Robert Plant - The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were on CMT Crossroads in 2008 singing some songs from their brilliant album, Raising Sand.

"The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn" was not on that CD but is a staple for live shows done by Alison Krauss & Union Station (AKUS), where Dan Tyminski leads the vocals on that particular song and Krauss follows up with "Take Me For Longing." The video also has some commentary from Robert around the 4:30 mark. Though I like what Plant does with the song, I prefer the version done by AKUS here.

Led Zeppelin On Jim Morrison

Apparently members of Led Zeppelin were not too impressed with The Doors' Jim Morrison. Below are some comments made about the frontman by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. I have heard Plant speak pretty glowingly of Jim Morrison, but those comments have come over the last couple of years.

Plant in New Musical Express:
“We only played with the Doors once in Seattle and it seemed like he was screwed up. He was giving the impression he was into really deep things like Skip Spence of Moby Grape. You get into a trip of your own that you don’t really realize what’s going on in the outside world. Morrison went on stage and said ‘Fuck you all’ which didn’t do anything except make a few girls scream. Then he hung on the side of the stage and nearly toppled into the audience and did all those things that I suppose were originally sexual things but as he got fatter and dirtier and more screwed up they became more bizarre. So it was really sickening to watch. My wife and I were there watching and we couldn’t believe it."

"...Morrison started saying all those strange things which nobody could get into. There were one or two people there crying ‘You’re God, you’re king’ and I was thinking why?”

Page also in New Musical Express:
"I was surprised after hearing a lot of advance publicity in England about how sexy Jim M. was. How virile and whatever. I was surprised to see how static he was live on stage.”

“Being dressed in black leather can only go so far but standing there like my father would on stage doesn’t really come across for me. As far as I could see the Morrison thing is just an embarrassment towards the audience. He would actually insult them and swear at them and his sexual thing is more an introvert thing, it isn’t so extroverted as Robert’s.”

Robert Plant On Singing and Aging

“My voice has changed but I can go to high places if it’s what I have to do.”

Robert Plant made those comments to VH1 Radio and were reprinted on UltimateClassicRock.com. For more click this.

Final Show for Robert Plant and The Band of Joy

Sadly things have come to an end for Robert Plant and the Band of Joy. Plant and the group (Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott, Byron House and Marco Giovino) performed their last show on August 7 at the Big Chill Festival in Herefordshire, U.K. Although, this doesn't mark the end for Robert Plant's solo career as he has stated he wants to write some songs with Miller. For more on the final concert click this.

Robert Plant - Tall Cool One

The third single released from Robert Plant's 1988 album Now and Zen is "Tall Cool One." Previously released songs from the record were "Heaven Knows" and "Ship of Fools." Plant and keyboardist Phil Johnstone wrote the song, while Jimmy Page is on guitar. "Tall Cool One" is notable because it contains samples at the end of some Led Zeppelin songs including "Black Dog," "Whole Lotta Love," "Custard Pie" and "The Ocean."

Robert Plant - Ship of Fools

"Ship of Fools" is off of Robert Plant's 1988 solo album Now and Zen.

Robert Plant - I Believe

Robert Plant's 1993 Fate of Nations album may be his best. "I Believe" comes from that album and is dedicated to Robert's late son Karac who died in July 1977 from a stomach infection.

Robert Plant - Big Log

Of all of Robert Plant's solo songs I particularly like "Big Log," which comes from Plant's 1983 solo album The Principle of Moments. Ironically enough, Victor Krauss covered this song for his album in 2004. Victor is the brother of Alison who most people know teamed up with Robert in 2007 for Raising Sand.

Robert Plant - In The Mood

"In the Mood" from Robert Plant's 1983 solo album The Principle of Moments was another big hit for Plant and received a fair amount of play on MTV at the time. The song was written by Plant, guitarist Robbie Blunt and bass player Paul Martinez. Also, Phil Collins was the drummer.

Robert Plant - Little By Little

Robert Plant turned 63 this past Saturday. I've enjoyed much of what Plant has done as a solo artist, in addition of course to his work with Led Zeppelin. One of his bigger hits was "Little by Little," which Plant wrote with his keyboardist at the time, Jezz Woodroffe. The song is off of his 1985 album Shaken 'n' Stirred.

New Robert Plant DVD

A new DVD on Robert Plant (pictured above with Alison Krauss) is scheduled to be released on August 23, according to antiMUSIC. The article says the DVD will include rare footage, interviews and performances.

I'm looking forward to it!

Robert Plant and The Band of Joy Featured on the Artists Den

If you get a chance, check out Robert Plant and the Band of Joy on the Artists Den which is airing on PBS this month. The concert took place on a snowy February night in Nashville at the War Memorial Auditorium. A preview is above. I'm hoping that Plant and his Band of Joy come back to the New York area soon, although their tour is extending through the summer in Russia so it could be a while.

Robert Plant and The Band of Joy - Angel Dance @ Beacon Theater

Going back in time a bit to Sunday night January 30 at the Beacon Theater. What a great show Robert Plant and the Band of Joy put on! The above video is "Angel Dance," which was originially done by Los Lobos.

Robert Plant and The Band of Joy - 12 Gates to the City

This is such an uplifting song that Robert Plant and the Band of Joy played on Friday October 29, 2010 for the BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms. The song is an amalgamation of "12 Gates to the City" by Reverend Gary Davis; "Wade in the Water" a traditional song which appears on Patty Griffin's Downtown Church (2010) album; and Led Zeppelin's "In My Time of Dying," also a traditional song which was on the band's Physical Graffiti (1976) album.

The choir is good, although not really necessary, not when you have Robert Plant and Patty Griffin singing. I really like that Plant appears to be having a great time on stage, which seems easy since he has put together such an ultra-talented group.

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy - 12 Gates to the City (Washington)

Washington D.C. was the site for this performance by Robert Plant and the Band of Joy on February 2. "12 Gates to the City" is quite different from what most people expect from Robert Plant, but he nails it perfectly.

Robert Plant and The Band Of Joy - Cindy, I'll Marry You Someday - DAR Hall - Washington, DC - 2/1/11

"Cindy. I'll Marry You Someday" comes off of the album put out by Robert Plant and the Band of Joy. Whenever they perform the song in concert, they play it at a faster tempo than what appears on the CD.

Robert Plant and The Band Of Joy - 12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy opened up the tour on January 18 in Asheville, N.C. at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. The video above is the group singing "12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water."

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy at the Beacon Theater - Tangerine

One of the highlights from the concert at the Beacon Theater was Robert Plant and the Band of Joy performing "Tangerine," which of course is from Led Zeppelin's album, Led Zeppelin III. Now if you've read my blog before you know how much I love III so to hear Robert and his new band sing this song was a real treat.

Robert Plant on Letterman

Robert Plant was on with David Letterman last week. I've always found Plant to be a very good interview and this is no exception. One of the things Plant discusses with Letterman is when Led Zeppelin met Elvis Presley. Robert didn't disclose everything that "The King" had to say, though. I've always heard that Elvis asked if the war stories about Zep's partying on the road were true and that the members of Led Zeppelin told him the tales were nothing more than legend.

Plant and his Band of Joy then perform "House of Cards" beginning at the 8:36 mark of the video.

Robert Plant and The Band of Joy - Houses of the Holy

Good video shot by a fan at the Beacon Theater of Robert Plant and the Band of Joy performing "Houses of the Holy," which is from Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti.