• album cover for robert plant's big log single
    Pop,  Rock

    In Appreciation of Robert Plant’s “Big Log”

    Let’s jump back 42 years to one of my all-time favorites, Robert Plant’s “Big Log.” In 1983, Plant convened a group of musicians in the serene and remote setting of Rockfield Studios in Wales. His solo debut ‘Pictures at Eleven‘ had been released the prior year. This time around, much of his focus was to step further away from the Zeppelin brand, seeking a “big sound without sounding heavy and tough,” as he put it in his 2019 Digging Deep podcast. John Bonham had sadly passed away in September of 1980, and Plant had found his footing and fresh inspiration in the ensuing months by singing 50’s/60’s style rock & roll with the Honeydrippers (whose members included guitarist Robbie Blunt, who looms large in this song).

    ‘Coda,’ Led Zeppelin’s final studio album – consisting of extras and live tracks from the band’s 12-year career – was released in late November 1982. So, by early ’83 it’s fair to say that Plant was ready to strip away the heavy baggage and expectations of a dozen years fronting one of the landmark rock outfits. The studio vibe at Rockfield in south Wales was more structured and relaxed than his Zeppelin studio experience. The result from these sessions was ‘The Principle of Moments,’ released in July 1983. Of the eight songs on the album, Phil Collins played the drums on five of them (that’s Phil on “In the Mood”). “Big Log” was not one of them. In fact, as you’ve probably figured out if you’re familiar with the song, “Big Log” featured no human drummer at all, but a drum machine. This was the Roland RM-808, a staple of 80’s pop and hip-hop.

    The origin story of “Big Log” includes Gerald “Jezz” Woodroffe, Plant’s keyboard player, who programmed the drum and handclap sound into the 808. Guitarist Robbie Blunt quickly picked up on it and formed the beautifully melodic, perfectly toned guitar parts on the spot. Add in the lyrics – the haunting imagery of a road-weary and love-sick traveler; a desert highway and a far too distant love….

    An excerpt:

    My love is exceedingly vivid
    Red-eyed and fevered with the hum of the miles
    Distance and longing, my thoughts do provide
    Should I rest for a while at the side?

    …And what you have is an 80’s pop/rock masterpiece. For me, the electronic 808 drum pattern only enhances the tune, juxtaposed with Blunt’s gorgeous, Spanish-influenced guitar tones and Plant’s inimitable vocal stylings (“Your loooove is cradled in knowiing…”). Completely unique! And to this day, a song that stops me in my tracks, bringing a smile and a satisfied sigh. It’s reminiscent of “The ’80’s” while still managing to sound fresh all these years later.

    I’m sharing the Storm Thorgerson-directed video, which was filmed in desert locations around Death Valley, California and Nevada. Storm also designed the ‘Principle of Moments’ album cover and the “Big Log” single cover above. It’s worth taking a look at Storm’s staggering list of album cover and video work – credits that include a little album called ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’ Yeah, slightly iconic.

    “Big Log” was Robert Plant’s highest charting single, reaching #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 over that summer of ’83 (when “Every Breath You Take” ruled the #1 spot).

    Now, back to trying to learn the Robbie Blunt signature guitar parts!

  • Blues

    World Boogie is Here – North Mississippi Allstars Unleash

    Swampy, dirty, badass rock n’ blues. I’ve listened to the North Mississippi Allstars here and there over the years, but nothing they’ve done has taken a hold of me like their latest release, World Boogie Is Coming.

    NMA are essentially Luther Dickinson (guitar), his brother Cody Dickinson (drums), and their friend Chris Chew on bass. Their dad, the late James Dickinson,  was a sought after producer and session player, involved with artists like the Stones, Ry Cooder, Big Star, the Replacements, Mudhoney, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and on and on…

    So growing up in Memphis and yeah, north Mississippi, Jim’s kids were as mainlined into the roots/blues music scene as any kid could possibly be. Luther and Cody were especially enthralled with the juke-joint boogie style of southern Blues artists R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. It was modern artists like NMA that helped spark a career revival for Burnside late in his life (he passed in 2005).

    The album mixes familiar Blues tunes like “Rollin and Tumblin” and “Boogie,” covers of R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough (including my favorite of R.L.’s: “Snake Drive“), and originals written by Luther, Cody and friends. Robert Plant even appears on harmonica on the first two tunes, “JR” and “Goat Meat” (speaking of supercharging the Blues).

    At its core, World Boogie is down home n’ dirty blues of the Deep South. But there’s also the infusion of youthful, 21st century, soulful rock. Unique flairs, effects and ambiance. It lifts me right up and makes me smile. It gives me that bad-ass, lip-biting, head-nodding buzz you get from the riff in ZZ Top’s “La Grange.” It makes me grab the virtual sticks and air drum along (see “Boogie”).

    World Boogie is Coming is no holds barred stomp rock & blues. This album is the sound I’m looking for when I dip into artists like the Black Keys and Jack White. Great stuff, no doubt, but there is always just something missing.

    World Boogie is that something.

    ♥ Buy World Boogie Is Coming on Amazon for $5.00.

  • Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
    Americana

    Plant, Kraus and Prine Kill the Blues

    I was driving home from work last week, listening to Sirius Disorder while Howard was on commercial (sorry, I’m addicted), and was thrilled to hear a great song that I’d only previously heard coming from the raspy voice of John Prine. But this time it was emanating softly and sweetly from the mouths of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

    It turns out that Plant and Nashville bluegrass cutie Krauss holed up with producer T-Bone Burnett for an album of covers. They take on a broad sampling of some of their favorite tunes, ranging from the Everly Brothers to Tom Waits. The album, Raising Sand, will be out October 23rd. This should be good. Check out the track list (with songwriter in parenths):

    “Rich Woman” (Dorothy LaBostrie/McKinley Millet)
    “Killing the Blues” (Rowland Salley)
    “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us” (Sam Phillips)
    “Polly Come Home” (Gene Clark)
    “Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)” (Phil and Don Everly)
    “Through the Morning, Through the Night” (Gene Clark)
    “Please Read The Letter” (Robert Plant/Michael Lee/Jimmy Page/Charlie Jones)
    “Trampled Rose” (Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan)
    “Fortune Teller” (Naomi Neville)
    “Stick With Me Baby” (Mel Tillis)
    “Nothin'” (Townes Van Zandt)
    “Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson” (Milt Campbell)
    “Your Long Journey” (A.D. Watson and Rosa Lee Watson)

    The song I heard in the car was “Killing the Blues”. Silly me, not knowing that “Killing the Blues” isn’t a Prine-penned song at all, but rather a 1977 composition by Rowland Salley, who went on to play bass in Chris Isaak’s band. A great song, cool lyrics

    PRE-ORDER Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand on the Rounder Records Site or Amazon.

  • Rock

    Robert Plant’s Nine Lives

    robert plant

    If there’s a Robert Plant freak in your life, odds are he or she picked this up on its release date last Tuesday (Nov. 21st). But if not, do I have the Christmas present for you (or Hannukah, or whatever, you understand, ya?)…

    It’s another great project from our friends at Rhino, a box set including all nine of Plant’s solo albums, remastered and expanded with previously unreleased bonus tracks. Dubbed Nine Lives, it also has a DVD with all of his music videos, a comprehensive interview, and rare footage. All for under $100.00.

    robert plant nine lives box set

    I’ve always enjoyed Plant’s solo material. I was partial to his 80’s material until last year’s Mighty Rearranger, an A+ Robert Plant album mixing all sorts of musical styles, from funky to polyrhythmic to bluesy. Well, here’s your opportunity to have ’em all, from Pictures at Eleven to Mighty Rearranger.

    Robert Plant: Little by Little – from Shaken ‘n’ Stirred

    Buy the Nine Lives box set.

    Check out the Nine Lives eCard.

    Check out the Rhino Listening Party for Nine Lives.

    And now, a nice treat to coincide with the Nine Lives release. The one time I saw Robert Plant was in Milwaukee on the Now and Zen tour in 1988. It was a great show, mixing his solo stuff with great renditions of some Zep classics (e.g. “In the Evening”, “Trampled Underfoot”). I came across this Philly Spectrum show from the same tour (recorded from a radio broadcast). This took place about a week before I saw him in Milwaukee, so it was a nice find.

    Robert Plant
    Philadelphia, PA
    The Spectrum
    May 23, 1988

    1. Helen of Troy
    2. Other Arms
    3. Heaven Knows
    4. In The Evening
    5. In The Mood
    6. Black Country Woman
    7. Ship Of Fools
    8. Dimples
    9. Trampled Underfoot
    10. Misty Mountain Hop
    11. Band Introductions
    12. Tall Cool One / End Credits

    In the box set:

    PICTURES AT ELEVEN
    Track Listing

    1. “Burning Down One Side”
    2. “Moonlight In Samosa”
    3. “Pledge Pin”
    4. “Slow Dancer”
    5. “Worse Than Detroit”
    6. “Fat Lip”
    7. “Like I’ve Never Been Gone”
    8. “Mystery Title”
    Bonus Tracks:
    9. “Far Post”
    10. “Like I’ve Never Gone” – Live: Houston 1983

    THE PRINCIPLES OF MOMENTS
    Track Listing

    1. “Other Arms”
    2. “In The Mood”
    3. “Messin’ With The Mekon”
    4. “Wreckless Love”
    5. “Thru’ With The Two Step”
    6. “Horizontal Departure”
    7. “Stranger Here Than Over There”
    8. “Big Log”
    Bonus Tracks:
    9. “In The Mood” – Live In Houston 1983
    10. “Thru’ With The Two Step” – Live In Houston 1983
    11. “Lively Up Yourself” – Live In Houston 1983
    12. “Turnaround”* – studio track

    THE HONEYDRIPPERS: VOLUME ONE
    Track Listing

    1. “I Get A Thrill”
    2. “Sea Of Love”
    3. “I Got A Woman”
    4. “Young Boy Blues”
    5. “Rockin’ At Midnight”
    Bonus Tracks:
    6. “Rockin’ At Midnight” – Live: Birmingham NEC

    SHAKEN ‘N’ STIRRED
    Track Listing

    1. “Hip To Hoo”
    2. “Kallalou Kallalou”
    3. “Too Loud”
    4. “Trouble Your Money”
    5. “Pink And Black”
    6. “Little By Little”
    7. “Doo Doo A Do Do”
    8. “Easily Lead”
    9. “Sixes And Sevens”
    Bonus Tracks:
    10. “Little By Little” – Remixed Long Version (1985)

    NOW AND ZEN
    Track Listing

    1. “Heaven Knows”
    2. “Dance On My Own”
    3. “Tall Cool One”
    4. “The Way I Feel”
    5. “Helen Of Troy”
    6. “Billy’s Revenge”

    7. “Ship Of Fools”
    8. “Why”
    9. “White, Clean And Neat”
    10. “Walking Towards Paradise”
    Bonus Track
    11. “Billy’s Revenge” – Live: Bootleg from Los Angeles, CA (1990)*
    12. “Ship Of Fools” – Live: Bootleg from Holland (1993)*
    13. “Tall Cool One” – Live: Bootleg from Los Angeles, CA (1990)*

    MANIC NIRVANA
    Track Listing

    1. “Hurting Kind (I’ve Only Got Eyes On You)”
    2. “Big Love”
    3. “S S S & Q”
    4. “I Cried”
    5. “She Said”
    6. “Nirvana”
    7. “Tie Dye On The Highway”
    8. “Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night”
    9. “Anniversary”
    10. “Liars Dance”
    11. “Watching You”
    Bonus Tracks:
    12. “Oompa (Watery Bint)” – B-side to promo single (1990)
    13. “One Love” – UK single (1990)
    14. “Don’t Look Back” UK single (1990)

    FATE OF NATIONS
    Track Listing

    1. “Calling To You”
    2. “Down To The Sea”
    3. “Come Into My Life”
    4. “I Believe”
    5. “29 Palms”
    6. “Memory Song (Hello Hello)”
    7. “If I Were A Carpenter”
    8. “Promised Land”
    9. “The Greatest Gift”
    10. “Great Spirit”
    11. “Network News”
    Bonus Tracks:
    12. “Colours Of A Shade” – Bonus track on UK & Japan release of Fate of
    Nations
    13. “Great Spirit” – (Acoustic Mix) – UK single (1993)
    14. “Rollercoaster” – (Demo)*
    15. “8:05” – UK single (1993)
    16. “Dark Moon” – (Acoustic) – UK single (1993)

    DREAMLAND
    Track Listing

    1. “Funny In My Mind (I Believe I’m Fixin’ To Die)”
    2. “Morning Dew”
    3. “One More Cup of Coffee”
    4. “Last Time I Saw Her”
    5. “Song To The Siren”
    6. “Win My Train Fare Home (If I Ever Get Lucky)”
    7. “Darkness, Darkness”
    8. “Red Dress”
    9. “Hey Joe”
    10. “Skip’s Song”
    Bonus Track:
    11. “Dirt In A Hole” – previously only available in UK, Japan and Australia
    12. “Last Time I Saw Her – Remix

    MIGHTY REARRANGER
    Track Listing

    1. “Another Tribe”
    2. “Shine It All Around”
    3. “Freedom Fries”
    4. “Tin Pan Valley”
    5. “All The Kings Horses”
    6. “The Enchanter”
    7. “Takamba”
    8. “Dancing In Heaven”
    9. “Somebody”
    10. “Let The Four Winds Blow”
    11. “Mighty Rearranger”
    12. “Brother Ray”
    Bonus Tracks:
    13. “Red, White And Blue”
    14. “All The Money In The World” – UK single (B-side) (2005)
    15. “Shine It All Around” (Girls Remix)
    16. “Tin Pan Valley” – (Girls Remix)
    17. “The Enchanter” – (Unkle Reconstruction)

    *Previously Unreleased

  • Rock

    Robert Plant and Strange Sensation Live

    Robert Plant

    Okay, I’m in the live music mood these days, and since the frequency of my live music outings has decreased significantly as I’ve gotten older (in other words, I got married and had children), I’ve turned to Dimeadozen.org to feed my addiction. One of the shows I regret missing last summer was Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix (where I just saw the Wiggles on Sunday – awesome!). So the next best thing is getting to at least hear a show from the tour.

    Mighty Rearranger cover

    I’ve been curious to hear how Robert’s live show has evolved since I saw him 18 years ago in Milwaukee when he was touring behind ‘Now and Zen’ [buy]. This Seattle gig from last summer was just what the doctor ordered. Performing tunes from last year’s great album, ‘Mighty Rearranger'[buy], some Zep classics (“Going to California”, “Thank You”, “Four Sticks”, “Gallows Pole”), and even a Dylan tune (“Girl from the North Country”), Plant is still as musically vibrant and fresh as ever.

    This show took place 25 years to the day after the death of John Bonham, Led Zep’s drummer.

    Enjoy.

    Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation
    Chateau Ste Michelle Winery
    Woodinville
    Seattle, WA
    September 25, 2005

    • Intro
    • Moby Dick Intro
    • Shine it all Around
    • Black Dog
    • Freedom Fries
    • Skip’s Song
    • Going to California
    • Girl from the North Country
    • Hey Joe
    • Thank You
    • Tin Pan Valley
    • Four Sticks
    • Gallows Pole Intro
    • Gallows Pole
    • Band Intro
    • The Enchanter
    • Sugar Mama Intro
    • Whole Lotta Love
  • Robert Plant
    Rock

    Tin Pan Tuesday

    Robert Plant. The name conjures something in your heads. Whatever your judgments and preconceptions regarding the man, erase them all, and check out his new album, ‘Mighty Rearranger’. I bought it a couple days after its release a week ago, and it pretty much has followed me around from CD player to CD player all week.

    Adjective time: Fresh, eclectic, exotic, and brilliantly unique. Surprised the bejeezus out of me. I give you my favorite of the moment…

    Robert Plant: Tin Pan Valley ~ ~ from Mighty Rearranger [buy it]