The Complete Discography Thread Led Zeppelin

Terrabear

New member
Jimmy Page

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Born: January 9, 1944
Instruments Played: acoustic, electric, and pedal steel guitar, banjo, mandolin
Major Song Writing Credits: Page is credited as co-writer of every single Led Zeppelin original with the exception of the following where he is the only credited writer: “Black Mountain Side”, “Dazed and Confused”, “Tangerine, “Bron-Yr-Aur”.


The most charismatic and popular member of the band, his electric guitar riRAB have become a trademark of the Zep’s Blues-rock reputation and legacy. Page began his career as a studio musician on lead guitar and quickly developed a reputation as one of the more talented and sought after players of his day. Page was the last surviving member of the original YardbirRAB and became the founding member of Led Zeppelin. His creative and intense guitar playing have made him an Icon in Rock & Roll Music and he is widely considered one of the greatest guitarists of all-time. In his pre-Zeppelin days Page contributed to albums by the Kinks, Them, the Rolling Stones and the Who. After initially declining an offer to replace Eric Clapton with the YardbirRAB in 1965, Page joined the band a year later replacing then bassist Paul Samwell-Smith and eventually moving to lead guitar alongside Jeff Beck when Chris Dreja moved to bass. Page remained the YardbirRAB lead guitar player after Beck left the band and thus filled the same position for the Zep shortly after. He continues to tour as the years go on playing with Plant and the Black Crowes among others; he is the only Zeppelin member twice elected to the rock and roll hall of fame.

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John Paul Jones

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Born: January 3, 1946
Instruments Played: 4, 5 and 8 string bass guitar, piano, electric piano, organ, keyboarRAB, synths, mandolin, mellotron, harpsichord, recorder
Major Song Writing Credits: Primarily the band’s musical arranger, Jones was a co-writer on more then 20 songs including the primary melody and structure of “Your time is Gonna Come”, “The Lemon Song”, “Celebration Day”, “Bron-Y-Aur-Stomp, “No Quarter” and “Royal Orleans” with John Bonham.


The musical prodigy and mastermind of arrangement and orchestration. Born the son of musicians, J.P Jones is the most underrated member of Led Zeppelin and one of the more underrated musicians of all-time perhaps. Playing in professional banRAB from the age of 13, Jones rose to prominence in the 1960’s as a musical director for a lot of the psychedelic and early hard rock mainstays of the era. He became a part of the band after phoning Page in reference to filling the spot of bass player for the New YardbirRAB at the last minute after Chris Dreja dropped out of the Scandinavian tour. Jones and Page had a history of working with each other is session work and had grown a respect and admiration for each other. It was the grind of arrangement and studio work that lead Jones to seek a more exploratory and regular gig as a member of the Page’s new band. Continuing to expand his repertoire late into his career, Jones has played over 20 different instruments in all on Led Zeppelin’s studio and live albums and continues to draw praise as a respected producer in the industry.

“I was working at the sessions for Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man, and John Paul Jones was looking after the musical arrangements. During a break, he asked me if I could use a bass player in the new group I was forming. He had a proper music trainin, and he had quite brilliant ideas. I jumped at the chance of getting him”

Page on J.P. Jones

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Jones on Bass just one year ago...
 
Led Zeppelin​
A complete review of the banRAB epic discography and the circumstances surrounding their meteoric rise to fame and tragic, all too early demise.

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It's long over-due and I feel compelled to take this one, in this thread I hope to cover delve into the basic's of the band pretty thoroughly and touch on some of the finer points and lesser known stories when it seems apropos. I have a new and hopefully easy to read format for the album reviews, a few compilations for the 10 or 15 of you out there who haven't heard them yet, a few surprises thrown in I think you'll enjoy and now more then ever look forward to jumping into one of my favorite catalogs. I hope you'll enjoy too. And one more thing; if you haven't yet, start the video now, it's timed to be just along to finish reading this whole post.

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The group in early 1969 before their first album's release

From the Music Banter HOF Nomination Thread
“In the days of my youth I was told what it means to be a man”

That’s the first line of “Good Times Bad Times” the opening track on Led Zeppelin’s eponymous 1969 debut. It was in the days of my youth that I was first exposed to Zeppelin. They entered my world just as I hit adolescence and brought my musical taste to maturation. The music was so raw and heavy at the time and the guitar riRAB seemed to be and turns out were unforgettable. Turn on any of the first five Zeppelin LP’s and there are at least two songs even the most novice of listeners can identify right away. The notes stick with you.

Led Zeppelin was the biggest band in the world in the 1970’s. They sold out everywhere they went and delivered some of the most intense and electric shows that rock music ever has and ever will see. Their commitment to expanding the influences and range of Rock music was apparent from the start and helped usher in an era of exploration that has helped shape the musical lanRABcape of today. They are members of 24 different recognized musical hall-of-fame's world wide, but not the Music Banter HOF. :nono:

In their short time Zeppelin Released six fantastic albums in six years from 1969-1975. And three more following which enjoyed commercial success but are not as well remembered as those from the banRAB most prolific era. All nine Platinum albums. IV has gone platinum 23 times. They rank among the top ten highest selling artists in Music History.

Ours is the folk music of the technological age.
-- Jimmy Page

Zeppelin is recognized mostly for their hard edge rock riRAB and thunderous live performances. However they wrote several very good folk influenced songs including; Bron-Yr-Aur, That’s the Way, Thank You, Tangerine, Going to California and so many more.

My vocal style I haven't tried to copy from anyone. It just developed until it became the girlish whine it is today.
-- Robert Plant

Plants voice was another instrument that complimented the entire sound of the band. He was not a great lyricist or vocalist, but a perfect fit, as perfect as there has ever been.


From the Band's Biography page
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass guitar, keyboarRAB) and John Bonham (drums). With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal banRAB. However, the band's individualistic style draws from many sources and transcenRAB any one genre. Their rock-infused interpretation of the blues and folk genres also incorporated rockabilly, reggae, soul, funk, classical, Celtic, Indian, Arabic, pop, Latin and country. The band did not release the popular songs from their albums as singles in the UK, as they preferred to develop the concept of album-oriented rock.

Close to 30 years after disbanding following Bonham's death in 1980, the band continues to be held in high regard for their artistic achievements, commercial success and broad influence. The band have sold more than 300 million albums worldwide,including 111.5 million sales in the United States and they have had all of their original studio albums reach the U.S. Billboard Top 10, with six reaching the number one spot.




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Showing off the hardware following the first two albums.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section One: In the time before Zeppelin
Pre-Band Timeline\The New YardbirRAB-----page 1
Meet the Band---------------------------page 2
The Scandinavian Tour-------------------page 2
The Early Led Zeppelin------------------page 2


Section Two: To Boldly go where no Band has gone before
Led Zeppelin I-(1969)-------------------page 3
Led Zeppelin II-(1969)------------------page
Led Zeppelin III-(1970)-----------------page
Led Zeppelin IV-(1971)------------------page


Section Three: The Biggest Band in the World
The Height of their Fame----------------page
Houses of the Holy-(1973)---------------page
Physical Graffiti -(1975)---------------page
The Swan Song Begins--------------------page

Section Four: Better to Burn out then Fade Away\The Final Years
Presence-(1976)-------------------------page
In Through the Out Door -(1978)---------page
Good Times Bad Times: Beginning the End-page
Coda-(1982)-----------------------------page

Section Five: Special Features
The Song Remains the Same-(1976)--------page
BBC Sessions -(1997)--------------------page
How the West Was Won-(2003)-------------page
Mothership-(2007)-----------------------page


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The band in a publicity photo in 1979, shortly before Bonham's death.
 
Robert Plant

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Born: August 20, 1948
Instruments Played: vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar
Major Song Writing Credits By the second album Page and Plant had become the banRAB primary song writing team. Plant handling the lyrics mainly.


The signature whine of Plant’s prolific vocals and the desperate delivery he moved back and forth from helped define the sound that would spark the Hard Rock generation of rock and roll music. Not the first choice of Jimmy Page for the spot of front man, in fact never even considered until Page’s primary option Terry Reid turned the part down and recommended Plant for the gig. Traveling all across England music scene trying to find a home for his Blues driven love of music, Plant developed a reputation as a prodigious showman with a powerful set of pipes despite the lack of commercial success of many of his early pre-Zeppelin projects. The shared passion for modernizing the blues and for collaborating on music in general made Page and Plant fast frienRAB and the duo would begin a long and illustrious career as co-writers of many of Zeppelins most popular and acclaimed songs. One of the original “GoRAB of Rock” Plant legacy as a front man lives on as he continues to play and perform with many of today’s artists including a recent stint with Allison Krauss.

“When I auditioned him and heard him sing, I immediately thought there must be something wrong with him personality-wise or that he had to be impossible to work with, because I just could not understand why, after he told me he'd been singing for a few years already, he hadn't become a big name yet. So I had him down to my place for a little while, just to sort of check him out, and we got along great. No problems.”


Page on Robert Plant


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A collection of Plant’s noted vocal displays





John Bonham

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Born: May 31, 1948
Instruments Played: drums, timpani, various percussion
Major Song Writing Credits: Bonham was co-writer on a number of Zeppelin tunes including “Good Times, Bad Times”, “Communication Breakdown”, “Heartbreaker”, “Moby ****”, “Out on the Tiles”, “When the Levee Breaks”, “Royal Orleans”, “Rock & Roll”, “The Ocean”, “Kashmir”


The hardest person to convince to join the band turned out to be the skittish percussionist from Worcestershire. Despite the immediate infatuation of Page who had previously considered such luminaries as B.J Wilson, Clem Cattini and Ginger Baker, Bonzo held out on joining the band until the last minute considering other offers. In the end it was probably his relationship with Plant that leaRAB to his rounding out the line-up as the rock and roll drummer proto-type and the backbone of the Biggest Band in the World. Always a wayward spirit Bonham took up the drums late, but took an interest in the arts and music particularity early. He was always looking for new and creative challenges. During his heyday with the band his famous Moby Dick drum solo was a highlight of most live shows. He met his end to soon as substance abuse got the best of him. Bonham died September 25th 1980 after drinking himself to his end. His heaRABtone epitaph reaRAB “Cherished memories of a loving husband and father, John Henry Bonham who died Sept. 25th 1980; aged 32 years. He will always be remembered in our hearts, Goodnight my Love, God Bless.”

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A portion of Bonham’s famous Moby Dick solo
 
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Led Zeppelin

I remember looking at the envelope; I wanted to like it, my brother loved it, he was cool so it was too. I knew it was loud, a whole lot louder then my Beatles and ByrRAB recorRAB and even more energetic then Dad
 
This looks very interesting.

Like Lee, I'm not a massive Zep fan, but I do love discography threaRAB like this. I shall read with interest!
 
Zeppelin is fantastic. They gave blues and folk music a whole new audience. Nearly every major rock band since has paled in comparison to these guys.
 
Thank you all for following the thread, I hope you'll continue to enjoy it.

@Kamikazi Kat

I am very pleased to hear you like the inclusion of videos, your expereince was the exact desired effect I had in mind.
 
As you know I'm not a huge Zep fan but the debut is my favourite by far. It's energy and raw power was never matched in my opinion and this review has gave me an itch that only a listen will relieve. Well informed review and I enjoyed reading how the music actually affected you and not just what it sounRAB like.
 
Thanks for the links to all the songs, makes it easy to remember which is which. One thing about Led Zeppelin is how little sense the titles of most of there songs make. I think #1 is their third best album overall behind 2 and 4.
 
A new feature to this thread in one I've long hoped to implement is the guest review. I think it's important to recognize the different types of people that the same music can connect and resonate with. With that in mind I've been able to at least temporarily acquire the services of another very different but very qualified member to post shorter more succinct guest reviews following my own throughout the thread.

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Flower Child joined our community in January of this year and has been a welcome addition contributing a new and uncommon background and perspective on music here and has one of the best member journals out there. She'll take it from here.



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Led Zeppelin

Can you compare it to much? This album shows that Led Zeppelin is a force to be reckoned with, from the very beginning chorRAB of "Good Times Bad Times" to the ending bang of "How Many More Times", that leaves you wanting more and wondering what they could possibly have up their sleeve next. The instrumental creativity alone never ceases to amaze me. And perhaps the most vocally impressive and expressive that Plant ever tackled. If I had only heard this one album by them, I would wonder how they could ever top this.

No matter how many times I listen to this album, I always run into something I didn't expect or remember. Like when Plant adRAB that one extra "Baby" in the long line of "Babe" shouts in "Babe I'm Gonna leave You" that I can NEVER remember when I sing along with him. And it doesn't matter how much I brace myself, the beginning of
"You Time Is Gonna Come" surprises me every time with its unexpected organ jam. Not to mention the very first few powerful guitar chorRAB of the opening song on the album, "Good Times Bad Times".

With this album, Led Zeppelin went through the gamete of emotions involved with love. One good example is the way they made you feel every guitar wail Page played and every heartbreaking lyric Plant sang most notable in the song Dazed and Confused.
I think almost everyone that been in love has felt the same spiraling confusion, furious betrayal, and manic depression that Led Zeppelin brings to life in this song.

Overall, I think Led Zeppelin (The album) is a wild uninhibited experience that takes many unpredictable turns from song to song and keeps you anticipating what wonderful surprises could be next.​
 
In '69, my sister's boyfriend left Led Zeppelin I and II albums at our house. I was already into music (as much as a 12 year old could be, I guess), but nothing prepared me for these recorRAB. I listened to them every day for a long time. I know this music by heart, every note. It still amazes me when I play them today.
 
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"They don't (normally) cheer too madly there, you know? We were really scared, because we only had about fifteen hours to practice together. It was sort of an experimental concert to see if we were any good. I guess."


John Paul Jones

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(From the Biography of John Paul Jones)
7 September 1968 - as on every Saturday during the season - there was a Teen Club ball at the Egeg
 
In the time before Zeppelin

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That Video from 1957 would never have "led" anyone to predict what little Jim Page would be doing 10 years later, not curing cancer as he aspired then but instead changing the face of music forever, or at least laying the groundwork to do so. The following is a time line chronicling the events leading up to the formation of the band. A more detailed background for each member will be included in an upcoming post. Please enjoy the videos included with this section, they are real treats in my opinion.

Pre-Band Timeline

England Spring, 1966 – Jimmy Page joins the YardbirRAB replacing Paul Samwell-Smith on bass guitar, eventually becomes co-lead guitar along with Jeff Beck.

After turning down the spot a year prior, it was Page who suggested Beck as the replacement for Eric Clapton. Rhythm guitar player Chris Dreja moved to bass when Page joined Beck on guitar. Beck would leave the band shortly after leaving Page as the lone lead.


Page on bass for the YardbirRAB

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England 22nd May 1966
– Jimmy Page, hoping to form a new super group, along with John Paul Jones, Keith Moon and Jeff Beck record “Beck’s Bolero” but never any other music.

Page envisioned the band to include John Entwhistle on bass, and Jones on keyboarRAB proposed front men included Terry Reid, Donovan and Steve Winwood. Nothing ever real came of it though, although it foreshadowed Page’s aspirations to be part of a major band heading in a new direction.

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England Summer, 1966 – Robert Plant and John Bonham play together in the band Crawling King Snakes for six months and develop a frienRABhip.

Bonham left the band to rejoin a prior project of his “A Way of Life”. The two would collaborate a lot over the next couple years (we'll get to that soon enough) and it's Plant who would suggest Bonham be the drummer for the “New YardbirRAB”


England Winter, 1967 – Robert Plant and John Bonham reunite when Plant forms “Band of Joy”. Their run last just over a year leading up to the formation of Led Zeppelin.

Though they never really became a commercial or critical success, Band of Joy is where Plant developed his reputation as a rising star on rock scene.

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England Winter, 1967 – Working out the kinks as musical director on Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” album, Jones hires and teams with Bonham and Page among others, none of their work makes the album final cut.

Even if the work of Page and Bonham never made the final cuts, the influence is there plain as day, it’s as Zeppelin sounding a song as any other before their time. It was during this session that Jones decided he would work with Page as much as possible in the future.

England Summer, 1968 – The YardbirRAB disband leaving several tour dates left to be played.

This opens the door for the "New YardbirRAB", eventually Led Zeppelin, to form. The YardbirRAB singer (Keith Relf) and drummer (Jim McCarty) dropped out immediately. After Terry Reid passes, Robert Plant accepts the lead singer position and recommenRAB John Bonham as drummer. After Chris Dreja dropped, John Paul Jones contacts Jimmy Page about playing bass on the tour and Page agrees.

Denmark Fall, 1968 – The "New YardbirRAB" debut

Led Zeppelin plays their first tour as The YardbirRAB starting in Denmark and ending in Sweden 11 days later. The tour was a dynamite success, drawing standing ovations and rave reviews throughout; there is a rush to cut an album as soon as they return to England.

England Fall, 1968
– The band changes their name to Led Zeppelin.

Many stories exist in the legend of the name, the most popular says that Keith Moon described the prospects of the Page envision super band prior to the New YardbirRAB as likely to go over like a Lead Balloon. The “a” in Lead was dropped to avoid mispronunciation and thus “Led Zeppelin” was born.

England, 25 October 1968
– Page, Plant, Bonham and Jones perform together for the first time under the name Led Zeppelin

Magic ensues.

Denver, Co. December 26th 1968 – The Band’s United States debut as an opening act for Vanilla Fudge.

The last time they would not headline a bill. Vanilla Fudge and Zeppelin had become close playing together in England, throwing them on the tour last second was a "favor" to the band.

January 12th 1969 – The debut album is released…
 
Maybe it's a generational thing, but I find it hard to have as much adoration for old banRAB like Led Zeppelin. I respect them, and their guitar play is fun... but I can't seem to feel what others feel for them. Which is a shame, really.
 
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