The Song Remains The Same

My earliest memory of Led Zeppelin, though surely not my first encounter, takes place in the summer of 1994. I had just turned twelve years old and wouldn't go to my first concert until a few months later. Having grown up listening to classic rock radio, I was already familiar with the band's music, but never had the opportunity to experience the albums as a whole. Being on vacation from school, I found myself with an abundance of free time while my parents were away at work. One day, I decided to go down to the basement and dig out the boxes that held all of my dad's old records. Inside I found a wealth of rock and roll treasures, from Aerosmith to ZZ Top. But it wasn't Black Sabbath or Talking Heads I was interested in, today all I wanted was Led Zeppelin.

I quickly grabbed an armful of records and ran up to my bedroom to begin what would become a life-long love affair with the greatest rock and roll band of all time. My arms were tense with anticipation as I put the first platter on my tiny plastic Fisher-Price turntable and pressed record on my boombox, its internal microphone placed as close as possible to the turntable's lone speaker. I sat silently next to my makeshift dubbing operation, experiencing these classic pieces of rock history in their intended form, growing more excited with each tape flip and needle drop. Over the next few days, I worked my way through the catalogue until I had my own crudely-made copy of every album, hiding the records under my bed each night so my dad wouldn't find out I'd been rifling through his prized collection.

Over time, those tapes have all been lost or recorded over, replaced by newer, better versions. But as the years went by and the band's music became more ingrained in my soul with each repeated listen, the one thing I could never get back was the experience of hearing those albums for the first time. Now, at the end of a year-long quest to listen to more Led Zeppelin that I ever had before, I find that the most satisfying result is not the catalogue of reviews I've written or the deeper understanding of the band's dynamic as performers I've gained, but something much greater.

Through the course of the year, I abstained from listening to any of the band's studio recordings until I reached the point of their release in the live chronology. In doing so, I unknowingly fulfilled a dream I've had since those eye-opening afternoons some fourteen years ago. As I listened to each studio album amidst a sea of live recordings, it was as if I was experiencing them for the first time all over again. I heard each song with a renewed freshness and vibrancy, reminding me of exactly why I fell in love with this band and their music so many years ago. This, by far, has been the greatest reward.

I'd like to thank everyone for their kind words and encouragement throughout the year, I couldn't have done it without you all. It means a lot to know that there was such a great interest in a little project that started out as a joke between two friends.

I'd like to dedicate this site to the following people...

To my parents,

for raising me on classic rock radio and always encouraging my musical explorations.

And to Gabby,

for putting up with my obsession.

The End.