For the month of January, I’m selecting some of the most memorable and influential songs of the 60’s. While they all hail from the same decade, these are some of my favorite songs of any era. They remind me that the 60’s were so much more than just Woodstock and psychedelic rock. It was a flourishing period for blues, folk, progressive and straight-ahead rock. #31DaysOf60sSongs
By the time I reached the exciting, yet incredibly awkward ninth grade, I was knee deep into Zeppelin. Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy were on heavy rotation on my Sony cassette player. In my mind, no other band had figured out such a natural and powerful way of bringing together hard rock and blues as well as Zeppelin. Killer vocals. Killer riffs. Killer lyrics. It wasn’t unusual to be a Zeppelin fan in my high school. In fact, “Ramble On” went on to become our graduation song.
John Paul Jones has always been the least talked about and the least celebrated member of the band. He was an exceptional bass player surrounded by rock giants: Plant, Page and Bonzo. But his bass line on “Ramble On” is truly iconic. Some call it the best bass line ever written. It’s both highly melodic and rhythmic — and in a rare moment Jonesy steals the spotlight from Jimmy Page. But the most irresistible thing about “Ramble On” is Plant’s soulful cry. It quite possibly doesn’t get any more rock ‘n roll than his monster vocals in the chorus.
“I ain't tellin' no lie. Mine's a tale that can't be told.”