I think as an album Houses of the Holy might be their most intricate and complex album from start to finish.
  10. I tend to agree. Jimmy looks at Robert as a marriage he cannot ever walk away from, it's as if he relies on Robert, can't conjure up the courage to test the waters with others. The light that Plant brought to Pages music through his lyrics and delivery has never been found elsewhere and Page almost seems lost without Plant singing. It could be Plant singing off key, forgetting lyrics, sounding like an old dying hen and it would still appeal to Jimmy more than any young crooner. I've come to the conclusion that we will not see Page doing much creatively ever again unless Plant joins him on stage or in the studio, the chances of this seem slim and unfortunately this magical era in music will soon be put out to pastor. Thankfully we have memories and youtube. As much as Page suggested Clapton couldn't get past the blues, Page could never get past Zeppelin. I don't mean this as an insult, it's just one of those relationships forged in the cosmos that Page refuses to move on from. In some respects I can't blame him, in others, it's a shame he never found another writing partner that could at least provide some creative output that was at least memorable.
  11. Depends on my mood I guess. Oddly, I skip Going to California, a song I really like in it's studio incarnation. I just never found the live versions radically different. It also often began the acoustic set when I wasn't ready for a toned down sound. To the earlier poster regarding When the Levee Breaks, I thought it was only attempted live twice, Once in Chicago and another time I believe. There is also a very funny version of it with Neil Young in 1995 Rock and Roll Inductions, tell me this doesn't make you laugh, hah:
  12. Well it is what it is. I really enjoy the guitar overdub mixes and other unreleased instrumentals. Sometimes you just want to appreciate the music without any application of lyrics and the interpretation that Plant brought to the songs. As I expressed on here before, I really enjoyed The Song Remains the Same instrumental as it was a song I never liked too much. Just hearing the band play, I "hear" the song differently than Plant does and it's now a song I appreciate much more for Pages vision and development. It is what it is. With all of the live stuff, soundboard mixes and multi-cd bootlegs, there is already plenty of material for a hardcore fan if they were looking to hear rare recordings including Zeppelin IV which I heard many years ago (and which many of us have heard I[m sure) when I went to a ZepFest of sorts and guys were basically just handing you tapes for free as they were just happy to see a younger fan base show interest in LZ. If memory serves me correctly, Page personally met and spoke to some of the more hardcore fans, collectors and yes, bootleggers in England to ask them if they had heard any of the stuff he had released. He wanted to be sure it was 100% new and authentic from what was already out there. He went so far, I am told, as having these people listen to the music after signing a waiver of sorts to allow them to hear the songs before release. Funny how that all works eh? Was a time when Peter Grant would send people out into the crowd and destroy bootleggers who were trying to record. It famously happened in Vancouver, BC and it turned out to be government doing noise testing of the arena. Oops. Fast forward to 2000 and beyond and the band probably wished there was alot more stuff, especially quality video.
  13. A big part of their success. Loyally protected them from all the outsiders and people who didn't have their best interests at heart.
  14. Oh, can I draw outside the line and suggest Big Log from Plant's solo career deserves honourable mention?
  15. Spooky, I would have mentioned the exact same two songs. In terms of his best work though, I believe Little Wing is his Stairway to Heaven. Where that cosmic creativity fused with something only he could find. One of those songs where you can visualize him just strumming alone on the couch one day, channelling something in a rare moment and then working it through later without much of a change in mood. The argument is moot, If I were choosing to hear the electric guitar only, to me Jimi just embodies the limits of the instrument (until the "next" one comes around). In terms of overall song writing and broader playing, I prefer Page. In the end, both guitarists tap into the emotion of the instrument like no other.
  16. I've heard so many explanations for this, impossible to pin down really. Hell, I wonder if Jimmy even remembers anymore. It's like asking Robert the meaning of Stairway to Heaven.
  17. When I think of the word beautiful, The Rain Song inherently comes to mind.
  18. Agree totally about Hendrix. I have always believed there are the two Jimmy's (Jimis) and then everyone else. That's the high water mark for me as a passive listener of their work. You can put on any Zeppelin or Hendrix album and I can listen to it from end to end, even songs you may not enjoy, I can't say the same for certain guitarists. I listen to half a song and other than nodding my head on how well he hit that G or E note in a G minor tuning, it doesn't interest, inspire, move or groove me. There are many guitarists whos' work I enjoy, none of them structurally perfect. It comes down to creativity and vision. You can't learn that, you have it or you don't. Like anything in life, there are a few who just have something others don't and it allows them to excel simply by the fact that others don't have that innate ability. If it doesn't sound perfect, or is stated to be "sloppy" based on the fact it isn't a perfect note, so be it, I can accept that. If you want to hear perfect vocals go to the operate, perfect guitar, listen to instructional videos on how to play the classics. The process of creativity and expressing that creativity in a live setting, isn't mathematics. Like love or any emotion or abstract idea, you can't define why or how music makes you feel, you like it or you don't. it affects you in some manner or it doesn't.
  19. Too many critics came from the 1980's school of technical perfection. A completely different style of playing and in my opinion far less interesting, but post-Zeppelin people were looking to be critics after the band broke up and taking shots after the band was gone. Putting aside the possibility of booze or other medication in his system, Page had a free style live that allowed the band to play three hours and with the creativity, taking songs in different directions. ten minute solos, peaks and valleys that even the band themselves don't know how the sound will end. Creativity does that. With all due respect to the technically "perfect" guitarists, there is a reason the most creative guitarists are viewed with the highest esteem. Furthermore, Page was doing plenty of session work, a testament to his skill and creativity, he wouldn't be hired at his young age if he weren't technically strong. Doing things for the Kinks and other bands, often without fanfare. There is a difference between Page up to say '73 or '75 and after, sure. That goes for any guitarist who lived through those years. One fact I always find interesting is that there are many who suggest Page was sloppy and even reliant on his band (the funniest and most preposterous statement), yet, what is the most covered song by them by other bands? Whole Lotta Love...not exactly pushing the envelope in terms of guitar work, and that was something Page did in his early twenties and within months of forming LZ. I have heard VH cover Trampled Underfoot and EVH couldn't replicate the sound with much accuracy. I believe the inability of other bands to tackle their best songs illustrate the technical skill and difficulty of them. The O2 version sounded excellent and I challenge any band today replicate and bring more power to that song than they did nearly four decades after their last concert as an original four. That's just one example. As a final point. We have heard great covers of different musicians songs. Have you ever heard a cover band, or a really talented band cover a LZ song and you said "wow, they sounded better than the original?".
  20. Break up with a girlfriend, as a shy kid in high school who already suffered from angst. Just happened to hear "Ten Years Gone" on the radio late in the wee hours as I was sulking. Oddly, the song didn't make me sad but came across as hopeful, just a powerful impression of humanity and I found a hobby, listening to other Zeppelin songs and chasing down their cassettes. Couldn't believe how many songs were theirs, had no idea. If you love great music and musicians, you will invariably find it. To quote someone famous, "That Cosmic Energy"
  21. Carouselambra and Going To California.
  22. Personally, at this moment (could change in an hour or a week): 1) PG 2) Zeppelin IV 3) House of the Holy 4) Zeppelin III 5) Zeppelin II 6) Zeppelin I 7) Presence 8) In Through the Outdoor 9) Coda
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