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Rating:
August 4, 1975: Robert Plant, on vacation in Cyprus, is involved in a terrifying car accident with his wife and children, and he breaks his left ankle. He is therefore confined to a wheelchair, and the rehabilitation time is not short. So, the remaining dates of the tenth U.S. tour of Led Zeppelin are all canceled. Page decides to use the downtime to work on a new album and joins Plant in convalescence in Malibu to write the songs, while Jones and Bonham return to their families. Therefore, the compositional contributions of the bassist and drummer are practically nil: this is why "Presence" turns out to be the most guitar-centered album of any other Led Zeppelin album: it is, in fact, Page who composes all the songs, except for the lyrics, which are written, as usual, by Plant.
The first track of the album is "Achilles Last Stand," the last true great masterpiece of the Zep. Here all four musicians push their skills to the limit: Bonham delivers the best performance of his career, making his drumming explosive; Plant screams and yells despite being in a wheelchair, delivering an exceptional vocal performance; Jones once again demonstrates his incredible rhythmic solidity on the bass and Page amazes by creating a wall of guitar overdubs and painting a memorable solo, perhaps the best of his career, alongside "Stairway To Heaven" and "Since I've Been Loving You." "Achilles Last Stand" is a phenomenal hard-rock track that hits with intensity and power, and Plant's lyrics, with references to Greek mythology, contribute to giving this song an epic feel. The second piece is "For Your Life," a fine song characterized by Page's raw and lacerating riff, making it sticky and obsessive, while Plant sings a straightforward story of drugs. It continues with "Royal Orleans," a rather hurried funky track that is truly negligible before reaching the other masterpiece of "Presence": "Nobody's Fault But Mine," a rock-blues introduced by Page's menacing guitar with which Plant then duets, repeating a lazy and hypnotic phrase that then bursts into the vigorous riff masterfully supported by Jones and Bonham's phenomenal rhythmic work and the solo first by Plant with the harmonica and then by Page with his Les Paul. The song from which the Zep took inspiration to write this track is an old Blind Willie Johnson blues. But right after this brilliant episode, the Led fall lower with "Candy Store Rock," a very trivial '50s rock'n roll piece that Page and company could have spared themselves. Then comes "Hots On For Nowhere," a cheerful and delightful track with a funky rhythm that proves very enjoyable, after which to conclude the album, the Led decide to return to their roots, and in particular to their main source of inspiration: the blues. "Tea For One" is a slow blues in C minor, attempting to recall the other fantastic blues, also in C minor, from "III," "Since I've Been Loving You." However, the attempt fails: "Tea For One" offers very few emotions and proves to be a rather 'tired' piece: even Page himself would say that "Tea For One" was the only time the Led repeated themselves.
Recorded in just 18 days, "Presence" had already obtained platinum status with reservations alone, even before its release on March 31, 1976. However, the album didn't stay at the top of the charts for long, both because it was overshadowed by the release, also in '76, of the live album "The Song Remains The Same," and because it effectively highlighted an initial decline in the compositional level of the Zep. "Presence" is, therefore, a good album, but not a masterpiece like the group's previous 6 works. Here, taken by surprise by Plant's accident, the Led try not to give in and seek to prove they are still themselves by composing very hard tracks and retracing with vigor and little clarity the paths previously taken that made them immortal. Unfortunately, the result does not fully satisfy: the decline of the Zep has begun, and the airship is slowly but inexorably losing altitude.
N. B. The rating is not a full 4, it's closer to 3.5
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Achilles Last Stand (10:28)
It was an April morning when they told us we should go.
As I turned to you, you smiled at me; how could we say no?
Whoa, the fun to have! To live the dreams we always had.
Whoa, the songs to sing! When we at last return again.
Sending off a glancing kiss to those who claim they know
Below the streets that steam and hiss, the devil's in his home.
Whoa, to sail away! Sandy lands and other days.
Whoa, to touch the dream! That hides inside and is never seen, yeah.
Into the sun of south and north at last the birds have flown.
The shackles of commitment fell in pieces on the ground.
Whoa, to ride the wind! To tread the air above the din.
Whoa, to laugh aloud! Dancing high above the crowd.
Seek the man whose pointing hand the giant step unfolds.
With guidance from the curving path that churns up into stone!
If one bell should ring, celebration for a king.
So fast the heart should beat, as proud the head with heavy feet, yeah.
[Solo]
Days went by when you and I made an eternal summer's glow
As far away and distant, our mutual time to grow.
Whoa, the sweet refrain! It soothes the soul and calms the pain.
Oh, Albion remains! Sleeping now to rise again.
Wandering the wanderings. What place to rest the search?
Where the mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the earth!
Where the mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the earth!
From the earth!
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way.
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way.
Where the mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the earth!
02 For Your Life (06:24)
Well, well, oh, hoh, hoh
You said I was the only, with my lemon in your hand
Uh-oh, uh-oh-hoh
Exhibition is your habit, emotion second-hand
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Had to pull away to save me
Well, maybe next time around-a, oh
And she said
"Don'tcha want, a-don'tcha want cocaine, cocaine, cocaine"
Hadn't planned to, could not stand'a try it, fry it, ow
Now, now, now, now, yeah
Wooo-oooh-oooh-oooh-ooh-ooh
Heard a cry for mercy, uh, in the city of the damned-a
Uh-oh, baby, damn...
In the pits you go no lower, the next stop's underground
A-ho, how low underground
You wanna know, is it quite over
To fame it deals a losin' hand
And I said, "Didn't mean to, did not a-mean to fluff it
You didn't plan it, you overran it, aah-ha-ha-how, yeah"
Do you wanna, do you want, do ya, d-do
Do you, would you wanna
Do you wanna, do you wanna, do you, d-do
Do you, would you wanna
When you blow it, babe, you got to blow it right
Baby, if you fake it, mama, baby, fake with all your might
When you fake it, mama
please-a, a-fake it right for yourself, babe
When ya fa-fa-fa-fake it, baby
You're fakin' it for your life, for your life
for your life, for your life
Do you, do you, do you, do you, do you
Do you, would you wanna
Do you, do you, do you, do you, do you
Do you, would you wanna
Oh, like to help ya, baby
but I don't know what to do-ooh-ooh, yeah
Sometime, baby
Nothin' I can do-ooh-ooh, yeah
With the fine lines of the crystal payin' through your nose
And when they couldn't resist ya
I said, "Just go with the flow"
And now your stage is empty
Pull down the curtain, baby, please
Fold up your show
Hadn't planned to, could not stand to fry in it
I hadn't planned it, I overran it
Fry it for your life, for your life
03 Royal Orleans (02:59)
One time love, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night, And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it, Sometimes its hard to feel it bite
Feel it bite.
A man I know, went down to Louisiana,
had himself a bad, bad fight
And when the sun peeked through
John Cameron with Suzanna,
He kissed the whiskers, left & right
Whiskers!
Now, now, now, fright subsides
Out at a hotel in the quarter, our friends check in to pass the night
Now love gets hot, but fire preceded water
Poor whiskers set the room alight.
Whiskers!
Down on Bourbon street, You know it's right
You can see my friend, they run around all through the night
Most everywhere, Until the closet's bare
Run for the razor, Doin' up my hair
New Orleans queens, Sure know how to schmooze it
Maybe for some that seems alright
When I step out, strut down with my sugar
She'd best not talk like Barry White!
One time love, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night, And if you take your pick
Be careful how you choose it, Sometimes its hard to feel it bite
Feel it bite.
07 Tea for One (09:23)
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes seem to slip into days?
Oh twenty-four hours, Baby sometimes seem to slip into days
A minute seems like a lifetime, baby when I feel this way
Sittin, lookin at the clock, time moves so slow
I've been watchin for the hands to move
Until I just can't look no more
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes seems to slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, Baby when I feel this way.
To sing a song for you, I recall you used to say
"Oh baby this one's for we two", Which in the end is you anyway
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, baby when I feel this way.
There was a time that I stood tall, In the eyes of other men
But by my own choice I left you woman, And now I can't get back again
How come twenty-four hours, sometimes slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, Baby when I feel this way
A minute seems like a lifetime
When I feel this way...I feel this way
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Other reviews
By Antonino91
'Achilles Last Stand' is a masterpiece with perfectly balanced instruments and breathtaking drumming.
'Candy Store Rock' is the most negligible episode of the album, almost nauseating.
By Cimbarello132
'Achilles Last Stand' surpasses 'Stairway to Heaven' but remains hidden in its shadow.
One of the many reasons why Led are my absolute favorite band.
By vellutogrigio
"Achilles Last Stand is one of the best tracks in the career of the four, with Page's guitar architecture supporting Plant's declamatory singing."
"Never had a Zeppelin track in the '70s been so straightforward, almost like an attack on the listener’s hearing, until it seemed the work of a debut group, well masked by veteran competence and craft."
By claudio carpentieri
"Achilles Last Stand throws us with the power of a tornado into this sonic monument where Page's heroic guitar leads the rest."
"Presence reflects a period far from happy for the band, with Plant’s presence in the studio in a wheelchair confirming its difficult gestation."
By Rax
"There will never be another album like this. Here it’s me facing despair and telling it: I am stronger than you."
If 'Presence' is the funeral of the Zeppelin, the terrible next album will be its tomb.
