Robert Plant - Nine Lives (9-CD Box Set) (2006)

When Led Zeppelin hung it up in 1980, Robert Plant wasted no time in mounting a solo career that would exceed all expectations. The singer went beyond the blue-rock format he was famous for, exploring variances of Celtic and English folk, American blues, early rock 'n' roll, psychedelic rock and jazz as well as Arabic, Moroccan, West African, Indian — you name it. To commemorate Plant’s illustrious run, Rhino has reissued all nine of his solo albums with bonus tracks and expanded packaging. Yeah, that’s right, we’re talking Pictures At Eleven, The Principle Of Moments, Shaken 'N' Stirred, The Honeydrippers Volume 1, Now & Zen, Manic Nirvana, Fate Of Nations, Dreamland, and even his most recent disc from 2005, Mighty Rearranger.

While all these releases with the extra trimmings were part of 2006’s Nine Lives box set, having the option to choose the best of the batch is liberating, to say the least. Plant’s eclectic tendencies could be disconcerting to the casual fan looking to add a few titles to an existing Zeppelin collection, so having them all might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Pictures At Eleven, the singer’s first solo foray from 1982, predictably incorporates elements of the bombastic slam for which the golden voice earned his stripes; however, the tone and sheen resonates with a forward-thinking ebb and flow. Guitarist Robbie Blunt weaves his own unique and sly pattern throughout, while heavy hitting drummers Phil Collins and Cozy Powell drive each and every song with Bonham-like intensity.

The Principle Of Moments, the 1983 follow-up, extended the formula and produced “Big Log” and “In The Mood,” two Top 40 singles unlike anything Plant recorded with Zeppelin. Even as 1985’s Shaken ‘N Stirred and its single “Little By Little” piled on the pop fragrances and alienated various sectors of the flock, 1988’s Now And Zen made amends by mixing up elements of the singer’s past with the present. In fact, “Tall Cool One” features Jimmy Page on guitar and a few odd Zeppelin samples just to remind the listener that the singer hasn't forgotten where he came from. Still, tracks like ‘Heaven Knows” and “Ship Of Fools” reaffirm the vocalist’s intentions of moving forward without going over a cliff.

Despite flashes of glory, both Manic Nirvana and Fate Of Nations, Plant’s only two solo ventures of the 90s, more or less fell between the cracks, leading some insiders to speculate that his reunion with Jimmy Page was inevitable. With six solo albums under his belt, along with 1984's The Honeydrippers, Volume 1 — a one-off, five-song EP that Plant put together with Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Niles Rodgers, and others to salute early rock and R&B influences — the singer was in the unique position of dictating how the Page-Plant project would proceed, Of course, 1994’s No Quarter was a showcase of rearranged Zeppelin classics that went on to become a major milestone for both Page and Plant. The follow-up, 1998’s Walking Into Clarksdale, which featured all new original material, failed to sustain the momentum and limped slowly into the cut-out bins.

The one redeeming feature about the Page-Plant union was that the singer emerged unscathed with a flotilla of new ideas. But it wasn’t until 2002 that he returned with a full-blown album called Dreamland. Unlike anything he had released before, this record reached way back to the 60s, alternating wacky originals like “Funny in My Mind (I Believe I'm Fixin' to Die)” and “Red Dress” with obscure classics like Tim Buckley’s “Song Of The Siren,” Tim Rose’s “Morning Dew,” and Jesse Colin Young’s “Darkness Darkness.” Three years later, he enlisted the same band dubbed the Strange Sensation for Mighty Rearranger, which adeptly taps into Plant’s roots while divesting the sheen for crunching rockers like “Shine It All Around.”

What makes the Nine Lives box set (along with the individual reissues) even more unique is the included bonus tracks. Who can resist B-sides like “Far Post” from Pictures At Eleven, “Oompa (Watery Bint)” from Manic Nirvana, or “All The Money In The World” from Mighty Rearranger; unreleased songs like "Turnaround" from The Principal Of Moments; demos like “Rollercoaster” from Fate Of Nations; remixes like "Little By Little" from Shaken ‘N Stirred or "Last Time I Saw Her” from Dreamland; or any number of live cuts that fill in the gaps on practically every CD of the set. Most of all, it’s a miracle to see how much Robert Plant has progressed and maintained his sense of integrity. Clearly, the voice of Led Zeppelin has much more music inside him, ready to burst and burn for years to come. ~ Shawn Perry

Pictures at Eleven is the debut solo album by former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, released in 1982. Genesis drummer Phil Collins played drums for six of the album's eight songs. Ex-Rainbow drummer Cozy Powell handled drums on "Slow Dancer" and "Like I've Never Been Gone." The title is an often-heard phrase in U.S. television news[citation needed] that would follow a brief announcement of a story of interest to be shown later during a station's 11 p.m. news program.

Pictures at Eleven is the only one of Plant's solo albums to appear on Led Zeppelin's record label Swan Song. By the time of Plant's next release, 1983's The Principle of Moments, Swan Song had ceased to function and Plant had started his own label titled Es Paranza, which would also be distributed by Atlantic Records. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Burning Down One Side (3:58)
02. Moonlight In Samosa (4:01)
03. Pledge Pin (4:03)
04. Slow Dancer (7:47)
05. Worse Than Detroit (5:59)
06. Fat Lip (5:08)
07. Like I've Never Been Gone (6:00)
08. Mystery Title (5:22)
Bonus Tracks
09. Far Post (4:42)
10. Like I've Never Been Gone (live) (7:31)

Produced by Robert Plant

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• Robbie Blunt - Guitars
• Jezz Woodroffe - Keyboards, Synthesizers
• Phil Collins - Drums on tracks 1-3, 5-6, 8-10
• Cozy Powell - Drums on tracks 4 and 7
• Paul Martinez - Bass guitar
• Raphael Ravenscroft - Saxophone on track 3

The Principle of Moments is the second solo album by former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. It was Plant's second top 10 album in the US and UK. It also gave him his first solo Top 40 hit with "Big Log". The most popular track on album-oriented rock radio in the US was "Other Arms", which reached number one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. Genesis drummer Phil Collins played drums for six of the album's eight songs (as he did on Pictures at Eleven). On the other two tracks former Jethro Tull drummer Barriemore Barlow performed.

Like Plant's first solo album, Pictures at Eleven, the songs departed from the hard rock of Led Zeppelin. Following the strength of these albums, Plant launched a successful tour in 1983. Phil Collins was the drummer for Plant's band on this tour. Collins was content to perform in the background, despite his own enormous success as a solo artist and with Genesis at the time. Little Feat's Richie Hayward played drums for the Australasian leg of the tour. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Other Arms (4:21)
02. In The Mood (5:23)
03. Messin' With The Mekon (4:39)
04. Wreckless Love (5:17)
05. Thru' With The Two Step (5:35)
06. Horizontal Departure (4:21)
07. Stranger Here…Than Over There (4:20)
08. Big Log (5:10)
Bonus Tracks
09. In The Mood (live) (7:35)
10. Thru' With The Two Step (live) (11:11)
11. Lively Up Yourself (live) (3:04)
12. Turnaround (4:55)

Produced by Robert Plant, Benji LeFevre, Pat Moran

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• Robbie Blunt - Guitars
• Paul Martinez - Bass guitar
• Jezz Woodroffe - keyboards
• Phil Collins - Drums on 1-3, 5-6, 8, all bonus tracks on the 2006 reissue
• Barriemore Barlow - Drums on 4 and 7
• John David, Ray Martinez - Backing vocals
• Bob Mayo - Guitars, Keyboards, Backing vocals on 9-11 (2006 reissue)

The Honeydrippers: Volume One is an EP released on 24 September 1984, by a band led by rock singer Robert Plant. The project originated when Atlantic Records president Ahmet Ertegün wanted to record an album of his favourite songs from the 1950s. Plant was chosen because Ertegün had seen his pick-up band the Honeydrippers performing 1950s standards. Included in the band were Chic front man Nile Rodgers, and former Yardbirds guitarists Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page—the latter was also Plant's former band mate in Led Zeppelin. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. I Get A Thrill (2:42)
02. Sea Of Love (3:05)
03. I Got A Woman (3:01)
04. Young Boy Blues (3:33)
05. Rockin' At Midnight (6:04)
Bonus Track
06. Rockin' At Midnight (live) (4:14)

Produced by The Fabulous Brill Brothers: Nugetre, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Nile Rodgers

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• Jeff Beck - Guitars ("I Got a Woman," and "Rockin' at Midnight")
• Jimmy Page - Guitar solos ("Sea of Love" and "I Get a Thrill" )
• Wayne Pedziwiatr - Bass
• Nile Rodgers - Rhythm guitar
• Paul Shaffer - Keyboards
• Dave Weckl - Drums
• Keith Evans - Saxophone ("Rockin' at Midnight")

Shaken 'n' Stirred is an album by former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, released in 1985 on the Es Paranza label. It featured his second Mainstream Rock Tracks top hit, "Little by Little", which was #1 on the chart for two weeks. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Hip To Hoo (4:53)
02. Kallalou Kallalou (4:19)
03. Too Loud (4:10)
04. Trouble Your Money (4:15)
05. Pink And Black (3:49)
06. Little By Little (4:46)
07. Doo Doo A Do Do (5:11)
08. Easily Lead (4:39)
09. Sixes And Sevens (6:08)
Bonus Track
10. Little By Little (remixed long version) (5:12)

Produced by Robert Plant, Tim Palmer, Benji Le Fevre

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• Robbie Blunt - Guitar, Synthesized guitar
• Toni Halliday - Vocals
• Richie Hayward - Drums
• Paul Martinez - Bass guitar
• Jezz Woodroffe - Keyboards

Now and Zen is an album by Robert Plant, released in 1988 (see 1988 in music) under the label Es Paranza. The album made the top 10 in both the US and the UK, reaching #6 in the former, and #10 in the latter. The album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on September 7, 2001. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Heaven Knows (4:05)
02. Dance On My Own (4:30)
03. Tall Cool One (4:40)
04. The Way I Feel (5:42)
05. Helen Of Troy (5:10)
06. Billy's Revenge (3:34)
07. Ship Of Fools (5:00)
08. Why (4:14)
09. White, Clean And Neat (5:30)
10. Walking Towards Paradise (4:49)
Bonus Tracks
11. Billy's Revenge (live) (6:00)
12. Ship Of Fools (live) (10:35)
13. Tall Cool One (live) (5:07)

Produced by Robert Plant, Tim Palmer, Phil Johnstone

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• Phil Johnstone, David Barratt - Keyboards
• Jimmy Page - Guitar (on tracks 1 & 3)
• Doug Boyle - Guitar
• Phil Scragg - Bass
• Chris Blackwell - Drums, Percussion
• Marie Pierre, Toni Halliday, Kirsty MacColl - Vocals (Background)

Manic Nirvana is the fifth solo album by former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, released in 1990. The album's lead single, "Big Love", reached #35 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and its follow-up single, "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes on You)", held the #1 position on the same chart for six consecutive weeks. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes ON You) (4:11)
02. Big Love (4:35)
03. S S S & Q (4:38)
04. I Cried (4:54)
05. She Said (5:13)
06. Nirvana (4:30)
07. Tie Dye On The Highway (5:16)
08. Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night (4:17)
09. Anniversary (5:02)
10. Liars Dance (2:34)
11. Watching You (4:26)
Bonus Tracks
12. Oompa (Watery Bint) (5:47)
13. One Love (3:14)
14. Don't Look Back (3:01)

Produced by Robert Plant, Phil Johnstone, Mark "Spike" Stent

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• Robert Stride - Vocals
• Laila Cohen - Vocals
• Micky Groome - Vocals
• Carolyn Harding - Vocals
• Jerry Wayne - Vocals, Voiceover
• Siddi Makain Mushkin - Voices
• Chris Blackwell - Guitar, Drums
• Doug Boyle - Guitar
• Phil Johnstone - Guitar, Keyboards
• Charlie Jones - Bass

Fate of Nations is Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant's sixth studio album. It was released in 1993 and re-released in a remastered edition on 20 March 2007. It features former Cutting Crew guitarist Kevin Scott MacMichael. The lead singer of Clannad, Máire Brennan is featured on the track "Come Into My Life". The song "I Believe" is a tribute to his late son, Karac. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Calling To You (5:48)
02. Down To The Sea (4:00)
03. Come Into My Life (6:32)
04. I Believe (4:32)
05. 29 Psalms (4:51)
06. Memory Song (5:22)
07. If I Were A Carpenter (3:45)
08. Promised Land (4:59)
09. The Greatest Gift (6:52)
10. Great Spirit (5:27)
11. Network News (6:42)
Bonus Tracks
12. Colours Of A Shade (4:45)
13. Great Spirit (Acoustic Mix) (3:54)
14. Rollercoaster (Demo) (4:02)
15. 8.05 (1:49)
16. Dark Moon (Acoustic) (4:57)

Produced by Chris Hughes, Robert Plant

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• Kevin Scott MacMichael - Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Oliver J. Woods - Guitar
• Charlie Jones - Bass
• Chris Hughes, Pete Thompson, Michael Lee - Drums
• Nigel Kennedy - Violin
• Richard Thompson, Francis Dunnery - Guitar
• Phil Johnstone - Harmonium
• Nigel Eaton - Hurdy Gurdy
• Máire Brennan - Backing Vocals
• Maartin Allcock - All instruments except drums and vocals on "Colours of a Shade"

Dreamland is English rock singer Robert Plant's seventh solo album and the first with his band "Strange Sensation". It was released in July 2002. Many of the songs are cover versions, mainly blues, but also some rock. It was nominated for two Grammys in 2002 — The Best Rock Album and The Best Male Rock Performance. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Funny In My Mind (I Believe I'm Fixin' To Die) (4:45)
02. Morning Dew (4:27)
03. One More Cup Of Coffee (4:05)
04. Last Time I Saw Her (4:43)
05. Song To The Siren (5:54)
06. Win My Train Fare Home (If I Ever Get Lucky) (6:03)
07. Darkness, Darkness (7:11)
08. Red Dress (5:24)
09. Hey Joe (7:06)
10. Skip's Song (4:54)
Bonus Tracks
11. Dirt In A Hole (4:48)
12. Last Time I Saw Her (remix) (3:24)

Produced by Phill Brown, Robert Plant

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals
• John Baggott - Keyboards, string arrangement on tracks 2, 3
• Porl Thompson - Guitar
• Justin Adams - Guitars, Gimbri, Darbuka
• Charlie Jones - Bass
• Clive Deamer - Drums, Percussion

Special Guest musicians:

• B.J. Cole - pedal steel guitar on track 5
• Raj Das, May Clee Cadman, Ginny Clee - backing vocals

Mighty ReArranger is English rock singer Robert Plant's eighth solo album and the second with his band "Strange Sensation". It was released internationally on 25 April 2005, on 9 May in the United Kingdom and 10 May in the United States. It contains a blend of world and Western music influences, with mystical, oblique and somewhat cynical references to religion and destiny. Wikipedia

Track Listing

01. Another Tribe (3:15)
02. Shine It All Around (4:03)
03. Freedom Fries (2:52)
04. Tin Pan Valley (3:46)
05. All The Kings Horses (4:19)
06. The Enchanter (5:27)
07. Takamba (4:05)
08. Dancing In Heaven (4:25)
09. Somebody Knocking (3:46)
10. Let Teh Four Winds Blow (4:52)
11. Mighty Rearranger (4:25)
12. Brother Ray (1:19)
Bonus Tracks
13. Red, White And Blue (3:10)
14. All The Money In The World (3:12)
15. Shine It All Around (Girls Mix) (7:35)
16. Tin Pan Valley (Girls Mix) (6:20)
17. The Enchanter (Unkle Reconstruction) (6:49)

Produced by Phil Johnstone, Robert Plant, Mark Stent

Personnel

• Robert Plant - Vocals, Harmonica
• Justin Adams - Electric guitar, Bendir, Tehardant, Lap steel guitar, Bass guitar
• John Baggott - Keyboards, Electronica, Moog bass guitar
• Billy Fuller - Electric and double bass
• Clive Deamer - Drums, Bendir
• Liam "Skin" Tyson - Acoustic and electric guitar, Lap steel guitar, Bass guitar





Many thanks to the original uploader: Killerrips