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Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven Turns 40 Years Old
SSG Music ^ | November 11, 2011 | Rob Hedberg

Posted on 11/12/2011 8:23:42 AM PST by FatherofFive

Forty years ago an incredible classic rock band hit their creative peak when they released Led Zeppelin lV. I remember at age fourteen being handed this record for the first time, and being awe struck by stunning song-craftsmanship and lyrical prowess. The album itself which was released November 8th 1971 was a major success and sold 23 million copies alone in the United States, but only peaked at number 2 on the charts.

Many Zeppelin Fans know this album as the one that contains Stairway to Heaven, but among rock critics and fanatics of Zeppelin the whole album is a masterpiece. Led Zeppelin was never known for creating phenomenal singles, but created a name for themselves as a record band. They saw that every song recorded for the album should be done masterfully, and should compliment other tracks on the album. It’s not easy to convince the novice Zeppelin fan that Stairway to Heaven is not the best song on Led Zeppelin lV, but give them a few years and they will be hailing Zeppelin IV for songs such as “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” and “When The Levee breaks.” This album is a must for an classic rock enthusiast, and should be apart of any album collection.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: chat; classicrock; ledzeplin; music
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To: dfwgator

A bustle in the hedgerow is an area that needs trimming. Ergo, if there’s a “bustle in your hedgerow” you don’t really have much to worry about, yet you still obsess about it.


121 posted on 11/12/2011 10:19:14 AM PST by HMS Surprise (Chris Christie can go to hell.)
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To: mylife

Very good times! He started out very reserved, cuz he didn’t know if I was a jerk or not. Took him to a club I had gigged at a lot. Owner set up a greeting line. I would talk to people, get their names, and introduce them to Frank. This very young, very “pneumatic” girl asked me, “Is that really Mr. Zeppelin?” I introduced her to Frank, calling him “Mr. Zeppelin.” Frank kept his composure, as did I, but his bodyguard, John. totally lost it! Turned around and stuffed his fist in his mouth! He was abdo-lutely shaking with laughter! For the rest of the weekend, we called Frank “Mr. Zeppelin.” Cracked us up! “Mr. Zeppelin? I think I’ll take you to a German Nazi restaurant for dinner tonight. You’ll love it, Mr. Zeppelin!”
Anyway, the introduction to the girl at the club broke the ice, and we had a great time for the rest of the weekend, culninating in a great concert, with me backstage.


122 posted on 11/12/2011 10:20:47 AM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: Falcon4.0; Mr. Mojo
Redoing blues songs in higher electric fashion is hardly plagiarizing....these bands played homage to the original Delta masters...the Stones reignited Muddy's career singlehandedly

They did wonders with some of those numbers.

Delta Blues, Gospel, Country and Appalachian folk are all the groundworks of rock and roll and later rock which Led Zepplin epitomizes

what you don't understand was that no one had done this before...Yardbirds and Cream touched on it but Zepplin really mastered the genre of medieval sounding trippy blues rock..like no one else

are they overplayed...hell yes

were they good live>...no...not to me..poor actually

Pink Floyd...a band one would think would have issues replicating their studio sounds actually recreated it live better than LZ

Best recreation I ever saw...was Jethro Tull's Aqualung tour in 1972 as well

and btw...I am hardly cool..I'm old...you can't be old and cool

123 posted on 11/12/2011 10:21:27 AM PST by wardaddy (Ethnonationalist...I'll cop to that....Suicide of a Superpower...I've decided for Newt)
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To: wardaddy

Rock? Dead? Hardly. My wife is modern country only, therefore my kids grow up fans... Until Dad gets them on the road and bombards them with The Beatles, Stones, Led Zep, The Who, etc. By the time they get their own vehicle its 90% rock in their CD case. Drives my wife crazy.


124 posted on 11/12/2011 10:22:38 AM PST by HMS Surprise (Chris Christie can go to hell.)
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To: SamAdams76
Faggy Jann Weiner(sic) hated Led Zepplin and all metal stuff...Sabbath too Wenner liked San Fransisco political music, Lennon and black music

Don't recall what RJ Gleason and Reverend Charles Young thought...Bangs loved Zepplin I think(?)

125 posted on 11/12/2011 10:25:51 AM PST by wardaddy (Ethnonationalist...I'll cop to that....Suicide of a Superpower...I've decided for Newt)
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To: capydick
Never heard of them but will check them out this weekend - thanks!

IMHO even better is Bonamassa's solo stuff, especially if you're into blues-rock. For instance, his cover of Tea for One from Zeppelin's Presence album, which he did on his You and Me CD, is on topic for this thread.

126 posted on 11/12/2011 10:28:11 AM PST by MCH
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To: wardaddy

Led Zeppelin, like all bands and artists, built on the works of others. Their music is at it’s core, rock and roll. But you’re right that they fused blues, jazz, and many other genres into every song. Fusion Rock is just better than pure rock and roll because it allows for sophisticated compositions that permit the fan to listen over and over again.


127 posted on 11/12/2011 10:28:58 AM PST by HMS Surprise (Chris Christie can go to hell.)
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To: P.O.E.

I have Laydown from their harder period on my Raphsody playlist titled Obscure Brit music


128 posted on 11/12/2011 10:30:33 AM PST by wardaddy (Ethnonationalist...I'll cop to that....Suicide of a Superpower...I've decided for Newt)
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To: FatherofFive

Yawn...

Over rated BIG TIME!

It’s ONLY all that to people in that age range. It’s not a timeless song as that generation that loved it keeps trying to push. Sorry but it’s not that good.


129 posted on 11/12/2011 10:33:44 AM PST by Sprite518
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Back in the days of Zep I was following this guy. Rory Gallagher: Messin With The Kid

I followed the white boy blues circuit

130 posted on 11/12/2011 10:34:57 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: YankeeReb
Heart does Zeppelin covers better than any other band... Just check out their covers of "Battle for Evermore."

Mark

131 posted on 11/12/2011 10:35:15 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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Rory Gallagher: Shin Kicker
132 posted on 11/12/2011 10:38:14 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Tribune7; Mr. Mojo

actually here we prefer Simple Man or Sweet Home Alabama ...but your point is valid

Lynyrd Skynyrd had huge appeal before the crash all over the world...bigtime in Kalifornia.

Keith Richards in his books talks about Mick raising hell about having to follow them in their European Big Tongue tour in mid 70s...Mick knew following them meant you had to be on top of your form...harder to do on Big Dope...Van Zandt ran a firm crew and they either did it his way or kicked the crap out of them

now they still even play all over the US and garner 75K-200k per show...I know this because I know their booking agent really well...small crowds...2500-7500 an some soft tickets where the real cash it

someone mentioned Muzak...man they have been Muzaked to death...Simple man may the most commonly lifted jingle there is for TV commercials


133 posted on 11/12/2011 10:38:31 AM PST by wardaddy (Ethnonationalist...I'll cop to that....Suicide of a Superpower...I've decided for Newt)
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To: HMS Surprise

Our sons are in their early 20s. They think Led Zepplin’s music is one of the ultimate of rock-n-roll! Both share with me how the music changes, and I do not “hear” it - each of them has a gift for music that I can only appreciate.


134 posted on 11/12/2011 10:41:09 AM PST by lyby ("Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe." ~ Galileo Galilei)
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To: My Favorite Headache
I think you meant to say that about Rush The band that is still around selling out arenas and millions of records almost 38 years later on their own?

There are a lot of good parallels between Rush and LZ... Both were DESPISED by the music critics of their time, yet still managed to sell out concert tour after concert tour, and sell at least enough records over the years not to be dropped from their labels.

And both bands evolved quite a bit over the years, alienating some fans while attracting others. Their core audiences always did, and continues to love their music. But both kept their musical integrity, and I think that LZ was moving to a very interesting place before Bonham died. And Rush nearly ended due to Neil Peart's personal tragedies.

Mark

135 posted on 11/12/2011 10:48:17 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: HMS Surprise; Mr. Mojo

very little decent new rock

just look at sales

older bands like RHCP or U2 or whomever does something decent and it sells like nuts

otherwise it’s Taylor Swift or Rhiannon

music made for girls in Middle School

or hip hop but it ain’t what it was

I hear little modern snippets here and there I like on occasion...sometimes a band...sometimes just a vocal single like Rolling in the Deep

look at Billboard’s Hot 100...guess that woulda been Top Forty in my day...

http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100

I mean retch...this is worse than when Bubblegum had a foothold in 1970...with Tommy Roe or Bobby Sherman

why do so many under 30 rock boys today look gay?...frail..like Russel Brand

I looked at rock chart too...http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/rock-songs?begin=11&order=position

lol...the bands I like like Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Bush my older kids would call commercial

I do like Switchfoot

but in 40 years nobody will be waxing about any of them like are now about STH..like it or not

as for country...I do like Jason Aldean..he’s a neighbor sorta...goes to the church my wife attends more than I do but should...guys like him are carrying on what I like

last night my two oldest boys and I drove around the county late in my Dodge Ran of course (by Aldean’s red white and blue barn) and listened to Laid Back since mommy is on a Gregg Allman kick after seeing him on CMA show the other night...the kids didn’t like have apoplexy or anything but they prefer something thrashier...they do love Black Sabbath and Led Zepplin though...a lot...and loud


136 posted on 11/12/2011 10:54:20 AM PST by wardaddy (Ethnonationalist...I'll cop to that....Suicide of a Superpower...I've decided for Newt)
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To: FatherofFive
What's better that an album with a Stairway to Heaven track?

An album where every track is Stairway to Heaven

http://www.amazon.com/Stairways-Heaven-Various-Artists/dp/B000005J65

137 posted on 11/12/2011 10:54:31 AM PST by Oztrich Boy (New gets old. Steampunk is always cool)
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To: lyby

Tell them about my blog, they’ll learn everything they need to know...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Zonks/156792677007


138 posted on 11/12/2011 10:57:28 AM PST by HMS Surprise (Chris Christie can go to hell.)
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To: wardaddy

Keef is excellent. Mick is a hack.

I saw Skynard at Kent state.
We had to sneak in because the guy with the tickets was MIA

I was pissed. I missed most of the Manfred Mann opener and that is what I was there for.

Skynard was OK, I had told the world about them 2 years earlier.
Same thing happened with Aerosmith. I told every one in 72 that THEY WERE SMOKIN


139 posted on 11/12/2011 10:57:50 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: HMS Surprise

when you watch pure rock and roll it seems to often lead down the rockabilly road which is a cul de sac

I love Social Distortion but even punky, it still falls into Hollow Body confinement

Zepplin just really made something happen with Blues renditions, trippy “Castles and Moats” rock, “lifted” occult and Tolkien lyricism, northern African sounds all molded together into loudness but with melody

much hard rock today is low on melody and loud on noise and quick chop...repetitive

anyhow...it’s a gone era but still gets a lot of airplay and usage

I was born in 1957...in the 60s nobody young was listening to Stardust or I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover from 1927 except maybe in a period movie piece

now in 2011...plenty of younf folks have Led Zep on the I Phone...it’s still a soundtrack to their lives chronology too even if it is music dad or grandad listened to


140 posted on 11/12/2011 11:02:58 AM PST by wardaddy (Ethnonationalist...I'll cop to that....Suicide of a Superpower...I've decided for Newt)
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