Re: The Ten Worst Zep Songs

[Jwycliffe@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 97-11-08 20:55:43 EST, Bill writes:

<< Each of these ten earns the coveted "skip" award, as in the skip 
button on your CD player.  The prestigous trophy looks like a ">>" >>

Typically great fodder from the too often AWOL Bill O'Neil. My own
comments on Bill's "Ten Worst"...
 
<<10. Thank You --  Admittedly, when played live this song tried to 
rock, at least it did every once it a while. >>

  Couldn't disagree more with the appearance of this song, because
the live versions from '70-'72 and the few appearances in '73 almost
all rock. A different solo every night, most of which Page used to
blast into the stratosphere. Nice contrast. Placement was great in
'70 as transition song in the set... with commencement of the organ
solo. Perfect as encore in '71-'73. Absolutely love it live. As for the
studio version, I like it precisely because it is trite and light compared
to rest of Zep II. I use the FF to find this one live, rather than the skip.

 
<<9. The Crunge -- The boys took "Play that Funky Music White Boy" 
little too seriously... >>
 
Right on the mark, Bill. Zep should have stuck with covers like "It's
Your Thing" or even the theme to "Shaft" if they wanted to bring the
funk. The Crunge comes off as funky as Shawn Bradley in a dunk
contest.

<< 8.  I'm Gonna Crawl --  The last song in the (non-postumous) 
catalogue. Zep should've stopped with All My Love.  Crawl, indeed...
as far from your speakers as possible... >>

You'll likely find some disagreement on this one... but not from
me.

<<7.  Boogie With Stu --  Okay, so they had a a double album to fill.
 Fortunately, the skip button works on double CDs, too.>>

Stu's great. This song is not. Fly by it on the way to "Sick Again"
 
<< 6.  South Bound Suarez --  It's a shame Jimmy Page took so much
smack, because that left him too easy a target for Satan-in-Muttonchops,
aka John Paul Jo nes.  As a result, we, the fans, are left with drivel like
this. >>

Not even worth my time to rip.
 
<< 5.Hats Off to Roy Harper --  Zeppelin has a well-deserved reputation
for ripping off other artists, and nowhere is this more apparent than in 
Hats Off... >>

I think you miss the point of this one Bill. Ed Zeppelin said it best...
it should be listened to on a murky recording or slightly out of range
radio statio signal, or perhaps an old acetate.
 
 
<<4-3-2.  What I call the "Presence Suite": Royal Orleans, Candy 
Store Rock, and Hots on for Nowhere.  They say necessity is the 
mother of invention... >>

 Agree with 4-3, but like the change of mood "Hots On..." elicits.
 
<<1.  Hot Dog --  More like "Cold Turkey."  Smack addled Page could
barely play it.  Live versions reveal Page missing approximately every 
note, which makes me wonder how many takes this "fun little song" 
took in the studio. Probably seemed funny at the time, but twenty years
later it's about as funny as the old joke about the Priest, the Rabbi and 
the Polack. >>

Jackpot. I'll add nothing because you summed it up perfectly.