Here's the link to the book: amzn.to/3SymFov If you buy anything from this link, I'll get a tiny cut for guitar string money. If you're lucky enough to have.a locally owned, mom and pop book store in your area, please buy from them instead.

I think we take for granted how completely different Zeppelin’s sound was at the time. Now, when we listen to Led Zeppelin, we hear their music in the context with all of the bands that came afterwards who were influenced by Zeppelin, and we forget that at one time it was only Zeppelin with their unique sound.

Man, I’ve been a concert audio engineer for over 40 years now. I’ve toured with punk bands, national acts and currently with a country/rock group based in WV for many years now. As much as I love my work (and I truly do), when I’m not working, I really find myself not caring much for paying any attention to the business. HOWEVER, I continually find your videos so compelling and simply beautiful. I really appreciate what you do on your channel. Thank you for instilling such a touching spirit to your work. You’re doing something special and inspirational.

I remember when ZEP1 came out and it blew everyone i knew away. The Beatles broke up the stones kept doing what they do and Led Zeppilin ruled the 70s. Never underestimate the hammer of the gods.

The great Glyn Johns hit the nail on the head when he describes Led Zeppelin I. "The album we made in the next 9 days was a landmark in Rock & Roll history, taking it to another level all together." I think Jagger and Harrison, like many of the music critics at that time were simply not prepared for the sonic soundscape they were hearing. It was unlike anything that was ever done before - the power and musical prowess possessed by Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham. LZ I was a musical blitzkriege that was hard for many to comprehend.

Apart from Jagger and Harrison, Pete Townshend and Keith Richards also disliked Led Zep. I think they all felt a bit upstaged despite all their achievements. Zep were clearly hitting the spot with the teenagers especially in America, and they were NEW. I think Jagger/Richards & Townshend thought they had it all sown up but then realised there would be real competition. As for Harrison he was just starting his solo career, and must have felt that this was a musical style he could never even attempt to delve into. In the end, they all did quite well didn't they!

I remember being at someone's house with a good stereo, getting high and hearing that first Led Zeppelin LP for the first time. Those were the days when you got high, sat down and listened fully to whatever came out. Completely mind blowing. Nothing had sounded that BIG at the time. MAMMOTH!

I was HEAVILY into the Beatles and later Stones and remember they were almost flip sides of eachother, but BOTH were great. Led Zeppelin came out with a whole new sound, the closest influence I thought at the time was Jimi Hendrix. My tastes evolved with them, but Led Zeppelin kept innovating with such diverse music, and when they did Physical Graffiti I began to think they were the greatest band of ALL. Young kids today will only be enriched if they listen to these early greats!

Man, last September, we did a 2 night show, celebrating the music of Led Zeppelin. We had 2 guitarist, 2 bass players, 2 female vocalist, and 1 drummer. We did 10 rehearsals, and it was a fantastic show. But 2 takeaways I had being one of the guitarists, is just how complex some of their arrangements were. And a great bass player friend of mine commented after the show saying "You don't realize just how different Led Zeppelin was for the time period, until you hear it like that!" We will hopefully be doing the show again this fall. Thanks for the video Otis!

Thanks for this video. I am 75. I was in high school when the first Led Zeppelin came out and I have to say it sounded very difficult and strange. It took quite a while to get accustomed to it. You have to understand the kind of music we came from. The people who are looking back from later decades will never understand our beginning. We never had any of that later crap. We came from a pure beginning. To adjust to Led Zep was a major adjustment and most people of later generations will never understand that. Eventually we adjusted to what these new Yardbirds were doing and it became the best thing ever. Don't forget, this was from a generation that tuned into Jimi Hendrix immediately, but Led Zeppelin was too much some times even though they were the old Yardbirds adjusted to modern times.

Now that we've heard Led Zeppelin so often over the years, we take them for granted. But, at the time, Led Zeppelin was so new and different, it was mind blowing. The Stones were a blues based rock band and have pretty much stuck to that formula over the years. The Beatles were a pop rock band. Each were brilliant in their own way. I'm sure they appreciated Zeppelin later. But, I can see them not appreciating Zeppelin when they first heard them, being wrapped up in their own music. Or maybe they were just jealous. Zeppelin was doing things they hadn't dreamed of doing. And there was a lot of competition between early Brit rock bands.

Possibly Harrison & Jagger were simply too immersed in their own styles to accept the thunderous grooves of LZ. At any rate, LZ carried on valiantly, taking the industry by storm regardless of opinion. GJ’s credits are all to substantial for me to pick a favorite, most everything a classic. Love ‘em all! All the best to ya’ Otis!

Jealous ! of the sound , the swagger , the power , the talent

Great book. I think those guys were basically threatened by what they heard, but eventually came around. I know that both George and Mick attended Led Zep concerts and spent social time with the band

They were probably envious of this monster sound.

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LZ One was a paradigm shift in Rock and Roll in ‘69 and Glyn Johns made it happen. It’s hard to understand how profound a change it was unless you were there, I was twenty years old in ‘69, because it was so different from what came before. I remember taking the LP back to IU and playing it for friends who, like Jagger and Harrison, just didn’t quite get it but boy did it turn some heads and the rest, as they say, is history.

Thanks for posting this. It made me go back and listen to LZ1 as though for the first time, imagining what it would be like back then. First thing that hits me is each one of the musicians is a true artist, but they also combined to make something greater than the sum of their parts. The songs are incredible. They hit so hard, each one its own color, so original but so familiar. If I were Mick Jagger, I'd be thinking "these guys are better than we are." As for Harrison, there may have been some of that too. But didn't Harrison praise John Bonham in the Get Back sessions?

Led Zepplin hits like a Hammer --they blew all the other records LP's off the charts

Man your work is some of the most nourishing content out there - thanks heaps for taking the time to share the musical universe according to yr vast experience and wisdom!

Great episode Otis. I didn't get LZ at all. But this was '69, I'd been raised on Beatles and I was only 9 years old. Hearing Zep for the first time was like stepping out my front door into a CAT 5 sonic hurricane and being overwhelmed by the power of the sound. Your point about Plant's vocals is, to me, a valid one. As I got older I warmed to LZ since I knew (fully) what to expect upfront. Not to offend anyone, but I recall my very first Van Halen experience in somewhat similar terms. Being fed sound through a fire hose.

Another great video, thanks Otis.I think that Zeppelin was a seismic event in the landscape of music at the time. Nothing sounded as heavy and powerful as Zep's first album. They created a musical form that blended heavy riffs, basic blues structures and superb and intense improvisation. As Page would say many years later, for people in the music establishment (musicians and critics), what the band was doing was way over their heads.

No one loves the stones and beatles more than i do but face it Zep's musicianship was light years ahead of both them bands, this event happened in late 68 or so and it would be less than a year and a half, 1970 in fact, Zep would be voted #1 band in England surpassing even the Beatles who had owned first place since 62.

One time an engineer miked up my upright bass using a tape measure. I thought it meant trouble and it did.

In 2022 after The Stones/Jimmy Page collaboration Scarlet was released, Jagger was more complimentary. He said : "I used to go watch them live, I remember watching their concerts live, it was great - thunderous racket”. He added: “And I saw their last concert as well. And they were absolutely incredible." ✌️👍

Spent 3 hrs standing in front of Jimmy Page in Indianapolis at Tom Breadwell's club "Le Scene on Prospect Ave. ca 1969. I had come to see Jeff Beck but JP had taken over lead duties for the Yardbirds by then. He was playing 2 Dual Showman amps dimed out w a fuzztone. Great channel Otis. BTW give my best greetings to Stan (Hummingbird) Smith.

Thanks for making this, Otis. I really like the way you placed the quotes on the screen. It looks excellent.

Saturday morning with Otis....Life is GOOD.

I’m 73 LZ just blew me away with their unique and transformative sound! One of the greatest bands ever in my humble opinion!!!!!

There has to be more to this story in regards to Jagger and Harrison disliking Led Zeppelin. As far as pop music is concerned, I know of no other group with as much musical talent as Plant, Page, Jones, and Bonham, moreover they wrote quite well.

Thanks Otis! I love all these great stories.

Glyn’s accomplishments set the bar so high that no others could reach the mark. At 65, this aging iron & steel worker wishes high school counselors would have introduced myself & other to musical production & engineering, instead of business management & education. We grew up playing our instruments & listening to Glyn’s work. I hadn’t a clue that music production could have been much less taxing upon so many young minds & bodies.

You just sold thousands of books for Glen!! Awesome, I'm buying, been waiting for this for decades (the book, I find, has been out since 2015!) As a retired drummer/soundman/studio engineer, I feel this is a great bucket list book. Just bought the Kindle version, and shared this coffee talk. Otis, YOU RULE!!! (Was 7 Bridges road that Eagles song?)

I've heard Keith Richards say Zep was overrated and brought nothing new to the table. I always put it off to a bit of professional jealousy, as in "...damn it, why didn't we do that?!"

I just discovered this channel and immediately subscribed. what a joy! thank you.

love it. so well done in Indianapolis. thanks for this

The style -- the look and feel of your videos -- is terrific. They feel both of the cuff and carefully composed. The cinematography is particularly outstanding. Very nice work. As for why Harrison and Jagger didn't flip for LZ: hard to say, but one thought is that both men, particularly Jagger who was heavily influenced by the blues, were quite familiar with the original blues artist that heavily influenced LZ's sound and thus, unlike less knowledgeable music fans did not find LZ's sound all that original or compelling.

Just an incredible, diverse body of work. Lest we forget, Johns produced The Ozark Mountain Daredevils' first album. Let It Bleed and Who's Next round out my top three.

Love your videos and your energy. I live in Nashville and have met some of your local pals...hope one day to get to chat in person. Stay well, warm and safe my friend.

Such great stories you tell Otis I’m glad I came across you il definitely be sharing.

Robert Plant can sing a 3.92 octave range. Jimmy Page wrote and played some of the most masterful guitar songs ever. John Bonham played syncopated drum riffs with crazy beats & dynamic foot work, he is considered the greatest Rock drummer of all time. John Paul Jones bassist & piano, he was the hidden gem of LZ. And together they made some of the most outstanding music ever, regardless of Genre. But jealous Mick is entitled to his opinion, of course.

If Zeppelin were the same as their contemporaries they wouldn’t have blown an entire generation away and we wouldn’t be talking about them over half a century later!! . Much as I liked The Who and tolerated the Stones back then none of my friends wanted to hear Harrison blowing hard about Harri Krishnas or whatever trip he was on. For me there was life before Led Zeppelin and then life after they broke out that first album and followed it up with a killer second helping and nothing was ever the same again. The anticipation of what the hell they would come out with on the next album was too much, I and my friends were bursting to get that next album, it was an addiction for sure and Zeppelin never let us down once, it was a great time to witness the meteoric rise of these guys as they strode the world like giants. The magical chemistry which resulted in Led Zeppelin will never be repeated, well it certainly hasn’t in my lifetime that’s for sure.

Another beautiful episode - thanks from England. Also lovely stylish film making & editing! Digging the bokeh cars stuff & that shot of the swinging Exit sign is too cool. ✌️🎸✨

I appreciate the suggestion. I love a good read and this sounds very interesting. I’m definitely going to get a copy right away.

Stone and Beatles thought they were Rock and Roll, and must have realized they were Pop Music when they heard Zepplin.

Personally i think jagger saw the writing on the wall...Zep was the new sliced bread and innovative and the stones ( i love the stones) kind of stayed on that same path they were on...harrison came around as he challenged JP to do a.ballad and i think Jimmy did the rain song and george got it. John Lennon was quoted stating he couldnt get enough of zeppelin. Either way....all lived and ate well in the end but Zeppelin opened alot of ears and carried the hard rock torch forward.

Nice breakdown of an amazing man. The ability to admit when you are wrong is the key to growing as a person. People that are never wrong are seldom right! As a young man in the 70's, Led Zeppelin was my all time favorite band. My sister liked the Beatles but Led Zeppelin hit all the chords for me! Only saw them live once but it was a memorable day. The last day they played in the US at a Bill Graham "Day on the Green." Of course green back then had more than one meaning!

I went down to the pacer game on thursday night and as I drove by Market street I thought about zeppelin playing there 49 years ago to the day. Looking forward to seeing you again at the HiFi Otis!

~@8:00...Jagger and Harrison were of the 45rpm, AM radio era. Yes, they have made epic music, But Page witnessed FM radio in America, playing songs longer than 2:30. I was 21 when LZ 1 was released. The effect it had was enormous. None of the songs were AM-radio style. LZ 1 was of a new medium.

It has to be jealousy on some level!!!

Thanks Otis for this, you really are quite a good storyteller. In June of 1977 I had just turned seventeen and Led Zeppelin was playing six nights at the fabulous Forum(Los Angeles) and it was time for me to go to my first rock concert. To say that it was exciting, loud, and fun is a massive understatement! ✌

Great insight mate. I've been a basic songwriter who has always just enjoyed the process of trying to get the sound in your head to then somehow getting it down on tape... for over 40 years. Once in a 'Blue Moon', I get it right to my ears. Magic feeling when it happens. GAZ (Melbourne/Australia)

Thanks for recommending Glyn’s book! 🎸🇬🇧

Thank you for another great video. I did the audiobook of Sound Man and share your enthusiasm. I think that George Harrison's musical tastes grew out of early rock, the influence of Dylan, and Indian music. That may be a bit too far away from the heavy blues of Led Zep for George to get moved by it. Not sure about Mick. The Stones grew out of the blues. Perhaps it was the heaviness of the music or Plant's voice. Sometimes it takes a few listens to get a new sound, and perhaps George and Mick would have come to like it with a little more exposure.

Otis. your comment ..."book felt go good in my hands"...you confirm why I love. Saturday Coffee finds light.

Perhaps because of Ringo and Charlie having such a laid back style , John’s drumming was hard to hear for them.

If you look back, the bulk of the critics hated "The Zep" too. That included Ben Fong Torres of "Rolling Stone" magazine. I think Mick and George disliked them because they worshipped those old blues songs that Zep blew up to pieces. Just for the record, Keith didn't care for them then or now, and I think it's for the same reason.

I heard Jeff Beck in 1968. I first heard their version (Truth) of 'You Shook Me' with Rod Stewart singing lead, live and for free in NYC in Central Park. When I first heard Led Zep's version I was mildly impressed. I bet the Yardbirds did it before either, and it was written by the Chess Records blues consortium of Waters, Dixon, along with other contributors.

Thank you for your book recommendations never disappointed.

Great video. You sounded as excited talking about the book as as Glyn Johns did about the bands he worked with over the years.

I grew up listening to LZ as a kid in the 70s. I also play guitar and drums. The mystery and enigma about their chemistry needs no mentioning. But I think there are some details that give us a clue about why they may have been perhaps too different for the likes of Jagger and Harrison. While the music of The Stones and The Beatles have a certain “sophistication” in terms of genteelness… Zeppelin plugs directly into the high energy of the 1950s. If we look at all of their influences, it is well-known that Page has deep roots not only in blues, folk and world music, but especially the likes of guitarist Scotty Moore from Elvis Presley. He mentions a lot of his influences throughout interviews. One of the traits he always points out is rawness and energy in a performance. Especially from the 1950s. Well… That definitely comes across in his aesthetic. lol. (Not to mention the flashy clothes and fancy footwork occasionally on stage- the antithesis of the folk/blues movement that was still bubbling under at the time,.) I think the most telling moment is the live recording of Whole Lotta Love, from The Song Remains the Same. Just listen to that middle section and it becomes quite clear that the 50s was a huge foundation. Those rockabilly riffs that he’s pulling off are just incredible. And of course there’s Plant saying “shake it one time for Elvis”. Page’s contemporaries like Richards and Clapton weren’t coming from that area as much. I mean… The song Rock ‘n’ Roll is another window into all of it. You can’t get any more 50s than that. Perhaps the others were looking to move beyond the 50s and just didn’t see what Jimmy was doing at the time. But hey… Glyn John’s did. And thankfully, so!

It seems a majority of the earliest hits were just rearrangements of old blues riffs with additions of modern technology and the constantly changing artistic moods of the times plus some good ole Rock&Roll 👍

What a smile you put on my face with this latest vid Otis! I didn’t even know that Johns had written a book.

Let's not forget that Led Zeppelin did record some of their big songs in Mick Jaggers' house! Mick also chose 'Rock n Roll' on a radio show talking about the key songs of the era in which 'Exile On Mainstreet' was made.

I love this stuff.Its history.. Its very interesting. Jagger and Keith feared Led Zeppelin. Its all about the $$$$.They thought Zep would cut into their income. I first heard Led Zeppelin isn 1968 and I was so amazed by their unique sound. Still am today every time I listen to them.

A Nod’s as good as a wink to a blind horse - what a rocking album. On of my all time favourites. Will have to check out this book.

Take care Otis. Always a pleasure chatting with you 👍🏻

Nice piece Otis on yours thoughts about the book.I really enjoyed your synopsis on the interplay that occurred when Glyn John's recorded Zep 1 sound. I couldn't wait to get hold of my 1st copy of Zep 1 and show it off to everybody l knew. I got it from the get go, having heard tracks played on John Peel's radio show. It's of no surprise to me that Jagger, Harrison, Richards,Clapton etc and all the rest said that they didn't like it, when it first came out! A Masterpiece. Well done Ottis❤😊🙏🇬🇧🤘🎸

I think there's a bombastic quality to some of Zep's music that isn't quite as noticeable now because of all the music that has come along since. But at that time it must have been a lot more apparent. I think that's part of what caused George and Mick's negative reaction. Anyway, that aspect of LZ is part of their charm for me personally, but I can understand why some don't dig it.

When thinking of this era & place in music, (London mid-late '60s)- I also think of Nicky Hopkins as much as Glyn & Andy Johns, as a "periphery" kind of element. But a neccessity to the overall output in the sound.... Great, great stuff !! 🚬😎👍

Sweet, sweet review Otis. You are definitely the kuelest music appreciado of all time. Your wisdom is like warm fire on a snowy afternoon.

Zep were the biggest band of the 70's nobody was close and I mean nobody... Thats just FACTS 💯. So many jealous of Zep back then . Nobody was bigger in America and they stayed out of the media as much as possible. Even put out Zep 4 with their name absent from the album.... And look what that album did . Great vid . Long live LED ZEPPELIN ‼️

Envy and jealousy, that Jimmy and JPJ , both first grade super musical masters themselves, having played as session guys on many albums, had "found" those 2 super talented guys from the north country and that the 4 of them mixed the best from them all together so superbly and uniqly. Best regards from Immy who has loved LZ music since the Reykjavik gig in 1970.

What about Robert Plants opinion of The Rolling Stones?😮

Awesome. I will watch this tonight

Love what you do, and how you do it. Much Love back.

Stones and Beatles were songwriters. They had terrific riffs but also a lot of songs that were just chords and melody. Zep had a monster hard riff in every song plus astonishing technique. Different bands.

I believe the biggest part of those who could not accept Zeppelin was Robert Plant's over the top vocals and weird melodic sensibility. NOBODY on record, sang like that before him. Unfortunately, too many after that tried (and often failed) to imitate him, especially in the 1980's.

It's pretty common for people to not take straight away, if at all, to 'new' styles of music. We like what we like, usually because it's what we've been brought up with and grown to love. I remember one of my older brothers commenting on The Cure, saying Robert Smith couldn't sing and that his mother would be embarrassed... I'm not really into The Cure but we have to accept that things change over time, including music. That doesn't mean you have to listen to or even like 'new' music and you can still listen to your old stuff - I still do, including Led Zeppelin

Damn Otis! One of your best, and that is really saying something!

Well, i remember when zep 1 and then zep 2 came out. We were gobsmacked by the drums. Until then, we were watching ringo, bobby elliott, charlie watts, ginger baker - but none were doing triplets with their kick drum pedal. The closest to bonham was dino danelli who was fantastic. It was a totally new sound when we heard bonham. With bonham, the drums moved into an equal role with the guitar, bass and vocals. No longer were the drums just an accompienent in the background. Bonham and johns made the drums equal to the other band members. I remember it well - everything about the drums changed when we heard those first two records.

The sound was probably too heavy, rough and dirty for George Harrison - I figure he would have responded the same way to, let's say, Deep Purple In Rock! More surprised that Mick Jagger didn't get it, but on the other hand he didn't get Jimi Hendrix either, when he saw him playing at a club in Greenwich Village shortly before Chas Chandler got wind of him (Linda Keith had recommended that Jagger should check out Hendrix).

I remember Whole Lotta Love being "accidentally" released by Atlantic, though not met with approval from Peter Grant. I was only 12 at the time and FM radio was just becoming a thing here in the Midwest. It blew me away. It was loud, raw, sexy, and dangerous. From that day I became a lifetime Zeppelin fan.

Once again, Otis, you tell the best stories that gives me a "peaceful easy feeling"😏 I think i remember seeing Glyn Johns in that Beatles Get Back documentary. So i could see him kind of guiding and observing (just like you mentioned). I will definitely check out this book. thanks.

My thought on Jagger and Harrison. George was honestly assessing what he heard and just didn’t get it. Probably a bit ballsy for George at the time. Mick on the other hand heard competition and a virtuosity his band didn’t possess. A couple of Johns/Stones related stories I found interesting…..When Exile on Main Street was being mixed, John’s, Jagger and Mick Taylor we’re in the studio doing overdubs and for some reason Taylor was getting on Johns’ last nerve, acting cocky and offering input on things Johns considered outside Taylor’s realm of expertise. Finally, Johns told him “just play the guitar, sunshine”. I also liked the story Jimmy Johnson told about the Stones December ‘69 Muscle Shoals sessions. When the tapes arrived in London, Johns went to work at the mixer with those three tunes (You Got to Move, Brown Sugar and Wild Horses) but never could beat Johnson’s Muscle Shoals mix, and called Jimmy to tell him so, for which Jimmy was quite proud.

Yeah ,well if you read the John McLaughlin book Bathed in lightning...there is a bit where John PaulJones is saying how much their circle of jazz musos and session men ,looked down on the Rolling Stones, they thought they were pretty crummy, so maybe mick ( and keith) were aware of that. Its a bloody geeat read if you are into British RnB and Jazz, which i love

Sometimes you just need to listen twice. Jagger eventually became an admirer of them as he mentioned a few times. He was even at their reunion concert in London and claimed frustrated that they didn’t go on tour at that time.

Thank you 🙏 This was interesting and informative

Could problem be that a number of songs on first album of Led Zepplin were taken directly from forgotten Blues artists in late 1920's and the 1930's?

I don’t think people like to hear the comparisons between RP’s voice and Steve Marriotts voice and inflections. Because SM was there first they might have thought that to be unoriginal…? I am a huge fan of RP’s voice btw. I also am a huge fan of Small Faces and Humble Pie. Like the song “You Need Loving” by the Small Faces.

Awesome video. Thank you

Great video, very interesting. ✌️😎

Glyn did the Ozark Mountain daredevils first album i believe. Amazing record although unknown to many.

Thank you Otis, a good producer is very much like a shaman or crone that can guide, but like a bird leave no tracks. Musicians like writers are not the best critics of others in their genre.

I think the reason Mick & George didn’t like LZ1 the first time is because neither had ever felt so belittled.

The more I'm following this gentleman's commenting voice the more I feel he's talking about my inner experience in recording studio working on 🎤 microphone distribution... ¡¡Just a great professor in this field no doubt about it!!

Pete Townsend admitted he was possibly jealous of Zep. Up and above their sound, Plant’s vocals and stage presence alone made so much of the competition look like amateur night.

I guess there were a lot of London based heavy guitar Blues bands playing in the clubs in 1968/69. Maybe they thought , what’s so different??

Excellent video Otis!

What synchronicity! I started that book yesterday!