TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Presence" - Led Zeppelin (1976)

"Presence" - Led Zeppelin (1976)

     Believe it or not, I've never owned a copy of Led Zeppelin's "Presence."  In any media format.  Nor did I have any recollection of ever listening to the square front-to-back at any time.  So I was excited to find a nice used first pressing for $12.  It was at a garage sale.  Literally.  Everything for sale was inside the garage.  Anyway, the cover and spine were clean.  The embossed title on the front is still readable.  And most importantly, the vinyl was a strong VG+. 

     I have to admit, watching the needle drop on a Led Zeppelin album I knew very little about for the first time gave me a bit of a rush.  This was the follow-up to Zeppelin's tour de force, "Physical Graffiti," so, of course, "Presence" was obviously gonna pale in comparison.  No surprise there.  But after shaking hands with the square a few times, apart from one misguided dirtclod, a rockabilly kinda thing, it's good.  And maybe because all the songs sounded fresh and unfamiliar to me.  Or maybe 'cause I just like getting the Led out.  Who knows?  Whatever the reason, I had this album on frequent rotation.  This was Zep's seventh studio album, and what a long, strong run of albums they had.  Hearing "Presence" on vinyl really brought it out.

"Presence" - Led Zeppelin (back)

"Presence" - Led Zeppelin (inside gatefold)

"Presence" - Led Zeppelin (embossed title)

Favorites include:

"Achilles Last Stand"

"For Your Life"

"Nobody's Fault But Mine"

     The words "The Object" © 1976 Swan Song Inc. appear on the bottom back cover and refer to the obsidian-like statue shown on the cover.   It was designed by Hipgnosis.

Swan Song label

Cat #

SS 8416

SIDE A  DEADWAX

ST-SS-763559-E  0-ISM 2-1  SP PR  ATLANTIC  STUDIOS

SIDE B  DEADWAX

ST-SS-763560-F  0-ISM 1-3  AT  ATLANTIC STUDIOS  SP PR

"For Your Life" - Led Zeppelin / "Presence" (1976)

TRACKS:

A1  "Achilles Last Stand" 10:26

A2  "For Your Life" 6:21

A3  "Royal Orleans" 2:58

B1  "Nobody's Fault But Mine" 6:15

B2  "Candy Store Rock" 4:10

B3  "Hots On For Nowhere" 4:42

B4  "Tea For One" 9:27

PERSONNEL:

John Bonham - drums

John Paul Jones - bass

Jimmy Page - guitars, production

Robert Plant - vocals, harmonica

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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