I still remember seeing the adds for Plant’s second solo album “The Principle of Moments” in Circus Magazine as well as Creem and Hit Parader.
But that summer of ’83 when this album hit the racks in Thunder Bay I wasn’t feeling it and it was nothing personal but as you may recall from my words on “Pictures At Eleven”, I didn’t really get that hard rock vibe that I was looking for.
Besides in 1983 my listening was to give you an example albums like “Holy Diver”, “Piece of Mind”, “Metal Health”, “Pyromania”, “Flick of The Switch” and I guess we could add “Synchronicity” in this mix as well!
Thats where my head was at sonically.
Even though the two singles from “Principle of Moments”, “In The Mood” and “Big Log” were on rotation on MuchMusic. I still didn’t take the bait.
That is until now. I’m older not necessarily wiser but let’s get on this stuff as I can appreciate it now in 2021!
Let’s rewind to 1983 when Robert put this one out.
Plant was smart in bringing back the same production crew as well as the same band. If it ain’t broke Robert isn’t fixing it. More on that later.
While Robert still had a shade of Zep in couple of tracks on his debut. This album though sheds that sound pretty much throughout the albums eight tracks.
You can hear the influences of mainstream rock at the time on opening track “Other Arms”. A very crystal clear sound. The drums of Phil Collins and the guitars of Robbie Blunt shine on this album and throughout the record.
A pretty snappy straightforward bass line drives the single “In The Mood” while Blunt shines once again on the other single “Big Log”.
Plant though can sing any style and this album proves that point. “Wreckless Love” and “Other Arms” prove this theory as Plant had adapted himself by ’83 to the modern sounds of rock. (David Bowie did the same thing on his “Let’s Dance” release which ironically came out the same year as this album)
Speaking of Bowie. Robert and David were smart as they both changed with the times and that could be a reason why their solo careers thrived in the ’80s and did not stall.
This was another batch of songs from Robert that would have sailed over my head at the time of its release but I can honestly say its a good album and give the man his due as he was doing what he wanted to do.
You have to respect him for that.
Ok, if you recall earlier I mentioned Plant bringing back on “Principle” the same production team as he used on the “Pictures” album as well as each album had eight songs.
What is really wild and I’m not sure if this has been printed and I’m sure it has but like on the debut Plant solo album, Phil Collins drummed on six out of the album’s eight tracks.
Tracks four and seven from “Pictures… Slow Dancer and Like I’ve Never Been Gone” respectively were handled by Cozy Powell(RIP) doing the drums on the debut album.
Now here’s the crazy part…
Tracks four and seven from “Principle… Wreckless Love and Stranger Here…Then Over There” respectively were handled by Barriemore Barlow.
Kinda funny that the running order on two different albums had the guest drummer on tracks four and seven on each record…
I think I need to hit up Robert for an explanation on this.
More good stuff Deke. His singles were okay, but not enough for me to pull the trigger on it. David definitely had more success because I pulled the trigger on his solo album. I think the first Bowie album I ever bought.
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Bowie really reinvented himself in the 80s with Lets Dance and Blue Jean is a great track.
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His 80’s stuff was brilliant. He is a chameleon.
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Well said Sir!
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A really great album this one. Love Blunt’s guitar on this. I like the first one album but it doesn’t stick in my mind so much. I’ve got all his albums up until umm… Mighty Rearranger (meh). This and Fate Of Nations are my faves.
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I have been picking away at finding Plant’s solo stuff and one trip to the used shop was a score as I found his first three on vinyl and I already had Now And Zen on record already.
So that makes 4! lol
I would love to get a copy of Fate of Nations on record as that would be my fav of his next to Now And Zen.
Your right though Blunt is a brilliant player who never got his due but he was the exact opposite of Page which was smart way for Robert to go..
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Fate Of Nations is the only one I’ve got on vinyl actually. Rest are all CD. I keep meaning to play Now And Zen more cause that one never grabbed me apart from a couple of tunes. And I don’t know Shaken And Stirred or Manic Nirvana much at all so need to spend more time on those.
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Have a review posted for Shaken n Stirred for next week! Hows that for hype!? lol
Manic Nirvana was another good one as well Scott. I came close to seeing that tour but had to pick between Plant and ZZ Top.
Went with ZZ back in 1990!
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I was sixteen when this came out and got my first car…a 1966 Mustang which was cheap then…this album is tied forever to that because Big Log played on our rock station here constantly…and while I drove it played. The album means a lot to me not only because it’s good…but because of my first car.
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Thats a great memory to have Max and such a cool trigger point to a flashback as well Your welcome. lol
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You started my day off great dude! Yea every time I hear this album I am 16…well in mind…sure as hell not in body.
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That makes two of us Bro! lol
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You know I like Plant and his solo stuff, but I need to go back and listen to this one again. It’s been so long it felt like I hadn’t heard it – and I must’ve! Great post sir, you’ve inspired a trip to the Tubes Of You…
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My work here is done!
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Haha well done!
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I always loved ‘Big Log’ – so cool, yet hot, instantly seems like a mid-summer’s day – and still do. Wasn’t a big fan of “In the Mood” though it was OK, not sure if I heard others on it except “Messin’ with the Mekon’ which I think the FM classic rock station played now and then. Good comparison to Bowie, guys who kept changing and didn’t feel a lot of pressure to remake the same record time and time again.
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Thanks Dave. They did reinvent themselves thats for sure.
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and from there, his work with Diana Krall …he wasn’t one to sit still musically. A little like Neil Young in that too.
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Great piece deKE. Very true that Blunt and Collins shine on the record. I dont have a fave Plant record but a couple cuts off of this one have bore deep into my head. ‘Mood’ and ‘Wreckless’ The latter’s guitar riffs just grabs me.
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Blunt should get more credit than he gets. Not an easy thing to be the next guy after Page but Robbie held his own though for three records!
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It was cool that you gave him a nod. I think he more than deserves it.
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I love his playing as he’s not hot dogging on the 6 string. As I mentioned he reminds me a lot of Andy Summers in the clean picking sound. It’s great stuff
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Now “I’m In The Mood” to listen to this.
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HAHA…well played Sir!
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I once had an 8 track tape of this one, a nearby record store was doing a phase out of 8 tracks, I got it for a buck, I recall only listening to it a few times before my parents 8 track player quit working, and being no one else I knew had a player, that was the end of that till I got it on cd several years later.
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Thanks for stopping in and commenting Alex. Great deal for a buck even if its on 8-track!
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Great album. Got this one on vinyl. BTW – don’t know if you heard, but Dusty Hill died today. Another great rocker gone.
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I did hear that Jeff. RIP Dusty!
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you keep adding to the stack. between plant and Ratt alone I’ve got much music to dive into. nice write up pal
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Other Arms just blew me away from tha start. It was still a rock song but just a bit different.
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That’s a great pick Pete. Cool to find out what songs make their skin vibrate!
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