Album Essentials: Robert Plant - "Now and Zen"
By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor
Robert Plant Looks Back While Moving Forward On 1988's 'Now And Zen'
When Led Zeppelin fell apart following the death of drummer John Bonham, in 1980, there was little, if any, serious talk about continuing. The brotherhood that was Led Zeppelin was done. A new decade always presents problems for artists who came into their own during the previous era. Even the best of artists have regularly floundered at the drop of a decade, so often due to not wanting to get in a rut, but looking for new adventures.
Robert Plant was, and has remained, one of the best examples of how to do things right. After having been in arguably the biggest band of the 1970s, and with times changing as they were, how and where was Plant going to fit into the new era. From the big left turn with The Honeydrippers, to his first two post-Zeppelin solo albums, 'Pictures at Eleven' and 'The Principle of Moments,' Plant brought in varied influences, styles, and sounds, and though his voice was instantly recognizable, he wasn't attempting to carry on the standard Zep sound, instead, taking fragments of the past and merging with where he was at during that time.
Both albums, along with a third, 'Shaken 'n' Stirred,' were successful, and proved that there was still a demand for Mr. Plant, so by the time he set to work on album number four, he was, perhaps, a bit more comfortable with being Robert Plant, and began to reach back a bit to his oh so glorious past.
'Now And Zen' was the sound of Robert Plant still moving forward, while giving a nod and a wink to Led Zeppelin-esque bravado. Songs like 'Tall Cool One,' with its Johnny Burnette 'Train Kept A Rollin',’ vibe found Plant back in true rock and roll mode. Hitting No. 35 on the Billboard charts, the song even contained samples of a few Zeppelin classics like 'Black Dog,' 'Whole Lotta Love,’ and 'The Ocean.' Hey if Led Zep samples were good enough for the Beastie Boys, why not for the man himself!
Elsewhere, the album continues Plant's forward motion in both production and song craft, while mixing in his love for a wide array of musical styles from middle-eastern and folk to a more contemporary pop vibe, 'Heaven Knows,' 'Ship Of Fools,' and 'Helen Of Troy' all stand out here. The band in tow with Robert were a basic guitar, bass, drums and keyboard style lineup, adding to the more traditional vibe of the sounds here.
Always someone who kept his ear to the ground as a genuine music fan, Plant was often singing the praises of other acts that were inspiring him. "I'll be raving about Let's Active one minute and the Swans the next. I want to cut through radio with a hot knife. I wanna stretch it out some. People like Tom Verlaine and Husker Du are making quite important music now, and people aren't hearing it because it never gets played." All in all, it was a crucial step on the path of Plant's amazing solo career. For a guy who certainly could have rested on his past glories and regurgitated lesser interpretations of the signature Zep style, he has been an artist constantly on the move, looking for new paths to take. Honestly, Plant is one of a precious few of the old guard who are still engaged with music as their lifeblood. 'Now And Zen' was an essential piece of the Plant puzzle that continues to this day!