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Jon Quijano

The website of St. Croix Valley photographer and storyteller Jon Quijano

  • About
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  • 365 Songs
  • Songs Index
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111. "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin

Maybe the best Robert Plant vocal? Is that possible? In one song, he really ranges across everything he was amazing for: His warm low and middle registers, his psychedelic shrieks, his ear for timing, and his improvisation.

He never again had a ballad like this on which to shine. After this album, Led Zeppelin moved on from their phase of rustic folk inspired by their storied retreats to the Braun-Yr-Aur cottage.

Led Zeppelin III and IV are the albums devoted to this, just as Led Zeppelin I and II formed a couplet devoted to pure blues rock. Houses of the Holy and Physical Graffiti would form a new couplet of experimental, unique rock music that successfully charted new territory. Presence and In Through the Out Door formed a final couplet of mostly sucking.

The guitars and mandolin are so nice. Formally, there are no choruses, just beautiful guitar interludes. There is a great minor development section but no real ending, just a fade-out on the main, undulating chord. 

A peaceful song in the midst of the band's manic peak.

Wednesday 05.31.17
Posted by Jon Quijano
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