Taking sides : Zeppelin or Sabbath

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yeah, but Sundar they didn't even write the first two!

Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 29 October 2004 17:50 (twenty years ago) link

Still, if you gotta bitch about something, you know, . . .;)

(Actually, that's another issue unto itself that you raise)

sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:26 (twenty years ago) link

(Personally I think a lot of people make too big an issue of how 'ripped off' those blues songs were, considering how much they changed the songs and how much blues chord changes, etc tend to be consistent between songs anyway. It still would have been nice of them to give credit.)

sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:28 (twenty years ago) link

Or maybe one could argue Willie Dixon deserved/needed all the credit he can get + all the cash he could get, considering that it may have just cost Zep a couple ounces and some jet fuel anyway. Hrm, that does make sense to me so never mind that.

sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:31 (twenty years ago) link

two months pass...
BLACK SABBATH ALL THE WAY

WHO REALLY SAID THAT JIMMI WAS TONY'S DADDY.
IF YOU REALLY LISTEN TO JIMMIS SOLOS ARE PRETTY DIRTY AND JIMMI HAD TO USED TO GUITARS TO SOUND LIKE ONE THATS WHAT COULD I SAY GREAT. WHIILE
TONY DID NOT HAD FINGER TIPS AND ONLY USE ONE GUITAR TO SOUND LIKE
TWO OKAY. yOU SHOULD LISTEN A LITTLE BIT MORE SOME SABBATH SO YOU COULD GET A BETTER OPINION i KNOW YOU GUYS LIKE ZEPPELIN BUT YOU GOTA OPEN YOUR MIND AND LISTEN TO MORE MUSIC.
LISTEN TO

PARANOID,WARPIGS,FAIRY WERA BOOTS,RAT SALAD,NIB,IRON MAN,SWEATLEAF,
SNOWBLIND,SUPERNAT,THE WIZARD,SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH I COULD JUST KEEP ON GOING DONT BE IGNORENT AND LISTEN TO ONE EXPLORE DIFFERENT TYPE OF MUSIC THERE'S MORE BANDS THAT PEOPLE DONT MENTION.
BLACK SABBATH WAS ACTUALLY CONSIDER LIKE UNDER GROUND BAND NO GONE WANTED TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO PLAY IN THEIR STAGE AND THEY STILL MADE IT WHILE LED ZAPPELIN ALL THE OPUTUNITIES BUT IF IT WASNT FOR THAT ZAPPELIN WAS NOTHING COMPARE TO SABBATH
I COULD TALK SHIT ABOUT LED ZAPPELIN THAT AINT GANA GET NO WERE...........

MYER, Sunday, 2 January 2005 03:16 (nineteen years ago) link

I salute you. (And hey, I just finally got the box set at long last, so there ya go.)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 2 January 2005 03:22 (nineteen years ago) link

led zep = layered stuido-pop written played by bubblegum session musicians, sung by a hobbit muthafucka; sabbath = rewrite of laws of music hurrah (with silliness thinly smeared on top to confuse fools)

-- mark s (mar...), November 25th, 2001.

I think this might actually be the greatest single sentence review on ILX.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 2 January 2005 03:25 (nineteen years ago) link

True, but it might be agrued that, lyrically at least, the silliness was very thickly spread:

Without warning
A wizard walks by

Is it normal for there to be a warning when a wizard walks by? Perhaps someone comes along ringing a bell and shouts, 'He ye! Hear ye! A wizard will soon be walking by!' But in this case, it didn't happen: there was no warning. The wizard just walked by and took everyone by surprise.

the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 2 January 2005 03:40 (nineteen years ago) link

i agree w/ colin. MY evidence, though, would be from "iron man":

"heavy boots of lead
fills his victims full of dread
running as fast as they can
iron man lives again!"

-- which are either the SILLIEST lyrics evah AND/OR the GREATEST lyrics evah!

Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 2 January 2005 03:47 (nineteen years ago) link

The wizard just walked by and took everyone by surprise.

Well, maybe he was a crafty wizard, UNBELIEVER.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 2 January 2005 03:51 (nineteen years ago) link

If there is a bustle in your hedgerow. Don't be alarmed now.

Earl Nash (earlnash), Sunday, 2 January 2005 04:33 (nineteen years ago) link

Checkmate.

the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 2 January 2005 07:40 (nineteen years ago) link

They're just going to have to shake on it and call it a day.

Bimble..., Sunday, 2 January 2005 07:43 (nineteen years ago) link

random thoughts:

my heart says sabbath, but my head says zeppelin. if zeppelin were hippy-romanticists deep down -- content to smoke their pot and bang hippie chicks while grooving to joni mitchell songs -- then sabbath were their acid-licking evil cousins. except that they really weren't -- it's just that the studio boffins (page and jones) called the shots for zeppelin, whilst sabbath all were bar-band beer-guzzlers. (i know that this leaves plant as the odd man out, that bonham by himself could outdrink ALL of sabbath [except maybe ozzy], and that iommi later became something of a studio hobbit himself, but allow me to indulge anyway).

-- sabbath hired rick wakeman for an album. does that change yer mind a little bit wr2 them, ned?

-- for a band that many rather lazily assume to have been "stupid," sabbath actually seem in retrospect to be a helluva lot smarter than given credit for. it may've been inevitable that someone would have taken the heavy 60s rock-blues of cream or blue cheer (or zeppelin) to their logical ends, but it's also true that the band that did that WAS sabbath -- and that doing so showed both musical sophistication AND commercial savvy. a better adjective for sabbath, instead of "stupid," would probably be "crass" -- clapton and jones were clearly too constrained by "good taste" and notions of how to "properly" play the blues to go whole-hog into the ultra-heavy riffage or proto-gothy lyrics/image of classic sabbath. (blue cheer, on the other hand, now THEY were truly just a bunch of dumb-asses who got lucky -- which is why we are talking here about sabbath and not them).

-- wakeman and crassness notwithstanding, sabbath never did -- and probably couldn't -- go full-out prog. while zeppelin could've easily out-yessed yes if they were ever so inclined. (goodly portions of, say, tales from topographic oceans sound to my ears VERY similar to certain musical tropes used by zeppelin from time to time). on the other hand, genesis-era peter gabriel probably out-gothed ozzy -- as could've jimmy "i love aleister crowley, smack, and barely-pubescent teens" page if he wasn't so full of himself (and into said barely-pubescent teens).

Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 2 January 2005 11:58 (nineteen years ago) link

I was SO wrong up thread. Obviously Sabbath walk this. I have Supernaut on right now - sublime : Iommi's brutal attack, Geezer's bass rumbling like a hundred panzers rolling over the Maginot line and the drums! the drums! Wasn't Bill Ward great? Disco hi-hats, deranged all-out flaying and jazzy breaks all in one track. Leaves Bonham for dead.

Dr. C (Dr. C), Sunday, 2 January 2005 12:17 (nineteen years ago) link

You make me want to put it on right now.

Eisbar's right - Sabb weren't stupid, they were unconstrained by musicianly ideas of how to play the blues properly, and therefore were more free to push into more extreme territory. After all, what has Gothic horror got to do with good manners and paying one's dues?

the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:45 (nineteen years ago) link

-- sabbath hired rick wakeman for an album. does that change yer mind a little bit wr2 them, ned?

Hey, so did Bowie. Sometimes all that's needed is the right context.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:53 (nineteen years ago) link

Tough call. I'm going to call it a draw.

Triple Ho, Sunday, 2 January 2005 22:19 (nineteen years ago) link

five years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThU9BOWcmjM&

Moka, Tuesday, 28 September 2010 23:09 (fourteen years ago) link

That's pretty damn great. Thanks!

EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 28 September 2010 23:27 (fourteen years ago) link

AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Is that Led Sabbath or Black Zeppelin?

spazzercise (staggerlee), Thursday, 30 September 2010 03:30 (fourteen years ago) link

Bled Sablin

EZ Snappin, Thursday, 30 September 2010 13:04 (fourteen years ago) link

Karmik guy making an utter fool of himself earlier in the thread.

Zeppelin to Howlin Wolf: "Suck It" (Bill Magill), Thursday, 30 September 2010 14:18 (fourteen years ago) link

I don't give a shit about values and representation, Zeppelin are just better. I don't care if they worship trees, what difference does that make?

Party with Your Poodle (u s steel), Thursday, 30 September 2010 14:19 (fourteen years ago) link

Sabbath, easy

If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Thursday, 30 September 2010 14:45 (fourteen years ago) link

I COULD TALK SHIT ABOUT LED ZAPPELIN THAT AINT GANA GET NO WERE...........

― MYER, Saturday, January 1, 2005 10:16 PM Bookmark

OTM

adamirl (Hurting 2), Thursday, 30 September 2010 14:50 (fourteen years ago) link

Sabbath for the first four, Zep for the second four. Dio Sabbath better than Jimmy Page's solo career, Plant solo career better than post-Dio Sabbath. Total is a wash as both were excellent.

EZ Snappin, Thursday, 30 September 2010 14:51 (fourteen years ago) link

I don't give a shit about values and representation, Zeppelin are just better. I don't care if they worship trees, what difference does that make?

― Party with Your Poodle (u s steel), Thursday, September 30, 2010 10:19 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

A finely tuned argument-well presented- but completely wrong.

Zeppelin to Howlin Wolf: "Suck It" (Bill Magill), Thursday, 30 September 2010 16:00 (fourteen years ago) link

Duh.

Nate Carson, Thursday, 30 September 2010 16:01 (fourteen years ago) link

Kind of like your display name?

adamirl (Hurting 2), Thursday, 30 September 2010 16:01 (fourteen years ago) link

four months pass...

Why choose?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThU9BOWcmjM&feature=player_embedded

earlnash, Sunday, 20 February 2011 03:15 (thirteen years ago) link

Sabbath invented something. Zeppelin was great but not as innovative or influential.

Plus I listen to Sabbath a lot more.

NYCNative, Sunday, 20 February 2011 04:45 (thirteen years ago) link

five years pass...

Everyday just comes and goes
Life is one big overdose

calstars, Sunday, 27 November 2016 22:05 (seven years ago) link

three years pass...

This taking sides are playing across on about five threads lol. Giving it all a proper listen. Sabbath (from the first 3 albs) seems like a better band, or attempting stranger things. Zep (from Physical Graffiti on my phone speakers) leave their base player hanging a bit?

Sabbath are a lot better when acoustic or not doing the shit they are known for.

Anyway the answer is Beefheart.

xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 29 September 2020 10:04 (four years ago) link

one year passes...

Chiming in from the Sabbath C/D thread.

For me, it comes down to this. Sabbath had an astonishingly good run for five, arguably six albums, inventing an entire style of music in the process. However, most of what they have done since then has been pretty much crap, as the band more or less imploded thanks to their own prodigious drug use and in-fighting.

Zeppelin, meanwhile, has not a single bad or even marginal album in its discography, which stands up as well as any other band's in history. Their range was significantly broader than Sabbath's, and individually each member was more talented than his counterpart in Sabbath. And to their credit, the surviving members knew when to hang it up.

Advantage, Zeppelin.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Sunday, 1 May 2022 21:38 (two years ago) link

I like imagining sabbath with bonham

calstars, Sunday, 1 May 2022 21:55 (two years ago) link

Sabbath had an astonishingly good run for five, arguably six albums

I'd probably take Never Say Die over most of In Through the Out Door. But overall Zeppelin have a much more mythic "presence" for me, possibly because I heard them 20 years before Sabbath.

Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 1 May 2022 22:11 (two years ago) link

I can take or leave Never Say Die. Ozzy is only halfway there. The best part of it is the album art. I certainly wouldn't put it anywhere near In Through the Out Door.

IIRC, the tour forNever Say Die was the one where Sabbath invited Van Halen to be the opener--much to their regret.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Sunday, 1 May 2022 22:16 (two years ago) link

individually each member was more talented than his counterpart in Sabbath

OK, but Bill Ward sang and wrote songs, which Bonham didn't, and Geezer Butler is arguably a better lyricist than Plant.

Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 1 May 2022 23:33 (two years ago) link

I think Bonham and Ward--as drummers--are the closest matchup. Not sure I'd agree about Geezer being a better lyricist than Plant; he surely wasn't a better lyricist than Jones.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Sunday, 1 May 2022 23:39 (two years ago) link

_individually each member was more talented than his counterpart in Sabbath_


OK, but Bill Ward sang and wrote songs, which Bonham didn't, and Geezer Butler is arguably a better lyricist than Plant.
_individually each member was more talented than his counterpart in Sabbath_


OK, but Bill Ward sang and wrote songs, which Bonham didn't, and Geezer Butler is arguably a better lyricist than Plant.


Right because drummers are supposed to write songs

calstars, Sunday, 1 May 2022 23:58 (two years ago) link

If they're as worthy as "Swinging the Chain", why not?

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 2 May 2022 00:10 (two years ago) link

Lol
You don’t play an instrument do you

calstars, Monday, 2 May 2022 00:17 (two years ago) link

wait is jimbeaux a much more personable bill magill

. . .

that's cool

mookieproof, Monday, 2 May 2022 00:29 (two years ago) link

calstars just fyi you are being an asshole again

mookieproof, Monday, 2 May 2022 00:33 (two years ago) link

Bill would never ever take Sabbath over Zep

OG Bob Sacamano (will), Monday, 2 May 2022 00:46 (two years ago) link

ah shit.

I meant the exactly opposite

OG Bob Sacamano (will), Monday, 2 May 2022 00:47 (two years ago) link

Lol sorry 🤔😆

calstars, Monday, 2 May 2022 00:49 (two years ago) link

Still curious if halfway has -any experience playing music

calstars, Monday, 2 May 2022 00:51 (two years ago) link

I do, even in bands, and I don't understand this insistence that musicians stay in their lane. Like Don Henley is a mediocre drummer who also sings and writes, but the singing and writing doesn't make him a worse drummer than he already is.
I may also be influenced by Martin Popoff's reviews of Bill Ward's solo records (which I haven't heard) to the effect that he is only member of Sabbath still guided by his muse and pushing his artistic frontiers, etc.

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 2 May 2022 01:36 (two years ago) link


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