SUNDAY DROP - SPIN #105
Do you need cooling? Well that is the opening line of our 105th record being spun from the collection. That's right! It's the classic 1969 album by Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II. Also known as the 'Brown Bomber' album because of the album artwork by David Juniper. He created a psychedelic design for the late '60s that contrasts from the dark brown/blacks and white tones of the outside jacket to the brightness inside the gatefold. You can see the outline of the zeppelin used from their first album and their faces air brushed onto an existing photo of a WWI German Squadron. I think I remember reading that Neil Armstrong, Miles Davis and Glynis Johns are also in the photo but over the years not even the creator can confirm.
It's hard to believe that this is the first time spinning a Led Zeppelin album for R'nR with Rylo and I would have put money on one of their albums coming up in the first 100 spins. Thankfully I'm not a betting or gambling man. There is something truly different about placing a Led Zeppelin album on your turntable. The heavyweight vinyl adds to the aura surrounding this album and I can't wait to show our children this one. When I picked up the jacket and slid out the LP, I could have sworn I heard rolling thunder in the distance, heralding in the mighty Zeppelin. I'll give this one a spin on our loungeroom set-up - Sherwood Receiver and Sherwood speakers x 4, spaced evenly across the room. It'll sound deep and full coming like the wall of sound the band intended. If you have a sub or ability to adjust the bass levels on this one as you play, prepare for the room to shake.
Image: John Bonham (drums), John Paul Jones (bass), Robert Plant (vocals) and Jimmy Page (guitar)
It's time to #dropthestylus on this '60a classic rock album!
BDBD E E E E E E E- Those are the guitar chords for the main riff that you are hearing. I tried learning this song on Night Kat Kiz's guitar a number of years ago and had a lot of fun playing along. I picked up a Led Zeppelin guitar tab book on one of our visits to Berry located in NSW. I wish I could learn to play a bit more and it might be something we get into as the kids get older. They are becoming a lot more interested in music and understanding more and more as they grow up. It was nice this week when our 5 year old son walked over to me and said, "Dad sometimes to feel better we need to sleep and have music". So simple, but so right. Our end goal is to have a big library/den/music room that has guitars and a drum kit, with posters and books everywhere. Wall to wall of speakers and records that provide a place to learn, create and relax. One day it won't be a dream, it will be a reality.
'WHOLE LOTTA LOVE' coming through the speakers at a loud volume is something else. One of the best sounding records that we own and can only imagine what this must have sounded like upon release in 1969. I have a sticker of this on our outside drinks fridge that I will have to include a photo on our social pages for you. The track has that chaotic blues/jazz middle section that makes you forget you are listening to a standard rock 'n' roll song for a slight moment. It takes you down a distorted wormhole and if you are listening with headphones at a louder volume, good luck. I love how the band just drops back into the song and Page shreds as Jones and Bonham keep the tempo ticking along.
Kids were playing nicely on Saturday by getting out their crayons and we made a computer. Our 5 year old wanted to pretend that he was working and was sending emails to his sister in the loungeroom. It was pretty adorable seeing his mind go into creative overdrive. His sister helped decorate the screen with paw patrol stickers and pretend that she was Hulk by wearing the play cardboard masks we have. It ended up being a busy Saturday with the kids at Flip Out - which if you don't know, is a trampoline and obstacle course place close by. The kids had fun, but 2 hours of making sure our littlest Rylo didn't hurt herself definitely took the energy out of all of us. Think AFL field after the game and everyone running and kicking a ball in all different directions. Some of the older kids were running around the trampolines with foam blocks from the pits, pretending it was a ball. I was having flashbacks to when I was on the field with good mate Jazz in Canberra and some kids tackled him for our empty water bottle that we were using to kick around.
The blues influences and rock infused sounds are so pleasant to hear on a sunny weekend. This morning we eased into the day with a cup of coffee and hugs in bed with the kids. Night Kat Kiz' sister (R) celebrated her upcoming wedding next month with her Hens night and I hope that she had a great time yesterday. I remember that for my bucks night, my Dad got tickets to see Sydney FC v WSW at the old Parramatta stadium and having a few beers at the pub before kick-off. It was a pilgrimage on the train out West and the game ended up being a late 4-3 win to the Sky Blues. I think there were 10 of us in total, with half supporting the Wanderers and half Sydney FC. There were flares and great active support from both the Red and Black Bloc and Cove to make it a memorable night. Everyone behaved themselves and there were no hangovers. That leads us into the next song, 'WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE'. There seems to be vocal effects being used and it reminds me slightly of Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan, where they used a Leslie speaker to achieve a vibration effect. I'm not certain if that was used but there is something altering his vocals. This second track has a intimate sections and arrangements combined with frantic chugging. It will get you tapping along as you read this Spin and if it doesn't, you need to get your music health checked.
As soon as this next song started playing, I thought it was funny that this week I decided to cut up lemons and have a lemon/honey drink in the fridge. The cut lemons are helping balance out my stomach, because I've had a bit of heartburn lately. 'THE LEMON SONG' I know that this song was a mix of a Howlin' Wolf song and original Zeppelin writing. You can get lost in this music as it constantly changes the direction you think the song is headed. Plant sings, "Squeeze me baby, 'till the juice runs down my leg" while Jones takes control of the song with his bass playing. There are so many layers going on here if you pay attention to it closely. I noticed when listening along in the car during the week, this song didn't have as much as an impact or clarity as it does by listening to it on wax.
The final song on Side A reminds me so much of the direction the band would head towards on album number IV. The elements are there of 'The Battle of Evermore' especially. 'THANK YOU' has harmonies being sung and Page providing some lovely guitar chords. It's a very personal song being sung about someone, where Plant and the band are saying thank you. "And so, today my world it smiles. Your hand in mine, we walk the miles. Thanks to you, it will be done. For you to me are the only one. Alright, yeah". The song ends before coming back for that final reprise. What have you thought so far about Led Zeppelin II? Better than your remembered it?
Favourite lyric:
"The leaves are falling all around, time I was on my way. Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay. But now it's time for me to go, the autumn moon lights my way. For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headed my way...Ah, sometimes I grow so tired but I know I've got one thing I got to do" ~ Ramble On - Side B
Side B starts off with such an underrated song called, 'HEARTBREAKER'. I would say that not many people talk about this song compared to other hits by the band but for that guitar solo by Page alone, it might just be my favourite song on the album. The song seems like it's split by that standout solo, before returning to that climbing guitar and bass riff. Before you know it, the song transitions seamlessly into the kickdrum back beat of 'LIVING LOVING MAID (SHE'S JUST AS WOMAN)'. This song was released as the B-side single to 'Whole Lotta Love'. The song is a get up and dance number and really grooved out to this one with the kids. They were pretending to take orders and go into the room to make the orders, similar to the staff at Outback Steakhouse.
There is a strange clipping sound on 'RAMBLE ON' and If I didn't already know the song, I would have thought it was a pressing error. Luckily, it's just the band trying something new with the sound. I remember this was on in the car when I picked up the kids from school this week. I looked back in the rear vision mirror and saw them both nodding along with glasses on. 'MOBY DICK' starts off with the sound of Jones playing his bassline and Page and Bonham also showing their talents off. Plant can have a break on this one as the band is unleashed. Turn this one up and enjoy it. I know I do every time Bonham is working his magic behind the drum kit. Who doesn't love a song that has a cow bell being hit?
If you love 12 bar blues shuffle, then the final song on Led Zeppelin II will get those hips swinging from side to side. 'BRING IT ON HOME' offers a tribute to Sonny Boy Williamson, which I think the band did really well by bookending the song. The album ends with that beautiful sound of the harmonica and makes me want to spin it again straight away. If you are looking for a modern band that sounds influenced by Led Zeppelin, then you need to check out American band - Rival Sons.
I hope that you enjoyed our Sunday Spin of Led Zeppelin II and find some time to add it to your record collection. We might even put on a couple of Zeppelin records after this one while we make Easter hats for the kids parades next week. Hopefully you come back next week to see what we will be spinning next from the R'nR collection.
Until our next Spin, be Kind to people who call themselves a 'Golden God' and be Kind to your Wax!
"Through the course may change, sometimes rivers always reach the sea" -
Led Zeppelin
YEAR RELEASED | 1969 |
PRODUCED BY | JIMMY PAGE |
LABEL | ATLANTIC |
PRICE RANGE | $30+AUD |
SPEED PLAYED AT | 33 1/3 RPM |
ALBUM BEFORE | LED ZEPPELIN |
ALBUM AFTER | LED ZEPPELIN III |
FURTHER LISTENING | LED ZEPPELIN IV |
FAVOURITE SONG | HEARTBREAKER |
RATING OUT OF 5 | 5 |
WHAT'S INSIDE THE RECORD SLEEVE | 1 X HEAVYWEIGHT BLACK LP, GATEFOLD JACKET AND POLY LINED BAG |
TRACK LISTING
LP / SIDE | SONG | TRACK LENGTH |
SIDE A | WHOLE LOTTA LOVE | 5:33 |
WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE | 4:47 | |
THE LEMON SONG | 6:20 | |
THANK YOU | 3:50 | |
SIDE B | HEARTBREAKER | 4:15 |
LIVING LOVING MAID (SHE'S JUST A WOMAN) | 2:40 | |
RAMBLE ON | 4:35 | |
MOBY DICK | 4:25 | |
BRING IT ON HOME | 4:19 |
Led Zeppelin live on stage