|
Zoso a/k/a Runes |
| Produced by Jimmy Page | |
| Released on November 8, 1971 | |
| UK CHART POSITION #1 . . . US CHART POSITION #2 | |
| Find it at GEMM | |
| 82638-2 cover |
S o much has already been written about this album that I cringe at the thought of adding more. Alternating between tracks of unbearable tension and angelic calm, their unpronounceable fourth album (often called “Zoso” for the first of its mystic glyphs or simply “Runes”) is regarded by many as their magnum opus. I wouldn’t argue against that assessment, though I tend not to think of Zeppelin albums in terms of best or second-best. I will concede that John Bonham has never sounded so brilliant -- this is easily one of the best drum performances on any rock album ever. Pitting his intractable rhythms against Jimmy Page’s complex riffs pulls the music into opposite directions and yet impossibly works toward some greater, invisible achievement. The difference here isn’t what the band does but what they don’t do: space has seldom played so integral a part in a genre where solos and technical proficiency were placed at a premium. The rhythm section of John Paul Jones (who’s given damn little to do here) and Bonham has never sounded so simple, almost primal. And some of the acoustic tracks (“The Battle of Evermore,” “Going To California”) feature no rhythm section whatsoever. No wonder then that when Jones and Bonham return to the discussion the listener feels pummeled by the newfound force. Every song on here is considered a classic in its own right, with “Stairway To Heaven” resting comfortably in its aerie of legend as perhaps the greatest rock song ever written (not my opinion, btw). I’ll give the lion’s share of the honors to Bonham and Robert Plant, since both Page and Jones have performed to higher standards on numerous other Zep albums. That said, I hope hearing another hack writer take a stab at this album wasn’t too painful. Not nearly as pain-inducing as hearing “Rock and Roll” used to sell sport utility vehicles, at any rate. I guess as the baby boomers age I can look forward to adult diaper commercials featuring “When The Levee Breaks.”
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| SD 19129 outer gatefold | SD 19129 inner sleeve |
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| SD 19129 inner gatefold |
TRACK LISTING
CREDITS
JOHN BONHAM --
JOHN PAUL JONES --
JIMMY PAGE --
ROBERT PLANT --
Sandy Denny -- vocals (3)
Peter Grant -- executive producer
Andy Johns -- engineer, mixing
George Chkiantz -- mixing
Barrington Colby Mom -- inside illustration ("The Hermit")
Graphreaks -- design coordination
return to LED ZEPPELIN discography
| REGION | RELEASE DATE | LABEL | MEDIA | ID NUMBER | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | November 8, 1971 | Atlantic | LP | SD 7208 | |
| JPN | 1971 | Atlantic | LP | P-10125 | gatefold, inner sleeve, insert |
| UK/GER | Atlantic | LP | K50008 | gatefold, inner sleeve | |
| US | 1980s | Atlantic | LP/CD/CS | SD/CS 19129 | gatefold, inner sleeve |
| US | July 1994 | Atlantic | CD/CS | 82638 | digital remaster, picture sleeve |
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