I’m not even entirely sure what the consensus Led Zep IV ranking of the songs should be. However, the current state of the poll seems to be close to what I’d guess it to be:
When the Levee Breaks
Stairway to Heaven
Black Dog
(tied) Rock & Roll
(tied) Misty Mountain Hop
Going to California
Battle of Evermore
Four Sticks
I know that voting for #1s only isn’t necessarily going to produce the same results as taking into account full ordered lists, but I can’t actually argue with the way the poll is shaking out so far when interpreted in that manner.
Because it’s silly. You just handwaved away the specific points I made about the actual musical content of the two performances with a vague reference to the “general melodic arc” that holds no water. Look at the first line of the song, for example:
Completely different arc. Minnie approaches the first downbeat on the level; Plant approaches with a leap of a fourth. Minnie breaks the line into two descending phrases; Plant drones mainly on a single note until the end. Minnie places a blue note (flatted third) on her downbeats; Plant sings the keynote–very different effect. Only one word is sung on the same degree of the scale–“rainin’”–and even then Plant throws in a melisma (making only glancing use of the blue note that is so strongly emphasized in Minnie’s version).
As for the phrasing being similar, that’s only natural, since they’re singing the same lyrics.
Hardly.
Who said it wasn’t the same song?
Good point. The Who’s adaptation of that song already sounds an awful lot like where Zep took the idea.
When the Levee Breaks is definitely my favorite, but Stairway to Heaven is right behind it. Really I like all of the songs on the album, even Four Sticks, but obviously I like some more than others.
When the Levee Breaks
Stairway to Heaven
Black Dog
Rock and Roll
Misty Mountain Hop
6-7. Battle of Evermore
6-7. Going to California
Four Sticks
edit - funny, my list is almost the same as pulykamell’s.
No one did. I was commenting on “Black Dog” bearing more or less resemblance to “Oh Well” than the 2 versions of “Levee.” My point stands. Or did you not read the rest of my post?
I’ll summarize. A casual listener (me) realizes that the 2 versions of Levee are more similar musically than BD & OW. I share pulykamell’s confusion over your roll-eyes over what seemed to be a reasonable & friendly conversation. Not only do I think he’s not ‘handwaving’ points you made, but I happen to agree with him.
Or are you going to write out melodies to “Black Dog” & “Oh Well” to show how they are much more similar than the 2 versions of “Levee” to further your point?
And what’s wrong with Bonzo??
And since I didn’t play the thread’s game with my last post, here’s my list as of today. It’s probably changed a bit since my younger days, and perhaps it’ll change more in the future…
Stairway (overplayed? Yep. Epic? Yep.)
When The Levee Breaks
Four Sticks (that riff rocks!)
The Battle of Evermore (It’s moved up since I’ve learned how to play it on the mandolin)
