I’m in the mood for a memory…
Has the countdown to Christmas given you a migraine like the current Billboard charts would? Well, The Nest is coming down the chimney with the gift of old time rock and roll! It’s Monday, so it’s time for us to find a retro toy that can once again bring joy to the ears of boys and girls all over the world out of that giant workshop full of lost hits we like to call the Dusty Vinyl Archive! DJ Scratchy has made sure to spike the eggnog, while the Sponkies eat all the sprinkles off the Christmas cookies. Tis the season to be dazed and confused…
I’m not the biggest fan of those legends of 70’s rock and roll, Led Zeppelin. And when their frontman Robert Plant decided to kick off a solo career in the 80’s, I was similarly unimpressed. My first introduction to Plant, before I even knew Led Zep existed, was his music video for a 1984 song called “Big Log,” which sounds as thoroughly wretched as that title. Pretty soon he turned up in a group called The Honeydrippers, covering classic songs of the 50’s and scaring young children with scenes like this in his videos…
The ugly dude in the Speedo playing that marimba is the exact opposite of a video vixen.
Poor Robert Plant just couldn’t do any right with me. But I didn’t drag his name into the Dusty Vinyl Archive just to bitch about how lousy he was. He must have done something good. And that good is this lively rocker from 1988 that showed Mr. Plant could thoroughly embrace the 80’s…
“Tall Cool One” was a minor hit in America, reaching #25 on the charts, and was barely even recognized anywhere else in the world. It did hit #1 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, which is why it can be heard from time to time in classic rock circles even today. This song is awesome, at least until the end when Plant decided to throw in a bunch of Led Zeppelin samples because someone brought a set of turntables to the studio when he recorded it. For years, I always thought the chorus was “Knock knock baby, I’m in love with you,” (It’s actually “lighten up baby”) and I was surprised to find out that the title wasn’t even pulled from that line…
A tall cool one.
Come back next Monday for another lost song you won’t want to exchange for a refund…
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
I’m a Zeppelin fan from way back and like Plant on his own as well. Have you heard his duets with Allison Krauss? Can’t Let Go was my ear worm yesterday…
That’s about all people talked about the last decade was his concerts with Allison Krauss, whose existence I’m only aware of because of that. I have not heard any of their music together, but the pre-judging side of me thinks I’d probably hate it…
Never say never….
I am just a little too old to have enjoyed Robert Plant. 😦
Or maybe a little too sober. I think mental “enhancement” was required to enjoy LZ…
This week’s cut ranks right up there with Plant’s hair do…too frizzy/frenetic for me. Wasn’t much of a Zeppelin fan back in the day and note there’s not a whole lot going with the lyrics here. A whole lotta repetitive schlock.
What the hell was he doing in that video? Was that his attempt at dancing or had he been possessed by a alien that was trying to use his body to communicate with the mother ship. How cringe.
Probably delayed flashbacks from all those drugs in the 70’s…
If he took anything that makes him NOT care that he’s moving like that then I want some, too.
I’m not all that taken with this song. Led Zeppelin is one of those bands that I think I ought to enjoy but the only songs I’ve ever really got along with are “Immigrant Song” and to a lesser extent “Stairway to Heaven”, which, to be honest, was much better when played by the ancient church organist in that Simpsons episode.
Zeppelin’s just too far out there for me. It’s 70’s hard rock mixed with that psychedelic shit from the 60’s that’s no good if you aren’t stoned…
I admit to being a Zepp fan all those years ago but not a fan of this tune (which I don’t remember….but that doesn’t surprise me!).
Pam
Interesting that this is one of the few DVA’s I’ve posted that nobody has yet offered an encouraging word for! I must be alone in liking this one…