Plant's Voice

[Gumper29]

Hi Everyone. I had a question regarding Robert's voice. The seems to be a noticeable change in his style between the fourth album and Houses of the Holy. Is there a known reason for this>

[lzfan715]

I think that's when he had voice surgey. That may have been later though.

[achilleslaststand77]

Hi Everyone. I had a question regarding Robert's voice. The seems to be a noticeable change in his style between the fourth album and Houses of the Holy. Is there a known reason for this>

I always thought he sounded slightly different in the first two albums than he did for III, IV, and HOTH..... maybe partly because he was still developing his style...... or it could just be me

But anyway..... for the most part I thought he sounded pretty much the same on Houses of the Holy as IV. In TSRTS they sped up his vocals to make it sound even higher and NQ he sang through a Leslie Speaker or something I don't remember exactly. I do notice a difference in his voice in The Crunge and The Ocean sounds a little different but overall I thought he sounded pretty much the same.

There is definitely a noticeable change in Physical Graffiti.... his voice sounds very weathered and worn on most of the new material

[mos6507]

I think Robert was always dissatisfied with his vocals on the studio version of Kashmir. He said something along those lines in the radio interviews that were broadcast when the box set came out.

For whatever reason, Physical Graffiti has the debut of Robert's scratchy voice. I don't have a big problem with it and it does at least seem somewhat deliberate, almost like he was trying to sound like Janis Joplin. But he has always tried to sing Kashmir straight and true. He's less discerning with the other material.

BTW, it may be true, but I've never heard or read anything from Plant about vocal surgery. His voice could certainly have changed or worn down without the surgery having happened. Dio likes to talk about how he's been able to keep most of his singing voice by singing from the diaphram, whereas other rock singers like Plant sing from the throat. I think there is something to that, but as far as an instrument goes, operatic singing is a different tone vs. others and not necessarily everyone's cup of tea.

[achilleslaststand77]

I think Robert was always dissatisfied with his vocals on the studio version of Kashmir. He said something along those lines in the radio interviews that were broadcast when the box set came out.

For whatever reason, Physical Graffiti has the debut of Robert's scratchy voice. I don't have a big problem with it and it does at least seem somewhat deliberate, almost like he was trying to sound like Janis Joplin. But he has always tried to sing Kashmir straight and true. He's less discerning with the other material.

BTW, it may be true, but I've never heard or read anything from Plant about vocal surgery. His voice could certainly have changed or worn down without the surgery having happened. Dio likes to talk about how he's been able to keep most of his singing voice by singing from the diaphram, whereas other rock singers like Plant sing from the throat. I think there is something to that, but as far as an instrument goes, operatic singing is a different tone vs. others and not necessarily everyone's cup of tea.

I used to have problems with Plant's scratchy sounding voice when I first heard PG but it's cool now doesn't bother me. To me the first song where I notice a definite change in his voice is The Crunge.

I read something about him having surgery once but I don't remember where I read it and I could never find it again. I think his voice was shot to pieces..... there is a very detailed book about Zepp's career (I think it's called Led Zeppelin: 1968-1980) and the author mentions on a couple separate occasions that he had to stop singing for awhile because he was literally losing his voice.

I agree about the throat/diaphragm part it would make sense.... most choir teachers I've had say to use your diaphragm to sing

[solar]

Per Dave Lewis' book The Concert File, Plant had surgery following the 1973 tour to remove nodes that had developed on his vocal chorts. Quoting a 1988 Plant interview: "15 years ago, I had an operation on my throat and couldn't speak for three weeks."

[Mattmc1973]

He started to "lose" his voice, or at least the ability to really scream or hit high notes, in the fall of '72. He still had it in June 72, as evidenced by HTWWW. But in Japan in October he was having problems, and by the UK tour in Dec/Jan he was singing the way he would sing on the US 73 tour (lower register, with occasional screams). But Houses Of The Holy was recorded before all this, while he still had his higher voice. Physical Graffiti was recorded after his troubles began, so his voice is more rough with less high pitched singing.

[gperkins151]

He started to "lose" his voice, or at least the ability to really scream or hit high notes, in the fall of '72. He still had it in June 72, as evidenced by HTWWW. But in Japan in October he was having problems, and by the UK tour in Dec/Jan he was singing the way he would sing on the US 73 tour (lower register, with occasional screams). But Houses Of The Holy was recorded before all this, while he still had his higher voice. Physical Graffiti was recorded after his troubles began, so his voice is more rough with less high pitched singing.

Thanks for this.

[solar]

He started to "lose" his voice, or at least the ability to really scream or hit high notes, in the fall of '72. He still had it in June 72, as evidenced by HTWWW. But in Japan in October he was having problems, and by the UK tour in Dec/Jan he was singing the way he would sing on the US 73 tour (lower register, with occasional screams). But Houses Of The Holy was recorded before all this, while he still had his higher voice. Physical Graffiti was recorded after his troubles began, so his voice is more rough with less high pitched singing.

Though on that Japan tour, he was able to hit the high notes enough that Immigrant Song was the encore each night and into the UK tour.

I think I pinpointed a little closer to when it went. I recently was listening to the Manchester 12/8/72 show, and he still had the ability to screech when needed in that higher register. Post-Christmas, on the early January UK tour (including Southampton), his voice was shot pretty good. As Lewis wrote, Plant caught a flu before the first '73 show. On a quick look, the last time Immigrant Song was played was the 12/22/72 show, next to last before the holiday break. I don't believe it was ever played again.

[Mattmc1973]

^ Yeah, it was gradual thing, but I think it definitely at least started in Japan. Luis Rey mentions this in his book, as well. But yeah, the flu on the UK tour didn't help.

I've often wondered how this actually affected Robert, emotionally and mentally. Did he realize what was happening? Was there a period of "mourning"? Think about it, the guy had this powerful high-pitched voice which was the key to his fame, and now he was losing it. Was he scared? Upset? Bitter? At first did he think it was temporary and maybe he'd get it back? It'd be interesting to have a conversation with him about it, and see what his state of mind was while this was happening.

[lzfan715]

^It would be. I'd be upset if I lost a voice like that. Not that I have a great singing voice.

[MightyZep]

^It would be. I'd be upset if I lost a voice like that. Not that I have a great singing voice.

I don't think that "he lost his great singing voice". Sure, he couldn't do the EXTREMELY hight note thing anymore, but he gave us that cool rugged lower register. Listen to him sing IMTOD on the DVD and it is amazing. Robert Plant can still kick anyone's ass when it comes to singing. Even WITHOUT the high notes (and those high notes sometimes got a little screetchy and annoying, although I did like most of that style). Peace!

[zero]

generally when someone has nodules removed you notice an improvement in voice afterwards. nodules make the voice sound crackly, thin, hoarse and airy. vocal chords lose flexibility and normal function. in some cases the surgery can alter the overall sound of a person's voice though.

not talking for three weeks is standard doctor's orders for that kind of throat surgery, in some cases they tell you to be quite or whisper only, for six weeks.. also, he probablly made a conscience decision to alter his singing style so he wouldn't end up back in a doctor's chair again or risk completely ruining his voice.

[achilleslaststand77]

I don't think that "he lost his great singing voice". Sure, he couldn't do the EXTREMELY hight note thing anymore, but he gave us that cool rugged lower register. Listen to him sing IMTOD on the DVD and it is amazing. Robert Plant can still kick anyone's ass when it comes to singing. Even WITHOUT the high notes (and those high notes sometimes got a little screetchy and annoying, although I did like most of that style). Peace!

I don't think he lost his great singing voice either...... he was great for the newer songs. But the older songs.... it sounds like he's speaking more than singing. Like Rock & Roll for instance... it's one of my favorite songs and he just doesn't have the ability to reach the notes. I haven't listened to them back to back but from what I remember his voice is less scratchy on Presence than it is on PG. He gets really high at the end of ALS.

And yes I love IMTOD from the DVD!! I like it better than the studio version I get sorta bored with that one after the second solo..... but I love the end.... "won't you make it my dying, dying, dying....... cough"

[achilleslaststand77]

I thought the studio versin was great. I thought he was great on PG. This is one of my favorites along with IV and II. PG is such a great album-it never gets enough credit in my opinion.

I agree he was great on PG...... but I didn't think so right away. II or IV is probably my fav album followed by PG then HOTH.

Since we're on the topic of Plant's voice I want to quote something I wrote earlier in the thread.

I always thought he sounded slightly different in the first two albums than he did for III, IV, and HOTH

Am I the only one that notices this?

[zero]

"I always thought he sounded slightly different in the first two albums than he did for III, IV, and HOTH"

"Am I the only one that notices this? "

aside from any talks of vocal change or troubles...

yeah, he does deliver the vocals differently on 1 & 2 than 3, 4 & h.o.t.h . because the music style is different.

if you put you're time is gonna come on 3 it would fit vocally , you wouldn't notice

a stark difference. (for example).

you could also stick hats off to roy harper on 1 or 2 and the same thing would sort of

apply.

could you imagine tangerine sung with the same approach as he used on i cant

quit you babe??!! it would sound comedic. he sings differently to suit different

styles of songs.

[solar]

Much of Physical Graffiti was outtakes from Zep III/IV and HOTH, hence the differences in vocals.

Specifically,

Bron-Yr-Aur (III)

Night Flight (IV)

Boogie With Stu (IV)

The Rover (HOTH)

Black Country Woman (HOTH)

HOTH (HOTH)

[PlantOneOnMe]

Plan'ts voice had definitely evolved and morphed throughout his career. I never heard he had surgery, but then again I haven't read any books on Zep.

Have you ever listened to You Better Run when he was with The Band of Joy? I love his version of it. I think it was 1966. If you can limewire it or find it online to listen to, or buy 66 to Timbuktu - it's on there.

He sounds young, powerful and without the higher register he is known for as Zep's frontman.

Whatever he has done I have loved. There IS no other as far as I'm concerned. Plant can do no wrong, no matter what happened to his voice in any given year. I can listen to him forever, even now in Raising Sand. He is superb, even at age 59.

[achilleslaststand77]

aside from any talks of vocal change or troubles...

yeah, he does deliver the vocals differently on 1 & 2 than 3, 4 & h.o.t.h . because the music style is different.

if you put you're time is gonna come on 3 it would fit vocally , you wouldn't notice

a stark difference. (for example).

you could also stick hats off to roy harper on 1 or 2 and the same thing would sort of

apply.

could you imagine tangerine sung with the same approach as he used on i cant

quit you babe??!! it would sound comedic. he sings differently to suit different

styles of songs.

Yes Led Zeppelin and II are more blues based I knew that. It would be quite stupid to sing something like Tangerine in the same way as ICQYB. I don't think YTIGC fits at all on III vocally or Hat's Off (to Roy Harper) on the first two albums

[zeppelincheetah]

ah there should be a book on the evolution of plant's voice! i like to hear them play the latter led zep songs now because Plant is more suited to sing them

[donman7]

He started to "lose" his voice, or at least the ability to really scream or hit high notes, in the fall of '72. He still had it in June 72, as evidenced by HTWWW. But in Japan in October he was having problems, and by the UK tour in Dec/Jan he was singing the way he would sing on the US 73 tour (lower register, with occasional screams). But Houses Of The Holy was recorded before all this, while he still had his higher voice. Physical Graffiti was recorded after his troubles began, so his voice is more rough with less high pitched singing.

^ Yeah, it was gradual thing, but I think it definitely at least started in Japan. Luis Rey mentions this in his book, as well. But yeah, the flu on the UK tour didn't help.

I've often wondered how this actually affected Robert, emotionally and mentally. Did he realize what was happening? Was there a period of "mourning"? Think about it, the guy had this powerful high-pitched voice which was the key to his fame, and now he was losing it. Was he scared? Upset? Bitter? At first did he think it was temporary and maybe he'd get it back? It'd be interesting to have a conversation with him about it, and see what his state of mind was while this was happening.

I wholeheartedly agree w/ you, Mattmc1973!! I've followed LZ from day-one & the 'Time-Frame' of his Vocal changes you state is the same as I see it. I've also wondered how Robert was affected by this ..... seeing his once mighty Voice go thru the changes (however subtle over time). He HAD to feel it was temporary & that 'any day now' it'll be like the early days again. In those early years, NO one came close to his power & range!!! We'll never have another like him & all we need do now is simply pop in a CD/DVD & there he is again ..... in all his glory!!

[Sagittarius Rising]

I have mentioned this here before (different thread) but Plant was not a classically trained singer, he was a natural talent. Unfortunately he had no idea how to preserve his voice over the long term, or how to sing the notes he sang without damaging his voice. Classically trained singers are taught how to manage their voice and protect this very valuable and irreplaceable instrument. Plant partied like it was 1999 from 68' - 73' and beyond, smoked, stayed up for days, walked around nearly naked in sub-zero weather, contracted tonsillitis more times than a porn queen, and performed whole shows while very ill. It is amazing he even has a voice left much less the incredible voice he currently possesses. No classically trained singer would ever smoke, stay out late, or perform ill. This is why almost all heavy rock singers loose most of their higher register after two or three years. Hell, Axle Rose could never sing decent after the first tour in 87' and that was one tour. All the rockers who still have great voices are well known to be temperate if not puritanical on the road (Steve Perry, Annie Lennox, Siouxsie Sioux, Tom Jones). Tom Jones is the king and the closest IMO to Plant's sound than any singer, but Jones was able to maintain most of his range because he took care of his voice. The mere fact that Robert can sing so damn good at this point after all those years of abuse is nothing short of a miracle.

[donman7]

Yeah, Plant just let it rip early on. He was a kid & just did what came naturally for him. Those high notes & all the power behind it were easy then. By "LZ III" he'd learned an easier way to sing ..... still hitting those high notes; but not so much strain on the Voice. Almost like a combination of a regular & falsetto Voice. Having sang (sung??) in various Bands over the years myself, I'm amazed his range AND power remained for as long as it did!!!! Singing, screaming many nights in a row, smoking (as Sag. Rising said), heat, air-conditioning, drinking; etc. ~ it was inevitable. I love those 'Live' Shows from '69 / '70; when he just wailed!!!! Pretty good Harp player, too!!