Led Zeppelin I is 50 years old
 

Well, 50 years (Jan 12, 1969) since Led Zeppelin released their first album. Just think about the rock history they put together. Jimmy Page playing Stairway to Heaven live on the Gibson doubleneck is a classic picture.

I know we have fans here on the AGF. What are your memories?

Watching The Song Remains The Same at Midnight at the theater.

I was a young guy growing up in Paris in the late 60's.
There was a time there where every party I went to seemed to be playing Led Zeppelin II.
As a farewell gift for my return to Australia my classmates gave me the new Led Zeppelin III.

Many of my friends discovered Led Zeppelin through their 2nd and 3rd albums before going back and buying Led Zeppelin I - maybe it was airplay exposure at the time.

I well remember buying #1 on the recommendation of a friend.
It remained in heavy, prolonged rotation for days, might have been the onset of my tinnitus :)
This was rock with “teeth”. I was hooked.

You had to tell me this...[emoji35]

I graduated from high school in 1969.

Well, at least there was a lot of great, diverse music then. Music that has stood the test if time.

Playing The Ocean, Immigrant Song, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog, Stairway, and a couple others in the late 70's in my classic (well, not then) rock band! We had a lot of fun.

I can only go by what I’ve heard from my older siblings* and their friends as this album was before my time (I was only 3 years old in 1969): Led Zeppelin II (1970) was the big commercial breakthrough for this band, and that first album was acquired afterwards by enthusiasts as a follow up. Led Zep did come through Vancouver in 1970. It’s worth to consider that for the general public the first album flew low on the radar considering the plethora of major label rock bands emerging at the same time. I think my older siblings were more into Iron Butterfly.

*big family

Just wanted to add: even at a young tender age I remember the two prong plug on amplifiers and the shocks those teenagers had to jump around. Young people today may not realize how lucky they are.

I saw Led Zeppelin at the 1970 (and only) Bath festival. Of course I'd seem Jimmy Page before playing around West London with the Yardbirds and others.

Interesting coincidence because only days ago I spent a little time with a Led Zeppelin playlist. I thought about how much I was into Led Zeppelin when I was young but except for a few songs have cared less for decades now. At same time I do go back and listen to a lot of 1960s music.

Part of those thoughts were how Jimmy Page's playing captured me as a teen but a lot of it became painful. With time or age I started appreciating good rhythm planing much more than solos.

They no doubt had great songs and were a big part of my growing up but the real rock and roll band from that side of the ocean is Rolling Stones.

Basically, it seems like in those 50 years what guitar solos do to me vs rhythm probably influenced what I care for now.

I remember sitting in my bedroom on Sunday nights listening to Ron Britain host his Subterranean Circus show from a Chicago radio station. Reception wasn't always great in NE Ohio. Hearing him play cuts from Led I (as well as Janis Joplin, Hendrix, Cream, etc.) was life changing.

The tones Page got from a Tele and a Supro amp were amazing. Led I is still my favorite album of theirs.

Ah yes Zep, Cream, Hendrix ,The Doors , Jefferson Airplane , etc.etc.

As Mary Hopkins aptly put it :

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way

Wow, you were part of the scene. If you have any time to post a thread about what bands you saw etc. I would be all ears.

50 years? Now I really feel old! :eek:

A friend of mine turned me on to this album shortly after it came out. I had just purchased Grand Funk Railroad's Closer to Home and Traffic's John Barleycorn Must Die. Great era for rock and roll! :D

My Led Zeppelin I memory is caging a ride to the city "head shop/record store" that winter and being surprised that they had a featured display for this LP by an obscure Yardbirds spin-off band with a Dada-esque name.

Yup, lots of obscure, "underground" bands starting up around then. Now back in our own time, I wonder what ever happened to those Led Zeppelin guys? Does anyone run into their record when crate digging?