Story time! So CJ and I are at a Get The Led Out show at the Lynn (MA) Memorial Auditorium (beer table conveniently located near the animal control office). At set break a VERY excited woman comes on stage and starts yelling GET THE LED OUT! YEAH! HOW GREAT ARE THEY? THIS IS MY FIFTH SHOW!!! She's absolutely bursting with enthusiasm and love for Zeppelin. Right before she leaves the stage she yells ALRIGHT THANKS FOR COMING I'M LYNN THE MAYOR OF LYNN ENJOY THE SECOND SET! At that point the couple next to us leaned over and inquired: "Did she just say that she was the Mayor?" at which point we all chuckled at the magical moment as the opening strains of "Kashmir" overtook City Hall.
How can you know love this album? With Stairway to Heaven getting us thru high school with a host of other classics, it will always be a favorite. Enjoy but not liking it is a stretch at best!
I took a roundabout route to Zep, my high school years were all about the alt rockers (talking heads, REM, smiths, etc).
For years, I called Zep a "scream band." (Aerosmith too)
In college, I was often forced to choose between Grateful Dead and Zep, which quickly became an easy choice (the word "booters" still makes me look around the room for a door). I actually started to embrace Physical Graffiti first and worked backwards. In time, the screams became passionate, the harsh riffs became sublime, and the sheer force of power penetrated my reluctance.
Musicians tell me the songs are actually very intricate, the time signatures are quite complex, the bridges cross caverns, etc. Even though that's lost on me. I just know there's something about Zep that's different from the other scream bands, an honesty, a genuine unleashing of internal turmoil. I still have a softer spot for Physical Graffiti over LZ IV, but if ever there was a band without a weak entry in its entire catalog, it's Zep.
LZ IV is iconic for two additional reasons not mentioned in the thread -- integral to two of my most favorite movies of my youth as well:
1. In Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Damone advises Ratner on his 5-point plan, culminating in playing side one of LZ IV. Even though he mistakenly played "Kashmir", creating a brutally awkward mood, the date eventually, um... recovered. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-CriM6vx0)
2. This is Spinal Tap is so thick with LZ references, it's almost a satirical biography. Everything from the hairstyles and costumes, bulging pants, and, of course, the "bow solo" played with the violin instead of the bow. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzmU5yFgCDE)
PS. Did anyone consider deducting points for the plagiarism controversy around "Stairway"?
Great comment! I had forgotten about the 5-point plan. Do you think they trusted the audience to know that "Kashmir" wasn't on IV and get the joke? (Because that's a pretty bold assumption.) Or do you think that was an Amy Heckerling oversight? Certainly, Cameron Crowe would've known. As for Nigel's solo, I laugh every time he stops to tune the violin he's mashing against his guitar.
I think everybody comes to Led Zeppelin in their own way, But, the thing is, we all get there eventually. (Except maybe Ken, but he could have an epiphany on his 50th birthday. It's possible.) I have mixed feelings about "Stairway" controversy. On one hand, that Taurus song sounds pretty damn familiar. On the other, all music is a form of theft, isn't it? You hear a snippet from a song or read a line in a poem or overhear a conversation and suddenly there's inspiration. I wouldn't blame you if you docked Zep for "Stairway". But, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't either.
Yeah, the only Zep song that's less romantic than "Kashmir" is "The Immigrant Song", so that tracks. And the fact that he's playing it so loud that she can't even talk to him makes me think you're probably right.
As for the other issue, please don't make me associate one of my favorite bands with one of the most loathsome franchises in sports.
My friend's older brother also had this weird, but oddly fascinating poster in his room. It was an illustration of this wizard-looking dude standing on a rocky outcropping surrounded by cryptic words about our shadows being taller than our souls and some lady shining white light. Somehow my 78-year-old father recently acquired a t-shirt with this exact scene silk-screened on the front. I don’t know if my mom got it for him or he bought it himself or if he even knows who Led Zeppelin is, but it makes me irrationally happy every time he wears it.
Story time! So CJ and I are at a Get The Led Out show at the Lynn (MA) Memorial Auditorium (beer table conveniently located near the animal control office). At set break a VERY excited woman comes on stage and starts yelling GET THE LED OUT! YEAH! HOW GREAT ARE THEY? THIS IS MY FIFTH SHOW!!! She's absolutely bursting with enthusiasm and love for Zeppelin. Right before she leaves the stage she yells ALRIGHT THANKS FOR COMING I'M LYNN THE MAYOR OF LYNN ENJOY THE SECOND SET! At that point the couple next to us leaned over and inquired: "Did she just say that she was the Mayor?" at which point we all chuckled at the magical moment as the opening strains of "Kashmir" overtook City Hall.
Mom liked Barry Manilow....what did you really expect
We bought her at least 6 of his albums for Hanukkah before she begged us to stop!
Barry Manilow albums and Hai Karate - no brainers for gifts back then
My mom preferred Barbara Streisand. My dad, Old Spice. But, yeah, very similar experience
That settles it - for the month of May, in honor of Mother’s Day, you each need to review your Mom’s favorite album. Marking my calendar now.
Oof. I'm not sure Pete Seeger or The Kingston Trio hold up over time.
He said "Mom" picks, not your personal favorites.
Done
How can you know love this album? With Stairway to Heaven getting us thru high school with a host of other classics, it will always be a favorite. Enjoy but not liking it is a stretch at best!
Low Spark needs to be on deck.
Thanks CJ! I'm sure one of us will get to Traffic eventually.
Low Spark is amazing but John Barleycorn is better!
How is not liking it a stretch?
I took a roundabout route to Zep, my high school years were all about the alt rockers (talking heads, REM, smiths, etc).
For years, I called Zep a "scream band." (Aerosmith too)
In college, I was often forced to choose between Grateful Dead and Zep, which quickly became an easy choice (the word "booters" still makes me look around the room for a door). I actually started to embrace Physical Graffiti first and worked backwards. In time, the screams became passionate, the harsh riffs became sublime, and the sheer force of power penetrated my reluctance.
Musicians tell me the songs are actually very intricate, the time signatures are quite complex, the bridges cross caverns, etc. Even though that's lost on me. I just know there's something about Zep that's different from the other scream bands, an honesty, a genuine unleashing of internal turmoil. I still have a softer spot for Physical Graffiti over LZ IV, but if ever there was a band without a weak entry in its entire catalog, it's Zep.
LZ IV is iconic for two additional reasons not mentioned in the thread -- integral to two of my most favorite movies of my youth as well:
1. In Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Damone advises Ratner on his 5-point plan, culminating in playing side one of LZ IV. Even though he mistakenly played "Kashmir", creating a brutally awkward mood, the date eventually, um... recovered. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-CriM6vx0)
2. This is Spinal Tap is so thick with LZ references, it's almost a satirical biography. Everything from the hairstyles and costumes, bulging pants, and, of course, the "bow solo" played with the violin instead of the bow. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzmU5yFgCDE)
PS. Did anyone consider deducting points for the plagiarism controversy around "Stairway"?
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/23/483263154/jury-clears-led-zeppelin-in-stairway-to-heaven-plagiarism-suit
Great comment! I had forgotten about the 5-point plan. Do you think they trusted the audience to know that "Kashmir" wasn't on IV and get the joke? (Because that's a pretty bold assumption.) Or do you think that was an Amy Heckerling oversight? Certainly, Cameron Crowe would've known. As for Nigel's solo, I laugh every time he stops to tune the violin he's mashing against his guitar.
I think everybody comes to Led Zeppelin in their own way, But, the thing is, we all get there eventually. (Except maybe Ken, but he could have an epiphany on his 50th birthday. It's possible.) I have mixed feelings about "Stairway" controversy. On one hand, that Taurus song sounds pretty damn familiar. On the other, all music is a form of theft, isn't it? You hear a snippet from a song or read a line in a poem or overhear a conversation and suddenly there's inspiration. I wouldn't blame you if you docked Zep for "Stairway". But, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't either.
I always had the strong sense playing the wrong Zep music was a punch line, the scene is so awkward larry david could have written it!
It's almost impossible to hear that Taurus song and not think that's as subtle as slamming a plastic barrel in the dugout with a baseball bat
Yeah, the only Zep song that's less romantic than "Kashmir" is "The Immigrant Song", so that tracks. And the fact that he's playing it so loud that she can't even talk to him makes me think you're probably right.
As for the other issue, please don't make me associate one of my favorite bands with one of the most loathsome franchises in sports.
My 50th birthday was 9 months ago, so probably not.
My friend's older brother also had this weird, but oddly fascinating poster in his room. It was an illustration of this wizard-looking dude standing on a rocky outcropping surrounded by cryptic words about our shadows being taller than our souls and some lady shining white light. Somehow my 78-year-old father recently acquired a t-shirt with this exact scene silk-screened on the front. I don’t know if my mom got it for him or he bought it himself or if he even knows who Led Zeppelin is, but it makes me irrationally happy every time he wears it.