Jimmy Page: Blues Guitarist or Rock Plagiarist

[Zorak]

Some of you might have heard the old stories that Jimmy Page ripped off everything he ever wrote. (A view it seems held by the, ehem, challenged... posters on youtube comments.

Now personally, I think the idea that he "ripped off" anything is far too harsh. He is, after all, a blues guitarist at heart. And nothing in The Blues is 100% original, doesn't make it any less special.

However, I do in some small waysee where the naysayers are coming from, as far as I could see he didn't offer any indication in the sleeve notes to where the original tunes in some Led Zep songs hailed from. But then, neither did Leadbelly. For example, in "White Summer/Black Mountain Side," it's quite clearly "She moved through the fair," an old irish folk song.
Also, it seems to be extremely similar to Davy Graham's rendition of 'She moved through the fair'

Which you can see a small part of in this video: (about 45 seconds in)
YouTube - Davey Graham - Folk Britannia

And we know Mr Page admired Davy Graham profusely, try this one:
YouTube - Davy Graham - Cry Me A River
Remind you of Stairway at all in certain parts?

Anyway, what do you think? Of course regardless he's still a fantastic guitarist, listen to the solo in Rock & Roll and tell me otherwise.

 

[pjbleek]

Some of you might have heard the old stories that Jimmy Page ripped off everything he ever wrote. (A view it seems held by the, ehem, challenged... posters on youtube comments.

Now personally, I think the idea that he "ripped off" anything is far too harsh. He is, after all, a blues guitarist at heart. And nothing in The Blues is 100% original, doesn't make it any less special.

However, I do in some small waysee where the naysayers are coming from, as far as I could see he didn't offer any indication in the sleeve notes to where the original tunes in some Led Zep songs hailed from. But then, neither did Leadbelly. For example, in "White Summer/Black Mountain Side," it's quite clearly "She moved through the fair," an old irish folk song.
Also, it seems to be extremely similar to Davy Graham's rendition of 'She moved through the fair'

Which you can see a small part of in this video: (about 45 seconds in)
YouTube - Davey Graham - Folk Britannia

And we know Mr Page admired Davy Graham profusely, try this one:
YouTube - Davy Graham - Cry Me A River
Remind you of Stairway at all in certain parts?

Anyway, what do you think? Of course regardless he's still a fantastic guitarist, listen to the solo in Rock & Roll and tell me otherwise.

Depends on which version of music we are discussing, yes? I mean yes, he did create a distinct sound with the crossbow on Dazed and Confused but there are so many different bands that have "stolen" something from somebody that to declare themselves as the "original" or the "creator" of this sound. My dad and brother would get into arguments about Eddie Van Halen and his tapping technique that dad would argue for Les Paul and brother would argue in vain for Eddie Van Halen....so, I wont argue that Mr. Page is a plagiarist or a creative genius...it is all in interpretation....
just my two cents.....

 

[teh_fuzz]

for blues?
Clapton, i think of page as a rock guitarrist.

 

[Zorak]

He is though really.

He used a rock sort of sound, as did the rest of Led Zep, but that doesn't disguise what he plays.

He basically took everything he could from blues, and transposed it onto a rock sound. Where as Clapton took everything from Blues and turned it pop.

 

[pjbleek]

He is though really.

He used a rock sort of sound, as did the rest of Led Zep, but that doesn't disguise what he plays.

He basically took everything he could from blues, and transposed it onto a rock sound. Where as Clapton took everything from Blues and turned it pop.

"Pop"?
Layla?
ummmmmmmmmm...nope...Sunshine of your love........no
Badge?.....maybe
Wonderful tonight? ...........yup!

 

[Zorak]

Cream weren't really pop, but everything else he did with the Dominoes and beyond all was quite poppy in my view.

461, Ocean Boulevard excluded of course. That's an interesting album.

 

[Zorak]

"Pop"?
Layla?
ummmmmmmmmm...nope...Sunshine of your love........no
Badge?.....maybe
Wonderful tonight? ...........yup!

To put it in perspective, I've recently been listening to Clapton's first solo album.

And what a dirge of pop crap it is.... Bar the song "Let it Rain" which is the only decent thing on the album, and you have to wait an entire bloody album to hear it, and even then you'd be better off listening to the live versions.

Compare it to Rory Gallagher's first solo album, which combines electric slide, acoustic folk, acoustic blues and singer/songwriter-esque rock tracks it is clear who is the better songwriter by a country mile. It even ends with a jazzy sax solo done by Rory himself :thumbup

Another example showcasing superior playing and songwriting would be Jeff Beck's first solo album, or Paul Kossoff's only solo album....

 

[NicAuf]

Here's what I think when I think about blues guitarist:

YouTube - Stevie Ray Vaughan- Texas Flood