"The Ocean," Led Zeppelin

Song: "The Ocean"
Album: Houses of the Holy (Remastered)
Artist: Led Zeppelin



Led Zeppelin probably created more recognizable guitar riffs than any band of the 70's-- and to me, this is the most recognizable. This brings back such powerful memories from adolescence. This was, in fact, one of the songs I would play to get ready for a date. It was like a one song pep rally. My advice: buy the song, turn it up.

It's been hard to select just three Led Zeppelin songs. There are so many and you can expect more in this blog. Honorable mentions: "Fool In The Rain," "Dancing Days," "Going To California," "D'yer Maker," "The Battle of Evermore," "The Rain Song," "Stairway To Heaven."

"What Is and What Should Never Be," Led Zeppelin

Song: "What Is and What Should Never Be"
Album: Led Zeppelin II (Remastered)
Artist: Led Zeppelin

Play Sample

One big thing missing from a lot of today's music is dynamics. One reason for this is the loudness wars discussed here and here. Just as Zepplin's albums had dynamics as complete works of art, so did many of their individual songs. In my opinion, this is THE best example of how to maximize the power of a song with dynamics.

I love this studio version and I love the live version too.

There are so many influences in this song. It begins as a folk ballad with jazz style high hat and drums. Suddenly, it morphs into a hard rock head banger. In fact, this song, along with "Whole Lotta Love," (songs 1 & 2 on the album) probably helped create and define the genre of hard rock.

The guitar work by Jimmy Page is sick. At 3:31 into the song, each successive riff is panned 100% right then 100% left, all but shouting the back and forth agony contained in the lyrics with his guitar. In the midst of this-- a gong sounds, creating an unforgettable, signature moment in rock history.

Apparently, the song was inspired and informed by a romance Robert Plant had with his wife's younger sister. At least that's what the wiki article claims. And this makes sense as the song in every way supports the painful misery of a forbidden love and the confusion, duality and indecision that goes with it.

"Bron-Yr-Aur," Led Zeppelin

Song: "Bron-Yr-Aur"
Album: Physical Graffiti (Remastered)
Artist: Led Zeppelin

In celebration of iTunes releasing The Complete Led Zeppelin, I'll offer my three favorite Led Zeppelin songs in the next three posts.

"Bron-Yr-Aur" is my wife's favorite Led Zeppelin song, and it's growing on me. It is a calm acoustic guitar masterpiece appearing on Physical Graffiti amidst their hard rock classics "Kashmir," and "Houses of the Holy." Led Zeppelin made albums-- complete works of art intended to be enjoyed from start to finish-- and this song's place is to give the harder songs on the album a counterpoint. It's a short song; a breath, which offers a reflective, beautiful sound scape. Led Zeppelin's slow stuff makes their hard stuff more powerful and visa-versa. If you like this, other Zeppelin songs you'll love include: The Rain Song, That's The Way and Going To California.

The song is named for a cottage in Wales where the band stayed. In Welsh it means "Golden Breast." Here's the wiki article.

Here's a collage of photos of Led Zeppelin someone made, backed by the song.