I've been missing out!

[calibrax]

I am a muppet of the highest order.

Let me explain. I turn 45 this year. So I've grown up with quite a wide range of music. And my taste is very varied... I like everything from Beatles, Nirvana, AC/DC, Queen, Duran Duran, Deep Purple, Nirvana, Eminem, NWA, System of a Down, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Connick Jr, RHCP, Rumer, Rolling Stones... the list goes on, and its extremely varied, I think you'll agree.

Now there are two bands in particular of whom I have been aware, but only vaguely... over the years I've heard people rave about them, and I've heard one or two songs of theirs, and thought they were OK, but I never really got into them, or bought anything of theirs.

Until now.

I recently bought a few CDs by these bands on a whim, and I listened to them properly and in full. And I'm gutted that I hadn't checked them out before.

The first one is Fleetwood Mac. Albums I bought are Rumours, Tango in the Night, and The Dance
The second is Led Zeppelin. Albums I bought are Led Zep IV and Mothership.

Just fking incredible! Blown away? UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR.

Some of the best music I've ever heard. I'd heard the opening of Stairway To Heaven before and thought it was nice, but had never listened to the whole song, so I didn't know that it went from a gentle ballad to an all out rock song with an awesome guitar solo. And the version of Big Love on "The Dance"... wonderful acoustic guitar. I could go on and on and on...

How on earth did I miss these?

[james_gt3rs]

I really don't get how you can be interested in music, have varied taste etc, and not have heard Led Zep! Especially at your age...

[Odie]

Im currently sat here listening to mothership, its absolutely awesome

[Rollin]

I'm listening to Tango in the Night.

[Turn7]

Rumours is a great album.

For Zep, try the BBC sessions, its a live gig without a screaming fan backing track.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BBC-Sessions-Led-Zeppelin/...

[calibrax]

james_gt3rs said:

I really don't get how you can be interested in music, have varied taste etc, and not have heard Led Zep! Especially at your age...

I've heard the odd clip here and there. They weren't really mainstream chart-wise, so maybe that's how I missed them. Even so, it really puzzles me. Weird.

[kiteless]

What I find always surprises me about first-time Zep listeners, and more to the point surprises them, is the range of their abilities. What I mean is most people who have not listened to Zep's whole catalogue believe that they specialised in rock. Of course this is not the case: they are usually amazed when I play them track 1 off their first album. It's about as "folky" as it gets, and they always did this very, very well. One of my favourite Zep tunes is That's The Way; oh and Over The Hills and Far Away

Similarly with Mac, many people think that the lineup is / was / always Buckingham et al playing MOR schlock, when they were at their best when a certain Mr Green was pack leader.

Here you go, some things that Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac one would not have immediately thought they would have recorded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aj_vABphAo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8RhZDGLEXM

[Laplace]

kiteless said:

they were at their best when a certain Mr Green was pack leader.

Couldn't agree more. One of my favourites.

[Odie]

op have you ever listened to radiohead (the bends is my favourite album) or early muse (Showbiz, origin of symetry, hullabaloo)?

[Asterix]

kiteless said:

What I find always surprises me about first-time Zep listeners, and more to the point surprises them, is the range of their abilities. What I mean is most people who have not listened to Zep's whole catalogue believe that they specialised in rock. Of course this is not the case: they are usually amazed when I play them track 1 off their first album. It's about as "folky" as it gets, and they always did this very, very well. One of my favourite Zep tunes is That's The Way; oh and Over The Hills and Far Away

Similarly with Mac, many people think that the lineup is / was / always Buckingham et al playing MOR schlock, when they were at their best when a certain Mr Green was pack leader.

Here you go, some things that Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac one would not have immediately thought they would have recorded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aj_vABphAo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8RhZDGLEXM

Also, how bloody damn good they really are. I took a young lady to Page & Plant a while back - she kept moaning that they were a bunch of old wrinklies that should have been mothballed years ago - trust me, there was a very good reason for enjoying her, ahem, company - anyway, a couple of hours later and it appears that she'd just been to the best gig of her life. She thought they were incredible.

But as you say, you have to immerse yourself into their music to fully appreciate how broad their range is. Zep are an incredible band for many reasons. They can often do what sounds like simple stuff but when you analyse the music it is anything but.

Also, you have to look at how clever Jimmy Page was as a producer - one of the greatest influences on how rock music developed from the late 60's onwards.

And then Fleetwood Mac. Another superb.

I'm really happy for the OP - must be very cool to hear stuff like this for the first time even now. John Peel said that he felt sorry for the kids of today (this was said in the 90's) because they were never going to experience the 'what the fk is that!' moment the first time Jimi Hendrix was played on the radio back in the day.

OP - I'm sure there's quite a few other bands that would equally blow your mind.

Edited by Asterix on Tuesday 10th July 14:17

[eric twinge]

I downloaded "Rumours" this morning, seems good on the first listen.

I think they might be quite big in the future, keep an ear out for them.

Fleetwood Mac, they're called.

[calibrax]

Odie said:

op have you ever listened to radiohead (the bends is my favourite album) or early muse (Showbiz, origin of symetry, hullabaloo)?

Radiohead, yes. I agree that The Bends is excellent. And OK Computer was a great follow-up, I'd find it quite hard to choose which of the two I prefer.

Asterix said:

I'm really happy for the OP - must be very cool to hear stuff like this for the first time even now. John Peel said that he felt sorry for the kids of today (this was said in the 90's) because they were never going to experience the 'what the fk is that!' moment the first time Jimi Hendrix was played on the radio back in the day.

It is, I almost feel like I've single-handedly rediscovered music. My long commute to work in the car (2 hours a day) passes very quickly now, and I sometimes find myself listening to the same track again and again, each time hearing something new. Love it!

Asterix said:

OP - I'm sure there's quite a few other bands that would equally blow your mind.

All suggestions are welcome!

[Crafty_]

Deffo get some Peter Green FM, essential part of any music collection imho.

As someone else said try some early muse, Absolution is a cracking album.
How about Bloc Party ? Queens of the stone age (QOTSA). You might even like a bit of Foo Fighters or Robin Trower..

[kiteless]

Laplace said:

kiteless said:

they were at their best when a certain Mr Green was pack leader.

Couldn't agree more. One of my favourites.

I've not heard that one before, but - lordy - it is exceptionally good; like the best bits of T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters and Albert King all rolled into one.

for the link

[Laplace]

kiteless said:

Laplace said:

kiteless said:

they were at their best when a certain Mr Green was pack leader.

Couldn't agree more. One of my favourites.

I've not heard that one before, but - lordy - it is exceptionally good; like the best bits of T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters and Albert King all rolled into one.

for the link

It's a great track but I find Green's voice particularly incredible here, as good as any I've ever heard.

[gareth_r]

Man of the World (is it just hindsight that makes it so poignant?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDGi0SZkgpI&


Peter Green documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC0DayWUY64&fea...

Edited by gareth_r on Thursday 12th July 03:27