A lot of folks are going to think I am bonkers for what I am going to write next. Jimmy Page has never fulfilled his potential. I realize that many a player would donate a finger or two to have a fraction of the god given talent the man has. Led Zeppelin are one of the biggest bands ever and their influence is everywhere. So why am I writing this now? Well it’s because Jimmy has gone back to what is safe for him and re-mastered the Zep catalogue (again…..yawn) but wait, there’s bonus tracks. I bet most of them will add nothing to the legacy and many fans will marvel at “new” music. Alternate takes with different lyrics and some rehearsal jams never match expectations. Great great band, I really mean that.
So here’s my point. Has what he’s done since hit the mark with you. The Death Wish soundtrack and solo album Outrider had some fine moments. Some. Remember the hype over Robert Plant singing on one of the tracks. Can you name it? See. The Firm with Paul Rodgers never matched expectations. Now Coverdale/Page was great in 1993 but after a couple of shows in Japan fizzled out which was a pity. Cue a phone call to Mr. Plant and the Unledded album featuring Moroccan Zep and some new stuff that again didn’t set the world afire. Then a new studio album proper, the has its moments Walking Into Clarksdale. I saw that tour and it was one of the best shows I have ever seen. That was in the mid-nineties.
Since then its been ye ole Zep revisited all the way, a re-mastering job, the Black Crowes thing and the O2 show with subsequent live cd/dvd combo. Oh and who can forget that collaboration with Puff Daddy sampling Kashmir. Like……..really? So it’s Zep or bust for Jimmy it seems and though there’s talk of a solo album the man is 70 years old now. Yes a legend but it seems so long ago that the man has released anything new. Then again maybe he quit while the going was good and realized there was only a slippery downward slope ahead. It’s not that he needs the cash now is it.
