I presume that Jimmy Page kept his eyes and ears open during his studio session era - and was aware of how the music business worked. And probably being part of The Yardbirds taught him more tricks in the trade. Page and company were young, but very experienced figures in the music business at a very early age. On a personal level, hearing-wise, I prefer his studio sessions era and John Paul Jones's work with Herman's Hermits, Donovan, etc.
14-year-old me is quite jealous of 13-year-old you (I woulda been 14 in '77). They also played in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio that year, but that was before I realized that I could actually go see good bands in person. Can't wait to see this film. Thanks for this writeup!
I was 21 in 1977, the year you went to your Led Zeppelin concert. Starting in high school and through college, I bought all the Zeppelin albums. They orchestrated many a night of teenage wasteland (to mix metaphorical bands). But by 1977, I was into punk, initially converted by a friend in 1975 who presciently said (after they'd already hit the cutout bins) that he thought I would "really like" the New York Dolls. My punk allegiance was firmly cemented into place by attending the first Ramones concert in New Haven in 1976.
Through 1978-80, I indulged in my Great Classic & Prog Rock Record Purge, expunging LPs by Led Zeppelin and so many others so I could buy import punk 45s and proto-punk I'd missed by bands like The Stooges, MC5, and Velvet Underground.
But in the 2000s, old age, nostalgia, and the fact that I hadn't listened to classic rock radio for a couple of decades induced me to start adding some of the previously purged music back into my collection (particularly as nice remastered deluxe editions started coming out on CD). I was very interested in revisiting Led Zeppelin but their CDs had come out in the dark ages of CD mastering (the 1990s) so I waited. I was finally rewarded in 2014 with new remastered CDs of Zep.
Not having been immersed in the music for about three decades, I was able to listen with fresh ears. And while I still found Robert Plant's voice somewhat annoying and many of the lyrical tropes did little for me, what I was struck by was the glorious Page arrangements. It was wonderful headphone music (although, of course, it's also great played loud through speakers, too). I could take it in as kind of its own mutant variety of psychedelic blues pop—the "pop" part being the thoughtfully layered arrangements.
Thanks for this! Great to read your perspective. I also enjoyed it, especially the Bonham content, always welcome and thrilling. I was blown away by the foresight to control their music, be an album > singles band, etc. - but the "no label execs allowed in the studio" rule was such a cool flex for a still-emerging band!
I took your words to heart. Went to see it, loved it. Hearing AND FEELING those LOUD AS FXXK drum fills had me laughing. Felt so good. A must see in a great sounding theater.
I like LZ, but I'm not a huge fan. I agree that they rock, tho. The enormous riffs by Page, Plant's soaring voice, and Jonesy and Bonham are tight in the pocket.
What I liked about the documentary was the unbelievable early band footage. I have seen the Albert Hall video (it was released on DVD many years ago), but the footage that leads up to it is ultra rare, and even Page at one point says he hadn't seen it before.
I also knew that Page was very involved but not to the extent he was. I also knew he was a very well-known session musician, and rumors circulate he is on the fuzzed-out guitar on the two Kinks singles (You Really Got Me/All Day & All of the Night), but Goldfinger w/Shirley Bassey? I had no idea.
The other thing I will add about the doc... what more can one say about a band where they have been discussed to death? The film's focus was sharp and pinpoint, and they approached it from a new perspective and angle, which was very refreshing.
I've been wondering - but isn't that the identification in the film when this image appears? Appreciate any info you have about who you think it is instead...
Ah so they do say it’s Eddie Kramer in the film, thanks for that confirmation! What makes you think it’s not? I notice a difference in style from most photos of him, but…
It’s definitely, absolutely, NOT, in any way shape or form, Eddie Kramer. It’s an F-up. Don’t know how it happened. Not sure who that is pictured with Jimmy Page; but again, it is positively NOT Eddie Kramer.
I tried to post a photo of Eddie Kramer with Jimmy Page at the mixing board but it doesn’t allow photos here. Please give me an email address, if you don’t mind, and I will forward.
Thanks so much for the photos. I can see why you don’t think it’s him! How the movie - which Page had a big hand in - could misidentify is a mystery… so I just don’t know. But I’m now deleting the ID in my piece, at least!
I presume that Jimmy Page kept his eyes and ears open during his studio session era - and was aware of how the music business worked. And probably being part of The Yardbirds taught him more tricks in the trade. Page and company were young, but very experienced figures in the music business at a very early age. On a personal level, hearing-wise, I prefer his studio sessions era and John Paul Jones's work with Herman's Hermits, Donovan, etc.
The movie has some great material from Page and John Paul Jones's studio work - really fun to see.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the film. I'm no longer on the fence about it, and I plan to see it asap.
14-year-old me is quite jealous of 13-year-old you (I woulda been 14 in '77). They also played in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio that year, but that was before I realized that I could actually go see good bands in person. Can't wait to see this film. Thanks for this writeup!
I owe it to a school acquaintance who had more pocket money than friends - he bought the tickets and needed company…
I was 21 in 1977, the year you went to your Led Zeppelin concert. Starting in high school and through college, I bought all the Zeppelin albums. They orchestrated many a night of teenage wasteland (to mix metaphorical bands). But by 1977, I was into punk, initially converted by a friend in 1975 who presciently said (after they'd already hit the cutout bins) that he thought I would "really like" the New York Dolls. My punk allegiance was firmly cemented into place by attending the first Ramones concert in New Haven in 1976.
Through 1978-80, I indulged in my Great Classic & Prog Rock Record Purge, expunging LPs by Led Zeppelin and so many others so I could buy import punk 45s and proto-punk I'd missed by bands like The Stooges, MC5, and Velvet Underground.
But in the 2000s, old age, nostalgia, and the fact that I hadn't listened to classic rock radio for a couple of decades induced me to start adding some of the previously purged music back into my collection (particularly as nice remastered deluxe editions started coming out on CD). I was very interested in revisiting Led Zeppelin but their CDs had come out in the dark ages of CD mastering (the 1990s) so I waited. I was finally rewarded in 2014 with new remastered CDs of Zep.
Not having been immersed in the music for about three decades, I was able to listen with fresh ears. And while I still found Robert Plant's voice somewhat annoying and many of the lyrical tropes did little for me, what I was struck by was the glorious Page arrangements. It was wonderful headphone music (although, of course, it's also great played loud through speakers, too). I could take it in as kind of its own mutant variety of psychedelic blues pop—the "pop" part being the thoughtfully layered arrangements.
Thanks for this post, Damon.
Thanks for this! Great to read your perspective. I also enjoyed it, especially the Bonham content, always welcome and thrilling. I was blown away by the foresight to control their music, be an album > singles band, etc. - but the "no label execs allowed in the studio" rule was such a cool flex for a still-emerging band!
It’s not out in Portugal at the moment. I cant wait. I was born on January 9th…
I took your words to heart. Went to see it, loved it. Hearing AND FEELING those LOUD AS FXXK drum fills had me laughing. Felt so good. A must see in a great sounding theater.
Yes! Traveling through *all of New England* and *never* running out of Led Zeppelin on the FM dial!
Also, probably wins the award for the greatest number of velvet pants and blazers included in one single film.
I think their own film Song Remains the Same may still hold the world record
I like LZ, but I'm not a huge fan. I agree that they rock, tho. The enormous riffs by Page, Plant's soaring voice, and Jonesy and Bonham are tight in the pocket.
What I liked about the documentary was the unbelievable early band footage. I have seen the Albert Hall video (it was released on DVD many years ago), but the footage that leads up to it is ultra rare, and even Page at one point says he hadn't seen it before.
I also knew that Page was very involved but not to the extent he was. I also knew he was a very well-known session musician, and rumors circulate he is on the fuzzed-out guitar on the two Kinks singles (You Really Got Me/All Day & All of the Night), but Goldfinger w/Shirley Bassey? I had no idea.
The other thing I will add about the doc... what more can one say about a band where they have been discussed to death? The film's focus was sharp and pinpoint, and they approached it from a new perspective and angle, which was very refreshing.
That is NOT Eddie Kramer pictured with Jimmy Page at the mixing board!
I've been wondering - but isn't that the identification in the film when this image appears? Appreciate any info you have about who you think it is instead...
Indeed. Just saw the film a couple hours ago. Not referenced incorrectly as Eddie Kramer once, but twice!
Ah so they do say it’s Eddie Kramer in the film, thanks for that confirmation! What makes you think it’s not? I notice a difference in style from most photos of him, but…
It’s definitely, absolutely, NOT, in any way shape or form, Eddie Kramer. It’s an F-up. Don’t know how it happened. Not sure who that is pictured with Jimmy Page; but again, it is positively NOT Eddie Kramer.
I tried to post a photo of Eddie Kramer with Jimmy Page at the mixing board but it doesn’t allow photos here. Please give me an email address, if you don’t mind, and I will forward.
Thanks so much for the photos. I can see why you don’t think it’s him! How the movie - which Page had a big hand in - could misidentify is a mystery… so I just don’t know. But I’m now deleting the ID in my piece, at least!
This is definitely getting a watch…