Reaction: Black Mountain Side by Led Zeppelin

DJ wasn't ready for this song from Led Zeppelin's self-titled, debut album. He's hearing this for the first time, not just from Led Zeppelin but any song that sounds like this.

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[MsAppassionata]

You should watch the version of “White Summer/Black mountainside” which is from Live at Royal Albert Hall January 9th 1970 (Jimmy Page’s 26th birthday). I think it is Page’s best live performance on guitar.

[henriettaskolnick]

This is a re-do of Bert Jansch's piece Down By Blackwaterside and the percussion on this is a tabla played by sitarist Viram Jasani. Jimmy included this for several reasons; he liked it, he needed a track, and at the time, no one knew Led Zeppelin however, his name had a following due to his time in the Yardbirds so he wanted to show that there was going to be talent, range, and versatility within this new band. You guys should react to the 12 minute version of this from Royal Albert Hall. It's just Jimmy with his trusty Danelectro, sitting on a chair by himself with Bonzo occasionally adding a bit of drum beat. I love Communication Breakdown but personally, I don't consider it heavy metal but more like proto-punk.

[brianrussell]

great ..you are the first to react to this.. and the percussion is called a tabla drum..from India

[glenminnick]

I bought this record album in 1969. I was 15 years old, blasted it daily and still love it!

[steve.-]

You are right, timing doesn’t matter so much especially live, it’s the raw feeling you give to your audience that isn’t constrained by a metronome.

[PeterTea]

I think Communication Breakdown is a precursor to punk. The Ramones used that guitar technique a lot, like on Blitzkrieg Bop.

[John_Locke_]

Hearing this is one thing but watching videos of Jimmy Page playing this along with White Summer is beyond amazing.

[bobholtzmann]

My favorite version of the folk song Blackwaterside is by Sandy Denny, which is a more mellow folk rock style. Sandy also sang with Robert Plant on Led Zeppelin IV.

[juliemanarin]

So glad you're going forward!! Lol...gotta stop it abruptly again!

[gandalfthegrey]

Communication Breakdown is the precursor to punk. “Born to be Wild” was the first heavy metal song, not “Helter Skelter.” It’s also where the genre name came from, “…heavy metal thunder.”

[eddiepotemri]

I may be a bit lonely with this opinion, but I think 'Communication Breakdown' inspired Punk Rock more than heavy metal.

[Bends]

Black Mountain Side is my favourite track from Led Zeppelin 1 aside from Dazed and Confused.

[David-fhsy]

I can’t wait until you have him listen to Zeppelin 3 OMG

[RKSidd]

I don't recollect Helter Skelter having the first ever guitar shred

[julienmarquet]

It's congas you're hearing behind, but, BONZO, was not using the hands!

[rwlewko]

If DJ isn't familiar with the Beatles, then at some point you have to get him to listen to Yer Blues. When I listen to that I hear the first piece of grunge.

[alexh]

It's an Indian percussion instrument called a tabla.

[tamibrandt]

It's the lead-in to COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

[Scoobydcs]

imo the next track is protopunk or protometal!

[dandrechsler]

Yeah I don't think black mountain side is anyone's favorite