THE
BIG BLUES REVIEWS GUIDE
BETH HART
A TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN Mascot/ Provogue
When I first heard that Beth Hart was going to be doing a tribute album, I naturally thought it would be something along the lines of, Etta James, Billie Holiday, or Bessie Smith, to name but a few. But no, Led Zeppelin. Beth is no stranger to a Zeppelin song, she has performed as part of her live show, Whole Lotta Love on numerous occasions. A full album? It is an amazing album from the very first chord on the first song, Whole Lotta Love. This grabs you by the throat, not pinning you to the wall, but knocking you through the wall. I don’t know of any other female artist that could pull this off on every track on the album. Searing vocals have never been a problem for Beth Hart, this is more than that, it’s almost biblical. This is not just about her stepping into Robert Plant’s shoes, this is about entering the world of Led Zeppelin. Kashmir has long been muted as the best song that Zeppelin recorded, Beth decides to push it up a notch with a brooding melody that paints a familiar picture within a different frame.
“this is more than that, S K O O B ’S D V D LBUMS it’s almost biblical” ’S D V D S M OOKS ALBU VD’S BOOKS ALBUMS LBUMS DVD’S BOOKS OOKS ALBUMS DVD’S VD’S BOOKS ALBUMS LBUMS DVD’S BOOKS OOKS ALBUMS DVD’S VD’S BOOKS ALBUMS LBUMS DVD’S BOOKS OOKS ALBUMS DVD’S VD’S BOOKS ALBUMS
She wrings every last drop of emotion out of the song, leaving me, a die-hard Zeppelin fan, almost lost for words. The Crunge and Dancing Days, not always the first choice on your Zeppelin playlist, have new life breathed into them, with When The Levee Breaks as part of a melody with Dancing Days. Now depending on what mood I’m in, depends on what I think is my favouruite Zeppelin track. When The Levee Breaks has been a big part of my life. Originally written by Memphis Minnie in 1929, with Kansas Joe McCoy providing vocals, it tells the tale of complete devastation in the deep south due to horrendous flooding creating such misery. Beth Hart takes this and elevates it to a place that even Zeppelin did not reach. This version left me wondering if this was meant to be sung by Beth Hart and not Zeppelin. Stunning version. The whole album is a masterpiece of epic proportions. Every musician connected with this album has helped to make it one of the greatest things that Beth Hart has ever done. Don’t believe me? Just wait until you hear Black Dog. Masterful. STEPHEN HARRISON
