A levee is a small dam built to prevent the overflow of a river. They are common in the Mississippi River delta region of the southern USA. "When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect the experiences and horror during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Led Zeppelin reworked the song in 1971. Zeppelin credited Memphis Minnie as one of the songwriters.
This song is such a mind-blower. Plant is definitely playing the harmonica throughout but there are parts where I can't differentiate from the harmonica and Page's guitar.
Don't forget what really drives this song, which is JPJ's incredible heavy bass riff! These four guys were all musical geniuses in their own right. Together they were out of this world.
It’s not fair, I know, but We older Americans who experienced this period of time, expect you young Brits to know about, and be proud of, the incredible contribution to modern music by your fellow countrymen.. Britain, with a population about 1/4 that of the US, produced an incredible number of the top bands of the time. Probably at least half of the most successful bands of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, were British. That’s phenomenal. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, ELP, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Who, Queen, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, The Beatles, Marillion, The Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, The Moody Blues, King Crimson, The Kinks, Joe Cocker, early Fleetwood Mac, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and on and on and on…..and that’s mainly just the 60’s and 70’s……The 80’s brought a whole new wave of huge bands from Britain. We all owe England a HUGE thank you for all the music that came to the world from your country.
This track is pure Delta Blues fused into Rock and inspired by Memphis Minnie & Howlin Wolf from the hardcore Mississippi Delta blues genre. This is one of the top tracks of all time in Rock.
That huge, echoing sound from the drums was produced by setting up the drum kit at the bottom of a stairwell in the mansion where they recorded this album. The place had been converted into a recording studio and many big bands recorded albums in that country house.
Here's a fun fact about some of the music from back then; Some of it was recorded in quadrophonic!😳 This means a system that has different sounds coming out of 4 different speakers. Unlike stereo that is a 2 speaker system that has different sounds from only 2 speakers. Not sure if this was one of those songs though but it might of been? I don't think they make any quadrophonic systems anymore unless maybe some home theater systems might be? Even if they are not sure if those albums would be compatible with the new system without a quadrophonic record player?🤷 That being said wait till you hear A Whole Lot of Love with headphones on.😎👍
Because of Bonham's drums, 'When The Levee Breaks' became one of the most-sampled songs ever, with Björk ('Army Of Me'), Beastie Boys ('Rhymin' & Stealin''), Massive Attack ('Man Next Door'), Aphex Twin ('Taking Control') and Eminem ('Kim') and countless others reappropriating his beastly beat.
I subscribed to your channel yesterday and have been enjoying your Led Zeppelin reactions. I attended 3 of their early concerts, and they are still my favorite band. When The Levee breaks is an old blues song based on actual events, and Led Zeppelin turned it into a masterpiece. I like this song, but prefer the Led Zeppelin songs that have the unexpected tempo and rhythm changes that they are known for. One of these is the song members of Led Zeppelin say they would like to be most remembered for. It's called Kashmir, and the best live performance of it is Kashmir live at Knebworth 1979 official video.
Where does this song take me? For fifty plus years, it’s taken me into an almost hypnotic state with that unbelievable drum and bass groove. I lock in on that and I’m gone. I wish it went on another ten minutes….
This is my favorite song by my favorite band so when I tell you to check into this song being redone by the bass player JPJ and international players he personally selected for a charity to cover you know it's amazing! "Playing for change" Don't miss this one!!!
They play so many different genres, & do them perfect Justice, especially the Blues. This is a cover from (1929), about the levee breaking & causing major flooding along the Mississippi River. Lives were lost home’s & businesses. Don’t wait so long to do more Led Zeppelin. Something you could look up to get the idea is, New Orleans & hurricane Katrina destruction, a levee is supposed to hold back water to prevent flooding. Occasionally they break or the rain is so bad flooding happens anyways, but that google search would help you to understand.
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 was a lot of production on this song. Drummer John Bonham's drums were set up in the entrance hall of Headley Grange, the building they were rehearsing and recording in, and they had mics placed around and hanging above the drum kit to help get that amazing sound while also feeding it through a Binson Echorec and compressing the final product. Guitarist Jimmy Page uses a slide to help give the guitar that stretchy sound and he and bassist John Paul Jones 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.
A levee is an embankment, typically built along the sides of a waterway, to prevent it from overflowing and flooding the surrounding areas. A dam does the opposite, which blocks the waterway and causes it to flood the surrounding areas
Awesome reaction! I see you've done the live MSG version of Stairway to Heaven. Although it is cool for what it is, it in no way reflects the true power and magic that Jimmy page produced and every member of the band created in the recording studio. You really should do a reaction to the studio version next. It is one of the greatest achievements in audio recording history. Peace
I’d like to hear your take on one of Joplin's sadly neglected sleepers from the era: “Farewell Song” on the album “Live at Winterland ‘68” by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin.
Hi **Jay** YAY F YEA!!! **KickAss** Oh & **Robert Plant** Killin it on **Harmonica** whole thing just **Naaasty** ya should also check out "Playing For Change" doing this song with "John Paul Jones" & bunch of other well known Musicians it is an incredible project if ya have not seen anything by them yet they do covers of songs with Musicians from ALL over the World it is **Beautiful Fantastical**
Led Zep is a band of white British kids who love the pure original american music.....whether its the black blues kings spitting out classics from the delta, to Elvis. the brits embraced black music when even America still didn't at the time. Brits have grt music taste.
That's Robert stealing the show on harmonica. Ok that's hyperbole but imagine that song without him wailing on that thing. It's definitely the star of the show for me.
A levee is the bank on the side of a river to stop flooding into the areas that don't want or need it. Like, a disaster?. Why they used that term here isn't maybe so clear, but maybe, when my defences fall?
A levee is a small dam built to prevent the overflow of a river. They are common in the Mississippi River delta region of the southern USA. "When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect the experiences and horror during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Led Zeppelin reworked the song in 1971. Zeppelin credited Memphis Minnie as one of the songwriters.
Thanks, buddy, you saved me a lot of typing and gave great info.
@@t.j.payeur5331 You're very welcome. I'm an almost 69-year-old American woman who really enjoys your channel. Rock on!
They are not small. The ones we are talking about here are designed to hold back the Gulf of Mexico
@@paulmahon1613 Dictionary definition.
Greatest band in history!! Watch their live performances!!
Thank you for your wonderful reactions to Led Zeppelin.
This song is such a mind-blower. Plant is definitely playing the harmonica throughout but there are parts where I can't differentiate from the harmonica and Page's guitar.
Yes
One of the best songs Zeppelin ever done.I suggest Sice ive been loving you, enjoy your weekend Jay Flex
Live at Madison Square Gardens (1973), Since I’ve Been Loving You, it will blow your mind.
Babe I've gonna leave You
Simply the GOATS…no Argument needed!😎🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
You have to listen to led zeppelin from the beginning one album at a time They didn't release singles, they released albums.
Don't forget what really drives this song, which is JPJ's incredible heavy bass riff! These four guys were all musical geniuses in their own right. Together they were out of this world.
It’s not fair, I know, but We older Americans who experienced this period of time, expect you young Brits to know about, and be proud of, the incredible contribution to modern music by your fellow countrymen.. Britain, with a population about 1/4 that of the US, produced an incredible number of the top bands of the time. Probably at least half of the most successful bands of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, were British. That’s phenomenal. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, ELP, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Who, Queen, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, The Beatles, Marillion, The Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, The Moody Blues, King Crimson, The Kinks, Joe Cocker, early Fleetwood Mac, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and on and on and on…..and that’s mainly just the 60’s and 70’s……The 80’s brought a whole new wave of huge bands from Britain. We all owe England a HUGE thank you for all the music that came to the world from your country.
Excellent comment! this Boomer agrees.
As a Brit we owe so much to the US for their blues contribution. Without the blues Led Zeppelin might not have existed.
Anything Zeppelin is guaranteed to rock you
💥🔥💥
This track is pure Delta Blues fused into Rock and inspired by Memphis Minnie & Howlin Wolf from the hardcore Mississippi Delta blues genre. This is one of the top tracks of all time in Rock.
That huge, echoing sound from the drums was produced by setting up the drum kit at the bottom of a stairwell in the mansion where they recorded this album. The place had been converted into a recording studio and many big bands recorded albums in that country house.
Here's a fun fact about some of the music from back then;
Some of it was recorded in quadrophonic!😳 This means a system that has different sounds coming out of 4 different speakers. Unlike stereo that is a 2 speaker system that has different sounds from only 2 speakers. Not sure if this was one of those songs though but it might of been? I don't think they make any quadrophonic systems anymore unless maybe some home theater systems might be? Even if they are not sure if those albums would be compatible with the new system without a quadrophonic record player?🤷
That being said wait till you hear A Whole Lot of Love with headphones on.😎👍
Because of Bonham's drums, 'When The Levee Breaks' became one of the most-sampled songs ever, with Björk ('Army Of Me'), Beastie Boys ('Rhymin' & Stealin''), Massive Attack ('Man Next Door'), Aphex Twin ('Taking Control') and Eminem ('Kim') and countless others reappropriating his beastly beat.
Highly sampled, but lack of where it was done, & not being the greatest drummer John (Bonzo) Bonham.
“Misty Mountain Hop” by Led Zeppelin 💜🤗
I subscribed to your channel yesterday and have been enjoying your Led Zeppelin reactions. I attended 3 of their early concerts, and they are still my favorite band. When The Levee breaks is an old blues song based on actual events, and Led Zeppelin turned it into a masterpiece. I like this song, but prefer the Led Zeppelin songs that have the unexpected tempo and rhythm changes that they are known for. One of these is the song members of Led Zeppelin say they would like to be most remembered for. It's called Kashmir, and the best live performance of it is Kashmir live at Knebworth 1979 official video.
Another epic led Zeppelin performance you should see and hear is "In my time of dying" live at Earls Court 1975
That’s Robert Plant on the harmonica. He’s a great “mouth harp” player indeed.
The opening is mostly Plant playing Harmonica, then some slide guitar comes in.
Thank you 💯
Great reaction - looking forward to more. Thanks ☮
Heavy Southern vibe!
Where does this song take me? For fifty plus years, it’s taken me into an almost hypnotic state with that unbelievable drum and bass groove. I lock in on that and I’m gone. I wish it went on another ten minutes….
This is my favorite song by my favorite band so when I tell you to check into this song being redone by the bass player JPJ and international players he personally selected for a charity to cover you know it's amazing! "Playing for change" Don't miss this one!!!
Good reaction.
Check out The Rain Song, its a little softer, contemplation song.
✌️
Led Zeppelin is considered the first Heavy Metal band
Started as a Blues band
Not really...they did all genres...they just were the first to do a hard rock sound like that
THEE most sampled DRUM BEAT in ----------------HIP-HOP -------------- history is this, ' 'When the levee breaks" John Henry Bonham and the boyz
pure blues
That’s Robert Plant playing the blues harp aka harmonic! 👍
They play so many different genres, & do them perfect Justice, especially the Blues. This is a cover from (1929), about the levee breaking & causing major flooding along the Mississippi River. Lives were lost home’s & businesses. Don’t wait so long to do more Led Zeppelin. Something you could look up to get the idea is, New Orleans & hurricane Katrina destruction, a levee is supposed to hold back water to prevent flooding. Occasionally they break or the rain is so bad flooding happens anyways, but that google search would help you to understand.
Don't forget about JPJ on the bass!
Damn straight...
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 was a lot of production on this song. Drummer John Bonham's drums were set up in the entrance hall of Headley Grange, the building they were rehearsing and recording in, and they had mics placed around and hanging above the drum kit to help get that amazing sound while also feeding it through a Binson Echorec and compressing the final product. Guitarist Jimmy Page uses a slide to help give the guitar that stretchy sound and he and bassist John Paul Jones 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.
❤❤❤Robert ❤❤❤
Swampy delta blues
When the river is above the surrounding area is a levee. Speaking as a resident of the fens.
A levee is an embankment, typically built along the sides of a waterway, to prevent it from overflowing and flooding the surrounding areas.
A dam does the opposite, which blocks the waterway and causes it to flood the surrounding areas
If you liked this, you'd probably like their song Traveling Riverside Blues
Awesome reaction! I see you've done the live MSG version of Stairway to Heaven. Although it is cool for what it is, it in no way reflects the true power and magic that Jimmy page produced and every member of the band created in the recording studio. You really should do a reaction to the studio version next. It is one of the greatest achievements in audio recording history.
Peace
I’d like to hear your take on one of Joplin's sadly neglected sleepers from the era: “Farewell Song” on the album “Live at Winterland ‘68” by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin.
Hi **Jay** YAY F YEA!!! **KickAss** Oh & **Robert Plant** Killin it on **Harmonica** whole thing just **Naaasty** ya should also check out "Playing For Change" doing this song with "John Paul Jones" & bunch of other well known Musicians it is an incredible project if ya have not seen anything by them yet they do covers of songs with Musicians from ALL over the World it is **Beautiful Fantastical**
Yes a great harmonica player, wish there was more of it.
Hiya Cosmic! 👋👋😁 (Helene here)
Led Zep is a band of white British kids who love the pure original american music.....whether its the black blues kings spitting out classics from the delta, to Elvis. the brits embraced black music when even America still didn't at the time. Brits have grt music taste.
💖
nice brother ........
Look at the price on that concert ticket.....75p
That's Robert stealing the show on harmonica.
Ok that's hyperbole but imagine that song without him wailing on that thing. It's definitely the star of the show for me.
🤘🇬🇧
A levee is the bank on the side of a river to stop flooding into the areas that don't want or need it. Like, a disaster?. Why they used that term here isn't maybe so clear, but maybe, when my defences fall?