5 comments about Believe.

1. Not really sure about this one. Maybe it will grow on me maybe not. I always try to give music a fair shot. Some outright disappoint me (Kris Allen, Kesha) and some I love right away (Lady GaGa, Adam Lambert, Rihanna). This one I have mixed feelings. When I listen to it I hear her mad guitar skills and I hear vocal talent but the songs themselves I could walk away from.



2. If you bought this album without listening to the samples first, shame on you. If you expected Orianthi to make a record that appeals to your guitar hero worship mentality, oops! This is not it. Orianthi is hardly the first great guitarist to make a pop record that appeals to a pop music fan base close to her own age. She wrote 4 of the songs, and I have to believe she made the record she wanted to make rather than the conspiracy theory of being somehow coerced into making a pop record against her will. The guitar hero worshippers are asking, "Why couldn't she be more like Steve Vai and just make virtuosity and technically proficient guitar instrumentals?" Well, have any of you ever heard of David Lee Roth? Not the most sophisticated music in the world, some might even call it sophomoric. And Steve Vai is all over it. I could cite the examples of Mr. Big/Paul Gilbert, Danger Danger/Andy Timmons, and dozens more. So instead of dissing all over Orianthi for making a pop record and wasting her talent, maybe you should just admit you don't like pop music and you made a mistake buying this release, rather than pompously insiting that Orianthi made a mistake. As far as wasting talent, I dunno, I can plainly hear her searing guitar riffs all over these tracks. Sounds like Avril Lavigne with hot guitar, and I can dig that. Purchase this with ears wide open and enjoy, or stay clear and save us the sob stories of your alleged victimization.



3. When I first got this I could hear it was a good album. The guitar playing was great, she had good vocals on it, and overall I want to listen to the songs again and again, not just a few times. After a few months, the songs I listen to the most, and my favorite songs on this album, are Suffocated (this one really rocks), Drive away, Feels Like Home(these last 2 have a nice slower blues like sound to them, God Only Knows (song about a loved one who died), and Bad News (a nice rockin song). All the songs are worth it and this is a great album, every song has good guitar in it.



4. I've read through some of these reviews - both good and bad. It's my belief that if reviews are strictly based on high personal expectations, or comparisons to unlike genres from where the product actually fits, they are not helpful (at least to me). This is not a blues cd, nor does it try to be. It's not Clapton, Santana or the like. It is a pop album.
   
   I cannot review Orianthi's pontential talent or previous exhibitions of her talent. I can, however, say that this pop music album is good. Her vocals are really good. How often do you encounter a truly gifted instrumentalist with a really pleasing voice? Sometimes, at best.
   
   The song selections are "catchy." I am a middle-aged adult who really likes a broad spectrum of music. I can't say that there is any innovation in the lyrics or melodies, but I can either listen to or have this music "playing the background" and enjoy it equally.
   
   Of course, her guitar playing abilities are amazing. Knowing that it is the vocalist who is actually the guitarist as well is what, I feel, sets this pop album apart from the rest that have been mentioned in other reviews, i.e. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood.
   
   For what this is - a popular music album, with the intent probably being more profitability rather than critical acclaim - it's really good.



5. Wonderful artist and fabulous CD. She has a beautiful voice but really love her guitar playing!

5 comments about Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO).

1. Led Zeppelin IV (which technically isn't its title, but you can't really have an untitled album, can you?) is one of the greatest albums of the entire rock era. After just about wearing out a vinyl copy, I decided to bite when Amazon offered a download of the mp3 version of the album for $5. Rather than repeating endless words for the many reviews of the album, I will deal specifically with the digital download. The downloadable album is crystal clear -- if it is not technically CD quality, it is difficult to tell. The remastering and the Amazon version is brilliant, with the acoustic instruments of "The Battle of Evermore" sounding clear and resonant. I have never heard any CD version of this album, so it is somewhat difficult to compare the mp3 version to other digital versions; however, it is important to note that this download lacks the overly edgy quality of some of the early digital versions of recordings from the analog era. Excellent music, one of the great rock performances ever, excellent writing, and a solid digitalization with both depth and clarity -- what more could you ask for? Oh, yes, at $5 it is one of the best bargains at Amazon.com.



2. Well, I like a lot of what people have written about the Zep IV disc. I agree with it. But I do think, due to the limited production techniques of the time, it is dated in its sound when compared to a lot of comparable rock music released today. Even when I listen to the LZ remasters--which I had hoped would have greatly improved the production sound--the IV disc will always be an artifact of its time. For the commenter that was so caustic and dismissive about the disc, it's your opinion...if this guy/gal really feels that way, then that is their business. If this person really believes that LZ IV is without merit, he should probably state from what perspective he considers the album to be such a non-starter. I will say this, when you listen to IV (or any albums of that period) the production techniques are dated when compared with comparable heavy rock music by today's standards (such as Foo Fighters, for example). And one might also consider that, although most of what Zep was doing at the time was novel and nobody had *ever* heard anything like it before, by today's musical standards, a lot of what's on the album is "old hat". There are better guitarists than Page playing today, there are better vocalists than Plant, etc. But that shouldn't detract from what it is that they accomplished AT THAT TIME. And it should be noted that most music is derivative anyway--think evolution by natural descent--everybody who is anybody in pop/rock music today will likely have been influenced by this and other Zep albums, simply because the songcraft is impeccible and it *does* stand the test of time, regardless of whether the production values on the disc are dated. This is clearly a generational thing, seems to me. I grew up listening to this, and was learning to play the songs on it in '74 when I was in high school. To me, Page was a guitar god, and still is--although I follow some of the younger guitar players who are equally as innovative (check out the DVD "It Might Get Loud" for a view of how 3 different generations of rock guitarists view this phenomenon). I suspect others feel that way about White Stripes or Good Charlotte or any other more modern act. Putting the shoe on the other foot, there are artists I hear today for whom I have equal disdain (Lady GaGa comes to mind, given that she is, IMHO, a shameless derivative of the Madonna of 25 years ago, and I really didn't like Madonna then either); and I think that many of these artists are nowhere *close* to the likes of Page, Plant and co. or other "classic rock" artists of that era. To each, his own. It does take an open mind. So, it's no reason to be ugly about it! Regardless of whether this particular reviewer was being imflammatory simply for "kicks" or whether it's a genuine opinion. As my grandmother used to tell me, "opinions are like @ssh0les, everybody's got one". Cheers. jd



3. When I was little I loved Led Zeppelin, anytime they came on the radio I had my dad turn the volume up to an absurd level; this lasted from about age 4 to about 12, but kids are pretty painfully stupid, so, I had that as an excuse.
   
   But now I'm 25 and my tastes have been fine tuned, honed to near dead on perfection, and I cannot for the life of me enjoy a single Led Zeppelin song save for ONE song, AND its an instrumental (Moby Dick).
   
   Other than that I find Page's guitar playing not only on this album, but the first 3 as well, to be incredibly boring when compared to people like Robert Fripp, a man who was trying to push the limitations of the electric guitar past that of which it was capable of at the time, then you have a white boy imitating his favorite blues musicians. Really, anyone with any kind of working brain would in inclined to pick Fripp, but that, for some reason, is not the case. It is a sad affair when someone like Page is held above people like Fripp & Iommi.
   
   Hell, even Greg Ginn (Black Flag) is a far more interesting guitarist than Jimmy ever was.
   
   Plant's vocals are just dreadfully uninteresting, as opposed to Roger Daltrey, a man who seemed to be pouring his every ounce into most of the Who's material all the way through their career. But, some people think he's the tops; apparently these people love having the same thing, namely BAAAABY, shouted at them over & over again.
   
   And lets face it, no one cares about the bass in a Zeppelin song, unless you yourself are actually a bass player, so there's that; want bass with talent and energy?: Yes & Rush come to mind instantly.
   
   Now onto the topic of Bonham; he is the only member of the band for whom I hold any respect, but he still isn't as impressive as, say, someone like Keith Moon, the man who holds the eternal title of Rock drum God.
   
   Finally, Stairway to Heaven has to be one of the most disgustingly rancid attempts at poetry in a rock song in the history of music (since the first caveman smashed a rock onto the ground, creating some sort of rhythm, all the way to today.)
   
   Now, I realize in this I've stated "Zeppelin is no good, listen to this band instead." and I realize that this is a silly comment to make, but its no more silly as stating the Stairway to Heaven is the greatest song of all time.



4. A great collection by a great band. I lived in New Orleans around the time this came out, so the song about the levee breaking was very meaningful even back then. Stairway to Heaven was a big favorite played at every high school dance I ever heard of back then too. The words are great poetry by themselves. I find a lot of younger people don't get Led Zeppelin. A real shame.



5. Release of Led Zeppelin's IV in 1971 cemented their statue of a super group at forefront of the new frontier establishing itself in music partially because of them. It was called hard rock. Over a year earlier another band called Deep Purple had released their album called In Rock which also was becoming one of the most influential albums of this new hard sounding field. One of the songs of that album called Child In Time was a 10 minute long epic rock song connecting the beauty of melodic rock with the hard sounding rock, and featuring a long lasting guitar solo by Ritchie Blackmore. It is very possible that Stairway To Heaven was Led Zeppelin's answer to Child In Time. These two songs were compared and played together very often by us in the early 1970s. The beauty of Stairway To Heaven was breathtaking in terms of a concept, lyrics, the mood created by its first soft acoustic melodic minutes as well as by its harder progression. It has to be said that the main guitar riff does belong to the American band Spirit which you can hear in their song Taurus but by all means, all of you active musicians out there, go back to the 1960s and 1970s and do pick some beautiful moments you can find and elaborate on them, bring them to the wider audience who probably never heard these riffs and wouldn't have otherwise anyway. The progression of Stairway To Heaven is spectacular in its very even build up of tempo and energy, but not until we are allowed to float in the beauty of the acoustic part of this song long enough. Lyrically and spiritually this song was truly inspiring. The title was perfect, the beginning lyrics quite meaningful making us feel like we understand the following poetic progression in which clear thoughts were dressed in abstract catchy phrases allowing us all to make up our own stories. However, I would love to know how many of us might not have migrated west without `there's a feeling I get when I look to the west and my spirit is crying for leaving' inside of us. Personally I can also relate to the final words: `and if you listen very hard the tune will come to you at last when all are one and one is all...to be a rock and not to roll'. These words perfectly describe my musical taste in rock... I am just kidding now (sort of) and back then (in 1972 it probably was when I heard this album for the first time at the age of 9), and even for the following 2 or 3 years I have not developed my symptoms, yet. But by 1975 or so I have been diagnosed (by myself) with that very rare and strange allergy towards rock'n'roll. I'm sorry, I know it is so un-cool, but I just can't help it. That is why a few songs of Led Zeppelin IV are just not for me at this point in my life but I absolutely love Stairway To Heaven as well as Going To California, The Battle Of Evermore and When The Levee Breaks. How on earth were they able to come up with such spectacular magic, all at once? Every one of these songs is special in its own way. These are the songs you need one of, to elevate the rank of your entire album by a couple of stars. That is how I evaluate songs which beauty and power overwhelms me. Going To California has for a long time been my favorite song of this album. Its simple beauty of melodic line, acoustic sound and Robert's voice make this song perfect to me. I remember listening often to it back in late 1970 when after watching the tv serial Streets Of San Francisco I was already sure I wanted to end up there. I didn't know the song was addressing Joni Mitchell but smoking that stuff and drinking that wine and girls with love in their eyes and flowers in their hair all sounded really good to me, and made me a bit impatient. The Battle Of Evermore's poetic and mysterious lyrics addressing Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings probably mean more to you if (as I have in my teens), you have walked into Tolkien's kingdom at some point in your life, but the main power of this song lies to me in the beautiful harmony of vocals (Robert Plant was singing this song together with Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention) with the acoustic folk music carried mainly by mandolin and guitar. There is this simple repetitive element to this harmony which attracts me a lot. When The Levee Breaks has this spectacular distorted sound to it echoed and engineered perfectly to give us this very unusual addictive atmosphere. Back in 1996 I have put together my favorite songs by Led Zeppelin. At about the same time I had read an interview with Wayne Hussey of The Mission who had said `it's about time somebody screamed (or something like that) Led Zeppelin Ace', so I did.
   
   Led Zeppelin Ace:
   
   1. Battle Of Evermore
   2. All My Love
   3. Since I've Been Loving You
   4. Baby I'm Gonna Leave You
   5. When The Levee Breaks
   6. Going To California
   7. Kashmir
   8. I'm Gonna Crawl
   9. Tangerine
   10. The Rain Song
   11. Thank You
   12. Stairway To Heaven

5 comments about Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix.

1. Hendrix was before my time, but we put his "best" on due to his reputation. We sat back and braced ourselves for "god." Maybe that was part of the problem - he'd been built up too much before we heard his "best."
   
   I will start with the first concern we had - the vocals. After listening to part of the first song we skipped ahead (through each song) and we were disappointed to discover Hendrix sounded the same on every track. He yelled. Maybe his yelling does it for some people, like in Al Pacino movies; but for us, his voice was too deep and we wondered why he didn't hire a lead singer.
   
   We started back at the first track to see if we could get into his music despite the vocals. The music was our second concern - no melody. Let me ask Jimi Hendrix fans this question: Have you ever had a song stuck in your head ... a half an hour later you find yourself still humming or whistling that same song and you say to someone - "Hey man, I got this song stuck in my head, man!" Now, was the song by Jimi Hendrix? I would be amazed if the answer were "Yeah, man!" because frankly I cannot pick up on any melody in his songs that would remain stuck in my head. The main composition of his songs sound like his major musical influence was the U.S. Army Marching Band.
   
   The lyrics: "If you won't do it, then your sister will!" There was no lyric by Hendrix that carried more impact to us than this lyric. While this line made us laugh (with him), I doubt this line would actually work on any women we know, i.e., sober women.
   
   The lead guitar was Hendrix' best feature. The riffs build and are climatic - for the most part - but we could take the riffs from one song, say "Red House," and put those riffs in any other song and they would belong there equally as well. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most solo instrumentals fit a particular song? I don't know about that for sure, but as much as he rambled along the scales bending notes and sustaining feedback, there seemed to be no connection to any particular melody ... but then maybe the lack of melody was to blame. The exception was the national anthem ... also of a military influence.



2. This CD was for my daughter who has been a fan of Jimi's since she was a teen ager. She was so greatful to get this CD, because she had lost her's years ago. It was in good condition and the seller was right on the money with the discription and the mailing. She will be enjoying this CD for years to come.



3. I just love the idea of shopping on the internet and amazon makes it safe,easy and fast. If ever I have any questions they know how to communicate with me and answer any questions to the best of their knowledge,thanks Amazon.



4. "Experience Hendrix" is a marvelous introduction to the blues rock/psychedelic rock great himself, Jimi Hendrix. It's like a peppy shot of espresso, with some spices and hippie hemp milk thrown in for good measure. Hendrix is part of the great trinity of psychedelic rock guitarists--along with Jerry Garcia and Carlos Santana. He electrified Woodstock, the Isle of Wight--and was as capable of studio magic as amazing live performances. Had he not passed away in the September of 1970, who knows how else he would've revolutionized rock?
   
   "Experience Hendrix" opens with the amazing,trippy "Purple Haze." It hooks you from the opening riff. "Fire" is as flames that consumed Hendrix's guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival. "The Wind cries Mary" is a powerful ballad. "All along the watchtower" is a highlight. It's one of Hendrix's best--it's tremendous in the studio album "Electric Ladyland" as it was when he performed it live. "Manic Depression" is powerful blues rock. "Little Wing" is one of Hendrix's most popular ballads--listening to the original is sonic proof why it has endured. There's the incredible "If 6 was 9." "Bold as Love" is one of the great classic rock love songs. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is another classic that's lasted. "Freedom" is an amazing ballad,with lyrics like "I want to be free to give." The album closes with Hendrix's electrifying performance of the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock. It's fitting for the 40th anniversary of the "3 days of peace,love and music."
   
   Get experienced!



5. I may be a fan of metal, but that does'nt mean I don't appreciate the classics, and Jimi happens to be my favorite. Despite the fact that he wrote 99% of these songs stoned, his music can not only be catchy, but have some pretty deep meaning to them, and his legendary guitar skills complement nicely with these lyrics. The top five songs I recomend are:
   
   1. Voodoo Child
   2. Hey Joe
   3. Little Wing
   4. Fire
   5. Wind Cries Mary

5 comments about The Complete Studio Recordings.

1. If you are of my vintage, you likely still have boxes on vinyl LPs in your garage, but have bought digital compliations of your favorite music from the 60's and 70's. I am so happy to have the actual albums now living in my iTunes. A must have collection for any LZ fan regardless of age. And if you can catch it on special (I got for $67 on a gold box deal, it's a sweet deal!



2. Received my order very quickly and in perfect condition! Would definitely do business again.



3. My wife got this for me for my birthday. Yes I am in my late 30s and hard to shop for. She hit a home run with this one. I love this. Everything Zeppelin. No modifications, no goofy remixes. Just a remastering by the Master Jimmy himself. I love this box set. I have it on my iPod and it gets played anytime I am on the commuter rail headed to work. I also listen to it at work when i get swamped and have to work on a presentation or something. The noise drowns out those around me and I keep it too loud to hear the phone. A must buy if you like Zeppelin, a little expensive but you'll never need to buy another Zeppelin anything every again.
   
   [...]



4. First, the box; it holds all of the CD cases and the included LZ booklet comfortably and easily accessible BUT the CDs are held in slip cases which are inconvenient. If you do buy this set, get some good ol' jewel cases along with it; you buy CDs for the music, not the packaging.
   
   There's no need to worry about the sound quality, it's great.
   
   My collection came in with two coppies of LZ1 and no copy of LZ2. I'm sending it back to get LZ2. Everybody makes mistakes; this one is minor but a previous customer mentioned it happened to them as well.
   
   For $100+ I'd say this is a pretty good set, aside fron the inconveneint box. But another reveiwer offered a good suggestion; Chances are that if you're buying the complete LZ studio collection then you might be familiar with all, if not, most of their stuff. so do your self a flavor and buy the albums (that you want) individually; it'll be cheaper.



5. Only thing good about this box set is the packaging and design and so on. However the booklets the CDs come in
   fall apart easly and some of the disc come pre-scratched as they fit too tight.
   
   As for the recordings, Jimmy said it well, they again are flat sounding.
   
   Too bad the Mothership wasn't a complete box set, tracks are clean and clear!

5 comments about Performing This Week...Live At Ronnie Scotts.

1. Listen to me...yeah you at the keyboard...Everyone who has posted a review for this DVD are telling the truth at how great it is and these folks are far more eloquent than I could ever be, so here is what I will say. You've probably got ONE CLICK enabled...you're in front of your computer right now (probably at work no doubt) and unless you've been in a coma for 40 years you know who Jeff Beck is so do yourself a favor buy Live at Ronnie Scott's RIGHT NOW! If you do, you will be thrilled and amazed beyond belief and if you don't...well... what's her/his name two cubicles over will NEVER go out with you because you are a musical knucklehead! So impress her /him with your good taste and your ears and eyes with Jeff and his band's astonishing performance.



2. I have been a fan of Jeff's since as long as I can remember. I was gigging as an electric guitarist for many years, and as time went on, the number of top electric guitarists I really enjoyed began to dwindle, until finally Beck was left standing almost alone at the pinnacle. He keeps reinventing himself, and that quality is rare, especially since many find it necessary to keep doing their safe expected material in order to keep the fans that allow them to make a living. I suppose that being a custom car builder has freed him from some of those pressures.
   
   He manages to cover the entire spectrum of expression, from a quietly poignant melody all the way to a thunderous roar. After having heard his recordings for many years, I finally was lucky enough to catch him live here in the states one night. I consider it to be one of the greatest concerts of my entire life, and I've heard some good ones. He was on fire all night.
   
   Much later, I remember seeing his Crossroads show performance on TV. It was very good, no surprise, but with the enormous crowd, he actually seemed a tiny bit nervous. And I remember seeing what seemed to be a very drunk Bill Murray introducing him to the audience, which was quite amusing. I was glad to have seen Jeff in a more relaxed setting.
   
   I have many recordings of him, and have followed his every style change. It would be easy to become jaded. But as I listened to this recording, even though the material was all familiar, I was somehow re-stunned, and it brought back memories of that special show. After awhile, the image that came to mind was of him walking along carrying a huge bag of diamonds, just tossing handfuls of them to anyone that he saw. Glittering diamonds of creativity and sound.



3. You know that invigorating sense of cleansing & renewal you get after seeing a real great musical show? It's an indescribable feeling of elation and I hope you as a music fan reach this place as often as you can because it's a rarified treat for your soul. If you're in dire need of this sensation; of truly being impressed, cleansed & renewed, this Jeff Beck show will take you there, I promise...I have been an ardent fan of Jazz-Rock-Blues-Fusion since I was 13 years old and currently 44 with never a dull moment spent musically. What is witnessed herein may be the high water mark of all my dedicated years of fanship. The DVD is what you want to see; plain & simple. I hear the CD short changes some fun tunes that complete the esoteric musical journey. The DVD's the biggest bang for your buck and you can fold your friends and family into the mix with repeated viewing; It will likely be required. This is quite an eyebrow raising experience and it's not that it's just Jeff Beck, it's other worldly. That's all I can eek out at this moment in time because I'm still in absolute awe of what I just saw. Performing This Week-Live at Ronnie Scotts is suddenly that important of a scene. Be there, get it and marvel in it's impactful purity.



4. This doesn't have some of the vocals by guest artists as does the DVD. Pity. Blanket by Imogen Heep is the one of the reasons I purchased it.



5. Jeff beck is a musician...who happens to play guitar. He can make lyrical poetic passages that mean something...and also blistering fusion runs into the twilight zone. He is one of the very few who can use the whammy bar in a musical way. I'v always enjoyed his playing best when he has a musically compatible keyboardest, such as Jan Hammer or Max Middleton. His keyboardest on this CD, Jason Rebello is now on this shortlist. This CD is highly recommend.

5 comments about Rodrigo y Gabriela (with Bonus DVD).

1. Thank you for a quick and easy process. My brother absolutely loves his CD!



2. do not miss this disc, if you do not like it i will shovel you snow, or cut your grass for a year.



3. Rodrigo & Gabriela have develpod a style of acoustic guitar music that is both breathtaking audio and visually stunning.
   Gabriela's use of her percusive Spanish/mexican style brings flourishing rhythms and the driving heavy thump of a bass drum.
   The nylon strung accoustic guitar has never before been used to such dramatic effect. Even the masters of the Spanish flamenco technique
   have not achieved such a sustained level of rhythmic excellence. On top of that both Rodrego & Gabriela perform with such an enthusiastic level of excitement that is infectious and heart warming.
   The second disc DVD should not be missed.
   The live concert makes it worth the price but then you get a guitar lesson in which Gabriela shows you how to play her style of guitar.
   And then there's their story video when you find out a bit of their history. Both of these give you a real in depth insight into their lives and just how lovely Gabriela is. Even when she's pissed as a parrot and streaming expletives.



4. Its a terrific album and the extra value DVD containing a lesson from the 2 of them is a real bonus



5. This is Music. No worries or concerns about what people want. Just express your self and share what you are with the others. Excellent!

5 comments about Physical Graffiti.

1. This is one of those times in life where you rediscover something. Me as a 70's hard rock buff never really gave this album a chance.Back thenI wanted everything to be harder and heavier.
   Zeppelin here offers a much varied and artistic approach to Zep. There are hnts on Zeppelin III with Houses of the Holy as well,a new shade of middle eastern thrown in there with some folk.Done well by Zeppelin.This 2 album collection calls for much praise.
   This was a time when it was customary to fork out 2 album concept works of art like Yes, and Genesis.
   
   So here we have Zeppelin at it and they do it quite well. blinded by advice of former erroneous friends that Zeppelin was over-rated I take a late,but newly found opinion that Zeppelin was graet and stands the test of time after all.



2. I was very happy with the condition of the record and the cover also. I was also very impressed at the speed in which i got it.



3. One of Led Zeppelin's best records, on two discs. What Exile on Main Street was for the Stones, Physical Graffiti was for Led Zeppelin. Containing some of their best material, in fact there's not a bad track on that record.



4. This is one of my favorite albums. It may have been the first LP that I bought for myself as a teenager - yes I am that old. I more recently bought it on CD. Some of the best songs ever are on it. They don't make music like this anymore, unfortunately.



5. What is ther to say about Led Zep that asnt already been said.They were the greatest.I love the music.So on that note,I say good night to you all and keep rocken in the brain.

5 comments about Truth.

1. 
   
   
   Energetic if predictable blues-rock, Beck's influence is deserved but an esteemed debut is little more than dirty-white blues 101.



2. Long before he recorded avante-garde techno guitar, Jeff Beck was in the vanguard of the late 1960s heavy blues boom. You won't find any of Jeff Beck's typical whammy bar adventures here, but you will hear a lot of heavy, flashy, and usually tasteful guitarwork that compares very favorably to Jimmy Page's playing on the first couple of Led Zeppelin albums. This will probably surprise Jeff Beck's newer fans, who know him solely in his current context. An even greater surprise is lead singer Rod Stewart's performance throughout. Yes, it's THAT Rod Stewart and back in the day he could belt out soul and blues with the very best of them. He comes very, very close to stealing the show.
   
   There are enough out-takes and alternate versions here to virtually double the original album's length. Usually I can't stand bonus tracks but in this case, almost all of them have something to recommend them. It's nice hearing 'Beck's Bolero' in true mono and with its backwards guitar tagged on as the song's coda, the faster version of "Rock My Plimsoul," and an alternate version of "Blues Deluxe" without the overdubbed audience sound effects. Of course, "I've Been Drinking" which has a powerful Rod Stewart vocal, should have really been on 'Truth' in the first place. You'll definitely want to listen to these, and they are just as good as the original tracks on the LP. (Avoid "Love is Blue" if possible).
   
   The best comparison I can make to this CD would be the 'Beano' album John Mayall's Bluesbreakers recorded with Eric Clapton. If only there had been some truly original compositions here - rather than blues covers disguised as original tunes - 'Truth' would be well-known as one of the absolute high points of the late 1960s/early 1970s. How I wish Jeff Beck had held this group together just a little longer so that their sound and songwriting could have developed more. All I can say is, snatch this CD up now while it is still in print and prepare to be dazzled!



3. I can't believe that I or my friends weren't listening to this back in the 70s. Well, I think I have an idea.
   
   First, I am very impressed by this music, and I'm not all that knowledgeable about "its place in rock history." Truthfully, I could care less about things like that. This is just plain great heavy blues rock that pre-dates Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page must have based his vision for Led Zeppelin on this LP. Of course, if we are mindful of our rock history, Beck's group disintegrated about the same time Pagey's group was introduced. And the rest is indeed history. And that is why my friends and I were totally unaware of this great music, but we weren't unaware of Jeff Beck. Zep were a working band releasing new music. Jeff Beck had turned to fusion by the time we were in high school. And yes, I did own both Blow By Blow and Wired in the 70s, and my friends did too, and I have both on CD at home, and I listen to both occasionally. So again, I have to wonder, how did we miss this? If we had, I'm sorry to say that in our teenage ignorance we would have accused Beck of trying to imitate Led Zeppelin, when in fact, it was the other way around!!
   
   Beck even did the blues right. Most of the songs on the LP are covers, yet unlike Page, Beck actually gives credit to the originals. Page just rearranged the songs, stole some lyrics, and put his name on them. According to the liner notes, Beck even asked Howlin' Wolf for permission to re-arrange I Ain't Superstitious. That proves the amount of respect Beck had for his influences.
   
   If you are a fan of British blues-based heavy metal, there really is no excuse for you not to hear this. Now that I have, I am forced to rethink some of my assumptions about Led Zeppelin.



4. The LP version of this album suffered somewhat from ordinary production values. I have distinct recollections of craning into the speakers to hear what Jeff's guitar was doing on a number of tracks. This has been fixed with this re-mastered version and you can hear every slide of Jeff's fingers.
   
   The bonus tracks should sate any curiosity about Jeff's early solo singles but there's nothing really outstanding there. Still, the original album tracks are superb. Let Me Love You in particular features spectacular playing well ahead of its time. Bolero has lost nothing and the cover version of the Yardbirds' Shapes of Things showcases the capability of this lineup, featuring as it does Ronnie Wood on bass, Mickey Waller on drums and Rod Stewart on vocals.
   
   I had to have it, and now I have to keep playing it.



5. The first version of the Jeff Beck Group existed in a transitional period in time, before bands like The Faces and Led Zeppelin came into being, and after Jeff Beck's ejection from the Yardbirds. It's all in the timing because it also followed the folding of bands like the Shotgun Express and the Birds, from which he recruited Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, then both still relatively unknown. Mick Waller on drums had known Rod Stewart from earlier Steampacket days and came to the band from the Brian Auger Trinity.
   
   Truth was the first album by the group although it was released under the name Jeff Beck, who was simultaneously "enjoying" a solo career, masterminded by producer Mickie Most, and having hits with songs such as Hi Ho Silver Lining, Tallyman and Love Is Blue (shudder).
   
   The truer heart of Jeff Beck was to be found on the B-sides and on this debut album, which was mostly left to Ken Scott, the engineer, to handle, whilst Mickie Most no doubt dreamt of one day discovering elfin girls in black leather cat suits with bass guitars.
   
   After eighteen months of grafting on the road the band were pretty hot. It is a classic album, though the shortage of material does show, with versions of Ol' Man River and a throwaway filler in Greensleeves. This was inspired by Chet Atkins' version, though Mick Waller had previously recorded a rocked-up version of it for Joe Meek with the Flee-Rekkers back in 1960 as Green Jeans. Carrying on that tradition, several of the tracks are thinly disguised rewrites of well-known blues songs. Let Me Love You is essentially Buddy Guy's Let Me Love You Baby; Rock My Plimsoul is clearly BB King's Rock Me Baby (although BB himself nicked it from Lil' Son Jackson) and Blues De Luxe owes more than a little to BB's Gambling Blues.
   
   There's also a reworking of Shapes Of Things, a Yardbirds hit that Jeff played on; a cover of Tim Rose's arrangement of Morning Dew; a version of Muddy Waters' You Shook Me with John Paul Jones (soon to be of Led Zeppelin) guesting on Hammond; and a rip-roaring rendition of Willie Dixon's I Ain't Superstitious, as recorded by the great Howlin' Wolf.
   
   The album set a sort of blueprint for a genre that came to be known as heavy rock, made possible by developments in the technology of electrical musical instruments, amplification and recording equipment, of which Jeff and his sidemen were early adopters and experimenters. In the Yardbirds, of course, he had been a pioneer of feedback. The sound was developed on the second album, Beck-Ola, but with less light and shade than is found on Truth.
   
   Rounding out the album is the instrumental Beck's Bolero, an earlier recording from July 1966. It had previously appeared on the B-side of Hi Ho Silver Lining and has the unique line-up supporting Jeff of Jimmy Page (12-string electric guitar), Nicky Hopkins (keyboards), John Paul Jones (bass) and Keith Moon (drums)! The tune is credited to Jimmy Page, though Maurice Ravel may have had a hand in it. On the album it is shorn of the backwards guitar part at the end but is newly mixed into rudimentary stereo.
   
   This edition of the CD comes with 16 pages of booklet notes including an informative essay by Charles Shaar Murray, and a number of bonus tracks (all stereo except where stated): I've Been Drinking had been the B-side of Love Is Blue, and so was unlikely to have been heard by legions of Jeff Beck fans who would have avoided the single like the plague, and was an adaptation of Dinah Washington's Drinking Again. There are the first takes of All Shook Up and Blues De Luxe, the latter without the fake live effects that were overdubbed to the eventual master; the excellent 1967 single Tallyman (in mono) and its B-side, an earlier recording of Rock My Plimsoul, both from a time when Aynsley Dunbar was the drummer; and Hi Ho Silver Lining, first recorded by the Attack, and its B-side, the original mono, backward guitar mix of Bolero.
   
   Finally, it includes the dreaded Love Is Blue (in mono). Where to begin with this blot in Jeff Beck's discography? It began life as L'Amour Est Bleu by the Paul Mauriat Orchestra, and with words added became Luxembourg's 1967 entry in the Eurovision Song Contest as sung by Vicky Leandros. It came fourth but was popular enough to be recorded by the likes of Andy Williams and Claudine Longet. It falls way outside Jeff Beck's comfort zone and suggests that Mickie Most must have had a very persuasive tongue.

5 comments about You Had It Coming.

1. This is one of my favorite Jeff Beck recordings ever! He is one artist who has continued to get better. If you've ever been a fan or want to know what he sounds like, GET THIS ONE!!!



2. This is a great album. Beck covers a lot of ground on this album. The only thing I don't like about this album is that it's not long enough. Beck really is the best Strat player alive today.



3. I love this CD (almost said "album"--shows how long I have been around.) I play it when I want to get "revved up." I love Jeff Beck, in my top ten guitarists.
   
   Glad the "older guys" are still producing and don't let the very stupid idea that they are too old to be Rock and Rolling interfere with their vast creativity.
   
   They have become masters of their craft, and I feel blessed to hear what Beck and others are doing.
   
   Enjoy!!



4. Jeff Beck has teflon fingers. You never hear a squeak, a blown chord, or any stumbling about the fret board. Very Smooth!



5. Jeff Beck is amazing, no matter which incarnation of his playing you listen to, and this CD, You Had It Coming, is one of his best. Jeff does a great job of staying relevant in a changing music world. This CD shows a lot of creativity as well as guitar prowess.

5 comments about Led Zeppelin 1.

1. the best band of there time, you have to be a total idiot to not love this band



2. In 1968, visionary Jimmy Page had just left the Yardbirds and had met John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and Robert Plant. Together, those four were known as "the New Yardbirds." However, a joke from The Who's drummer Keith Moon, saying that a new band "would go over like a lead balloon" prompted the name change to "Lead Zeppelin," and manager Peter Grant altered the spelling to "Led" so radio stations wouldn't misread it.
   
   But enough with the history. You came here to read the review. This is a great first album. Every song on it is flawless - an incredible feat given the entire album was recorded, arranged and mixed in 30 hours.
   
   The opening of "Good Times Bad Times" will grab you and pull you in, and before you know it you've reached an almost-manic guitar solo by Jimmy Page.
   
   Then things seemingly slow down with the melodic "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You." Page wanted this to be Led Zeppelin's "light-and-shadows" song, and sure enough, after wandering through the acoustic "shadow" of the song, you are blindsided by the light when the song suddenly changes course; Page's melodic plucking immediately turns into a pounding riff, complemented by Bonzo's drums. Then, as though allowing you to catch your breath, the song will "dim" into shadow again, with Page lightly backing Plant's voice. Then comes another blast of frenzied rock. But in the end we don't know if Plant "left" his girl, or if he stayed with her. A truly enjoyable Zeppelin tune.
   
   "You Shook Me" is a very bluesy song with a nice opening riff. Bonham really whacks the drums on this one too, and Plant changes things up by throwing a harmonica into the mix during the instrumental break, adding more than just vocals into the song. Page shows off some guitar skill by seeming to "follow" what Plant sings and, at the end, doing a sort of "call and response": Plant screams "Babe!" and Page hits a guitar note.
   
   "Dazed and Confused" is left over from the latter days of The Yardbirds, but of course Page wanted to put a Zeppelin-esque spin on it. Opening with John Paul Jones's bass line, the song seemingly trudges along, with Robert Plant lamenting "Been dazed and confused/for so long it's not true/Wanted a woman, never bargained for you." The instrumental break is a time for the musicians to really "cut loose" and demonstrate their abilities, which they do remarkably well.
   
   John Paul Jones's influence is evident on "Your Time Is Gonna Come", a church-organ-infused tune that seems out of place to some. However, to me, it allows us a glimpse into his writing and is a pretty good tune about a cheating lover. (Other songs written by Jones are "Misty Mountain Hop" from Led Zeppelin IV or "ZoSo", "No Quarter" from Houses of the Holy, and almost the entire last album In Through The Out Door.)
   
   "Black Mountain Side" is a purely instrumental track (a rarity for the quartet) written and played by Jimmy Page.
   
   Next comes "Communication Breakdown", an in-your-face jam that lets the listener know that Led Zeppelin is definitely different from other bands of their time. At two minutes, 29 seconds, it's one of Led Zeppelin's shorter tracks, but after listening to it you definitely must catch your breath. "Communication Breakdown" is truly a relentless tune, not letting go until the end. This song makes one feel like they had the wind knocked out of them, complete with another nearly out-of-control, manic solo from Jimmy Page. (Toward the end of this song, Page adds some rare backing vocals.)
   
   "I Can't Quit You Babe" is another blues-rock gem, along the same vein as other blues-rock songs of the era.
   
   "How Many More Times" is the longest song on the album (coming in at over eight minutes), which has a grooving bass intro and demonstrates a musical rarity: Jimmy Page playing his guitar with a violin bow (just before - and during - the verse starting with "I was a young man, I couldn't resist"). Toward the end of the tune is a cover of "The Hunter", coupled with Robert Plant's trademark vocal wailing.
   
   Overall a stellar effort by the young band. Even from the onset, Led Zeppelin set out proving that they were definitely a different act than what listeners were used to. And this remarkable first album helped cement Zeppelin's career, helping them become one of the biggest rock bands of all time. Among the greatest debut albums ever released.



3. As a female Zep fan, I am constantly amazed at how remarkable this, their
   first album is. My favorite song on the album is 'Dazed and Confused' and the
   drums of the late John Bonham especially. I get goosebumps listening to the amazing drumbeats he laid down on each and every song.
   I was 9 years old when this album came out but I never get tired of listening to Zeppelin. All these years later and they still are the best rock band ever.



4. This is THE BEST Led Zeppelin album, period. It may be the best rock album, as well.
   I remember hearing this for the first time, and it was something completely new and wonderful. I have read all the stories of how it was created. Many critics feel it is derivative, and a copycat of Jeff Becks "Truth" album. Yikes, can't these critics hear the difference? Like night and day.
   Actually, every album ever made is derivative of something. Nothing is ever completely new or original. But, what Jimmy Page did with the sound on this album was groundbreaking. It is the foundation for pretty much all hard rock and metal to follow. To me it sounds nothing like Becks "Truth", or anything else it was said to have imitated. Both albums contain "You Shook Me"... listen to the difference. The Beck version is fine, sounds like typical 60's blues-rock. The Zeppelin version is thundering and majestic, and so in-the-groove that it shatters the mold.
   I saw Led Zeppelin when this was their only album out, at Winterland in S.F. in '69.
   They tore the house down with "Dazed and Confused", and "How Many More Times"....
   I believe that they were at their best at this period. After that I kept waiting for a new Zeppelin record that would top it, but that never happened. Of course they had some great songs later....like "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven", but never put out an album as cohesive, consistent, and tight as this. It is a sonic wonder. This is hard rock at it's very, very best.



5. led zep is good. but come on there all like what like what 20 years older than ac/dc vanhalen, and so many others. led zep was always my favorite growing up. but after awhile i grew into more modern stuff. you can't live in the past people. any band that can't entertaining should just get out of the biz. face it people led zep is done. their is no more. i loved jason bonham but they think its nepotizm that got him in the buz. be hes got the chops so cut him a break.