Classic Rock Album of the Day- Led Zeppelin- Presence (1976) ***
A tad back, I coveried a few albums that I had deemed dissapointments. Today's review includes one of from one of my all time favorite bands, Led Zeppelin. This band is legendary, but it doesn't mean their discography was perfect. Here amidst the middle of the Disco fiasco, I thought this would be a welcome respite from that repetitive thumping garbage. In the past, it was always my opinion that if there was a sure bet of a great buy at the music store, the newest Zep album would be the ticket. I know that when I had my first listen, and honestlh I was pretty pissed at first hearing. Slump, lazy, too experimental? I had no idea. Admittedly though the years the LP grew on me. My final read of the work was kind of like parsing through chapters in a book that you are familar with, and putting together the puzzle....as the total story.
In 1976, Zep was still the biggest band on earth, and in fact with that fame came power, culminationg in starting and operating their own record company. They were one of the few exceptions of being a band that had 100% artisitc and financial control of their product. And anyway, who was anyone to tell Jimmy Page what was or wasn't a bad idea. Which leads to what I find so offensive about the album. Yes, there are some rocking moments. but from the end product perspective, the songwriting, and least in the Page- Plant sphere of excellence was serious lacking. And second, the band wanted to, like many others a the time, to spread their wings of versatility and adherence to an Avante-Garde mindset. And if there is one conspicuous stylistic slant on Prescence is Page's intent for funk infusion. Sadly the boys failed to realize that the average Zep LP buyer at the time wanted the stuff 4-8 years made earlier. Granted, I will say some of the best tunes on the LP are in that vein. But one other check mark that you expect on one of their LP's is a great blues tune. Nope on that accoount, just rehash. This no doubt is their worst album
So, from my POV this is Led Zeppelin's most schizophrenic LP. Musicianship wise, it is and has that standared Zep greatness. But the songwriting is the weakest of any of their 8 issues. In the counter I will admit, and it just might be my ear, but this album contains some of the band's most crisp work. These facts alone make Prescence unique. I think most rock fans still treasure this LP, because this is one of few bands that it is important to have the entire catalog. They were that great, influential, and innovative. But, this does seem to be a late career lull for Zep, still there is no way I'd dispose of it.
Fun Fact: Want to know how badly Prescence sold? 3M units... Next least? Led Zeppelin III at 6M.
Side1-
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Achilles Last Stand- This was the representive hard rocker on the LP that totally misses the mark. Page took his Kashnir like forbodance and repetition styling, but with 1/10 the effect. I had friends who loved this tune, but even with the admittance of some great musicianship by all 3 (JPJ- some especially great bass work), This one lumbers on for 10 minutes , and still 7 minutes wasted of vinyl time. I think Page intended for this to be a classic. Good, but not excellent. 4
For Your Life- First foray into funkiness. Song is pretty pedestrian early on, but by the mid point has a nice Page solo that augments well against the funk. Plant adds some rasp to give that added bit of soul. No doubt about it, Zeppelin had never made songs like this and some subequent ones that are coming up.- 3
Royal Orleans- The funk continues. Excellent licks , phrasing,and feel. I am not a drummer, though it is not as highlighted as much as other songs, some of Bonham's drummng contians some very difficult percussion rudiments that work off tangent of the rest of the song. Much more difficult than you realize, and just another example why almost every list has John Bonham in their top 5 of Rock Drumming GOATs. 2
Side 2-
-----------
Nobody's Fault But Mine- The gem of the entire LP. This is the only one that blends the LP's Funk theme, with a hard rock edge, and really nails it well. Song starts with a magical and mystical slide fuzz riff. Plant adds an almost perfect echo pitch vocal with Pages runs, and then... all hell breaks loose. The phrasal sync is genious. And honestly at the song's midpoint , triple hell breaks out with each member going absolutely bonzo on a run of the ages. And as an added bonus, it has what I feel is Plant's greatest harmonica solo. All I can say is wow. I mean wow. 1
Candy Store Rock- Not one of Zep's greatest moments. In the barrel FX (sans Hats Off to Harper), though with a more like a blues-ish like Rock-a-billy style. There is nothing here that breaks new ground, or is worth a listen. Nothing Zep ever recorded is what I would call filler. But I will say is that this one would make a worst 5 in their full play list. 7
Hot On For Nowhere- More funkytown, and maybe just a tad better than Candy Store Rock. Page does have some pretty interesting blues soloing in it- 6
Tea For One- Maybe it's me, but the obligatory (though usually great) pure blues number sounds so close to "Since I Been Loving You" that you almost want to think Page got lazy and started plagerizing himself. Of course Page shreds it, but how about some better variation to the theme?- 5
Original Review was prepared November 27, 2024.
A tad back, I coveried a few albums that I had deemed dissapointments. Today's review includes one of from one of my all time favorite bands, Led Zeppelin. This band is legendary, but it doesn't mean their discography was perfect. Here amidst the middle of the Disco fiasco, I thought this would be a welcome respite from that repetitive thumping garbage. In the past, it was always my opinion that if there was a sure bet of a great buy at the music store, the newest Zep album would be the ticket. I know that when I had my first listen, and honestlh I was pretty pissed at first hearing. Slump, lazy, too experimental? I had no idea. Admittedly though the years the LP grew on me. My final read of the work was kind of like parsing through chapters in a book that you are familar with, and putting together the puzzle....as the total story.
In 1976, Zep was still the biggest band on earth, and in fact with that fame came power, culminationg in starting and operating their own record company. They were one of the few exceptions of being a band that had 100% artisitc and financial control of their product. And anyway, who was anyone to tell Jimmy Page what was or wasn't a bad idea. Which leads to what I find so offensive about the album. Yes, there are some rocking moments. but from the end product perspective, the songwriting, and least in the Page- Plant sphere of excellence was serious lacking. And second, the band wanted to, like many others a the time, to spread their wings of versatility and adherence to an Avante-Garde mindset. And if there is one conspicuous stylistic slant on Prescence is Page's intent for funk infusion. Sadly the boys failed to realize that the average Zep LP buyer at the time wanted the stuff 4-8 years made earlier. Granted, I will say some of the best tunes on the LP are in that vein. But one other check mark that you expect on one of their LP's is a great blues tune. Nope on that accoount, just rehash. This no doubt is their worst album
So, from my POV this is Led Zeppelin's most schizophrenic LP. Musicianship wise, it is and has that standared Zep greatness. But the songwriting is the weakest of any of their 8 issues. In the counter I will admit, and it just might be my ear, but this album contains some of the band's most crisp work. These facts alone make Prescence unique. I think most rock fans still treasure this LP, because this is one of few bands that it is important to have the entire catalog. They were that great, influential, and innovative. But, this does seem to be a late career lull for Zep, still there is no way I'd dispose of it.
Fun Fact: Want to know how badly Prescence sold? 3M units... Next least? Led Zeppelin III at 6M.
Side1-
------------
Achilles Last Stand- This was the representive hard rocker on the LP that totally misses the mark. Page took his Kashnir like forbodance and repetition styling, but with 1/10 the effect. I had friends who loved this tune, but even with the admittance of some great musicianship by all 3 (JPJ- some especially great bass work), This one lumbers on for 10 minutes , and still 7 minutes wasted of vinyl time. I think Page intended for this to be a classic. Good, but not excellent. 4
For Your Life- First foray into funkiness. Song is pretty pedestrian early on, but by the mid point has a nice Page solo that augments well against the funk. Plant adds some rasp to give that added bit of soul. No doubt about it, Zeppelin had never made songs like this and some subequent ones that are coming up.- 3
Royal Orleans- The funk continues. Excellent licks , phrasing,and feel. I am not a drummer, though it is not as highlighted as much as other songs, some of Bonham's drummng contians some very difficult percussion rudiments that work off tangent of the rest of the song. Much more difficult than you realize, and just another example why almost every list has John Bonham in their top 5 of Rock Drumming GOATs. 2
Side 2-
-----------
Nobody's Fault But Mine- The gem of the entire LP. This is the only one that blends the LP's Funk theme, with a hard rock edge, and really nails it well. Song starts with a magical and mystical slide fuzz riff. Plant adds an almost perfect echo pitch vocal with Pages runs, and then... all hell breaks loose. The phrasal sync is genious. And honestly at the song's midpoint , triple hell breaks out with each member going absolutely bonzo on a run of the ages. And as an added bonus, it has what I feel is Plant's greatest harmonica solo. All I can say is wow. I mean wow. 1
Candy Store Rock- Not one of Zep's greatest moments. In the barrel FX (sans Hats Off to Harper), though with a more like a blues-ish like Rock-a-billy style. There is nothing here that breaks new ground, or is worth a listen. Nothing Zep ever recorded is what I would call filler. But I will say is that this one would make a worst 5 in their full play list. 7
Hot On For Nowhere- More funkytown, and maybe just a tad better than Candy Store Rock. Page does have some pretty interesting blues soloing in it- 6
Tea For One- Maybe it's me, but the obligatory (though usually great) pure blues number sounds so close to "Since I Been Loving You" that you almost want to think Page got lazy and started plagerizing himself. Of course Page shreds it, but how about some better variation to the theme?- 5
Original Review was prepared November 27, 2024.
