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Deconstructing Led Zeppelin's Ramble On (Isolated Tracks)

marshall1987

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IMO the magic in this song is Page's brilliant acoustic guitar work....there is a mystical, airy quality about his playing, that appears to flow seamlessly into the next phase of the group; i.e., in 1970, Page and Plant retired to Bron-Yr-Aur, a remote cottage in Wales, to commence work on their third album, Led Zeppelin III.

The result was a more acoustic style that was strongly influenced by folk and Celtic music, and showcased the band's versatility.
 

Ed Driscoll

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IMO the magic in this song is Page's brilliant acoustic guitar work....there is a mystical, airy quality about his playing, that appears to flow seamlessly into the next phase of the group; i.e., in 1970, Page and Plant retired to Bron-Yr-Aur, a remote cottage in Wales, to commence work on their third album, Led Zeppelin III.

The result was a more acoustic style that was strongly influenced by folk and Celtic music, and showcased the band's versatility.
I think there’s great stuff all around — Page’s guitar playing, Jones’ liquid bass line, Bonham going from whatever he’s tapping to the full kit, and the dynamics of Plant’s vocals. And yeah, it was very smart of the group to follow up a mostly rocking album with one featuring lots of acoustic songs. That hurt the third album’s sales, but it proved they were no one-trick pony.
 

marshall1987

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I saw Led Zeppelin perform live in concert two times in the early '70s, both time at the Baltimore Civic Center (1972 & 1973). They played acoustic sets at these shows featuring songs from the albums Led Zeppelin III and IV. This was received very well by the audience as the dynamics were softened, along with the stage volume, allowing people to relax and catch their breath.......in between the bombastic, heavily amplified electric sets.

Unfortunately when I saw them again in 1975 at the Capital Centre, Largo, MD, Led Zeppelin dropped the acoustic sets from their shows. As a result we were blasted by nearly 3 and 1/2 hours of uninterrupted ear blistering rock 'n roll. Yep, Led Zeppelin routinely played shows lasting around 3 and 1/2 hours back in the day!
 

Ed Driscoll

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Apr 24, 2002
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4,691
I saw Led Zeppelin perform live in concert two times in the early '70s, both time at the Baltimore Civic Center (1972 & 1973). They played acoustic sets at these shows featuring songs from the albums Led Zeppelin III and IV. This was received very well by the audience as the dynamics were softened, along with the stage volume, allowing people to relax and catch their breath.......in between the bombastic, heavily amplified electric sets.

Unfortunately when I saw them again in 1975 at the Capital Centre, Largo, MD, Led Zeppelin dropped the acoustic sets from their shows. As a result we were blasted by nearly 3 and 1/2 hours of uninterrupted ear blistering rock 'n roll. Yep, Led Zeppelin routinely played shows lasting around 3 and 1/2 hours back in the day!
Often with no opening act, right?
 

marshall1987

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Often with no opening act, right?

Zeppelin never had an opening act. I think the first two times I saw them in '72 and '73 they opened with a tune off Led Zeppelin III..."Celebration Day". In '73 I carried in a cassette tape recorder and made my own bootleg tape.

At show time the house lights would go down and then.....the audience erupted ...it was sheer pandemonium after that. It felt like we entered an altered state of consciousness, a magical place. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing them right before my eyes!
 

Vics53

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Jan 21, 2021
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I love this kind of stuff. In listening to the individual parts I hear all these little things that I wasn't able to hear before.

Very helpful. Thanks for posting.
 

Ed Driscoll

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Zeppelin never had an opening act. I think the first two times I saw them in '72 and '73 they opened with a tune off Led Zeppelin III..."Celebration Day". In '73 I carried in a cassette tape recorder and made my own bootleg tape.

At show time the house lights would go down and then.....the audience erupted ...it was sheer pandemonium after that. It felt like we entered an altered state of consciousness, a magical place. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing them right before my eyes!
Well, they did have opening acts in their very early years, and at Knebworth. But yeah, that classic mid-'70s period, it really made a statement to go on and play a massive set without an opening act.
 
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