lambchops's Full Review: No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded by ...
Led Zeppelin died on September 23, 1980 with John Bonham. The band really wasn’t able to continue making the same music without the thundering beat provided by their celebrated drummer.
Each of the three remaining members of Led Zeppelin managed to continue making their own kind of music. John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant toured individually for much of the 1980’s and 1990’s. While the late Bonham and Jones provided the backbone to the band’s hit singles, it was Page and Plant who really made Led Zeppelin something special.
After many years waiting, fans were awarded with 1994’s No Quarter, a live and studio recorded collaboration between Page and Plant. Released by Atlantic and featuring thirteen tracks, the album really wasn’t a rehash of the famous sound that originally made Led Zeppelin a worldwide success. Rather, what the duo did was rerecord some less famous material with added ethnicity ranging from Middle Eastern to Celtic. Page and Plant also collaborated on three new songs Yallah, City Don’t Cry, and Wonderful One.
What listeners should be left with after listening to the album in its entirety is a sense of completeness. Page and Plant matured significantly in the fourteen years between the band’s disintegration and the release of No Quarter. I deeply admire the work of Led Zeppelin, and this album is one a collection would be incomplete without.
As I’ve already mentioned, the most popular Zepp songs aren’t found on No Quarter. Page and Plant chose carefully, recording some of the more difficult and versatile tracks from their earlier years. What really makes this album click for me is that the songs they did record were some of my favorites. I’ve always ranked Thank You, Kashmir, and Gallows Pole among the best Led Zeppelin tracks.
Some standout tracks include the absolutely divine Thank You. Page’s voice is controlled and at times understated while Page’s guitar drives the track in front of the London Metropolitan Orchestra. I’d say that this version is at times arguably more impressive than the original. Thank You is emotionally rich and gorgeously performed.
The Battle of Evermore is also an inspiring reinterpretation of a classic. With very exotic, very Middle Eastern sounding musical influences the track could have seemed forced. Instead, the resulting feeling is simple on the surface yet with further inspection has many layers. The use of Indian singer Najma Akhtar light vocals is inspired planning. Akhtar’s vocals, in fact, compliment Plant’s overpowering voice wonderfully.
Both Gallows Pole and Kashmir are also wonderfully performed. I appreciate the infusion of international music of various kinds. Gallows Pole is energetic and understated. This version is very different than the original, yet the heart of the song remains pure. Kashmir, nominated for a 1996 Grammy, tops the original by freely incorporating Middle Eastern musical elements. After listening to this version is seems that Kashmir was meant to sound like this. Plant winds his voice neatly around the exotic instruments. It’s very easy to see why the music industry recognized this song’s greatness.
Of the three new tracks, I’m most appreciative of Wonderful One. Reminiscent of some of Led Zeppelin’s later tracks, Page and Plant relish in the song’s exquisite richness. Plant sings emotionally, effortlessly, and sincerely. Page holds himself back, only strumming the electric guitar lightly.
The one thing that really needs to be said here is that there are no giant guitar riffs. Page modulates himself, adding to the overall picture rather than drowning it out. No Quarter is an exercise in restraint and an ode to world music. It’s also an outstanding collaboration between two rock gods…Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. I highly recommend this album. It’s not better than Led Zeppelin’s second or fourth albums by any means, but yet No Quarter represents creative excellence. I give this album 5/5 stars.
Track Listing:
1. Nobody's Fault But Mine
2. Thank You
3. No Quarter
4. Friends
5. Yallah
6. City Don't Cry
7. Since I've Been Loving You
8. Battle Of Evermore, The
9. Wonderful One
10. That's The Way
11. Gallows Pole
12. Four Sticks
13. Kashmir
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