Led Zeppelin / Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page is undoubtedly one of the most legendary rock guitarists ever to have been associated with the sunburst Gibson Les Pauls of 1958-1960.
One of Jimmy Page's favourite Les Pauls is a model he bought from American guitarist Joe Walsh, in 1969, reportedly for $500. A genuine Gibson Les Paul sunburst from '58, '59, or '60, is today worth a fortune, even if it's an instrument never previously owned by any famous players.
If Jimmy Page's favourite Les Paul sunburst were ever put up for sale, given its assocation with a rock celebrity on top of the fact that Les Paul 'bursts' are almost priceless anyway... well, its monetary value doesn't bear thinking about. It's likely that Jimmy Page would never part with it though.
Follow this link to watch Jimmy Page talking about his Les Pauls, including the Joe Walsh model.
Presented below are my own favourite three Zeppelin albums: the fourth album, Physical Graffiti, and The Song Remains the Same. Personal nominations for 'Jimmy Page's best ever guitar solo' (if I could only pick two) would be the solo on the live version of 'No Quarter' from the CD of The Song Remains the Same, and the solo from 'Ten Years Gone' from Physical Graffiti.
Other moments of brilliance from Physical Graffiti include Page's slide guitar work on 'In My Time of Dying' and the raw power of 'Kashmir'. John Bonham's drumming on 'Kashmir', as produced by Jimmy Page (who made sure the ambient sound of Bonham's kit was captured and then added some phasing), is just awesome. There never has been another rock drummer who sounds like John Bonham.
UK: Led Zeppelin - the 4th album on CD [Remastered]
USA: Led Zeppelin - the 4th album on CD [Remastered]
Originally released in 1971.
1. Black dog, 2. Rock and roll, 3. Battle of Evermore, 4. Stairway to Heaven, 5. Misty mountain hop, 6. Four sticks, 7. Going to California, 8. When the levee breaks
The fourth Zeppelin album was the one on which each band member had chosen a 'rune' or symbol to represent them. Page's 'rune' is 'zoso'. There's been a lot of speculation on what 'zoso' means, if anything. The following facts may be relevant.
It's a well known fact that Jimmy Page had an interest in Aleister Crowley, who was an occultist.
In the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament (part of the Christian Bible), the words translated into English as meaning 'saved', 'healed' or 'made whole', are derived from the Greek word shown below (Koine Greek is the version of Greek in which the New Testament was originally written):
The four Greek letters shown above are Sigma, Omega, Zeta, Omega.
Transliterated into English, the above word is spelt 'sozo'. Here's a link to a page about the Koine Greek word 'sozo'.
An example from the New Testament of a word from the 'sozo' word group being used is found in Luke 19:10, where Jesus says of himself, 'For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'
Jimmy Page's symbol, 'zoso', is the word 'sozo' but with the syllables reversed, or backwards. Perhaps Jimmy Page thought of this himself, or perhaps he borrowed the idea from Aleister Crowley, or perhaps this is all a coincidence. It's possible that Jimmy Page saw the symbol in a book or found it in some other source, simply liked it and decided to use it. Perhaps he is unaware of the Greek word 'sozo'.
But it seems more than possible that there's a connection between Crowley being into the occult, and 'zoso' being a mangled and backwards version of the Christian word for 'saved'. If the symbol 'zoso' first appeared in a pagan or occult book, it seems likely that whoever did invent the symbol knew they were reversing the syllables of the New Testament Greek word 'sozo', whether Jimmy Page was aware of that or not.
Words of Jesus about the devil: "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44
More words of Jesus: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:10-11
Much as I admire the guitar playing of Jimmy Page, I would rather be 'sozo' than 'zoso'. How about you?
UK: Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti on CD [Remastered]
USA: Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti on CD [Remastered]
Originally released in 1975
1. Custard Pie, 2. The Rover, 3. In My Time of Dying, 4. Houses of the Holy, 5. Trampled Underfoot, 6. Kashmir, 7. In the Light, 8. Bron-Y-Aur, 9. Down by the Seaside, 10. Ten Years Gone, 11. Night Flight, 12. The Wanton Song, 13. Boogie with Stu, 14. Black Country Woman, 15. Sick Again
UK: Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same - Bonus Tracks
USA: Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same - Bonus Tracks
Originally released in 1976.
Live performances recorded in New York, 1973.
Original track list of first version on CD:
Disc 1: 1. Rock and roll, 2. Celebration day, 3. The Song remains the same, 4. Rain song, 5. Dazed and confused. Disc 2: 1. No Quarter, 2. Stairway to heaven, 3. Moby Dick, 4. Whole lotta love
This soundtrack came from a film that was also released in 1976 and received widespread cinema distribution. It has now been repackaged as a DVD including bonus tracks (available from Amazon USA ) (available from Amazon UK ).
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