Pre-Led Zeppelin singles by Plant, Page, and Jones
For those who may be unfamiliar with the story of how Led Zeppelin began, it went something like this: After the breakup of the Yardbirds in 1968, that band was still under a contractual obligation to tour in Scandinavia with Vanilla Fudge. The responsibility was taken on by Jimmy Page, the guitarist who had joined the band in 1966, to assemble a new version of the Yardbirds to fulfill their remaining obligations. Prominent session bassist John Paul Jones took the place of Yardbirds bassist Chris Dreja (reportedly by Dreja’s suggestion). Page wanted singer Terry Reid to join the band, but Reid declined, suggesting that Page instead enlist a 19-year-old singer named Robert Plant. Plant was then a member of Band Of Joy, who had been an opening act for Reid at least one time. When Page approached Plant about joining the new Yardbirds, Plant said he would join if John Bonham, the Band Of Joy drummer, also would. The rest, as they say, is history. After beginning their career under the name of the New Yardbirds, the band changed its name to Led Zeppelin, supposedly after the late Who drummer Keith Moon remarked that a new supergroup would “go down like a lead zeppelin”.
Although Plant’s Band Of Joy was only known on a local level in England, Plant did record two pre-Zeppelin solo singles in 1967. Both of them were of a blue-eyed-soul nature, with Plant seemingly emulating black rhythm-and-blues singers of the ‘60’s. Plant was not yet the influential howler that he became when he joined Led Zeppelin, but there are early Led Zep echoes to be heard in his distinctive singing on these singles. There are also similarities to be heard between these early tracks and Plant’s post-Zeppelin solo works.
During his teen years, Plant had also been a member of a British r&b quartet called Listen, which was rounded out by three other lads named Geoff Thompson, John Crutchley, and Roger Beamer. Their one single, released in 1966, was a cover of the Rascals’ “You Better Run” (spelled “You’d Better Run” on U.K. pressings). The track was given sophisticated treatment, with horns and soulful female back-up singers, and mono recording that gave it a vintage feel. But Plant’s lead vocal is the star of this track. Plant sounded mature beyond his 17 years, and his style of white-soul singing presaged his interpretation of the blues on the first Zeppelin album. The B-side, “Everybody’s Gonna Say”, was penned by the four band members. It’s not a great composition, but it received another tasteful blue-eyed-soul presentation, and Plant’s lead vocals again commanded attention.
Plant got well-deserved solo artist billing on his next two singles, which were his last before joining Led Zeppelin. Both singles were released on CBS Records in the U.K. only, unlike the Listen single, which received U.S. distribution. The first of these singles, “Long Time Coming”, is the better one. Plant proved to be an affecting crooner on this Chicago soul ballad, aided by its vintage-sounding production. The B-side of “Long Time Coming” is even better: a cover of the Sharpees’ “I’ve Got A Secret”, a Phil Spector-like soul number which features powerful drumming by none other than John Bonham. Plant’s second solo single, “Our Song”, has production that is more clean than colorful. But Plant shines again as a vocalist, showing more of his range than he did on the two previous singles. This single’s B-side track, “Laughin’, Cryin’, Laughin’ “, has more of a Detroit soul sound. Plant’s vocals were still something to hear on this track, although it didn’t play as much to his strengths; he was not likely to become a Motown recording star. It’s certainly a pleasure to hear these early recordings by Plant, but it was most fortuitous that the Led Zeppelin opportunity soon came his way.
While we are on the subject of pre-Zeppelin solo singles, Jimmy Page also recorded one solo single in 1965, before he joined the Yardbirds, and while he was steadily working as a session guitarist. “She Just Satisfies” was a lightly likable British Invasion-style rock and roll song on the order of the early Kinks and (yes) the early Yardbirds. Page played all of the instruments except the drums (which would include guitar, bass, and harmonica), and – for perhaps the only time in his long career – sang the lead vocal as well. And that is the single’s big surprise: Page could sing! Not in any kind of impressive way that would make him comparable to Robert Plant, of course, but he was at least the vocal equal of, say, Keith Relf of the Yardbirds. The B-side, “Keep Moving”, is a mostly instrumental and slightly cacophonous burst of blues-rock energy, as enjoyable as it is chaotic. Page’s then-girlfriend Jackie DeShannon is the one who can be heard occasionally singing the title words.
Finally, if we go back one year further still, we find that Zeppelin bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones also recorded a pre-Zeppelin solo single in 1964, while he was an in-demand session player. This single was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, who was then manager and producer for the Rolling Stones. The A-side was a cover of Lee Hazlewood’s surf instrumental “Baja”, with an amusing bass player’s twist: Jones’ six-string bass is the primary instrument that propels the song, playing the role that the lead guitar played on the Woodchucks version. Although the music is American in origin, Jones and company add enough British flavoring to make it sound slightly reminiscent of a James Bond film’s music score. The B-side, “A Foggy Day In Vietnam”, is a classical piano track with ghostly female voices hovering in the air. The track was composed by Oldham and Mike Leander. The reason for the title is a mystery; the track was recorded before the escalation of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and the tone has neither an anti-war sadness nor a call-to-arms fervor. Whatever the intent, both sides of this single show surprising sides of Jones’ talent, recorded a good five years before he rose to fame with Led Zeppelin.
Listen “You Better Run” b/w “Everybody’s Gonna Say” (Columbia single 4-43967) 1966
Track Listing:
a. You Better Run
b. Everybody’s Gonna Say
Robert Plant “Long Time Coming” b/w “I’ve Got A Secret” (CBS single 2858) 1967
Track Listing:
a. Long Time Coming
b. I’ve Got A Secret
Robert Plant “Our Song” b/w “Laughin’, Cryin’, Laughin’” (CBS single 202656) 1967
Track Listing:
a. Our Song
b. Laughin’, Cryin’, Laughin’
Jimmy Page “She Just Satisfies” b/w “Keep Moving” (Fontana single 267418 TF) 1965
Track Listing:
a. She Just Satisfies
b. Keep Moving
John Paul Jones “Baja” b/w “A Foggy Day In Vietnam” (Pye 7N.15637) 1964
Track Listing:
a. Baja
b. A Foggy Day In Vietnam
Although Plant’s Band Of Joy was only known on a local level in England, Plant did record two pre-Zeppelin solo singles in 1967. Both of them were of a blue-eyed-soul nature, with Plant seemingly emulating black rhythm-and-blues singers of the ‘60’s. Plant was not yet the influential howler that he became when he joined Led Zeppelin, but there are early Led Zep echoes to be heard in his distinctive singing on these singles. There are also similarities to be heard between these early tracks and Plant’s post-Zeppelin solo works.
During his teen years, Plant had also been a member of a British r&b quartet called Listen, which was rounded out by three other lads named Geoff Thompson, John Crutchley, and Roger Beamer. Their one single, released in 1966, was a cover of the Rascals’ “You Better Run” (spelled “You’d Better Run” on U.K. pressings). The track was given sophisticated treatment, with horns and soulful female back-up singers, and mono recording that gave it a vintage feel. But Plant’s lead vocal is the star of this track. Plant sounded mature beyond his 17 years, and his style of white-soul singing presaged his interpretation of the blues on the first Zeppelin album. The B-side, “Everybody’s Gonna Say”, was penned by the four band members. It’s not a great composition, but it received another tasteful blue-eyed-soul presentation, and Plant’s lead vocals again commanded attention.
Plant got well-deserved solo artist billing on his next two singles, which were his last before joining Led Zeppelin. Both singles were released on CBS Records in the U.K. only, unlike the Listen single, which received U.S. distribution. The first of these singles, “Long Time Coming”, is the better one. Plant proved to be an affecting crooner on this Chicago soul ballad, aided by its vintage-sounding production. The B-side of “Long Time Coming” is even better: a cover of the Sharpees’ “I’ve Got A Secret”, a Phil Spector-like soul number which features powerful drumming by none other than John Bonham. Plant’s second solo single, “Our Song”, has production that is more clean than colorful. But Plant shines again as a vocalist, showing more of his range than he did on the two previous singles. This single’s B-side track, “Laughin’, Cryin’, Laughin’ “, has more of a Detroit soul sound. Plant’s vocals were still something to hear on this track, although it didn’t play as much to his strengths; he was not likely to become a Motown recording star. It’s certainly a pleasure to hear these early recordings by Plant, but it was most fortuitous that the Led Zeppelin opportunity soon came his way.
While we are on the subject of pre-Zeppelin solo singles, Jimmy Page also recorded one solo single in 1965, before he joined the Yardbirds, and while he was steadily working as a session guitarist. “She Just Satisfies” was a lightly likable British Invasion-style rock and roll song on the order of the early Kinks and (yes) the early Yardbirds. Page played all of the instruments except the drums (which would include guitar, bass, and harmonica), and – for perhaps the only time in his long career – sang the lead vocal as well. And that is the single’s big surprise: Page could sing! Not in any kind of impressive way that would make him comparable to Robert Plant, of course, but he was at least the vocal equal of, say, Keith Relf of the Yardbirds. The B-side, “Keep Moving”, is a mostly instrumental and slightly cacophonous burst of blues-rock energy, as enjoyable as it is chaotic. Page’s then-girlfriend Jackie DeShannon is the one who can be heard occasionally singing the title words.
Finally, if we go back one year further still, we find that Zeppelin bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones also recorded a pre-Zeppelin solo single in 1964, while he was an in-demand session player. This single was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, who was then manager and producer for the Rolling Stones. The A-side was a cover of Lee Hazlewood’s surf instrumental “Baja”, with an amusing bass player’s twist: Jones’ six-string bass is the primary instrument that propels the song, playing the role that the lead guitar played on the Woodchucks version. Although the music is American in origin, Jones and company add enough British flavoring to make it sound slightly reminiscent of a James Bond film’s music score. The B-side, “A Foggy Day In Vietnam”, is a classical piano track with ghostly female voices hovering in the air. The track was composed by Oldham and Mike Leander. The reason for the title is a mystery; the track was recorded before the escalation of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and the tone has neither an anti-war sadness nor a call-to-arms fervor. Whatever the intent, both sides of this single show surprising sides of Jones’ talent, recorded a good five years before he rose to fame with Led Zeppelin.
Listen “You Better Run” b/w “Everybody’s Gonna Say” (Columbia single 4-43967) 1966
Track Listing:
a. You Better Run
b. Everybody’s Gonna Say
Robert Plant “Long Time Coming” b/w “I’ve Got A Secret” (CBS single 2858) 1967
Track Listing:
a. Long Time Coming
b. I’ve Got A Secret
Robert Plant “Our Song” b/w “Laughin’, Cryin’, Laughin’” (CBS single 202656) 1967
Track Listing:
a. Our Song
b. Laughin’, Cryin’, Laughin’
Jimmy Page “She Just Satisfies” b/w “Keep Moving” (Fontana single 267418 TF) 1965
Track Listing:
a. She Just Satisfies
b. Keep Moving
John Paul Jones “Baja” b/w “A Foggy Day In Vietnam” (Pye 7N.15637) 1964
Track Listing:
a. Baja
b. A Foggy Day In Vietnam
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