Led Zeppelin Songs Never Remained The SameLed Zeppelin songs were born of the blues. In the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, America exported the genre. Legendary musicians Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Willie Dixon and Howlin’ Wolf toured England singin’ the blues from Chicago and the Mississippi Delta.
One of my interviewees reproached me for wanting to debate whether or not Led Zeppelin “ripped off” the blues. He said two journalists started the controversy in the 1960s and I should just let it go! The issue has sparked some fascinating conversations, though. I’ve learned so many things that are sure to be news to you, too! Growing Beyond Their Roots In BluesLed Zeppelin songs on the group’s self-titled debut album included covers of old blues tunes that the musicians reworked completely: You Shook Me and I Can’t Quit You Baby. Others (allegedly!) of their own composition were drenched in the blues style. One of Page and Plant’s undisputedly original compositions was a frenetic piece called Communication Breakdown. It wasn’t blues based at all. It was more of a precursor to punk and speed metal before those genres even existed! The late JJ Jackson told me that how a band covers a song speaks volumes about the band’s talent. He said that any song Zeppelin covered was completely transformed from the original. As the group matured, its repertoire included more and more original compositions. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant’s fascination with world music introduced Eastern tunings and folk elements. Zeppelin’s songs were so exciting! You never knew where they might go. Singles Versus AlbumsWhen Led Zeppelin’s songs arrived on the scene in 1968/’69, radio stations weren’t segmented. A given AM station would play the singles of artists as diverse as Pat Boone, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass! FM stations were just starting to switch from unprofitable classical music to rock’n’roll. Zeppelin did release a few singles but, like many other British bands, they were loath to. The stigma attached to singles didn’t exist in the US.
Robert Godwin said the only place you could hear Zeppelin, Genesis or Floyd was on pirate radio stations. Saccharine pop battled edgy rock with fans of The Archies’ Sugar Sugar on one side, Zep and Floyd freaks on the other! Where Do We Go From Here?Why do I spend so much time on the early days of Led Zeppelin? Because the group’s later music is so complicated. To fully appreciate it, you have to understand where Led Zeppelin’s songs came from and how they evolved. In this section of my website, I’m going to present each of Led Zeppelin’s songs in chronological order. You’ll get background info on each one’s origin and influences. How and where it was recorded. We’ll get into some musical analysis. You’ll learn things you never knew before and won’t find anywhere else! So bookmark this page and check back often, for fascinating facts and insights into the music of your favourite band. And mine!
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