Great Rock Albums of 1983: Robert Plant- Principle of Moments

 

Here is another example why I stopped trusting commercial radio or MTV for all of my music liaisons. In 1983, the two singles from Robert Plant's "The Principle of Moments" album, "In the Mood" and "Big Log" got a lot of airplay on MTV. If I were to judge this album just on those two songs, I would have thought that Robert Plant had completely abandoned his roots and was making mellow out, commercial songs. I know that even then, Robert wasn't comfortable when people like me said that his former band, Led Zeppelin, were one of the founding fathers of heavy metal but this album shows that he didn't totally abandon his beginnings.

"The Principle of Moments" is a long way from the heavy metal sounding delights of Led Zeppelin "II" or "IV." Nonetheless, it is still a good album with some rock delights for all. When I heard the introduction on the opening song, "Other Arms," I found myself checking the credits on the album because I was sure that Robert had gotten Jimmy Page to play oit. Obviously, I was dreaming but saying that, Robert Blunt does a magnificent job on the six string all throughout the entire album. Does he site Jimmy as an influence? Don't know but it might be worth checking out.

Maybe it's me mellowing in my old age, (I'll be halfway between 50 and 60 in three weeks), but listening to "In The Mood" again after all these years, I've decided it's not as bad as I thought back then. In fact, there's a pretty tidy guitar solo from Blunt which has me wondering how I missed something like that back in 1983. I'll blame the weed. Another really good standout track is "Wreckless Love" which is possibly the hardest rock tune on the album. However, other songs like "Messin' With the Mekon" and "Horizontal Departure" come fairly close. "Thru With the Two Step" is another interesting song on the album. It starts out like it's going to be a mellow one, more in the style of Led Zeppelin's later progressive years. Then it goes into a more hard blues sound with a killer guitar solo from Blunt. God, I have to check this guy out more.

The only stone left unturned is the vocals of Plant himself. They are as good as ever here. Sure, he doesn't scream like he did back in the 1970s but he still shows he has a decent range.

Track Listing:

1. Other Arms
2. In the Mood
3. Messin' with the Meckon
4. Wreckless Love
5. Thru With the Two Step
6. Horizontal Departure
7. Stranger Here... Than Over There
8. Big Log

 

Robert Plant

Robert Plant- vocals

Robbie Blunt- guitars

Paul Martinez- bass

Jezz Woodroffe- keyboards

Phil Collins- drums on tracks, 1-3, 5,6, 8

Barriemore Barlow- drums on tracks 4 and 7

John David and Ray Martinez- backing vocals

Unlike "In the Mood," my thoughts haven't changed much on "Big Log." Maybe it's that image conjured up from the video of Robert Plant swimming in the pool. But don't let that spoil your enjoyment of "The Principle of Moments" because it is a good album. Classic Robert Plant.

Next post: Jackson Browne- Lawyers in Love

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Robert Plant- Pictures at 11

What is probably the biggest misconception in the world about heavy metal founding fathers, Led Zeppelin, is that most people tend to remember them more for their hard rock/heavy metal sound from the early 1970s. Many supposed Led Zeppelin officianados forget that in the middle and latter part of that decade, they were moving away from the heavy sound for a more progressive sound. There were many reasons for this which I have already stated when I visited some Led Zeppelin albums in the past. Unfortunately, some of those same people had this same misconception when Robert Plant released his first solo album in 1982, "Pictures At 11."

This album is definitely more Led Zeppelin in the late 70s and I think that Robert wanted to continue in this vein and he does a very good job in doing so. The opening track, "Burning Down One Side" is a sure fire reminder of the Zeppelin days from the opening riff. It definitely makes a statement for the rest of the album. However, Plant does seem to venture more into new territories as well. The slower second track "Moonlight in Samosa" bears testimony to this. Things go a bit more up tempo with "Slow Dancer" and it is the first track where I was tempted to begin comparing guitarist Robbie Blunt to Plant's former band mate. Fortunately, I was able to resist temptation and make judgement on Blunt in his own right. My verdict: he can certainly play guitar as evidenced on not only "Slow Dancer" but "Worse Than Detroit" and "Fat Lip" and no, Sum 41 would not make a cover of that last song twenty years later, not even close. Sorry, forgive my weird sense of humour. However, those last two tracks are further evidence of Plant wanting to go forward into new areas. Then, almost as some anti- climax, the closing song, "Mystery Title" reminds me of two Led Zeppelin classics, "Trample Underfoot" and "When the Levee Breaks," not that I'm complaining.

Track Listing:

1. Burning Down One Side

2. Midnight 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

[caption id="attachment_2636" align="aligncenter" width="196"] Robert Plant[/caption]

Robert Plant- vocals

Robbie Blunt- guitar

Jezz Woodroffe- keyboards, synthesizers

Paul Martinez- bass

Phil Collins- drums, except tracks 4 & 7

Cozy Powell- drums on tracks 4 &7

Raphael Ravenscroft- saxophone on track 3

It was always great to see that Robert Plant had moved on after Led Zeppelin, as did Page and Jones. He managed to find some good musicians to help him on the album and got Collins and Powell to play drums which was an added bonus. "Pictures At 11" marked a triumphant return for Plant.

Next post: Steve Winwood- Talking Back to the Night

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