Robert Plant

Zarhoff on Plant

This is my favorite of opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff's analyses - in this case of Plant's "Since I've Been Loving You" during the 1973 Madison Square Garden performance when they were at the pinnacle.

I have always had a great time experiencing Led Zeppelin recordings, their is something about much of their music that attracts me and compels me to stick around. I have not seen these Live, a shame really, as I did get to see some other mega star performers from their successful era.

I have always had a deep rooted passion for Chicago Blues, the genre really is attractive to me. It sort of helps with adding value to the mutual influence this music has had on others.

When Page first met Plant with the intention to make a decision about working together, they stayed in London on a Floating Home belonging to Jimmy. The story is, the both of them played their collections of Chicago Blues throughout the few days together, from this music was started to be created and eventually become performed by Led Zeppelin.

The Boys done well.

It's a shame Jimmy notoriety today as a pensioner, mainly is from his fighting with his neighbour Robbie Williams. Could have been another World Shattering Collaboration, but hey ho, Beef is Beef. Can one say the word Beef, if those who are having Beef with each other are both Vegans 🤼. 

@bato1965 ... Just listen Kashmir, Live from Celebration Day. Plant’s voice matured.

Had not listened to that Kashmir Celebration Day 2007 performance in a while, and came across it again last night on Youtube. Had forgotten how good it was. What struck me is how all of them are really into it, giving it 200%. "Matured" is a good word to describe it. The BlueRay DVD is really something. Appreciated revisiting it all over again. Quite a treat to watch and listen on a nice home theater setup.

@cycles2 said:

"As to Plant being the greatest Rock & Roll singer, I’ve seen him in Led Zepp several time in S, Florida in the late 60’s and 70’s in small and large venues and he’s nowhere close to Freddie Mercury, Roger Daltry, Rod Stewart or Paul Rodgers."

Of course there is no right or wrong in these types of comparisons. It is always a matter of opinion of course.

Of those you’ve listed I would only agree with Freddy Mercury. For pure chops and range he was hard to top. Roger Daltry wouldn’t make my top ten list even though he’s one of my top 4 or 5 favorite singers. Rod Stewart, also one of my favorites has a distinctive and soulful voice but he’s pretty much a one trick pony. Paul Rodgers is the real deal. Right on up there of course but then there is the matter of his body of work. Its pretty small. Awesome stuff but not a ton of it.

And that brings me to why I put Plant at or near the top: not only did he have the range and the power (he no longer does by his own admission), the soul, the timing, the bravado (like Mercury) but he also has a massive body of work and is still going strong. Mercury has a stellar but fairly small body of work and, alas, he’s been gone a long time. Daltry has done very little of note since the Who’s heyday. Stewart does a little bit from time to time. Rodgers is in terrible health.

So when you put the nature of his voice, how it suited and still suits his work and the fact that Plant is still touring AND putting out new work I see him at or near the top.

That is why I would always list the Stones as the best band in history and I’m not even a fan. But they were there at the beginning and are still here now. Touring and new music. And that has to count for something.