Rediscovering Led Zep's Presence!

Yeah, and Physical Graffiti had songs recorded over a longer period of time, years. More variety and depth. Physical Graffiti was done in a month or so.

 

Good to see some love for this title, always been a fan of it.......but then....I'm a big Led Head.....

 

Presence, ITTOD and Coda are the Zeppelin "Beer Goggles" albums. When I play them I think, hmm these are pretty good, then when I put on one of the first 6 I realize the magic was gone after 1975.

 

I love all their albums, but this one suffers mostly from the fact that it came after "Physical Graffiti", which I feel was their very best. I think it's a fine album, but it seems to show a band that gave up a ton of material for a double album, that clearly left little in the coffers for a follow up to match it.

 

What do you find different/better about it?

 

I actually first purchased this album on 8 Track I was not enthused upon first listen, but it grew on me fast. To this day, I love the album for the simple fact that there are some great "deep cuts" that didn't get played to death on FM radio.

 

I agree the Presence 2015 remaster is one of the best. I posted my thoughts about it in the dedicated remasters thread.

 

The whole album is a testament of Bonzo's greatness. Not LZ greatest moment but worth every listening for the drummer's performance alone.

 

I think that was one of the reasons why I "rediscovered" it and now appreciate it so much. There were no hits! In retrospect, it would have been odd had this album not been recorded. Imagine jumping from Physical Graffiti to Out Door? Presence seems like the band was trying to go back to the days of Houses of the Holy amid all the social and musical changes around them (Disco, the Cold War, Punk).

 

The 2015 vinyl reissue is the best I've ever heard it. Just a knockout, and it raised the album in my estimation.

 

Haven't compared it with the 2015 vinyl. I didn't like 2 & 3. Maybe this one is different...

 

"Hots On For Nowhere" has always amazed me. Just one swinging, crunching hook after another.

 

For me it's one of those LPs that really shone when I started experimenting with the playing order—yeah, I know, it's heresy for many. One of the oldest reviews for the album on Amazon suggested doing this as well as a recent thread on this board that had suggestions for re-ordering various LPs. Nonetheless, Presence gets the most plays from the 2015 remasters.

 

It's a great album and underappreciated. One of my favorites, better than I or II.

 

As with most of the remasters, there is greater definition and detail.

 

Zeppelin is not quite but sort of behind me now.In the day Presence was not among my fav lps.

 

What's wrong with enjoying the last 3 albums simply on their own merits, without comparing them to what came before...

 

Presence is an unbelievably good album, but it often is rejected by those who reach for the low hanging fruit. This is an album of Zeppelin deep cuts, and possibly their most technically proficient. Everyone is on fire on this disc, especially Page and Bonham, who, interestingly enough, get blamed for substandard performances on ITTOD (I don't agree by the way). Presence requires an engaged listener, who can appreciate the magic of what is going on in the mix. If you're looking for a dance song, you came to the wrong place. This was also a very autobiographical album for Plant, and for the first time, his struggles are alluded to, as are some references to his frustrations with a certain band mate. 10 out of 10.

 

There was a fanzine in the 80's, I forgot who, but they offered these really good Presence "Object" replicas for $30.

I wish I bought one. :*(

Plant was in a cast at this time? Zeppelin showed they could put out a quickie. And thanks to the art of Hypgnosis, made the album immortal.

 

Funny, I picked up this and the other last batch of DEs but have yet to listen to the main discs (focused on the companions). I need to give this remaster a spin!

 

I said before and I will say again. Presence is led zep's "FUNK ALBUM" My favorite album. Oh Hell Yeah!

 

That's not funny, that's really sad! (just kidding). The "bonus discs" in these remasters have not been all that great (imo), and certainly
could have been better. But, those who really know the music of the albums would hear the better quality of the remaster.

 

Underrated because it's a great album. As has been said earlier, it was done in a month during at a time when there wasn't any guarantee that the band might continue given Plant's recovering from an automobile accident. Didn't he cut his vocals in a wheelchair? Presence is one of Page and Bonham's finest hours. Achilles is the classic cut, but Tea For One is a real slow burner for me.

 

I'm sure many of you have read that there was no 'object/obelisk' in any of the pictures, they just made a black shape in all the negatives. Did Hipnogsis do the art work??

 

Well, the black silhouettes look like they were superimposed, but the obelisk itself is on the inner sleeve. The only mention in the notes is: sleeve by Hypgnosis and Hardie.