Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Zeppelin Thievery Supplemental

Dec 152007

UPDATED AGAIN AGAIN!
UPDATED AGAIN!
UPDATED!

mrclean: Thanks for the Dazing and Confusing post on Jimmy Plage-rist. Like loophole I’ve always thought this subject would make an interesting post. I’m a big ZepHed but definitely not an apologist, especially considering that I’m also Sillie for Willie Dixon.

Here is a down and dirty collection of songs that some might say strike a resemblance to some Zeppelin compositions. Since Willie Dixon sued, he now shows up as author or co-author on all his tracks here. I leave it to a better man than I to dig out his vinyl and tell us which one(s) were not credited until after the lawsuit. I believe Howlin’ Wolf, post-lawsuit, is now credited on The Lemon Song. Gallows Pole is listed as a “Traditional” yet Huddie Ledbetter/Alan Lomax are credited on Leadbelly’s version.

I’m (Dazed and) Confused!

Posted by mrclean

Dec 142007

So the other day my wife comes home from work and says “My boss says her brother wrote the Zeppelin song ‘Dazed and Confused’ and never got any royalties from it.” She and her boss must have been discussing the recent Zeppelin reunion show (I also know we got our nephew the new Mothership best-of Led Zeppelin collection for Christmas this year), and out of the blue the boss dropped this interesting bombshell.

My wife didn’t have many details and I was skeptical. Later that night I looked up the song on Wikipedia and sure enough there seems to be some controversy regarding the composer of this tune.

Jake Holmes was a folk singer type in the ’60s and wrote and recorded the song on his debut album in 1967. Later that same year he opened for The Yardbirds, who liked the tune and decided to work up their own version of the song. From the Wikipedia entry:

“It was never officially recorded by the band, although an unauthorized live version was included on the semi-legitimate Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page album under the alternate title ‘I’m Confused’.”

Later, Jimmy Page worked up an arrangement for Led Zeppelin, and it was recorded and released on their self-titled debut in 1969.

Holmes eventually sent a letter to Page essentially asking him to do the right thing and acknowledge “co-authorship” of the song, but he never heard back. Apparently Holmes has decided not to pursue legal action. Since the ’70s Holmes has been a successful jingle writer, penning such gems as “Be A Pepper” for Dr. Pepper, “Be All That You Can Be” for the U.S. Army, and my favorite, “Raise your hand if you’re sure!” for Sure Deodorant! Here is an interesting interview with Holmes from 2001 on the Perfect Sound Forever online music magazine.

So my fellow Townspeople, what do you think? Should Mr. Page acknowledge that Mr. Holmes did in fact contribute a fair portion to the writing of a tune that has now become clearly associated with the Led Zeppelin songbook?

[For more on Jimmy Page’s songwriting abilities, check out the two part article “THE THIEVING MAGPIES: Jimmy Page’s Dubious Recording Legacy” written by Will Shade on the Perfect Sound Forever online music magazine website. Part One | Part Two]

Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Rock

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 142007

If you’ve got a minute to spare between taking that Billy Idol Challenge, let me know what you think about baseball’s Mitchell Report as it reports to rock ‘ roll. Do you think it’s time we establish performance-enhancing drug testing in rock? I mean, have you compared Alex Chilton‘s voice in the Box Tops with his voice just a couple years later in Big Star? The difference is as great as that in Barry Bonds’ hat sizes. The guy must have been injecting some kind of anti-HGH! Any other rockers you suspect of having used performance-enhancing drugs? What is your rock performance-enhancing drug of choice, anyhow?

Ike Turner and the Rhythm Kings: A Black Man’s Soul

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 132007

As we continue to reflect on the musical spirit of Ike Turner and contemplate sarcastic headlines regarding his troubled personal life in light of the announcement of his death, I thought I’d share my favorite tracks from him 1969 album, A Black Man’s Soul.

Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, “Black Beauty”

Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, “Getting Nasty”

This album, by the way, is available through eMusic, which you may sample for a month for free. See the little ad on the right margin of the Main Stage.

Ike Turner, R.I.P.

Posted by hrrundivbakshi

Dec 122007

Ike Turner died today. Of his life, I say: was there another artist whose reputed assholishness was so purely, inversely proportional to the wonderfulness of his music?

To the spirit of Ike Turner, I say: thank you, and may you rest in peace, if that’s possible. May God have mercy on your soul, as I would have Him have mercy on mine.

HVB

Led Zeppelin Reunion Headline Writing Bullpen

Posted by sammymaudlin

Dec 122007

The presses are rolling and we need a headline FAST! Led Zeppelin has just wrapped up their first live show in over 20 years. You run from your RTH press box into the phone booth outside the lobby, dial Mr. Mod’s private line, and utter your brilliantly clever headline.

See if you can top these two from the L.A. Times:

“It’s Been A Long Time For Led Zeppelin”
“The Players Have Aged But The Song Remains The Same”

Or if you’re too lazy to think of one, what headlines have you read?

Johnny Winter’s Probable Point of Reference: The Rolling Stones’ Demo of “Silver Train”

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 122007

2000 Man, in our recent Johnny Winter-Rolling Stones’ “Silver Train” thread, mentioned a third version of this Stones’ deep cut that he’d share with us. Sure enough, the our man from the last century took care of business and sent in the following reply to the original thread. So that this version doesn’t get lost in the Comments section of the orginal post, we’re bringing it to the Main Stage along with 2000 Man’s comments. I also found a live version by Winter. Don’t think Rock Town Hall isn’t THE place for versions of “Silver Train”!

Sorry to take so long getting on this. What good is it to have a Rolling Stones fanboy in the Hall if he’s not gonna step away from the bong now and then and pitch in? Anyway, here’s the demo version that Johnny Winter probably heard. They played the song live once or twice (I’d have to look it up, I think once) and it sounds kind of like All Down the line on that one, which is probably why they dropped it.

The Rolling Stones, “Silver Train” (demo)

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