Are Led Zeppelin musical hacks???

sapperskunk · December 2006

Don'y be fooled, the title's just for shock value, I am a fan, but I heard an awful rumor about them stealing and uncrediting multiple artists. After some quick research I found this. Is it true? Will somebody please tell me these are wrong? Cause that's a lot of different artists that they stole from if that's the case.

Now by popular demand! A list of some of the songs Zep stole from other artists:

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" - A folk song by Anne Bredon, this was originally credited as "traditional, arranged by Jimmy Page," then "words and music by Jimmy Page," and then, following legal action, "Bredon/Page/Plant."
"Black Mountain Side" - uncredited version of a traditional folk tune previously recorded by Bert Jansch.
"Bring It On Home" - the first section is an uncredited cover of the Willie Dixon tune (as performed by the imposter Sonny Boy Williamson).
"Communication Breakdown" - apparently derived from Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown."
"Custard Pie" - uncredited cover of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down," with lyrics from Sleepy John Estes's "Drop Down Daddy."
"Dazed And Confused" - uncredited cover of the Jake Holmes song (see The Above Ground Sound Of Jake Holmes).
"Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" - uncredited version of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down."
"How Many More Times" - Part one is an uncredited cover of the Howlin' Wolf song (available on numerous compilations). Part two is an uncredited cover of Albert King's "The Hunter."
"In My Time Of Dying" - uncredited cover of the traditional song (as heard on Bob Dylan's debut).
"The Lemon Song" - uncredited cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" - Wolf's publisher sued Zeppelin in the early 70s and settled out of court.
"Moby Dick" - written and first recorded by Sleepy John Estes under the title "The Girl I Love," and later covered by Bobby Parker.
"Nobody's Fault But Mine" - uncredited cover of the Blind Willie Johnson blues.
"Since I've Been Lovin' You" - lyrics are the same as Moby Grape's "Never," though the music isn't similar.
"Stairway To Heaven" - the main guitar line is apparently from "Taurus" by Spirit.
"White Summer" - uncredited cover of Davey Graham's "She Moved Through The Fair."
"Whole Lotta Love" - lyrics are from the Willie Dixon blues "You Need Love."

Plagarizmo Extraviganto?

lucylespian · December 2006

Page freely admits that many of their songs were derived from earlier songs, but also that in turn those artists were derivative as well. He jokes that Plant didn't chnage the words enough at times.
All music is derivative at some point.
I read that ZEp actually tried to give royalty to the family of one artist for a line or 2, can't remember which one, but teh family used it as an excuse to sue them for the whole song, so they backed out.
What ZEp did though, was to take those songs to another realm altogether. It was more a respect than a rip-off.

You also forgot "Out on the Tiles " which is a derivation of an old drinking song Bonzo used to sing in pubs.

Not hacks, amazing band, MUCHO RESPECTO DUO !!!

carolinabeerguy · December 2006

I'd never heard about the Stairway to Heaven rip-off before but I listened to a clip on Amazon and it's eerily familiar. Just go down and click on the song Taurus for a clip: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Spirit/dp/B00008WT4L/sr=1-5/qid=1165804953/ref=sr_1_5/104-1532200-4403962?ie=UTF8&s=music

yosi1 · December 2006

I think that the Zep songs are much more in the style of those songs as opposed to blatant plagarism. In the same vain that GTF is like Going to California, or Yellow Ledbetter is like Little Wing. Not rip offs, just in their style. That's how the built their own style, by writing songs similar to those that influenced them.

sapperskunk · December 2006

adam42381 wrote:

I'd never heard about the Stairway to Heaven rip-off before but I listened to a clip on Amazon and it's eerily familiar. Just go down and click on the song Taurus for a clip: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Spirit/dp/B00008WT4L/sr=1-5/qid=1165804953/ref=sr_1_5/104-1532200-4403962?ie=UTF8&s=music

WOW

Pearl Jam and toast · December 2006

There's at least one ancient blues song on every one of their albums. True.

And they absolutley play the hell out of them - and besides, no one would give a fuck or would have heard the songs at all without Led Zep.

So who cares?

Zep rules.

sapperskunk · December 2006

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

There's at least one ancient blues song on every one of their albums. True.

And they absolutley play the hell out of them - and besides, no one would give a fuck or would have heard the songs at all without Led Zep.

So who cares?

Zep rules.

Yeah but why didn't they pay those guys, it's not like they couldn't afford it?

Pearl Jam and toast · December 2006

sapperskunk wrote:

Yeah but why didn't they pay those guys, it's not like they couldn't afford it?

*shrugs*

I never really thought about it. Kind of sleazy but it still doesn't really bother me.

yosi1 · December 2006

adam42381 wrote:

I'd never heard about the Stairway to Heaven rip-off before but I listened to a clip on Amazon and it's eerily familiar. Just go down and click on the song Taurus for a clip: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Spirit/dp/B00008WT4L/sr=1-5/qid=1165804953/ref=sr_1_5/104-1532200-4403962?ie=UTF8&s=music

Its clearly similary, and most probably influenced them, but I wouldn't say they ripped them off. That's how music evolves. I don't think it's a big deal at all.

Also, Stairway to Heaven changes a lot throughout the song. That's only similar to the begining.

sapperskunk · December 2006

yosi wrote:

Its clearly similary, and most probably influenced them, but I wouldn't say they ripped them off. That's how music evolves. I don't think it's a big deal at all.

Also, Stairway to Heaven changes a lot throughout the song. That's only similar to the begining.

But you know, If somebody recorded that "taurus" song for the first time in the present, people would scream bloody murder. I don't know how Zep got away with it.

yosi1 · December 2006

sapperskunk wrote:

But you know, If somebody recorded that "taurus" song for the first time in the present, people would scream bloody murder. I don't know how Zep got away with it.

Yea, but those people screaming bloody murder are probably people who don't really know shit about music. It evolves. People imitate their influences. It's not a bad thing.

bharQ · December 2006

I've heard many of the originals and they do deserve credit where credits due.. but i do not think zeppelin's credit should be taken away.. they used their influences and created a fucking genre.. that is still influencing bands today.. lets face we might not even be here today talking about pearl jam if it wasn't for them!

Gary Carter · December 2006

bharQ wrote:

I've heard many of the originals and they do deserve credit where credits due.. but i do not think zeppelin's credit should be taken away.. they used their influences and created a fucking genre.. that is still influencing bands today.. lets face we might not even be here today talking about pearl jam if it wasn't for them!

never mind pj,there wouldnt be rock music period if it wasnt for zeppelin.doesnt anyone think that cready at one point or another has stolen a riff from a another gutarist or ed stealing a lyric from another songwriter and making it his own

bharQ · December 2006

metsfan531941 wrote:

never mind pj,there wouldnt be rock music period if it wasnt for zeppelin.doesnt anyone think that cready at one point or another has stolen a riff from a another gutarist or ed stealing a lyric from another songwriter and making it his own

yeah it happens a lot more now.. because so much as been done already

when led zeppelin were starting out they weren't ripping off hard rock artists because.. well.. they were still in the process of inventing that genre.. what they did do is use their blues and folk influences to create their groundbreaking sound... thus creating a musical orgasm.. especially for back then

sapperskunk · December 2006

metsfan531941 wrote:

never mind pj,there wouldnt be rock music period if it wasnt for zeppelin.doesnt anyone think that cready at one point or another has stolen a riff from a another gutarist or ed stealing a lyric from another songwriter and making it his own

Do you know of any instances for sure where PJ rips off someboy else?

Gary Carter · December 2006

sapperskunk wrote:

Do you know of any instances for sure where PJ rips off someboy else?

umm yeah in the song gone.the lyrics
If nothing is everything
If nothing is everything, I'll have it all
If nothing is everything
If nothing is everything, I'll have it all

are taking from a who song.theres probably many more times when pj has copied a riff or gotten idea for a song,from another artist

darthvedder88 · December 2006

metsfan531941 wrote:

umm yeah in the song gone.the lyrics
If nothing is everything
If nothing is everything, I'll have it all
If nothing is everything
If nothing is everything, I'll have it all

are taking from a who song.theres probably many more times when pj has copied a riff or gotten idea for a song,from another artist

Vedder occasionally pays tribute to Pete Townshend in a song he writes all on his own...

As for Zeppelin, no other band from their era can top them...NOONE!!!

lukin2006 · December 2006

sapperskunk wrote:

Don'y be fooled, the title's just for shock value, I am a fan, but I heard an awful rumor about them stealing and uncrediting multiple artists. After some quick research I found this. Is it true? Will somebody please tell me these are wrong? Cause that's a lot of different artists that they stole from if that's the case.

Now by popular demand! A list of some of the songs Zep stole from other artists:

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" - A folk song by Anne Bredon, this was originally credited as "traditional, arranged by Jimmy Page," then "words and music by Jimmy Page," and then, following legal action, "Bredon/Page/Plant."
"Black Mountain Side" - uncredited version of a traditional folk tune previously recorded by Bert Jansch.
"Bring It On Home" - the first section is an uncredited cover of the Willie Dixon tune (as performed by the imposter Sonny Boy Williamson).
"Communication Breakdown" - apparently derived from Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown."
"Custard Pie" - uncredited cover of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down," with lyrics from Sleepy John Estes's "Drop Down Daddy."
"Dazed And Confused" - uncredited cover of the Jake Holmes song (see The Above Ground Sound Of Jake Holmes).
"Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" - uncredited version of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down."
"How Many More Times" - Part one is an uncredited cover of the Howlin' Wolf song (available on numerous compilations). Part two is an uncredited cover of Albert King's "The Hunter."
"In My Time Of Dying" - uncredited cover of the traditional song (as heard on Bob Dylan's debut).
"The Lemon Song" - uncredited cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" - Wolf's publisher sued Zeppelin in the early 70s and settled out of court.
"Moby Dick" - written and first recorded by Sleepy John Estes under the title "The Girl I Love," and later covered by Bobby Parker.
"Nobody's Fault But Mine" - uncredited cover of the Blind Willie Johnson blues.
"Since I've Been Lovin' You" - lyrics are the same as Moby Grape's "Never," though the music isn't similar.
"Stairway To Heaven" - the main guitar line is apparently from "Taurus" by Spirit.
"White Summer" - uncredited cover of Davey Graham's "She Moved Through The Fair."
"Whole Lotta Love" - lyrics are from the Willie Dixon blues "You Need Love."

Plagarizmo Extraviganto?

In a way most musician are, I think they all borrow a little here and little there, I think the difference with the legends like led zeppelin is that they take what is borrowed and improve upon it and take it to a new level.

I remember reading once (by a music producer, can't recall who) that AC/DC might be one of the most original bans ever. Now I can't say if thats true or not mostly because I probably don't know much more about music than the average fan.

sapperskunk · December 2006

beemster wrote:

In a way most musician are, I think they all borrow a little here and little there, I think the difference with the legends like led zeppelin is that they take what is borrowed and improve upon it and take it to a new level.

I remember reading once (by a music producer, can't recall who) that AC/DC might be one of the most original bans ever. Now I can't say if thats true or not mostly because I probably don't know much more about music than the average fan.

I think the shock value stems from it being Zeppelin, yeah they improved upon it, but that doesn't make it right. If this was some new shitty emo band uncrediting people that's one thing, but we're talking about a hugely influential group that a LOT of people love.

The Maestro · December 2006

darthvedder88 wrote:

Vedder occasionally pays tribute to Pete Townshend in a song he writes all on his own...

As for Zeppelin, no other band from their era can top them...NOONE!!!

The first few chords of "Breakerfall" are the same as the Who's "I Can See for Miles."

Pearl Jam and toast · December 2006

The Maestro wrote:

The first few chords of "Breakerfall" are the same as the Who's "I Can See for Miles."

"black red yellow" might as well be a Who cover medly.

Are Led Zeppelin musical hacks???

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