In 1968 , Jimmy Page was recruiting members for a band called New Yardbirds . This was when a few people joined the band , included in whom were , bassist John Paul Jones , drummer John ’’Bonzo, the Beast’’ Bonham and vocalist Robert Plant . This band soon changed its name to Led Zeppelin and went on to change the face of music .....forever . They dominated the music scene with one chartbuster after another for 12 years and gave hits like Stairway to Heaven , Black Dog , Whole Lotta Love , Over the Hills and Far Away and the list goes on . Till date the Led Zeppelin albums record one of the highest sales every year . They are ageless , timeless and the best thing that happened to Rock . Infact their popularity gave rise a rumour that the band members had sold their soul to The Devil . In 1980 , the band suddenly stopped their conquests after tragic death of drummer John Bonham.
What followed was , each of the guys taking their respective ways never to combine together again . Plant developed a succesful solo career , John Paul worked for some time with Diamanda Galas and Gibby Haynes . While Page formed The Firm with former Bad Company singer Paul Rogers before pursuing his own solo path .
Page and Plant briefly reunited a few times , including a stint in the all-star band the Honeydrippers, and appearances on stage together at Live Aid in 1985 and Atlantic’s 25th Anniversary Concert in 1988 .
In 1994 , fourteen year after Led Zep broke up , they officially reunited under the apt name Page and Plant and announced some tours and an album called No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded , made up mostly of unplugged versions of their earlier classics . In 1998 they released Walking into Clarksdale , the album that we’re gonna be talking about today .
I think the first and foremost thing that you should keep in mind while going through this album is that , this is not Led Zeppelin , as simple as that. No more soul - searing screams from Plant and drop - dead good looks of Page . That has been replaced by a calm restraint and a sense of reflection and survival . Its as if the guys have achieved salvation and reached the destination they have been looking for , all these years . This is a mature and tranquil effort , with vivid imagery and great lyrics , from the granddads of Rock and Roll .
Before I get too carried away with Page and Plant , let me first mention the two other guys who form a part of this band and co-write all the songs . Bassist Charlie Jones and drummer Michael Lee go a long way in supplying that fresh , young feeling to the band .
Jimmy Page mellows down a little and often assumes the role of the rythm guitarist .However , there are a few occasions when he churns out some killer licks from his axe and gives us a glimpse of the old Zeppelin days .
Robert Plant sings a few octaves lower than he usually does . But whatever he does I guess Plant will always be Plant , the very best . For a man of his age , his voice is strangely youthful in this album , yet riddled with nuances that come with time and experience .
The songs are different in character from Led Zeppelin creations yet contain the same inspiration, diversity, and power .The album opens with Shining in the Light based on solid rocking , acoustic mode with a nice keyboard layering . Guitar chordings are trademark Page bits. Its upbeat acoustic and catchy chorus might remind you of Over the Hills and Far Away . The tracks that follow like Heart in your Hand , House of Love , Sons of Freedom are usual metallic Zeppelin styled renditions with complex arrangements and at times an almost frantic string section that gives a solid progressive texture to the tunes. Upon a Golden Horse is a standout number which suddenly drops into Blue Train which is a laid back bluesy - bass kind of number interluded by some rocking modes .It’s got extremely inspired lyrics from Plant, with smooth, eloquent delivery and Page playing a beautiful rhythm behind the https://lyrics.
Another day is ending
And I remember when
My world, came falling down
Out there the stars stop dancing
Lost in my darkness now
The rain, keeps falling down
Light of my life, where have you gone
Love’s true flame dies, without the warmth of your sun
Most High was a big radio hit . It is a cohesive composition with the Arabic influences from Zep’s hypnotic Kashmir , complete with an exotic riff and a unique keyboard solo in the middle.
This along with Please Read the Letter are two of the most catchy tracks on the album .However , my favourite track on the album is When the World was Young . This track is reminiscent of what these guys were all about , some years back . Its a sedate and mellow piece with some great distorted guitar works which are the tasteful hardrock elements of the track . Burning Up and Walking into Clarksdale , the title track fit the metal banner in many ways . They have some traditional Zeppelin chordings (at times quite reminiscent of In Through the Out Door). When I was a Child is again a Zeppelinesque ballad with an echoey touch .
What Page and Plant must have meant by their title is the notion of revisiting a mythic past – in this case their own ecstatic dancing days . Seems like Page and Plant have made peace with ’’peace’’ at last . This is a great album with a Zeppelin like feel running throughout its length . I guess you can take out Page and Plant out of Led Zeppelin but you can never take Led Zeppelin out of Page and Plant . If you don’t already have this album go out and get it . I assure you you’d like it unless you have a personal vendetta against the band .