Hey, Jeff. Glad to see you're making a full recovery, great to have you back, as thoughtful and as cantankerous as ever! Like you, I don't understand the knocks against Presence. I wouldn't rank it as high as you, but I do rank it higher than most, and it's definitely an album that has grown on me over the years. Yes, the four monster tracks are undeniable, Achilles, For Your Life, Nobody's Fault and Tea For One, but Hots On For Nowhere has to be one of the most underrated songs in the Zeppelin catalogue. But what really grabs me about the album is the how it seems to be of a piece due to Page's production that gives these numbers a sonic consistency. Also, as you said, the funkiness is certainly a factor. Jones and Bonham might be the greatest rhythm section in rock, providing jazzy and funky backdrops to the front section's metallic heaviness. Long live Presence! And long live Calico Silver!
Hi Chris! So great to hear that someone, anyone, appreciates Presence for something more than just some kind of forgettable side project of an otherwise great band. But get this: I also like In Through the Out Door. Haha!
@@CalicoSilver Me too. I listened to it recently, and I thought, Wow, what a great album. Especially side two. But I also really love Hot Dog. Go figurel
It doesn't matter where you rate Led Zeppelin albums the standard is so high. Everyone is right. By the way I absolutely love Life without Buildings too
Great to meet another Life Without Buildings fan, Steve! And yes, I 100% agree with you that a band the quality of Led Zeppelin has an un-rankable discography. Just today I was listening to the album that most rankers would rank in last place, “Coda”, but I honestly cannot think of where I would rank it relative to the other albums because I actually really like “Coda”. I was just thinking today that I would never attempt to rank LZ albums. Fruitless to try. 👍😉
Isn't Presence the LP Led Zeppelin recorded while Robert Plant was laid up with a broken leg? Then his son died a year later and he wrote All of My Love for their last record. Led Zeppelin were literally breaking up. I like a lot of solo Robert Plant. He's got a muscular vocal style often imitated never replicated. Billy Squier, anyone? That Life Without Buildings CD has a $193.00 price tag on it on Amazon. Keep that one in your fire proof vault. Make copies and bury them in random places where you'll remember in case of a natural disaster. It must be out of print. It gets a high rating on All Music Guide so it must be good. They ain't always accurate when they give lower ratings. Just thought I'd mention it because as you hold up the CDs I'm looking them up. When I get a job again I may pick up a few of them.
Yes that was the album with Plant in the chair, yes. I never knew that back in the day. He sure did a great job. Great voice, yes. Not my favorite rock singer but great nonetheless. Yes that Life Without Buildings CD is probably a rarity by now. It has been growing lately in reputation and interest, from promotion online by its fans. Again, those of us who love it REALLY love it…..but most will hate it (understandably so).
I’m probably on an island all alone, but I’ve never really loved Led Zeppelin only because I’m not a fan of Plant’s voice. Everything else checks the box, though. I vastly prefer cover songs of Zeppelin songs, especially if it’s sung by a woman. But, that’s an opinion that would get me tarred and feathered haha.
Per my earlier comment there are surprises here- yes Presence is very funky and you're right there are no low points
Hey, Jeff. Glad to see you're making a full recovery, great to have you back, as thoughtful and as cantankerous as ever! Like you, I don't understand the knocks against Presence. I wouldn't rank it as high as you, but I do rank it higher than most, and it's definitely an album that has grown on me over the years. Yes, the four monster tracks are undeniable, Achilles, For Your Life, Nobody's Fault and Tea For One, but Hots On For Nowhere has to be one of the most underrated songs in the Zeppelin catalogue. But what really grabs me about the album is the how it seems to be of a piece due to Page's production that gives these numbers a sonic consistency. Also, as you said, the funkiness is certainly a factor. Jones and Bonham might be the greatest rhythm section in rock, providing jazzy and funky backdrops to the front section's metallic heaviness. Long live Presence! And long live Calico Silver!
Hi Chris! So great to hear that someone, anyone, appreciates Presence for something more than just some kind of forgettable side project of an otherwise great band. But get this: I also like In Through the Out Door. Haha!
@@CalicoSilver Me too. I listened to it recently, and I thought, Wow, what a great album. Especially side two. But I also really love Hot Dog. Go figurel
It doesn't matter where you rate Led Zeppelin albums the standard is so high. Everyone is right. By the way I absolutely love Life without Buildings too
Great to meet another Life Without Buildings fan, Steve! And yes, I 100% agree with you that a band the quality of Led Zeppelin has an un-rankable discography. Just today I was listening to the album that most rankers would rank in last place, “Coda”, but I honestly cannot think of where I would rank it relative to the other albums because I actually really like “Coda”. I was just thinking today that I would never attempt to rank LZ albums. Fruitless to try. 👍😉
Isn't Presence the LP Led Zeppelin recorded while Robert Plant was laid up with a broken leg? Then his son died a year later and he wrote All of My Love for their last record. Led Zeppelin were literally breaking up. I like a lot of solo Robert Plant. He's got a muscular vocal style often imitated never replicated. Billy Squier, anyone?
That Life Without Buildings CD has a $193.00 price tag on it on Amazon. Keep that one in your fire proof vault. Make copies and bury them in random places where you'll remember in case of a natural disaster. It must be out of print. It gets a high rating on All Music Guide so it must be good. They ain't always accurate when they give lower ratings. Just thought I'd mention it because as you hold up the CDs I'm looking them up. When I get a job again I may pick up a few of them.
Yes that was the album with Plant in the chair, yes. I never knew that back in the day. He sure did a great job. Great voice, yes. Not my favorite rock singer but great nonetheless. Yes that Life Without Buildings CD is probably a rarity by now. It has been growing lately in reputation and interest, from promotion online by its fans. Again, those of us who love it REALLY love it…..but most will hate it (understandably so).
I’m probably on an island all alone, but I’ve never really loved Led Zeppelin only because I’m not a fan of Plant’s voice. Everything else checks the box, though. I vastly prefer cover songs of Zeppelin songs, especially if it’s sung by a woman. But, that’s an opinion that would get me tarred and feathered haha.
Plant’s prancing stage presence is something I can’t watch, haha! But his voice is OK with me.