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Rating:
After the modest In Through The Out Door, which, despite not being up to the previous ones, achieves great success, the Led seek to improve and go on tour. Page himself said: "after the release of in through... Bonzo and I were already discussing plans for a new album with a stronger rock orientation". In short: the Led would not accept defeat, and there was still hope that the four would improve themselves and their sound. But troubles were already beginning. In 1980 (perhaps July), Bonzo collapsed unconscious from the drums after just three songs. After the tour, Bonzo blames it on physical exhaustion. Shows are already scheduled for the fall, but on September 25, 1980, a terrible event occurs: John Bonham is found dead. The rest of the group, deeply shocked, don’t even consider continuing and on December 4, 1980, they announce the fall of the Zeppelin.
But it's not over yet: there’s still room for one last sign from the four: Coda. The album wasn't made out of a desire to do so, but because there were contractual obligations that tied the band to Atlantic (the agreement made in 1974 with Atlantic stipulated that Led Zeppelin would release five albums under the Swan Song label, and they had made 4, including the live The Song Remains The Same), and this album included tracks left out during 12 years of activity.
The first three tracks come from the recordings of Led Zeppelin I, II, and III, i.e., during the moment of glory. "We're Gonna Groove" is an enjoyable rock blues with the carefree drumming of the deceased Bonzo and the decidedly bluesy guitar. "Poor Tom," the following track, comes from the third album (it is indeed acoustic), characterized by Bonzo's heavy drumming and the folk atmosphere that surrounded the band at that time. Although recorded during the memorable "III," this song feels much like a filler. The third track is a beautiful classic: it is the live version from January 9, 1970, of the classic blues "I Can't Quit You Babe," one of the exemplary tracks from "I." "Walter's Walk" is very effective and interesting and comes from the sessions of Houses Of the Holy, bombarded by Bonzo's aggressive drumming and Page's main riffs. "Ozone Babe," incredibly enough, comes from In Through The Out Door, a pleasant rock'n'roll tune that is not to be dismissed, thanks to a worthy performance by the four. Darlene is also part of the recording sessions of the same album, and this piece too manages to stand out from its origin, also rock'n'roll. "Bonzo's Montreux," dedicated from the title to the legendary Bonham, is a sonic experiment based on Bonzo's drumming and electronic effects created by Page, recorded in September 1976, i.e., after the Presence period. The last track, "Wearing And Tearing," is magnificent: although it comes from In Through The Out Door, the song boasts an incredible hard rock with Bonzo's relentless drumming, Plant's raw and hard voice, Jones's precise technique, and Page's heavy riffs.
All things considered, Coda is not as bad as one might think and offers a posthumous album that is uneven in quality but not to be discarded: worth rediscovering. However, the rating is considered to be a 3.5.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Poor Tom (03:03)
(Page/Plant)
Here's a tale of Tom
Who worked the railroads long
His wife would cook his meal
As he would change the wheel
Poor Tom, Seventh Son, Always knew what's goin on
Ain't a thing that you can hide from Tom
There ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom
Worked for thirty years
Sharing hopes and fears
Dreamin' of the day
He could turn and say
Poor Tom, work's done, been lazin' out in the noonday sun
Ain't a thing that you can hide from Tom
His wife was Annie Mae
With any man a game she'd play
When Tom was out of town
She couldn't keep her dress down
Poor Tom, Seventh Son, always knew what's goin on
Ain't a thing that you can hide from Tom
And so it was one day
People got to Annie Mae (?)
Tom stood, a gun in his hand
And stopped her runnin' around
Poor Tom, Seventh Son, gotta die for what you've done
All those years of work are thrown away
To ease your mind is that all you can say?
But what about that grandson on your knee?
Them railroad songs, Tom would sing to me
Ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom
Keep-a Truckin'
03 I Can't Quit You Baby (04:18)
Ah, ah
I can't quit you, babe
So I'm gonna put you down for awhile
I said I can't quit you, babe
I guess I got to put you down for awhile
Said you messed up my happy home
Made me mistreat my only child
Yes you did babe, oh
Said you know I love you, baby
My love for you, I could never hide
Oh, you know I love you, babe
My love for you, I could never hide
A-when I feel you near me little girl
I know you are my one desire
Whoa, oh, oh yeah
When you hear me moanin' an' groanin, babe
You know it hurts me deep down inside
Oh, when you hear me moanin' an' groanin', babe
You know it hurts me deep down inside
Oh, when you hear me, honey baby
You know you're my one desire
Yes, you are
Oh, you are
04 Walter's Walk (04:30)
(Page/Plant)
Ooh...know I feel so strange looking out the door
oooh...tryin hard to change but can't let go
oooh...cryin' tears of pain and more and more
oooh...everyday is the same as the one before
I'm walkin the floor over you
I'm walkin the floor
Every heart that breaks is a heart that's cold
To the hand that takes your dreamless soul
Ooh...Is it long to wait, is it much to pay?
oooh...Sometimes it's hard waiting for the day.
you know it's hard. I said it's hard
You know it's true. I said it's hard
you know it's hard. You know it's true
Every tear that falls is a smile that's lost
When you hear the call can you count the cost?
As you stand alone do you wonder how?
Can you step aside, does it matter now?
Every love that's changed ?-?-?-?-?-?
In the eye of the night ?-?-?-
In the day everything ?-?-?-?
She was smilin' a tear at her waters fall ??
you know it's true. You know it's true now
I'm walkin the floor over you
I'm walkin' the floor
Every tear that falls is a smile that's lost
When you hear the call can you count the cost?
As you stand alone do you wonder how?
Can you step aside, does it matter now?
Does it matter now? (repeat)
06 Darlene (05:07)
(Bonham/Jones/Page/Plant)
Darlene, oooh Darlene, oooh Darlene,
Darlene, oh oh Darlene, oh oh Darlene
oooh Come on baby give me some
When I see you at that dance with your tight dress on
Whatcha got it sure is fine
I wanna get me some
Darlene, woooh baby baby Darlene, oooh be my baby Darlene,
ooh, come on baby... be my baby
Darlene, ooh, Darlene, hey! hey! Darlene, oh oh
Come back and be my sweet little girl
When I see you on the street, it makes my heart go flitter
I see you walkin with all those guys
It makes me feel so sick
And I don't care what people say
And I don't care what they do
Sweet child I gotta make you mine
You're the only thing that I want: You!
Baby Baby when you walk down the block,
See the people (?flock?)
Woooh! Child! Oh ya drive me wild!
I gotta do it really gonna try
Oh baby, I got my car
I'll take you as far
I'm gonna take you every place
I'm gonna boogie-woogie-woogie-woogie that's fine
I'm gonna prove it, Darlene
I'm gonna make ya my girl
I'm gonna boogie, Darlene
I'm gonna send ya in another world
Cause I love Darlene, I gotta love 'er, Yes I do
I've been savin all my money
I've been workin all day long
I gotta give it all back to you!
08 Wearing and Tearing (05:29)
(Page/Plant)
It starts out like a murmur
Then it grows like thunder
Until it bursts inside of you
Try to hold it steady
Wait until you're ready
Any second now will do
Throw the door wide open
Not a word is spoken
Anything that you want to do
Ya know, ya know, ya know...
Don't you feel the same way?
Don't you feel the same way?
But you don't know what to do
No time for hesitatin'
Ain't no time for hesitatin'
All you got to do is move
They say you're feeling blue, well
I just found a cure
It's a thing you gotta do, yeah
Ya know, ya know, ya know...
Now listen: You say your body's aching?
I know that it's aching
Chill bumps come up on you
Yeah, the funny fool
I love the funny fool
?Just like foolin' after school?
And then you ask for medication
Who cares for medication
When you've worn away the cure
Ya know, ya know, ya know...
Go back to the country
Yeah, go back to the country
Feel a change is good for you
When you keep convincin'
Ah, don't keep convincin'
What's that creeping up behind a you?
It's just an old friend
It's just an old friend
And what's that he's got for you?
Ya know, ya know, ya know...
Do your dance do your dance do your dance
Oooooh, medication. Medication! Medication!
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Other reviews
By claudio carpentieri
"Coda remains a decent album certainly unable to compete with any of the previous works."
"On the eve of the breakup, the band was still capable of kicking the butts of many of the new heroes of the end of the decade called punks."
