A Hard Hobbit To Break…
If you are truly in the mood for magic a good place to start is with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings. What, with Gandalf and Frodo traveling about Middle-earth with all their friends trying to prevent the evil Sauron from acquiring the One Ring that Frodo has been tasked to carry until the bitter end?
Lots of fun and three truly great movies if you are into all that. I have all three extended version DVDs that came out after the theatrical releases and they are even better. Especially if you have a full day with nothing to do, or several days with nothing to do.
The best I have been able to manage is one on a single day as after a movie of that length I just can no longer remain seated. I must get back to reality, there is work to be done, cheese to be posted…
About a year ago I actually went and saw a musical comedy based on Tolkien’s story’s. It was very funny and quite enjoyable but there wasn’t a guitar to be seen or heard. An electric piano and an electric drum set yes, but no rock and roll for Frodo. The big guy doing a Don Deluise impression while singing about how tough life is as a Balrog was quite funny and charming but it was not even remotely rock-ish…
So, if you enjoy this delightful and detailed fantasy world but still want to rock while being there, there is only one song for that…
“Ramble On” from 1969′s Led Zeppelin II album never charted in the U.S. but did actually make a wave in Canada. A small wave, but a wave none the less. In the States “Ramble On” has been in the rock radio rotation since, as these things go, the beginning of rock radio. After all these years it still holds up rather well.
A bit of acoustic guitar and a rhythmic assault on a plastic trashcan start the show. (A similar technique was used to great effect on Fleetwood Mac’s “Second Hand News” when Mick used the top of a chair back for the basic rhythm.) Then it’s off to the races with a truly delightful bass track by John Paul Jones that gives “Ramble On” a bouncy feel that continues when Bonham’s drums come in.
Jones’ bass is just so much fun! He’s all over the place, jumping in and out of the melody adding some cool runs and precision finger acrobatics in the chorus.
Robert Plant’s vocals are a mixture of benign neglect and screaming passion as only he could do in those early Zep days. And, as always, Bonham’s drums are strong and complex as the song moves through it’s odd time changes and breaks.
All in all, Tolkien in under five minutes?
There is a reason it’s still on the radio all the time. It’s a great song!
Categories: Cheese Wizardry
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