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Manager Peter Grant was a rascal like no other: In his native England, his protégés refrained from releasing singles.
As expected, the artificial shortage of Led Zep’s musical art ensured astronomical album sales with correspondingly higher profit margins, and they could also distinguish themselves as the cool swine par excellence. Singles are for kids. Real rockers produce – and buy – albums.
Like this one: A monumental piece of hard rock with a turbocharger switched on and esoteric accessories, which was owed on the one hand to fantasy fan Robert Plant and on the other hand to Aleister Crowley admirer Jimmy Page. The title is already enigmatic: the album doesn’t have one, the “IV” is just as much a fix as “Four Symbols”, derived from the Celtic knick-knack that was assigned to each band member.
>>>Robert Plant now feels like the old man on the “Led Zeppelin IV” cover
US fans simply called the work “Zoso” onomatopoeic. Unfortunately also wrong. Names may only be smoke and mirrors, but Led Zeppelin’s music was sound and high-pressure steam: With “rock’n’roll” we went into the fast lane, which is where Led Zeppelin certainly felt most comfortable.
“The Battle Of Evermore” shone with sweet mandolins and guest vocalist Sandy Denny. For millions of buyers, however, another track was the real winner: “Stairway To Heaven”, a tour de force of acoustic ballad, electric rocker and hippie-philosophical devotional text.
By Uwe Schleifenbaum
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