Thanks guys!! I kept telling y’all, good southern boys should know this song 😆😊 I’m glad that you got to this one before the version by A Perfect Circle. No offense to them, in fact I think hearing this one first will give you a greater appreciation for that version… vastly different but equally amazing. The Beastie Boys actually used this beat in one of their songs. Btw there’s a bit of a history lesson on Chicago blues in the Foo Fighters “Sonic Highways” documentary (the Chicago episode)… Dave Grohl interviews Buddy Guy and he talks about how he left New Orleans, came to Chicago, met and became dear friends with Muddy Waters. Worth a watch 😊
Wow thanks for information, we had no clue APC did a cover of this or Beastie Boys used this beats, nut we can toatly see why. As always thank you for such an amazing song and all you love a support.
When the Levee Breaks is an old blues tune from 1929. Go back and listen to the earliest blues, listen to old old country and folk, bluegrass, and rockabilly.
iconic drum beat from Bonham that's been sampled several times by rap/hiphop artists, though the one that always will stick out to me is Rhymin' & Stealin' by the Beastie Boys
fact ... Jimmy Page did not object to the samples being used. He said if anything it will introduce a new audience to our music. this may have been in response to the beastie boys using a few snippets of the might Zep
Led Zeppelin IV was my first classic rock cassette tape. My 8th grade science teacher made me the tape and I made a tape of Nirvana's Nevermind for him. A friendship was born through this trade and even at 44 years of age, I'm still in contact with him, trading music!
Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock band of all time. While I do have other bands I consider my "favorite", I will always rank Zeppelin as the number 1 rock band ever because of their robust catalog, and influence on countless other bands over the decades. Once you guys get into more deeper cuts of their catalog, you'll see just how many amazing, important songs they have. IMO Zeppelin is a band that will never be forgotten.
AICJDR Zeppelin covered almost every spectrum of music, yes. 95% of what they did was original, and they were highly inventive with the other 5%. They never out and out copied anything, and vastly improved whatever they took. It was pretty normal to take back then. It was a blues tradition.
I grew up in a home where Zeppelin was frequently played. It was my parents' music. They were such an eclectic sound - I have never really been able to put them in one genre. I'm always sooooo happy to see people hear Zeppelin for the first time and have a smile on the face listening to it. That band is part of my DNA.
This is how you know a band and their music has stood the test of time---over 40 years after the band broke up people are still listening to, learning about and enjoying their music. There aren't many bands like that around anymore. I came of age in the 70's, which was the height of Zep's success. It's so good to see people who weren't raised on them giving them a listen and appreciating them for the geniuses they are.
Jimmy found an old house in the country and noticed the high ceilings and old wooden structure gave the drums that extra acoustic punch. The location was remote so the band could get away and have a more creative atmosphere. Jimmys mastery of the recording studio was genius.
I remember pitching a couple relief innings in a baseball game in my early 20's and I struck out the ninth because I could hear some townhouse playing Fool in the Rain in the distance.
John Paul Jones is SOOOO Underrated as a bass player. He never gets the love he deserves. You always hear about the other 3. Same with Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath. Great video as always. Nothing like Led Zeppelin. I was in New Orleans right after Katrina. You wouldnt believe the crazy crap I saw. Plus the photos. It was insane.
Another reminder that John Paul Jones is in a supergroup with Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age and Dave Grohl called Them Crooked Vultures. I heard this was Josh’s intro at one of their shows: “On drums, Mr. Dave Grohl, on guitar, Mr. Alain Johannes, and on every other %*%*ing instrument known to mankind, Mr. John Paul Jones! Oh, and I’m Josh Homme.” 😁
JPJ really gets to show off on the Them Crooked Vultures song “Spinning in the Daffodils”. If you watch a live performance, Josh is just looking at him with so much love and admiration.
Such a killer track from Led Zeppelin, who basically made nothing but killer tracks. There's almost too many to pick one but you guys gotta hit Achilles Last Stand at some point, it's an absolute masterpiece. Keep it up ya'll.
Support your suggestion about Achilles Last Stand. Guys, you are so funny to watch, i like this little riddles about what song u gonna react. Please, check out Achilles Last Stand, even thru Led Zeppelin catalog it is monster track!
Chicago blues is basically an electrified version of the delta blues. This song is based on an actual flood that killed many and displaced thousands. Many of which migrated to Chicago.
It just pleases me to no end that I can watch two guys listen to a song that I first heard over 50 years ago, and they have the same reaction that all of us OG guys had. Maybe there's hope for the younguns yet.....
They were just so powerful. Bonzo beat those drums like it was an intruder in his home. Plant singing from the depths of his soul. JPJ ALWAYS bringing the thick and nasty bass to carry the tune. And Page…murdering his guitar strings like a serial killer. I challenge anyone to find me a better band. I know the analogies may seem dark but so was Zeppelin. 🤣❤️
The story behind the drum part in the beginning is very intriguing and honestly it’s probably the drum best intro I’ve ever heard. No question why Bonham is the GOAT
Hey guys... I just wanted to let you know how much im enjoying your led zeppelin reactions... may i suggest The lemon song from their second record... amazing blues rock
A levee (French for "raised") is a natural embankment formed by silt deposit in a slow-flowing river. The river gradually rises between the levees until the surface is above the surrounding countryside. Levees are reinforced by engineering, but in heavy storms they can still break, flooding huge areas of land. The flood the song describes led many Southern farm workers to migrate to the Northern industrial cities.
The breakdown after the reaction and the whole history of the origin of this music and the Chicago connection is what made this video. #smokeyramirez hats off to you sir for you're knowledge!!! Kudos to yo both from the UK!!!
Waited til I could have a moment to myself and have both earbuds in for this one! So worth it! I never noticed before that it sounds like Robert plant is almost drowning especially towards the end. Like his extra vibrato mixed with whatever effect they used makes him almost sound like he’s gurgling. Fabulous reaction, guys!✌🏻💛🎼
One of my favorite Zeppelin songs for many years. I only recently learned, though, that Robert Plant is playing the harmonica. Love it. Many original rock bands were fans of American blues and greatly influenced by them. Pink Floyd is named for two blues men. You guys rock!
Robert Plant plays a great harmonica. Guitar too, btw. He plays harmonica on 5 albums, with songs including “You shook me”, “Bring it on home”, and “Custard Pie”.
A couple interesting things about When the Levee Breaks. 1. It was originally a blues song written in the 1920s after the great Mississippi flood. Led Zeppelin kept the lyrics and feel, but it is a greatly reimagined version of the original. 2. Bonham's drums sound so amazing - he set up at the bottom of the stairs in Headley Grange (castle?) and mics were hung up the flights of stairs to catch all the deep echoes. 3. A Perfect Circle has a pretty cool reimagining of this song on their anti-war album eMOTIVe.
Its cool how some of those sounds were made originally before they had a processor or a pedal for it. Like "Ramble On" the muted drum sound during the verses is Bonham playing on his drum seat/stool/throne.
WOW 5-Star review guys. Best reaction I've heard in ages. I'm in Queensland an we flooded baaaad couple of years ago, maybe not as bad as you... but it was my first day in Queensland and whoa!
“Cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good….when the Lever breaks, mama you got to move.” Never be another Zeppelin…the passion, the synergy, the funk, the feel….they’re on top looking down on everyone else.
Another great reaction, guys! One of the things that's rarly talked about with the Blues/Rock connection is that Black music (Jazz, Blues, Gospel, etc) wasn't played on the radio or readly available on vinyl in the U.S. back in the 50's and early 60's, but it WAS in England. That's why all those amazing British acts like the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, The Who, and Led Zeppelin had such a leg up on American musicians. They grew up with and were heavily influenced by music genres like the Mississippi Delta Blues while their contemporaries in the states didn't have those influences.
Those drums in the beginning are often sampled. "Kim" by Eminem, Beastie Boys "Rhymin & Stealin", "Lyrical Gangbang" Dr. Dre, "Midnight" by Ice T. The harmonica part has a reverse echo on it. This song was written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Many other artists have performed and recorded versions of the song.
Great reaction. As you mention, the British rock/blues musicians loved and respected the American blues musicians more than the US did. It wasn't until the British musicians (who were white - the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Clapton, etc..) presented it back to Americans was it widely popular. This drum beat has been sampled by many Rap acts.
This is so true.These old ,blues records were brought into British port cities by merchant sea men and these young British bands brought it back home to you.
Suggestion reaction: There is a new version of "When the levee breaks".... by John Paul Jones and a host of musicians from around the world. It's outstanding.
Chicago Blues scene was pretty iconic. Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, lots of legendary musicians. A lot of record labels were in Chicago around that time which made kind of a hub for musicians.
The reference in the song to Chicago comes from the fact that the great flood of 1927 forced tens of thousands of sharecroppers off of the land, and many of them migrated north to Chicago to find work. That's how Chicago ended up with a large Black population, and became a center for jazz and blues music.
@jpdemer5 thanks for mentioning that. Very true. The record labels would have been nothing without the heart and resilience of the Black community which nurtured the very talented musicians we remember today. It's easy to zone in on specific dates and musicians, but it's also important to give credit to the working folk and amateur musicians who paved the way for them, not just inspiring other musicians, but creating the very cultural bedrock upon which all modern Western popular music is built, all while simultaneously weathering great personal and communal adversity on multiple fronts. Not being Black myself, it's neither my place to speak at length on the numerous atrocities committed against the African continent throughout history nor about the cultural development of the African community which thrived in America despite horrifying circumstances, but I do believe that Blues music will always be a testament to the unbreakable spirit of African American culture and community.
No one has played or recorded drums like this. The sound mixing towards the end is meant to convey a swirling, drowning effect with the addition of deep bass drum booms. Hypnotic and dangerous. Led Zep = GOAT.
Love how the trivia question about Prince's symbol preceeded a song from an album where each of the band members made up a symbol to represent themselves.
Hearing you both talk about Katrina brings back memories, I lived in New Orleans , and went through Hurricane Katrina, the things I could tell you that I experienced,during the hurricane and it’s aftermath, would blow your minds , crazy crazy stuff man .
Led Zeppelin was rock, blues. The members were fans of American Blues musicians as kids, so when it came time to form a band Jimmy Page (who was a session guitarist and then ended up in The Yardbirds) was putting a band together and found a 19 year old Robert Plant (and drummer John Bonham) playing in an English club. Bassist John Paul Jones was a session player as well. Robert and Jimmy used to vacation in India and Morocco and Kashmir... which is where you get those musical influences from. Also, they have a song called Kashmir. What I think is funny ... Led Zeppelin are sometimes classified as the start of Metal (title goes to Black Sabbath), but a majority of Zeppelin's songs are acoustically-driven. When John Bonham died, that was the end of Led Zeppelin. If they do reunion gigs, John Bonham's son Jason fills in. Jason Bonham has the Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience... where he plays the songs live with stories in between the songs. It's done with the blessing of Robert, JPJ and Jimmy Page.
Many of the African American blues musicians were forgotten about in the United States post world war 2… the youth in England loved them and imported them to play in the UK and got albums from US troops, etc. post war England was very depressed with lots of orphans and fatherless children… many of the British Invasion bands started as a result, most of whom had covered blues songs on their early albums, The Rolling Stones for example didn’t write all of their own songs until their album aftermath… the moody blues, pink floyd, The Who, many more, all were blues cover bands that developed into more rock as time went on
The lyrics are almost identical to the original, but Zep changed the music and melidy etc… a lot. This drum riff is one of the most sampled riffs of all time. That’s Robert Plant blowing that harp, he’s really good
the song was originally written in 1929 by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy (both Delta Blues legends) about the Great Mississippi River flood of 1927
They recorded the drums to this at the bottom of a spiral staircase with mics going up the spiral staircase giving it its authentic sound. Spiral out yo.
Zeppelin had a variety of influences some (not all) of them are the blues (obviously), rock and roll, rockabilly, jazz, Motown, West Africa, India, folk, Celtic - they had diverse enough interests to start then built upon to create some unique pieces. In this, they kept the vocal speed the same but slowed the instruments down a half step in the mix to help give it a thick, heavy, sludgy groove. There was backwards echo on the harmonica and different vocal treatments done to the vocals. Native Chicagoan here and we love our blues.
You guys wouldn't believe what all John Bonham had to do to get the drums to sound like this. He moved microphones into an adjoining room that was almost all concrete to get the echo. Remember this was before all the fancy equipment and electronics. Every thing he did was on purpose and for a purpose. Truly one of the greatest drummers in an incredible band.
Technically, this is a massively revised cover of a 1928 blues song by Memphis Minnie (aka Lizzie Douglas). The mighty Zep revered US delta blues, reviving several classic blues tunes and reintroducing them to a whole new generation. Check out her original on youtube and another Zep cover Travelling Riverside Blues.
Came for the reaction to an iconic Zeppelin tune, stayed for the intelligent commentary, humor, and chemistry between y'all! Can't go wrong with Zeppelin. For real. Take the Zeppelin Challenge: Contrive some way to choose ANY one of their songs at random,, and prepare to be WOWED!
Gentleman please keep going down the Led Zeppelin 🐇 🕳!!! You can hear blues,funk and rock and gives a rap beat as well, just shows you how diverse they can be! Even some of thier folk sounding songs kick ass! Great reaction guys!!👊🏻👊🏻
Yes!! Such a good funky bluesy song!!! Love this Led Zep song!!! Such a great choice! You both were jammin out to it! Love it! Great reaction y'all! Thanks again guys! 🤓❤️
I "gotta whole lotta love" for Zeppelin, and I know that many in the mainstream might prefer the song of "the forbidden riff", but in my opinion "When the Levee Breaks" is their "heaviest". It's a gritty, soulful, delta-blues, harmonica & slide-guitar lamentation. For that reason alone it has always been my favorite. "Going to California" is another favorite, but with a completely different style.
The iconic drums for this track was recorded in England from a lobby of a large mansion called Headley Grange, putting microphones up on a nearby stairway that were very compressed. An old delay unit was used as well, giving it a "slap back" effect. After all this time, it still sounds ENORMOUS, but it's Bonham groove and feel that make it stand out. Was one of the rare times he liked his recorded sound. Apparently, it was close to what it sounded like if your were standing right next to him playing. It remains one of the most sampled parts in history, living on in songs by Iced T, Eminem, The Beastie Boys and many more.
John Bonham's drum beat in this song, which is as huge as the Mississippi River is long, has been sampled a hundred million times. Y'all should check out and react to Björk and her song "Army of Me" because 1) Björk is AMAZING and has one of the most unique voices in all of music, y'all will really dig her, and 2) "Army of Me" samples Bonham's kick drum better than any other track EVER.
Absolutely love this channel guys. Its shot up to my absolute favorite reaction channel. The vibe yall have together as friends an co-hosts is outstanding. Smoke Dogg I heard yall mention something about a Wrestling Podcast. I'm all the way down for that. As a 80s child an avid wrestling an music fan this channel is right up my alley. Keep up the grind guys. Yall are killing it!!
What makes zeppelin so unique is how they form there music. Most bands have the drums and bass work side by side. Zeppelin had the drums follow the guitar. It's the most unique rock band because of this.
you guys into the blues? check out "you shook me", "babe I'm gonna leave you", "your time is gonna come", "since I've been loving you", "in my time of dying" +++ these guys are steeped in the blues
This song was originally written by Memphis Mini and Kansas Joe McCoy. Most British bands of the mid and late 60s were heavily influenced by early American blues
You have to remember that Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin from the remnants of an incredible British blues band called The Yardbirds. The careers of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and even Fleetwood Mac can be traced through the same ‘family tree’ of the same lineage. Enjoy your journey, gentlemen. I hope you can visit the UK soon to put your musical journey into historical context 😊
God Bless Smokey and his knowledge ❤️ Jimmy Page was always a fan of and inspired by the blues even when he was in The Yardbirds. As I understand it, his decision to bring in Robert Plant was because of his love of and awesome ability to sing in the blues(y) sound. As a matter of fact that was Robert Plant playing that hard core blues harmonica in this song. He and Page (and maybe both Johns?) would often play old blues records together.
Such a great great tune !! So bluesy!! Have listened to this for many many yrs. 60 now!! Zep never gets old !! Check out In The Light, The Rover from the Physical Graffiti album and also Caroselambra and In The Evening from The In through The Out Door album !! Just a few favs of mine!! So much great music from Zep !!
I enjoyed your analysis of this track guys. It's so true that music is a universal language. Many British musicians in the 1960s obsessed over the blues and to an extent, American blues artists were more respected in the UK than in their own country. We idolised Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Big Bill Broonzy, Willie Dixon and many more. To some extent, the "British Invasion" brought the blues back to mainstream America and finally gained these artists the acclaim they surely deserved.
The power of Led Zeppelin. How phenomenal are those goddamn drums, baby. Nice to see you mention the connection between the Mississippi delta and Chicago.
Thanks guys!! I kept telling y’all, good southern boys should know this song 😆😊
I’m glad that you got to this one before the version by A Perfect Circle. No offense to them, in fact I think hearing this one first will give you a greater appreciation for that version… vastly different but equally amazing.
The Beastie Boys actually used this beat in one of their songs.
Btw there’s a bit of a history lesson on Chicago blues in the Foo Fighters “Sonic Highways” documentary (the Chicago episode)… Dave Grohl interviews Buddy Guy and he talks about how he left New Orleans, came to Chicago, met and became dear friends with Muddy Waters. Worth a watch 😊
I was waiting for the Beastie Boys mention. 😁
Wow thanks for information, we had no clue APC did a cover of this or Beastie Boys used this beats, nut we can toatly see why. As always thank you for such an amazing song and all you love a support.
@@lindacoy7165 yep! 😊
@@Hollywood6IX you’re welcome! btw yeah it’s been 2 years… I think y’all had 4K subscribers at the time 😊
@@ShanLH5 again your a True Trash Talking Tribe Member.
When the Levee Breaks is an old blues tune from 1929. Go back and listen to the earliest blues, listen to old old country and folk, bluegrass, and rockabilly.
probably my favorite Zeppelin song. such a killer groove. RIP John Bonham
for me it's levee #1 and no quarter #2, then at #3 it gets tough to pick just 1.
Same
@@hoopsmccann639 #3 could be “Lemon Song” ?
Amen.
Ten Years Gone
"so is this rock or blues?"..... yes
Both
Yes
It's an old blues song from the 20s or 30s redone by a British rock group in late 60s/ early 70s.
Or rocken blues. ❤️✌️
Great blues turned into great rock.
iconic drum beat from Bonham that's been sampled several times by rap/hiphop artists, though the one that always will stick out to me is Rhymin' & Stealin' by the Beastie Boys
But what I like best are.....
From the same album…
“If I played guitar I'd be Jimmy Page
The girlies I like are underage (shh! Check it!)”
🤦♂️
fact ... Jimmy Page did not object to the samples being used. He said if anything it will introduce a new audience to our music. this may have been in response to the beastie boys using a few snippets of the might Zep
It was Rick Rubin who introduced rock to rap outfits and got them hits like he did with Run DMC. @@seinfeld8812
I am so thankful this is the era I grew up in. Still listen to all these
Led Zeppelin IV was my first classic rock cassette tape. My 8th grade science teacher made me the tape and I made a tape of Nirvana's Nevermind for him. A friendship was born through this trade and even at 44 years of age, I'm still in contact with him, trading music!
That's hella Kool!
This was your first rock cassette tape? this was one of my 1st rock 8 track tapes that I bought., now I really feel old....
So cool! ❤️
😮❤🎉
@@teesmith945 You feel old? I originally bought this on vinyl!
Bonzo killing it on drums with most sampled drum beat in rap. Plant playing a mean harmonica throughout this song too 🤘
Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock band of all time. While I do have other bands I consider my "favorite", I will always rank Zeppelin as the number 1 rock band ever because of their robust catalog, and influence on countless other bands over the decades. Once you guys get into more deeper cuts of their catalog, you'll see just how many amazing, important songs they have. IMO Zeppelin is a band that will never be forgotten.
The greatest cover band of all time
Definitely the greatest rock band of all time. Not my favorite but their influence and catalog are undeniable
@@AICJDR *”uncredited” cover band
AICJDR
Zeppelin covered almost every spectrum of music, yes.
95% of what they did was original, and they were highly inventive with the other 5%. They never out and out copied anything, and vastly improved whatever they took. It was pretty normal to take back then. It was a blues tradition.
@@lyndoncmp5751 "Never out and out copied anything" well Taurus by Spirit says otherwise
I grew up in a home where Zeppelin was frequently played. It was my parents' music. They were such an eclectic sound - I have never really been able to put them in one genre. I'm always sooooo happy to see people hear Zeppelin for the first time and have a smile on the face listening to it. That band is part of my DNA.
Lucky girl
Me too, Connie. :)
Is there a better band?
You are correct, m'am.
This is how you know a band and their music has stood the test of time---over 40 years after the band broke up people are still listening to, learning about and enjoying their music. There aren't many bands like that around anymore. I came of age in the 70's, which was the height of Zep's success. It's so good to see people who weren't raised on them giving them a listen and appreciating them for the geniuses they are.
Jimmy found an old house in the country and noticed the high ceilings and old wooden structure gave the drums that extra acoustic punch. The location was remote so the band could get away and have a more creative atmosphere. Jimmys mastery of the recording studio was genius.
Song sounds like a brutal force of nature, like an existencial threat, like a...flood! Love Minnie and what Zeppelin has made of this song.
1929
you can almost see the flood coming...definitely feel it engulfing you..goin down...goin down now
If your neighborhood can't hear you're listening to Zeppelin, then you're doing it wrong. The GOATS
It's a no headphones kind of band. The sound must be found.
I remember pitching a couple relief innings in a baseball game in my early 20's and I struck out the ninth because I could hear some townhouse playing Fool in the Rain in the distance.
Thanks for bringing great music to us brothers!!!
John Paul Jones is SOOOO Underrated as a bass player. He never gets the love he deserves. You always hear about the other 3. Same with Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath. Great video as always. Nothing like Led Zeppelin. I was in New Orleans right after Katrina. You wouldnt believe the crazy crap I saw. Plus the photos. It was insane.
Another reminder that John Paul Jones is in a supergroup with Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age and Dave Grohl called Them Crooked Vultures. I heard this was Josh’s intro at one of their shows: “On drums, Mr. Dave Grohl, on guitar, Mr. Alain Johannes, and on every other %*%*ing instrument known to mankind, Mr. John Paul Jones! Oh, and I’m Josh Homme.” 😁
JPJ the silent assassin!!!🎸
JPJ made himself like that
JPJ really gets to show off on the Them Crooked Vultures song “Spinning in the Daffodils”. If you watch a live performance, Josh is just looking at him with so much love and admiration.
underrated overall. he came up with many of Zeppelins riffs.
Such a killer track from Led Zeppelin, who basically made nothing but killer tracks. There's almost too many to pick one but you guys gotta hit Achilles Last Stand at some point, it's an absolute masterpiece. Keep it up ya'll.
Support your suggestion about Achilles Last Stand. Guys, you are so funny to watch, i like this little riddles about what song u gonna react. Please, check out Achilles Last Stand, even thru Led Zeppelin catalog it is monster track!
Have you heard the whole Presence album? Achilles is the title track of it. A great album!
Yes!!! Achilles Last Stand!!!
Chicago blues is basically an electrified version of the delta blues. This song is based on an actual flood that killed many and displaced thousands. Many of which migrated to Chicago.
My personal favourite Led Zeppelin song, it just has that chill but badass vibe that makes it kick ass!
It just pleases me to no end that I can watch two guys listen to a song that I first heard over 50 years ago, and they have the same reaction that all of us OG guys had. Maybe there's hope for the younguns yet.....
They were just so powerful. Bonzo beat those drums like it was an intruder in his home. Plant singing from the depths of his soul. JPJ ALWAYS bringing the thick and nasty bass to carry the tune. And Page…murdering his guitar strings like a serial killer. I challenge anyone to find me a better band. I know the analogies may seem dark but so was Zeppelin. 🤣❤️
dude knows his blues history, thats important.
The story behind the drum part in the beginning is very intriguing and honestly it’s probably the drum best intro I’ve ever heard. No question why Bonham is the GOAT
Hey guys... I just wanted to let you know how much im enjoying your led zeppelin reactions... may i suggest The lemon song from their second record... amazing blues rock
A levee (French for "raised") is a natural embankment formed by silt deposit in a slow-flowing river. The river gradually rises between the levees until the surface is above the surrounding countryside. Levees are reinforced by engineering, but in heavy storms they can still break, flooding huge areas of land.
The flood the song describes led many Southern farm workers to migrate to the Northern industrial cities.
The breakdown after the reaction and the whole history of the origin of this music and the Chicago connection is what made this video. #smokeyramirez hats off to you sir for you're knowledge!!! Kudos to yo both from the UK!!!
100% agree, Smokey has an outstanding array of knowledge in music and honestly, he makes these reaction videos great (sorry Hollywood 🤷♂️)
Grew up listening to Led Zeppelin love there music still to this day ❤
Waited til I could have a moment to myself and have both earbuds in for this one! So worth it! I never noticed before that it sounds like Robert plant is almost drowning especially towards the end. Like his extra vibrato mixed with whatever effect they used makes him almost sound like he’s gurgling. Fabulous reaction, guys!✌🏻💛🎼
Smokey,it’s good to hear a young man that understands the link from Mississippi to Chicago.
One of my favorite Zeppelin songs for many years. I only recently learned, though, that Robert Plant is playing the harmonica. Love it. Many original rock bands were fans of American blues and greatly influenced by them. Pink Floyd is named for two blues men. You guys rock!
Robert Plant plays a great harmonica. Guitar too, btw. He plays harmonica on 5 albums, with songs including “You shook me”, “Bring it on home”, and “Custard Pie”.
A couple interesting things about When the Levee Breaks. 1. It was originally a blues song written in the 1920s after the great Mississippi flood. Led Zeppelin kept the lyrics and feel, but it is a greatly reimagined version of the original. 2. Bonham's drums sound so amazing - he set up at the bottom of the stairs in Headley Grange (castle?) and mics were hung up the flights of stairs to catch all the deep echoes. 3. A Perfect Circle has a pretty cool reimagining of this song on their anti-war album eMOTIVe.
Wow thanks for that titbit about Bonham's drumming sound, I've always wondered how he did it!
Its cool how some of those sounds were made originally before they had a processor or a pedal for it. Like "Ramble On" the muted drum sound during the verses is Bonham playing on his drum seat/stool/throne.
Not a Castle, Headley Grange was a House
Only Robert Plant can make a song about a natural disaster sound soooo sexy.
@@James_Loveless Good call! Not sure why I always assumed it was a castle.
The Best Zeppelin song!!!!! BEST BAND EVER! This is a ‘70’s song
This song reminds me of much younger days, sitting on the river bank with a boom box and a camp fire reflecting on a float trip. Love it!
WOW 5-Star review guys. Best reaction I've heard in ages. I'm in Queensland an we flooded baaaad couple of years ago, maybe not as bad as you... but it was my first day in Queensland and whoa!
“Cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good….when the Lever breaks, mama you got to move.”
Never be another Zeppelin…the passion, the synergy, the funk, the feel….they’re on top looking down on everyone else.
Another great reaction, guys! One of the things that's rarly talked about with the Blues/Rock connection is that Black music (Jazz, Blues, Gospel, etc) wasn't played on the radio or readly available on vinyl in the U.S. back in the 50's and early 60's, but it WAS in England. That's why all those amazing British acts like the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, The Who, and Led Zeppelin had such a leg up on American musicians. They grew up with and were heavily influenced by music genres like the Mississippi Delta Blues while their contemporaries in the states didn't have those influences.
Those drums in the beginning are often sampled. "Kim" by Eminem, Beastie Boys "Rhymin & Stealin", "Lyrical Gangbang" Dr. Dre, "Midnight" by Ice T. The harmonica part has a reverse echo on it. This song was written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Many other artists have performed and recorded versions of the song.
Great reaction. As you mention, the British rock/blues musicians loved and respected the American blues musicians more than the US did. It wasn't until the British musicians (who were white - the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Clapton, etc..) presented it back to Americans was it widely popular. This drum beat has been sampled by many Rap acts.
This is so true.These old ,blues records were brought into British port cities by merchant sea men and these young British bands brought it back home to you.
You nailed it with that comment.
Suggestion reaction:
There is a new version of "When the levee breaks".... by John Paul Jones and a host of musicians from around the world. It's outstanding.
ruclips.net/video/LH0-WXUFY2k/видео.html
Thanks for the tip!
Playing for Change(PFC). It rocks, almost as good as this. IMO
Chicago Blues scene was pretty iconic. Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, lots of legendary musicians. A lot of record labels were in Chicago around that time which made kind of a hub for musicians.
The reference in the song to Chicago comes from the fact that the great flood of 1927 forced tens of thousands of sharecroppers off of the land, and many of them migrated north to Chicago to find work. That's how Chicago ended up with a large Black population, and became a center for jazz and blues music.
@jpdemer5 thanks for mentioning that. Very true. The record labels would have been nothing without the heart and resilience of the Black community which nurtured the very talented musicians we remember today. It's easy to zone in on specific dates and musicians, but it's also important to give credit to the working folk and amateur musicians who paved the way for them, not just inspiring other musicians, but creating the very cultural bedrock upon which all modern Western popular music is built, all while simultaneously weathering great personal and communal adversity on multiple fronts. Not being Black myself, it's neither my place to speak at length on the numerous atrocities committed against the African continent throughout history nor about the cultural development of the African community which thrived in America despite horrifying circumstances, but I do believe that Blues music will always be a testament to the unbreakable spirit of African American culture and community.
Man I can remember listening to this as a teenager getting high in my garage lol.. Smokey you're like a freakin fountain of knowledge
No one has played or recorded drums like this. The sound mixing towards the end is meant to convey a swirling, drowning effect with the addition of deep bass drum booms. Hypnotic and dangerous. Led Zep = GOAT.
Love how the trivia question about Prince's symbol preceeded a song from an album where each of the band members made up a symbol to represent themselves.
💯.
Beastie Boys used samples of Zeppelin songs in their songs. Musicians influencing musicians influencing musicians.
I can’t think of this song without picturing someone lighting up a bud when it starts
Should check out the original by Kansas Joe. Very different to the Zeppelin cover but cool in itself. John Bonham killed the drums in this.
Most badass song in rock in roll history✊✊✊
Drums! Greatest band in history! Do LIVE performances of Zeppelin! Plant on the harmonica!
Hearing you both talk about Katrina brings back memories, I lived in New Orleans , and went through Hurricane Katrina, the things I could tell you that I experienced,during the hurricane and it’s aftermath, would blow your minds , crazy crazy stuff man .
Led Zeppelin was rock, blues. The members were fans of American Blues musicians as kids, so when it came time to form a band Jimmy Page (who was a session guitarist and then ended up in The Yardbirds) was putting a band together and found a 19 year old Robert Plant (and drummer John Bonham) playing in an English club. Bassist John Paul Jones was a session player as well. Robert and Jimmy used to vacation in India and Morocco and Kashmir... which is where you get those musical influences from. Also, they have a song called Kashmir.
What I think is funny ... Led Zeppelin are sometimes classified as the start of Metal (title goes to Black Sabbath), but a majority of Zeppelin's songs are acoustically-driven.
When John Bonham died, that was the end of Led Zeppelin. If they do reunion gigs, John Bonham's son Jason fills in. Jason Bonham has the Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience... where he plays the songs live with stories in between the songs. It's done with the blessing of Robert, JPJ and Jimmy Page.
Look at the big brain on Smokey. You guys rock keep it up.
Many of the African American blues musicians were forgotten about in the United States post world war 2… the youth in England loved them and imported them to play in the UK and got albums from US troops, etc. post war England was very depressed with lots of orphans and fatherless children… many of the British Invasion bands started as a result, most of whom had covered blues songs on their early albums, The Rolling Stones for example didn’t write all of their own songs until their album aftermath… the moody blues, pink floyd, The Who, many more, all were blues cover bands that developed into more rock as time went on
Just love this..❤
The lyrics are almost identical to the original, but Zep changed the music and melidy etc… a lot.
This drum riff is one of the most sampled riffs of all time.
That’s Robert Plant blowing that harp, he’s really good
Just goosebumps on goosebumps! Thanks so much for reacting to this classic - your appreciation was much appreciated!
Zeppelin never bettered...What a band!!!!☘
the song was originally written in 1929 by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy (both Delta Blues legends) about the Great Mississippi River flood of 1927
They recorded the drums to this at the bottom of a spiral staircase with mics going up the spiral staircase giving it its authentic sound. Spiral out yo.
Lies
ruclips.net/video/KWI9bMe7gHE/видео.htmlsi=jUaaIAzjBT4pKd5O
I get to wake up to this?!! One of their biggest slow burn bangers. And as you may know... APC did a cover of this on Emotive.
Zeppelin had a variety of influences some (not all) of them are the blues (obviously), rock and roll, rockabilly, jazz, Motown, West Africa, India, folk, Celtic - they had diverse enough interests to start then built upon to create some unique pieces. In this, they kept the vocal speed the same but slowed the instruments down a half step in the mix to help give it a thick, heavy, sludgy groove. There was backwards echo on the harmonica and different vocal treatments done to the vocals. Native Chicagoan here and we love our blues.
You guys wouldn't believe what all John Bonham had to do to get the drums to sound like this. He moved microphones into an adjoining room that was almost all concrete to get the echo. Remember this was before all the fancy equipment and electronics. Every thing he did was on purpose and for a purpose. Truly one of the greatest drummers in an incredible band.
Much history to this song. A lot of migration to the North took place after this flood. Smokey is so well informed 🤗
Easily the best Led Zep track. Right from the powerhouse drum intro, the haunting harmonica and wailing guitar and the vocals just top it nicely.
Technically, this is a massively revised cover of a 1928 blues song by Memphis Minnie (aka Lizzie Douglas). The mighty Zep revered US delta blues, reviving several classic blues tunes and reintroducing them to a whole new generation. Check out her original on youtube and another Zep cover Travelling Riverside Blues.
Came for the reaction to an iconic Zeppelin tune, stayed for the intelligent commentary, humor, and chemistry between y'all! Can't go wrong with Zeppelin. For real. Take the Zeppelin Challenge: Contrive some way to choose ANY one of their songs at random,, and prepare to be WOWED!
Y'all got old souls.... y'all hear and feel the blues, rock....
Gentleman please keep going down the Led Zeppelin 🐇 🕳!!! You can hear blues,funk and rock and gives a rap beat as well, just shows you how diverse they can be! Even some of thier folk sounding songs kick ass! Great reaction guys!!👊🏻👊🏻
John had the fatist beats 👌ramble on has a sic AF bass line 😎
Yes!! Such a good funky bluesy song!!! Love this Led Zep song!!! Such a great choice! You both were jammin out to it! Love it! Great reaction y'all! Thanks again guys! 🤓❤️
I "gotta whole lotta love" for Zeppelin, and I know that many in the mainstream might prefer the song of "the forbidden riff", but in my opinion "When the Levee Breaks" is their "heaviest". It's a gritty, soulful, delta-blues, harmonica & slide-guitar lamentation. For that reason alone it has always been my favorite. "Going to California" is another favorite, but with a completely different style.
The iconic drums for this track was recorded in England from a lobby of a large mansion called Headley Grange, putting microphones up on a nearby stairway that were very compressed. An old delay unit was used as well, giving it a "slap back" effect. After all this time, it still sounds ENORMOUS, but it's Bonham groove and feel that make it stand out. Was one of the rare times he liked his recorded sound. Apparently, it was close to what it sounded like if your were standing right next to him playing. It remains one of the most sampled parts in history, living on in songs by Iced T, Eminem, The Beastie Boys and many more.
One of my all time favorite Zeppelin songs, alongside Babe I'm Gonna Leave You and No Quarter.
Love this cut!
“Music is a universal language” - absolutely!
John Bonham's drum beat in this song, which is as huge as the Mississippi River is long, has been sampled a hundred million times. Y'all should check out and react to Björk and her song "Army of Me" because 1) Björk is AMAZING and has one of the most unique voices in all of music, y'all will really dig her, and 2) "Army of Me" samples Bonham's kick drum better than any other track EVER.
Absolutely love this channel guys. Its shot up to my absolute favorite reaction channel. The vibe yall have together as friends an co-hosts is outstanding. Smoke Dogg I heard yall mention something about a Wrestling Podcast. I'm all the way down for that. As a 80s child an avid wrestling an music fan this channel is right up my alley. Keep up the grind guys. Yall are killing it!!
The Mississippi was electrified in Chicago. Zeppelin just cranked it up through the roof!
You called it, Mississippi delta blues.
it is very gratifying to see the power hits as hard today as it did 50 years ago.
Legendary tune!! Love watching you guys every morning!!
What makes zeppelin so unique is how they form there music. Most bands have the drums and bass work side by side. Zeppelin had the drums follow the guitar. It's the most unique rock band because of this.
you guys into the blues? check out "you shook me", "babe I'm gonna leave you", "your time is gonna come", "since I've been loving you", "in my time of dying" +++ these guys are steeped in the blues
This song was originally written by Memphis Mini and Kansas Joe McCoy. Most British bands of the mid and late 60s were heavily influenced by early American blues
A true classic off of Led Zeppelin IV, the album that also brought us Stairway to Heaven and several other great songs.
Someone said that Led Zeppelin changed rock and roll forever.I have to agree.
You have to remember that Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin from the remnants of an incredible British blues band called The Yardbirds. The careers of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and even Fleetwood Mac can be traced through the same ‘family tree’ of the same lineage. Enjoy your journey, gentlemen. I hope you can visit the UK soon to put your musical journey into historical context 😊
Beastie Boys sampled this intro in track #1 (Rhymin & Stealin) to begin one of the most influential rap albums of all time... Licensed to Ill.
Since I've been loving you and I can't quit you baby are definitely my favorites by them.
Enjoying watching you guys discover LedZep..I grew up listening to them... Amazing musicians.. 🤩
God Bless Smokey and his knowledge ❤️
Jimmy Page was always a fan of and inspired by the blues even when he was in The Yardbirds. As I understand it, his decision to bring in Robert Plant was because of his love of and awesome ability to sing in the blues(y) sound. As a matter of fact that was Robert Plant playing that hard core blues harmonica in this song. He and Page (and maybe both Johns?) would often play old blues records together.
BOTH!!!!! HEAVIEST BAND IN MUSIC HISTORY!!!!! JOHN BONHAM THE GREATEST FUCKING THUMPER EVER!!!!
"THE GOD OF THUNDER!!!" TRUTH.
This one was released 1971 on their IV album yes Zep is one of my favourite bands
Like you guys, when I heard this the first time it was unbelievable. Great music
Pure old blues re-imagined. Beautiful!
Love you boys sunk into this one.Pure classic ❤
Such a great great tune !! So bluesy!! Have listened to this for many many yrs. 60 now!! Zep never gets old !!
Check out In The Light, The Rover from the Physical Graffiti album and also Caroselambra and In The Evening from The In through The Out Door album !! Just a few favs of mine!! So much great music from Zep !!
Beastie Boys sampled the drums on this for “Rhymin’ & Stealin’”
I enjoyed your analysis of this track guys. It's so true that music is a universal language. Many British musicians in the 1960s obsessed over the blues and to an extent, American blues artists were more respected in the UK than in their own country. We idolised Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Big Bill Broonzy, Willie Dixon and many more. To some extent, the "British Invasion" brought the blues back to mainstream America and finally gained these artists the acclaim they surely deserved.
Thanks for sharing my favorite version of my favorite song! Stay warm, safe, and happy!!
The power of Led Zeppelin. How phenomenal are those goddamn drums, baby. Nice to see you mention the connection between the Mississippi delta and Chicago.