Customer Reviews

Whole Lotta Blues: Songs of Led Zeppelin

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I want to remind the reviewer that "When The Levee Breaks" was a delta blues song borrowed by Led Zeppelin, not the other way around. If you like Led Zeppelin, this is the music that inspired Jimmy Page, and this CD is a good way to begin to appreciate the real thing, if you don't already.

Cause its really good. Cause its like bluesy version of these songs the way they used to be before Zeppelinized (and in some cases the way they might have sounded if Zeppelin hadn't done them first). "Since I've Been Lovin' You" is a knockout bluesy bit of soulful R&B, all Hammond organ and whining in yer whiskey...sounding more like B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone" than ever before. "I Can't Quite You Babe" has a helluva groove goin' for it. "Custard Pie part 2" and "Trampled Underfoot" are also really good. The only thing on this whole CD I didn't like was "Custard Pie part 1". This is a better "tribute" than Encomium and the Song retains the Name parts one and two. I have also heard HOB's "Paint it Blue" Stones Tribute, so when I read about "Whole Lotta Blues" on Amazon I pre-ordered it. Get you a pint of Jack and roll up a couple of numbers and play this one real loud. It's real good!

Absolutely amazing! I'm a Led Zeppelin fan as well as a blues lover.This CD captures some incredible renditions of some very good Led Zepp songs.It's the best of both these worlds.Alvin "Youngblood" Hart's version of Heartbreaker is mind blowing.I like it better than Led Zepp's version(sorry L.Z. fans).This CD is a "must have" for blues lovers!

This CD is the real thing - real artists performing real blues. I half expected a disk full of gimmicky superficial performances, but since I was intrigued with the concept I placed my order anyway. I'm glad I did! This CD is now one of my favorites, one I listen to often, especially those times when I just can't make up my mind what I want to hear. It always satisfies. The fact that the songs are from Zeppelin is really of secondary importance to the sheer magic of the cuts. Order this CD, go directly to the second cut to get your blood boiling, then settle in and listen to the whole thing. I think you'll be hooked.

We always enjoyed rock'n roll musicians reverencing the great blues Masters of the past!So,what a problem about blues musicians doing the same thing with the best rock'n roll "underground" band ever,Led Zeppelin??And what magical stupendous cd!!They've played with intense heart feelings!!! The interpretations of all of them,are trully lessons about how to play rock'n roll with bluesy style!All of the musicians are great!!! What we can say about all of the entire cd is FANTASTIC!! I really recommend an accurated attention to Otis Clay's version of" Since i've been loving you".Sincerely one of the most emotional interpretations of a music in the blues history,and specially great because what is being played is Zeppelin's music!!! To the rock'n roll fans,and bluesfans all,everywhere,A MUST!!!!!

A lot of hay has been made of the fact that Led Zeppelin appropriated old blues songs and made them their own, often, without ever crediting the original source. Lawsuits were filed, eventually settled and a CD containing the original, unadulterated, tunes as recorded by the likes of Memphis Minnie, Robert Johnson and Sleepy John Estes was released under the title of "Early Blues Roots of Led Zeppelin". The songs on the "Roots" recording are not the actual Led Zeppelin tunes, but rather the closely related tunes that blues historians contend Led Zeppelin ripped off and claimed to have written. This disc goes the next step, taking the songs as recorded by Led Zeppelin and asking blues musician's to record them as if the songs were their own. The circle is now complete as they say.

The unfortunate part of this story is that the reincarnation of these numbers fails to capture and hold the attention of the listener. In other words, the concept seems to fail where Led Zeppelin succeeded. For example, Otis Rush' interpretation of "I Can't Quit You" can best be described as funk-lite, complete with drum machines, and the performance does not contain the raw energy of the Led Zeppelin numbers. Not all is a total loss however, as there are some good takes on the disc. James Cotton, for example, blows some serious harp on "Whole Lotta Love" and is accompanied by both Joe Louis Walker on vocals and Alvin Youngblood Hart on acoustic guitar. Overall, the recording falls far short of it's objective. Blues fans, if they haven't done so already, will not embrace Led Zeppelin as a result of the performances on this disc. Whatever the original source was for the Zeppelin tunes, Zeppelin staked them out as their own and spoiled us with their high energy takes on these tunes. For blues fans, "Early Roots" should be investigated. Zeppelin fans should also look elsewhere.

Everyone who is a fan of Led Zeppelin understands that being experimental was a standard for them. At the same time, it's no secret that Zeppelin left the ground by recreating old Blues standards, originally recorded by artists they considered The Masters. This album is symbolic of exactly where Led Zeppelin, and Rock and Roll in general, came from. If you're a Blues lover, you'll really enjoy the raw acoustic sound of Custard Pie, Bring It On Home (Part 1), and When The Levee Breaks (Part 1). Others will enjoy the "thicker" performances of those songs revisited. It's fun to listen to the whole album and understand why Zeppelin had such an affection for this soulful style of music. It's also understandable why Zep wasn't very well received when first bursting onto the scene. Their edgy interpretations of old blues tunes were often called "bastardized" by critics. Yet in spite of the initial negative reaction, the boys knew that what they had begun was magical...pressing on to show more of their talent and diversity. Blues is the most heartfelt kind of music you'll ever hear. If you've never seen a live Blues performance, you should by all means do so. This was the heart and soul that helped make Led Zeppelin the legends they are.

I really liked Chris Thomas King's soulful interpretation of 'Hey, Hey, What Can I Say? Chris Thomas is one of the most talented artists, and definitely one the most overlooked, from the 90's.