One of the many great things about Zep are the layers of musicality. It guarantees that you can relisten to a song many times and still find something new. This song is a reworking of the original song recorded in 1929 by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy about the flood of the Mississippi Delta in 1927. It was part of the Great Migration which saw more African Americans come North for better opportunities ("go to Chicago"). There's no synth on this song, however, there was a lot of production on this song. Bonzo's drums were set up in the entrance hall of Headley Grange with mics placed around and hanging above his drum kit to help get that wonderful sound while also feeding it through a Binson Echorec and compressing the final product. Jimmy uses a slide to help give the guitar that stretchy sound and he and Jonesy used a modal structure to give the droning tone. Reverse echo was added to the harmonica and various effects were added to the vocals. If all this weren't enough, the vocals stayed at the same speed, however the instruments were slowed a half step in production to further assist with the sludgy, back water blues style sound. This song is a groove, it's menacing, it hits hard, almost bludgeoning you with intensity while the circular drone carves furrows in your brain. Masterpiece. Personally, I'd say don't do lyric videos because sometimes whoever puts it together get the lyrics wrong too - I've seen it several times. Maybe do what you're doing and save the lyrics for after because you know you'll listen to the song again. :) Still, do what's best for your overall enjoyment.
I agree with no lyric video, you unintentionally focus on the lyrics more so than on the music, which takes away from the experience of the music, and as was said, the lyrics are at times incorrect on many of those which are created by youtubers. Looking forward to the next Zeppelin (Led) reaction video
I moved to Chicago as a young man, fresh out of the Marine Corps in 1990. I was living my late teen years and could not find a great gig at first so I worked "day labor" jobs and ran into several older (55+) black men who had come to Chicago as part of that mass migration. The sad part is that they ran into a completely new wave of endemic racism that was almost as bad as what their parents had faced in the Deep South...
I spit my beer out when he said “i love that synthesizer” that son is a blues harp. Love your reaction, wish i could have a first response to a zeppelin song.
@@sicotshit7068 The very idea that young people can't listen to music and have their own opinions pisses me off . We all did it when we first heard it ... they can too ...
@@Freedom_Half_Off I’m not sure your point. My response was tho the comment, wish I could have a first response to a Zeppelin song, & I said you did like me maybe decades ago. I said nothing wrong, so I don’t know if that’s what you’re implying.
Drums recorded with two mics in the entrance hall of Headly Grange and compressed and filtered with delay. Contrary to internet chat that it was recorded in a stairwell and natural echo.
The harmonica playing here is other worldly. Just stunning. I can’t imagine going back and forth between playing harmonica and singing like that. What a treasure this music is!
Ozzy did that on the entry to The Wizard too - you can see him blow a mean Harmonica on the "rehearsal video" when they reunited. It's amazing to see him still have IT
I never get tired of hearing this song. It's an aural masterpiece. I always feel like you're drowning in a whirlpool of sound towards the end. No other band even comes close to this kind perfect maelstrom. Thank you Jimmy Page!
“When the Levee Breaks” is widely considered one of the band’s masterpieces, as well as one of Page’s most complex productions, and it's definitely one of my favorites. It was originally written by Memphis Minnie, a well known blues artist during the first half of the 1900s, and the lyrics are about The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. About its production, Page said “You’ve got backwards harmonica, backwards echo, phasing, and there’s also flanging, and at the end you get this super-dense sound, in layers, that’s all built around the drum track, and you’ve got Robert, constant in the middle, and everything starts to spiral around him. It’s all done with panning, each 12 bars has something new about it, though at first it might not be apparent. There’s a lot of different effects on there that at the time had never been used before. Phased vocals, a backwards echoed harmonica solo…” Bonham's drums were set up in the entryway of Headley Grange and the microphones placed three stories up the stairwell, thus capturing a very distinctive sound. That, and Page's genius studio wizardry, made this song very difficult to perform live, which they did only twice, because the effects of the productions values were impossible to replicate live without losing the "feel" of it. Plant sang in the sort of in between key, and the instrumentation purposely arranged to give the sense that the voice was in perpetual danger of being over-whelmed by immense natural forces. The effect was spot on. Words used to describe this song when people hear this song, like "epic", "awesome", "intense" , are entirely accurate in my mind, but for me, even after hearing it for the zillionth time, my mind still lands on "absolutely incredible". Very glad you two enjoyed it. It's a song you'll likely not soon forget. Looking forward to hearing what you've been working on to post while you're gone. Enjoy your trip! :) Edit: As for reading the lyrics while listening to one of LZ's songs for the first time, I don't recommend it. It can distract you from just getting "in the groove". Olivia's idea of reading them after is an excellent idea. :)
I couldn't have said it better 👏 ,as with every single Zeppelin song whether it's a reworked old blues tune or a original of their's they never get old and I still get goosebumps when I hear them?
Page bullshits quite a bit, he wasn't even there when the drums were recorded contrary to his own claims, the only people there were Bonham and the engineer Andy Johns who set it up and did the recording with Bonham, in Andy's own words everyone else had gone to the pub when they recorded the drum track.
@@mikew.1913 According to engineer, Andy Johns (as discussed in the book, "Led Zeppelin: All the Songs"), the sound resulted from experimenting with Bonham and in the end, Johns hung the microphones from the second floor, not the third. So you're correct that it wasn't the third floor and it's true that the sound can be very closely replicated, and has been by a number of people, using various combinations of mic placements, audio techniques, etc. But just because the sound can be replicated doesn't refute Johns' explanation of the placement of the microphones when the song was recorded.
One of my top Zep songs forever. For me, it is absolutely hypnotic… I get captured by that beat and go into almost a trance. Add that superb harmonica of Plant. Goosebumps
I believe the drums from this song still remain the most sampled and mixed drums of hip hop/wrap. Plus the other instrument you missed is the harmonica played by plant. The power of this song is unreal
This song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.. And Robert Plant played the harmonica
YES YES YES!!! Double stank face haha So glad you guys finally got to this track. The instruments are just bass guitar, 12 string guitar, 6 string guitar, drums and Plant on the harmonica. The drums were set up in a hallway which allowed for some awesome echo on the sound but they put echo on the track anyway. Great reaction 😁
This 68-year-old man got a freakin' kick out of watching your eyes and facial expressions in the first two minutes of the song. It was apparent you all had never heard what was called Chicago Blues from back in the 1920s and '30s. I could see your little noodles melting over that wicked, raw, soulful sound of a bluesy harmonica ripping through your ears. What a joy! I still have all my original Zepplin albums from back in the 70s. So fun to watch you kids discover rock and roll.
Hello, There is no reverse echo on harmonica, Page has just move the echo during the harmonica sound. There is a reverse echo on the slide guitare at the end of the song. Jimmy Page has created the reverse echo for this song and he will use it a second time in "the wanton song".
@@hansvandermeulen5515 The echo of the drums is due to the fact that it was recorded in the barn of a farm rented by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. The microphones were installed on the stairs and the tape recorder was on the mezzanine. The rest of the song was recorded in the studio. At the end of the piece the bass is doubled on several tracks, the rest of the time it doubles the 12-string guitar and the drums.
@@sebastuxroot7944 the echo was achieved with a Binson Echorec. The microphone placement gave the drums this, as I call it, a very open and deep sound.
@@sebastuxroot7944 nope! In the entrance hall at Headley Grange-the stately mansion they recorded in. Drums on the main floor and the mics about 18-20 feet above. The entranceway was open to the top of the house. Made of stone. Loads of bounce.
Teenagers 50 years hence, LITERALLY, having exactly the same reaction to this music. I was mind blowing then, and it still blows minds today. I heard this song first probably about 73 or so. Easily one of Led Zeppelin's best songs. But it helps to see these young people reacting. It takes me back...
This is the most famous drum track in all of music. Between the production, the pocket, and that Bonham stomp, it'll be best for a long time to come. All my favorite drummers knew how to hit em hard. Which reminds me - War Pigs - Live in Paris 1970.
Still to this day my favorite band. Fortunate to have seen their Presence tour! So nice to see today's youth digging music from the greatest days of Rock.
WOW!! SO cool! Watchin' you guys, your amazement and sheer joy, then I realized we were all boppin' our heads in exact sync. Suddenly, I was with you, and hearing it for the first time! Literally 50 years, to the month (that's half a damn century! 😝), after the real experience! Well, this was an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, as well. Thank you! Loved your reaction! More! 😁
They are my favorite. Then maybe Sabbath. A lot of people say the Beatles, but not me. I can’t think of one Beatles song I’d rather listen to than When the Levee Breaks:)
@@JacobBailey zeppelin and sabbath were THE seventies bands. In many ways, zeppelin were the Beatles of the seventies. Both inspired countless bands and musicians and were important in advancing the idea of artists controlling their own interests musically and financially.
Bonzo’s drumming is what defines this song. He played a Ludwig kit recorded in the lobby of Headley Grange using two microphones which were hung up high above on a flight of stairs; output from these were passed to a pair of compressor/limiters set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A Binson Echorec, a delay effects unit, was also used.
Electric guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, drums . That's it ,they recorded at a different tempo and then slowed it down, John Bonham's drums were recorded in a stairwell .
Hi Alivia! The dynamic duo! One of the most heavily sampled drum tracks in rock history. The next album ventures into many, many new directions and musical genres for the band. Great video. TY.
It’s a guitar,a bass, drums, and vocals. And Robert plays the Harmonica aka Blues Harp. That’s all the instruments. It’s not a synthesizer...yikes, it’s a harmonic! You guys are young, I’ll give you that!🤷🏻♂️
I’m 47 so Zeppelin’s my Dads generation but man we jammed the shiznit outta Zep and it’s so cool to see your generation discovering them as well!!! Keep on posting guys y’all rock
Inspired By The Great Mississippi Flood Of 1927,, The Most Destructive Flood In U.S. History,, Flood Waters Reaching 30 Feet In Some Places..R.I.P. To The 500+ Souls Lost On That Day.🙏❤
Best thing to do with a song that plays with time is to just keep nodding your head to the timing that you've established and let it come back and find you.
It’s like watching my youth you two rockin out to Zeppelin I love it.Both feelin the beat and the music it’s so damn adorable.John Bohnam the drummer is so in the pocket he was a genius.
So I was like 10 years old when this came out. Can you imagine what it was like? Sitting in the driveway, in my older brother's GTO, listening to this 8-track, completely enthralled!!! You guys, oh you have no idea, the music life I have enjoyed. Earliest memories of The Beatles, Byrds, Stones, Zombies,The Who, Zep, Yes, Bad Co., and American bands, CCR, Grand Funk, CSN, CSNY, Poco, I know I am forgetting so many, but you have it. You have it all at your fingertips. You lucky kids! Keep at it.
appreciate this song and know that Zeppelin fans from New Orleans have a special.. not always happy.. place in their heart for this song.. for me it is a funeral dirge for our city.. post Katrina it took on new meaning... growing up they played it on the radio when it rained hard... memories
I really love seeing young folks enjoying this music! Don't know your ages, but I suspect you are around the same age I was when this album was released (19). It's amazing to think that was 53 years ago... and even more amazing to see how well y'all relate to this music, compared to how little I could relate to music from 53 years prior to 1969 -- that would have been 1916! Music was quite different in my grand parents' time... (Yes, I'm old. But I still love rock music, and stilll listen to Led Zeppelin!) I have subscribed to your channel, and as long as you play LZ, I'll keep watching.
Next to this album is houses of the holy, another absolute monster. After you finish the next album you could watch the Madison Square Garden concert. There you will see the best version of the songs you already listen
The beat just draws you in, sooner or later. The song is a sleeper and showcases the harmonica very nicely. Robert was quite good with that little instrument. JImmy's slide guitar was quite well done.
I love this song by Led Zeppelin out of all of my favorites by them. It’s so bone chilling that they guys are British and yet they are very talented at doing American southern blues. Nothing like it man, I swear. My dad introduced me to Led Zeppelin and this song and I gotta say it, I’ve never gotten the chicken skin I get from this song ever. These guys helped shape the music it is. Even though music today is way different, but I love good old 70s music especially rock and metal. God bless them. The world needs a bit old fashioned. 🙏🏻✝️❤️🔥🎤🎼🎸✊🏻
Welcome to the world of real music. Great to see youngsters getting into the music that I grew up in. Your reactions are just like we did in the 1970's. Keep going on the Led Zep and see why they are regarded as the greatest band ever.
This is one of there monsters, they are all GREAT...this is one of the GRATESTS.....THE GOATS!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. “Oh Mexico, it sounds so simple. I just got to go.” James Taylor. Look it up! 👍
Love the facts that the younger generation also expands their horizon and listen to the classics. Just as I try to listen to new music. Keep on Rockin ! :)
Awesome reaction! 🙂 this song is about a horrible flood that happened a long time ago along the Mississippi river, many lives were lost. 😢During your Led brake, I recommend a reaction to Robin Trower "Too Rolling Stoned" If you love guitar,🎸 you'll Love! this!. Thank you Peace! ☮
John Bonham's drumming was played on a Ludwig kit and recorded in the hallway of "Headley Grange" (a stone house where Led Zeppelin cut their fourth album), there was a stairway there, that went up like three floors, it was a wooden staircase, with tiled floors. Bonham's kit was set up next to the stairway (on the bottom floor). Using two "Beyerdynamic M160" ribbon microphones, which were hung up at the top of the stairs (on the third floor); the output from these mics was then sent thru a pair of "Helios F760 compressor/limiters", set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A "Binson Echorec", (a delay effects unit), was also used. Portions of the song were recorded at a different tempo, then slowed down, explaining the "sludgy" sound, particularly on the harmonica and guitar solos. It was the only song on the album that was mixed at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the rest being remixed in London). Page identifies the panning on the song's ending as one of his favorite mixes "when everything starts moving around except for the voice, which remains stationary".
Bonzo on the drum set, John Paul Jones on the Bass, Jimmy Page on the electric guitar. Robert Plant on vocals and harmonica. No other instruments. There is an acoustic guitar under the main track.
I always loved Bonham’s drums on this song, & found this interesting per Wikipedia: John Bonham's drumming, played on a Ludwig kit, was recorded in the lobby of Headley Grange using two Beyerdynamic M 160 microphones which were hung up a flight of stairs; output from these were passed to a pair of Helios F760 compressor/limiters set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A Binson Echorec, a delay effects unit, was also used.[9][15][16].✌️❤️🎶
Awesome reaction. Led Zeppelin are a prime example of the British power trios of the time. Power trios with an amazing vocalist added in. Some of the trios stayed at three with a member handling the vocals. The Who. Cream. Jimi Hendrix Experience. To The Police and beyond. Zeppelin used that power trio structure to take classic American blues tunes, electrify them, and introduce them to new audiences. This song is a prime example.
"So many instruments." For this Led Zeppelin song it mainly consisted of Jimmy Page, Gibson Les Paul guitar; John Paul Jones, Fender Bass guitar; John Bonham, Ludwig drums/Zildjian cymbals; and Robert Plant, lead vocals/harmonica. Awesome song for only four different instruments! 🤘🤘
Another fun reaction to Zep! Really enjoying your voyage thru their catalog and look forward to you experiencing Houses Of The Holy. You've probably already got plans made, but when you get to that gap between Zep reactions, I'd love to see you both check out another late-60s contemporary of theirs, Yes. As much as you both enjoy the musicianship on these albums, I think you'd find a lot to like there. Either way, keep enjoying the journey!
"Crying won't help ya, praying won't do you no good" and instead of referring to the water as rising, the lyrics suggest things are "going down, going down now" adding to the helplessness of the broken levee....Not many words in this song but they work very well! Love this song!!
Damn.... fire song man, eveyone goes off on this one, i feel like you would definitely love ''Achilles Last Stand'', that is a really up beat song dude, i love the sound of Bonham drums in all songs but in Achilles last stand man, he goes off for real, he shows why he was one of the greatest. Excelent video man, keep going on the Zep road!! Also if u want new artists to listen to, you should check out The Doors or Pink Floyd, some Jimi Hendrix would do it to.
IMO, this is the greatest rock band in history. You are also listening to one of the greatest drummers of all time. I love watching young folks experience these masterpieces for the 1st time!
One of my favorites! My 17 year old granddaughter likes Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and many others because I introduced her to their music! Nice to see more young people enjoying the best music! I'm waiting for you to react to Kashmir!
I love that Zeppelin made no bones about the fact they got a lot of their sound from American Blues. They did another song "In my time of dying" that was a remake of a song by 'Blind Willie Johnson'. It's a must listen to. I believe Bob Dylan did a remake of that tune also.
Zeppelin and pretty much all the British bands from the fifties and sixties cut their teeth on the early blues from artists like Sun House, Robert Johnson and BB King and later on Bo Diddly Little Richard and many more, I think it was Page in a interview that he said they would get the Blues music from the long shoremen, from the US
The DRUMS are what makes this track so great. the reason why the drums sound so fantastic is because during the recording process of this particular song ( they recorded it at an English mansion outside of England not at a recording studio)they had to move JON BONHAM's drum set out in the hallway, near the stairwell where it is loud and echoey.they had to place several Mike's around the drumset near the stairwell so you could imagine being at the recording session for that.Thank for reacting to a great LED ZEPPELIN track.
I just found this particular reaction, glad I caught it, love this song, I use to freakin' work out to it, back when it was worth it, now I'm 61 and don't care anymore lol! I'll never be anything but a rocker! I just love watching the younger gens get into the same music all of us old rockers love. The best stuff came from my younger rockin' days, the 70's man! Good luck with your channel and all that you do, peace!
When you hear something like these rock songs for the first time it is an emotional trip so just enjoy it for what it’s giving you, when you react give your impressions of the voice and music blended together and what it’s giving you emotionally. Later on you can workout the actual words. Unless your reacting to something thoughtful like Stairway to Heaven perhaps (probably a rock reaction to the Kardashians take on life with all their money). I always felt the rock music from the end of the 60s (with its flower power, drugs and free love) to the 80s was an experience that the writers or an amalgam of the whole group input had and they were conveying that as an emotional explanation rather than anything you can follow and write down. I was 15 in 69 and joined the UK forces as a tech apprentice and heavy rock was just starting to be released in USA. Then Black Sabbath shocked USA sensibilities with devils (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath) and fairies in boots (Fairies Wear Boots) and an iron war robot thrown on the scrap heap coming to life with vengeance in his heart (Iron Man) to Led Zeppelin , Pink Floyd, Deep Purple(when they broke spawning 2 or 3 other bands), Queen and all the Brits until the yanks started saying “What! this sells and the church doesn’t riot in the streets” tentatively putting out soft rock then getting confidence and producing their own heavy rock. Good luck following the journey we had 50 years ago, go for it kids!!!! Enjoy.
One of the many great things about Zep are the layers of musicality. It guarantees that you can relisten to a song many times and still find something new. This song is a reworking of the original song recorded in 1929 by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy about the flood of the Mississippi Delta in 1927. It was part of the Great Migration which saw more African Americans come North for better opportunities ("go to Chicago"). There's no synth on this song, however, there was a lot of production on this song. Bonzo's drums were set up in the entrance hall of Headley Grange with mics placed around and hanging above his drum kit to help get that wonderful sound while also feeding it through a Binson Echorec and compressing the final product. Jimmy uses a slide to help give the guitar that stretchy sound and he and Jonesy used a modal structure to give the droning tone. Reverse echo was added to the harmonica and various effects were added to the vocals. If all this weren't enough, the vocals stayed at the same speed, however the instruments were slowed a half step in production to further assist with the sludgy, back water blues style sound. This song is a groove, it's menacing, it hits hard, almost bludgeoning you with intensity while the circular drone carves furrows in your brain. Masterpiece. Personally, I'd say don't do lyric videos because sometimes whoever puts it together get the lyrics wrong too - I've seen it several times. Maybe do what you're doing and save the lyrics for after because you know you'll listen to the song again. :) Still, do what's best for your overall enjoyment.
I agree with no lyric video, you unintentionally focus on the lyrics more so than on the music, which takes away from the experience of the music, and as was said, the lyrics are at times incorrect on many of those which are created by youtubers. Looking forward to the next Zeppelin (Led) reaction video
A great summary of this epic song. I always feel like I'm sinking into the mire of a broken levee by the end of it.
The most Stank face I've seen here from both of you.... I totally understand.... Lol
What a comment. Brilliant, accurate breakdown.
I moved to Chicago as a young man, fresh out of the Marine Corps in 1990. I was living my late teen years and could not find a great gig at first so I worked "day labor" jobs and ran into several older (55+) black men who had come to Chicago as part of that mass migration. The sad part is that they ran into a completely new wave of endemic racism that was almost as bad as what their parents had faced in the Deep South...
Released in 1971. No synthesizer used, no digital, no autotune.
I spit my beer out when he said “i love that synthesizer” that son is a blues harp. Love your reaction, wish i could have a first response to a zeppelin song.
You did at one time, like me maybe decades ago, but we did.
I’m pretty sure the term “blues harp” confused the hell out of these kids, although it’s quite possible that “Harmonica “ would have done the same.
You have. Your own! These reactions are the closest thing we can have to reliving that experience imo.
@@sicotshit7068 The very idea that young people can't listen to music and have their own opinions pisses me off . We all did it when we first heard it ... they can too ...
@@Freedom_Half_Off I’m not sure your point. My response was tho the comment, wish I could have a first response to a Zeppelin song, & I said you did like me maybe decades ago. I said nothing wrong, so I don’t know if that’s what you’re implying.
Hands down the best drum sound ever captured on record - it’s huge
You have to include In My Time Of Dying and Kashmir too.
Drums recorded with two mics in the entrance hall of Headly Grange and compressed and filtered with delay. Contrary to internet chat that it was recorded in a stairwell and natural echo.
Awesome to see some young beautiful peeps digging the old music!
I don't always listen to Led Zeppelin but when I do so do my neighbors. This song is right up there with Kashmir as my personal Zeppelin favorites.
Agree...wish they'd turn it up! 👍
@@aliciaencaderada1361 good for you.
Me, too, along with "The Rover."
@@scottfrench4139 The intro to the rover is bad ass !!!
If your neighbor has windchimes, you have windchimes. Same, same.
The harmonica playing here is other worldly. Just stunning. I can’t imagine going back and forth between playing harmonica and singing like that. What a treasure this music is!
Ozzy did that on the entry to The Wizard too - you can see him blow a mean Harmonica on the "rehearsal video" when they reunited. It's amazing to see him still have IT
A lot of it is backwards. the harmonica. It is amazing.
agreed totally.Jacob! for me the best part of the song . its stunning,hauntingly played !
Robert Plant is playing harmonica.
I think that's what y'all think is a synthesizer.
I never get tired of hearing this song. It's an aural masterpiece. I always feel like you're drowning in a whirlpool of sound towards the end. No other band even comes close to this kind perfect maelstrom. Thank you Jimmy Page!
Same here! An immersive experience. Like drowning in the Mississippi only less deadly and far more satisfying.
What you said. I think Plant's harmonica sounds like impending doom, like an air-raid siren.
That right there is Mississippi blues as performed by a British hard rock band. Zeppelin is number 1
What always stands out for me in this song is Robert's harmonica playing, especially in the opening. Very unique phrasing.
The harmonica was recorded and then mixed while playing backwards.
It’s surprises me that Robert didn’t play harmonica on a lot more songs and was not (as far as I know) known for being the harpmaster he was.
“When the Levee Breaks” is widely considered one of the band’s masterpieces, as well as one of Page’s
most complex productions, and it's definitely one of my favorites. It was originally written by Memphis Minnie, a well known blues artist during the first half of the 1900s, and the lyrics are about The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
About its production, Page said “You’ve got backwards harmonica, backwards echo, phasing, and there’s also flanging, and at the end you get this super-dense sound, in layers, that’s all built around the drum track, and you’ve got Robert, constant in the middle, and everything starts to spiral around him. It’s all done with panning, each 12 bars has something new about it, though at first it might not be apparent. There’s a lot of different effects on there that at the time had never been used before. Phased vocals, a backwards echoed harmonica solo…”
Bonham's drums were set up in the entryway of Headley Grange and the microphones placed three stories up the stairwell, thus capturing a very distinctive sound. That, and Page's genius studio wizardry, made this song very difficult to perform live, which they did only twice, because the effects of the productions values were impossible to replicate live without losing the "feel" of it. Plant sang in the sort of in between key, and the instrumentation purposely arranged to give the sense that the voice was in perpetual danger of being over-whelmed by immense natural forces. The effect was spot on.
Words used to describe this song when people hear this song, like "epic", "awesome", "intense" , are entirely accurate in my mind, but for me, even after hearing it for the zillionth time, my mind still lands on "absolutely incredible". Very glad you two enjoyed it. It's a song you'll likely not soon forget. Looking forward to hearing what you've been working on to post while you're gone. Enjoy your trip! :)
Edit: As for reading the lyrics while listening to one of LZ's songs for the first time, I don't recommend it. It can distract you from just getting "in the groove". Olivia's idea of reading them after is an excellent idea. :)
I couldn't have said it better 👏 ,as with every single Zeppelin song whether it's a reworked old blues tune or a original of their's they never get old and I still get goosebumps when I hear them?
Damn I didnt know that thanks so much for that
Page bullshits quite a bit, he wasn't even there when the drums were recorded contrary to his own claims, the only people there were Bonham and the engineer Andy Johns who set it up and did the recording with Bonham, in Andy's own words everyone else had gone to the pub when they recorded the drum track.
@@RushfanUK Nowhere in the quote I included does he claim that he was present when the drum track was recorded.
@@mikew.1913 According to engineer, Andy Johns (as discussed in the book, "Led Zeppelin: All the Songs"), the sound resulted from experimenting with Bonham and in the end, Johns hung the microphones from the second floor, not the third.
So you're correct that it wasn't the third floor and it's true that the sound can be very closely replicated, and has been by a number of people, using various combinations of mic placements, audio techniques, etc. But just because the sound can be replicated doesn't refute Johns' explanation of the placement of the microphones when the song was recorded.
I’m 65,I started listening to zeppelin in 1969;they set the standard. And raised the bar!
As a soon to be Grandad, I can say it... you two are ADORABLE! Classic Zep, doesn't get much better.
One of my top Zep songs forever. For me, it is absolutely hypnotic… I get captured by that beat and go into almost a trance. Add that superb harmonica of Plant. Goosebumps
I believe the drums from this song still remain the most sampled and mixed drums of hip hop/wrap. Plus the other instrument you missed is the harmonica played by plant. The power of this song is unreal
Right !.....that's just what hip hop/wrap can do.....sample real music !!!!!
My mind goes immediately to “Rhymin & Stealin” as soon I hear the drums.
Can’t help it.
I bet funky drummer beats it by Clyde stubblefield.
Amen break. Takes that title.
@@WojMoj Totally hi Ryan.
This song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.. And Robert Plant played the harmonica
#2 and #3 of my favorite things about this song.
YES YES YES!!! Double stank face haha
So glad you guys finally got to this track.
The instruments are just bass guitar, 12 string guitar, 6 string guitar, drums and Plant on the harmonica.
The drums were set up in a hallway which allowed for some awesome echo on the sound but they put echo on the track anyway.
Great reaction 😁
I love the reactions. He's getting down and ...she's out there....
This 68-year-old man got a freakin' kick out of watching your eyes and facial expressions in the first two minutes of the song. It was apparent you all had never heard what was called Chicago Blues from back in the 1920s and '30s. I could see your little noodles melting over that wicked, raw, soulful sound of a bluesy harmonica ripping through your ears. What a joy! I still have all my original Zepplin albums from back in the 70s. So fun to watch you kids discover rock and roll.
The reverse echo on the harmonica is just so nasty, love it..
Hello,
There is no reverse echo on harmonica, Page has just move the echo during the harmonica sound.
There is a reverse echo on the slide guitare at the end of the song. Jimmy Page has created the reverse echo for this song and he will use it a second time in "the wanton song".
There's an echo on the drums too, throughout the song.
That's the fake double bassdrum on the downbeat.
@@hansvandermeulen5515 The echo of the drums is due to the fact that it was recorded in the barn of a farm rented by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. The microphones were installed on the stairs and the tape recorder was on the mezzanine. The rest of the song was recorded in the studio. At the end of the piece the bass is doubled on several tracks, the rest of the time it doubles the 12-string guitar and the drums.
@@sebastuxroot7944 the echo was achieved with a Binson Echorec. The microphone placement gave the drums this, as I call it, a very open and deep sound.
@@sebastuxroot7944 nope! In the entrance hall at Headley Grange-the stately mansion they recorded in. Drums on the main floor and the mics about 18-20 feet above. The entranceway was open to the top of the house. Made of stone. Loads of bounce.
This is simply the greatest recorded harmonica sound in history. Second is "Nobody's Fault But Mine"...
Bring it on home, too
Kinda agree. But I think we should acknowledge Stevie Wonder has been no slouch on the mouth harp ;-)
@@stuartmorgan1770 Little Walter, Sonny Terry, many more.
Teenagers 50 years hence, LITERALLY, having exactly the same reaction to this music. I was mind blowing then, and it still blows minds today. I heard this song first probably about 73 or so. Easily one of Led Zeppelin's best songs. But it helps to see these young people reacting. It takes me back...
Dudes, you express what I’ve felt on every hearing of this song...for the last 45 years! Timeless and fantastic!
"They were all great." You are correct!
Your guys reaction after 4:09 is awesome, took you both totally off guard. Love your guys reaction!
This is the most famous drum track in all of music. Between the production, the pocket, and that Bonham stomp, it'll be best for a long time to come. All my favorite drummers knew how to hit em hard. Which reminds me - War Pigs - Live in Paris 1970.
My favourite Zeppelin, love that Delta Blues sound.
I never get tired of watching young folks discover music like this.
Still to this day my favorite band. Fortunate to have seen their Presence tour!
So nice to see today's youth digging music from the greatest days of Rock.
WOW!! SO cool! Watchin' you guys, your amazement and sheer joy, then I realized we were all boppin' our heads in exact sync. Suddenly, I was with you, and hearing it for the first time! Literally 50 years, to the month (that's half a damn century! 😝), after the real experience! Well, this was an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, as well. Thank you!
Loved your reaction! More! 😁
Four of the best damn musicians ever. Who can say who is the greatest band ever but I know one of the best.
They are my favorite. Then maybe Sabbath. A lot of people say the Beatles, but not me. I can’t think of one Beatles song I’d rather listen to than When the Levee Breaks:)
@@JacobBailey zeppelin and sabbath were THE seventies bands.
In many ways, zeppelin were the Beatles of the seventies. Both inspired countless bands and musicians and were important in advancing the idea of artists controlling their own interests musically and financially.
Bonzo’s drumming is what defines this song. He played a Ludwig kit recorded in the lobby of Headley Grange using two microphones which were hung up high above on a flight of stairs; output from these were passed to a pair of compressor/limiters set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A Binson Echorec, a delay effects unit, was also used.
Young people listening to Led makes me very happy, we had the BEST music back in the 70s
Just magic and happiness all rolled up into a band.
Electric guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, drums . That's it ,they recorded at a different tempo and then slowed it down, John Bonham's drums were recorded in a stairwell .
I love the 2 of you together....I hope ya'll stay together forever!!
Hi Alivia! The dynamic duo! One of the most heavily sampled drum tracks in rock history. The next album ventures into many, many new directions and musical genres for the band. Great video. TY.
Plant's harmonica is absolute euphoria. 😊
It’s a guitar,a bass, drums, and vocals. And Robert plays the Harmonica aka Blues Harp. That’s all the instruments. It’s not a synthesizer...yikes, it’s a harmonic! You guys are young, I’ll give you that!🤷🏻♂️
Yep no synth!
Yep, I cringed and yelled at the screen, "It's not a fricken synthesizer, it's a harmonica!"
Now I don’t have to say it. Also the peace sign doesn’t face you! It means something else that way.
I was just thinking that I’m 22 and never thought it was a synth boy my generation…
The thing that’s throwing them off is the echo affect they did with the harmonica which makes it sound like more instruments. Pure brilliance!
I’m 47 so Zeppelin’s my Dads generation but man we jammed the shiznit outta Zep and it’s so cool to see your generation discovering them as well!!! Keep on posting guys y’all rock
Inspired By The Great Mississippi Flood Of 1927,, The Most Destructive Flood In U.S. History,, Flood Waters Reaching 30 Feet In Some Places..R.I.P. To The 500+ Souls Lost On That Day.🙏❤
Glad to see youngsters enjoying Led Zeppelin as I did 50 plus years ago. I was 19 when this album was released. Still the best songs around
I was alive in the seventies. I was just a kid back then.
Best thing to do with a song that plays with time is to just keep nodding your head to the timing that you've established and let it come back and find you.
Just came across this reaction and you both are fun to watch. Definitely great to see younger folks digging into the classics. Keep it up 👍
It’s like watching my youth you two rockin out to Zeppelin I love it.Both feelin the beat and the music it’s so damn adorable.John Bohnam the drummer is so in the pocket he was a genius.
Love it when people your age discover the greats...keep doing this!
So I was like 10 years old when this came out. Can you imagine what it was like? Sitting in the driveway, in my older brother's GTO, listening to this 8-track, completely enthralled!!! You guys, oh you have no idea, the music life I have enjoyed. Earliest memories of The Beatles, Byrds, Stones, Zombies,The Who, Zep, Yes, Bad Co., and American bands, CCR, Grand Funk, CSN, CSNY, Poco, I know I am forgetting so many, but you have it. You have it all at your fingertips. You lucky kids! Keep at it.
I was there, too. All the incredible artists and music we heard , as first-time listeners, was overwhelming and will NEVER be matched!
appreciate this song and know that Zeppelin fans from New Orleans have a special.. not always happy.. place in their heart for this song.. for me it is a funeral dirge for our city.. post Katrina it took on new meaning... growing up they played it on the radio when it rained hard... memories
Some of the most creative harmonica playing ever
The drums stood out because they are one of the most sampled of all time. Beastie Boys used them in Rhymin and Stealin.
Stank face was inevitable. Great album review Silas. Shout to your mom dad and girlfriend. Can't wait for the Houses reaction. Enjoy Mexico
I'm 57. been listening to this record for 45 years. My favorite.
I really love seeing young folks enjoying this music! Don't know your ages, but I suspect you are around the same age I was when this album was released (19). It's amazing to think that was 53 years ago... and even more amazing to see how well y'all relate to this music, compared to how little I could relate to music from 53 years prior to 1969 -- that would have been 1916! Music was quite different in my grand parents' time... (Yes, I'm old. But I still love rock music, and stilll listen to Led Zeppelin!) I have subscribed to your channel, and as long as you play LZ, I'll keep watching.
My favorite of MANY classic Led Zep tunes. Such a groove and mood!
Next to this album is houses of the holy, another absolute monster. After you finish the next album you could watch the Madison Square Garden concert. There you will see the best version of the songs you already listen
This song makes you want to start the whole album all over again : )
The beat just draws you in, sooner or later. The song is a sleeper and showcases the harmonica very nicely. Robert was quite good with that little instrument. JImmy's slide guitar was quite well done.
I love this song by Led Zeppelin out of all of my favorites by them.
It’s so bone chilling that they guys are British and yet they are very talented at doing American southern blues.
Nothing like it man, I swear.
My dad introduced me to Led Zeppelin and this song and I gotta say it, I’ve never gotten the chicken skin I get from this song ever.
These guys helped shape the music it is. Even though music today is way different, but I love good old 70s music especially rock and metal.
God bless them.
The world needs a bit old fashioned.
🙏🏻✝️❤️🔥🎤🎼🎸✊🏻
My first concert was Led Zeppelin in 1977 when I was 15...yes I'm bragging.
Me too, Capital Center in MD may of 77, and I was 15!
@@kenmalloy9724 May 25th was when I was there,...first of four nights!
Really a treat seeing Alivia trying to process what she's listening to - not the easiest of things to do first up with a Zeppelin classic 🙂
Loved your review! One of my favorite Zep songs. Definitely a blues song .
I started playing drums because of this song, as I understand thousands of other drummers have.
Welcome to the world of real music. Great to see youngsters getting into the music that I grew up in. Your reactions are just like we did in the 1970's. Keep going on the Led Zep and see why they are regarded as the greatest band ever.
Absolut agree for you.
So, they are listening to the music they grew up with, but what new music are you listening to?
That Nasty Harmonica Provided By Robert Plant.
This is one of there monsters, they are all GREAT...this is one of the GRATESTS.....THE GOATS!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. “Oh Mexico, it sounds so simple. I just got to go.” James Taylor. Look it up! 👍
That's a great song by Taylor!
It seems that LZ was so far ahead that 50 years after their heydays people only now start to appreciate their geniality.
Love the facts that the younger generation also expands their horizon and listen to the classics. Just as I try to listen to new music. Keep on Rockin ! :)
That song is so swampy I love it.
Awesome reaction! 🙂 this song is about a horrible flood that happened a long time ago along the Mississippi river, many lives were lost. 😢During your Led brake, I recommend a reaction to Robin Trower "Too Rolling Stoned" If you love guitar,🎸 you'll Love! this!. Thank you Peace! ☮
At 4 minutes you guys reaction is awesome just like every other Led Zeppelin fan reacts.
It's been great to follow you on this journey 😊
Yeah this is wonderful! Robert on that harmonica! No synthesizer! That is a harmonica and guitar! This is about a flood.
Robert killed it with the Harmonica!
John Bonham's drumming was played on a Ludwig kit and recorded in the hallway of "Headley Grange" (a stone house where Led Zeppelin cut their fourth album), there was a stairway there, that went up like three floors, it was a wooden staircase, with tiled floors. Bonham's kit was set up next to the stairway (on the bottom floor). Using two "Beyerdynamic M160" ribbon microphones, which were hung up at the top of the stairs (on the third floor); the output from these mics was then sent thru a pair of "Helios F760 compressor/limiters", set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A "Binson Echorec", (a delay effects unit), was also used.
Portions of the song were recorded at a different tempo, then slowed down, explaining the "sludgy" sound, particularly on the harmonica and guitar solos. It was the only song on the album that was mixed at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the rest being remixed in London). Page identifies the panning on the song's ending as one of his favorite mixes "when everything starts moving around except for the voice, which remains stationary".
One of my favorites! Enjoying watching you guys :)
I love your reactions and enthusiasm. Keep it up and I think variety is the spice of life.
Bonzo on the drum set, John Paul Jones on the Bass, Jimmy Page on the electric guitar. Robert Plant on vocals and harmonica. No other instruments. There is an acoustic guitar under the main track.
No synth. No keys in the song at all.
I always loved Bonham’s drums on this song, & found this interesting per Wikipedia: John Bonham's drumming, played on a Ludwig kit, was recorded in the lobby of Headley Grange using two Beyerdynamic M 160 microphones which were hung up a flight of stairs; output from these were passed to a pair of Helios F760 compressor/limiters set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A Binson Echorec, a delay effects unit, was also used.[9][15][16].✌️❤️🎶
Awesome reaction. Led Zeppelin are a prime example of the British power trios of the time. Power trios with an amazing vocalist added in. Some of the trios stayed at three with a member handling the vocals. The Who. Cream. Jimi Hendrix Experience. To The Police and beyond. Zeppelin used that power trio structure to take classic American blues tunes, electrify them, and introduce them to new audiences. This song is a prime example.
"So many instruments." For this Led Zeppelin song it mainly consisted of Jimmy Page, Gibson Les Paul guitar; John Paul Jones, Fender Bass guitar; John Bonham, Ludwig drums/Zildjian cymbals; and Robert Plant, lead vocals/harmonica. Awesome song for only four different instruments! 🤘🤘
Hey Silas, enjoying your vids! Finally sub'ed after watching 10 or so 😁 Alivia's great, definitely need to do more with her. Keep it up!
This is their best song. Love it. Heard it a 100 times plus!
Another fun reaction to Zep! Really enjoying your voyage thru their catalog and look forward to you experiencing Houses Of The Holy. You've probably already got plans made, but when you get to that gap between Zep reactions, I'd love to see you both check out another late-60s contemporary of theirs, Yes. As much as you both enjoy the musicianship on these albums, I think you'd find a lot to like there. Either way, keep enjoying the journey!
Jimmy Page loved, The Big Room Sound and this was literally recorded in a big room, the entry hall of a 17th century manor. Jimmy loved the acoustics.
"Crying won't help ya, praying won't do you no good" and instead of referring to the water as rising, the lyrics suggest things are "going down, going down now" adding to the helplessness of the broken levee....Not many words in this song but they work very well! Love this song!!
Damn.... fire song man, eveyone goes off on this one, i feel like you would definitely love ''Achilles Last Stand'', that is a really up beat song dude, i love the sound of Bonham drums in all songs but in Achilles last stand man, he goes off for real, he shows why he was one of the greatest.
Excelent video man, keep going on the Zep road!!
Also if u want new artists to listen to, you should check out The Doors or Pink Floyd, some Jimi Hendrix would do it to.
IMO, this is the greatest rock band in history. You are also listening to one of the greatest drummers of all time. I love watching young folks experience these masterpieces for the 1st time!
One of my favorites! My 17 year old granddaughter likes Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and many others because I introduced her to their music! Nice to see more young people enjoying the best music! I'm waiting for you to react to Kashmir!
The production on Led Zep 4 is mind blowing.
I love that Zeppelin made no bones about the fact they got a lot of their sound from American Blues. They did another song "In my time of dying" that was a remake of a song by 'Blind Willie Johnson'. It's a must listen to. I believe Bob Dylan did a remake of that tune also.
Zeppelin and pretty much all the British bands from the fifties and sixties cut their teeth on the early blues from artists like Sun House, Robert Johnson and BB King and later on Bo Diddly Little Richard and many more, I think it was Page in a interview that he said they would get the Blues music from the long shoremen, from the US
Led Zeppelin are out of bounds...
I love the backwards recorded slide solo towards the very end.. he threw everything in !
Keep it up y'all ! 🏆. We SO appreciate and enjoy watching you experience these classic, and timeless songs. ❤️
this is great rock/blues sounding song. I been a fan of LZ from the time I first heard them 1978 and I was 14 and jamming out to them
The DRUMS are what makes this track so great. the reason why the drums sound so fantastic is because during the recording process of this particular song ( they recorded it at an English mansion outside of England not at a recording studio)they had to move JON BONHAM's drum set out in the hallway, near the stairwell where it is loud and echoey.they had to place several Mike's around the drumset near the stairwell so you could imagine being at the recording session for that.Thank for reacting to a great LED ZEPPELIN track.
I just found this particular reaction, glad I caught it, love this song, I use to freakin' work out to it, back when it was worth it, now I'm 61 and don't care anymore lol! I'll never be anything but a rocker! I just love watching the younger gens get into the same music all of us old rockers love. The best stuff came from my younger rockin' days, the 70's man! Good luck with your channel and all that you do, peace!
It's hard to not enjoy this song from the rhythm to vocals to the slide gutair its fantastic
They blend well together because there the greatest rock band of all times !!
Zeppelin brought out the wild in a lot of kids in the old days. Sound track to my teenage years.
When you hear something like these rock songs for the first time it is an emotional trip so just enjoy it for what it’s giving you, when you react give your impressions of the voice and music blended together and what it’s giving you emotionally. Later on you can workout the actual words. Unless your reacting to something thoughtful like Stairway to Heaven perhaps (probably a rock reaction to the Kardashians take on life with all their money).
I always felt the rock music from the end of the 60s (with its flower power, drugs and free love) to the 80s was an experience that the writers or an amalgam of the whole group input had and they were conveying that as an emotional explanation rather than anything you can follow and write down.
I was 15 in 69 and joined the UK forces as a tech apprentice and heavy rock was just starting to be released in USA. Then Black Sabbath shocked USA sensibilities with devils (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath) and fairies in boots (Fairies Wear Boots) and an iron war robot thrown on the scrap heap coming to life with vengeance in his heart (Iron Man) to Led Zeppelin , Pink Floyd, Deep Purple(when they broke spawning 2 or 3 other bands), Queen and all the Brits until the yanks started saying “What! this sells and the church doesn’t riot in the streets” tentatively putting out soft rock then getting confidence and producing their own heavy rock.
Good luck following the journey we had 50 years ago, go for it kids!!!! Enjoy.