14 Comments

Thanks for sharing

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wow bro, i grew up on zep, and consider it one of my 4 pillars of rock. but reading your piece explains why i can't listen to much of them anymore - however, i did include tangerine on a playlist for my post today

what do you think of black sabbath? looking forward to reading your stuff

https://open.substack.com/pub/riclexel/p/leadership-lessons-from-metal-gods?r=bcx26&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Thanks for the analysis and the super tunes. Led Zeppelin —always a favorite.

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I’m confused. Is this a review of their 1990 box set? The set pictured is the ‘Complete Recordings’ that came out in ‘93. The ‘90 set featured the re-sequenced tracks that you write about here, while the set pictured is the original albums, in their original sequence, but with the bonus tracks added to Coda.

I still have the ‘90 box on LP and CD (the Zep fanatic that I was) as well as Box Set 2, which had everything that wasn’t on the ‘90 box, again in a new sequence.

I found the new sequences thrilling at the time, offering an alternative look at their catalog. It didn’t always work, but it was fun exercise (especially for geeks like me who are obsessed with sequencing and mixtapes!).

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Definitely a review of the 1990 box. And one of the *few* things I agree on in the article is that the Zep box sets, especially the "Complete" one pictured, have been corporate opportunism more than creative re-assessment.

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I didn't mind the initial 1990 box set, as it was the first "official" Zeppelin release since Coda and it was a great primer for the next generation and a gift for their longtime fans in the bonus tracks and restructuring. However, the best that's come out post-breakup would have to be the BBC sessions, 'How the West Was Won,' and the DVD set. Otherwise, I completely agree.

Thanks. I looked back to see if there was a disclaimer with a date but didn't see one and I thought that Page had gone back to the well AGAIN!

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Yes, I was excited about the 1st box - just to get “Hey Hey” and “Riverside Blues” on CD was worth the price of admission in my mind. And I also dug the re-sequencing at the time, but haven’t played it in years. Time to re-assess!

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Why you gotta be hatin' on Led Zeppelin! 😜 IMO, Page is the greatest rock guitarist of all time. I know, this is controversial. My husband thinks I'm crazy and puts half a dozen musicians ahead of Page. I'm sticking to my guns. I'm a musician and a music teacher myself, so I agree that Zep is "musician's music." They're my second-favorite rock band- right behind U2 - but I still won't be shelling out money for that monstrous box set. Lol

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Page definitely up there, that piece ran in the Boston Phoenix in 1990? as we started the Box Set deluge, and it made me hear those records differently. His later remasters far superior.

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I wonder if @chrisdallariva knew that he was reposting an old article?

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Hmm. Lot to ponder here. I grew up with Zeppelin. Saw them twice. They and Skynyrd ruled the Deep South. Still remember the day Bonham died. Literal day of morning. Two thirds of the high school - including the stoners, my group — left class and blared Zeppelin from the 8-tracks in our pickups and Chevy Novas. Spent hours learning Page’s solos. Even now I can listen to Zeppelin and find new things. “Musicians’ musicians” nails it. They were, and Page knew it. So wonder Pete Townsend didn’t like them. He was afraid. Keith Richards didn’t either, but that’s just Keef.

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They were magnificent.

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Hmmm. Some valid points but. . . typically 'critical' intellectual view. Don't get me started. . .

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Random aside: John Paul Jones still has yet to receive the credit he's due for holding the mercurial Page and the semi-feral Bonham together into the Zeppelin sound we know and enjoy. Page and Bonham both had "signature" sounds, but without JPJ their fiercely independent playing styles would've torn the band apart after, maybe, Zep 3.

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