Robert Plant And Alison Krauss-When The Levee Breaks

[basicaa]

What an incredible version by two remarkably talented musician legends. Well, Alison Krauss will be.

[guvnoir23]

"...make a monkey man leave his home" is that some not so thinly veiled racism?

[Tps222]

@guvnoir23

I'm pretty sure it's "Mountain man leave his home" as in, it's so bad even a hermit would leave. I could be wrong though.

[BrainFPatterson]

@guvnoir23 The line is "Mkae a MOUNTAIN man leave his home" and was first recorded by black blues queen Memphis Minnie, so - No, it's not some thinly veiled racism.

[guvnoir23]

@BrainFPatterson Wrong. Search for "When The Levee Breaks Alison Krauss Robert Plant" uploaded by Timur8252. Krauss is singing solo and CLEARLY says monkey man.

And who says black people can't say racist things about each other...

[tmont007]

You can see what Plant sees in her.. She's a real POA.

[Wottlin]

BTW - Plant performed this song years before with some guy named... what was it... Neil Young?

[Wottlin]

It always kills me that no one mentions T-Bone Burnett on the guitar. One of the best producers in the business, and an incredible musician in his own right. When he arranges a song, it's going to be great. Different. Compelling. It's amazing that plant still has the high register at his age.

[triplettam]

@Wottlin Totally agree. T-Bone said in the interview (which is here), he wanted to take them both out of their comfort zone. He did and it's made it special. Saw Zep a number of times, and this is just a different atmosphere and a lot more intimate. And Alison is what angels BETTER sound like in heaven. Slainte.

[daddorocket]

"When the Levee Breaks" is a blues song written and first recorded by husband and wife Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929. The song is in reaction to the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.

Later reworked by Led Zepplin 1971.

[weLiKeoaTs]

Anybody else get shivers?

[dougf262]

Alison has been playing the fiddle since she was 5-6 years old had a band in her teens. She played blue grass. Mostly now she in to vocals. She can sing like an angel. Check some of her stuff out. I was into LZ and other rock bands in my late teens and 20s. Since the 90s I got hooked on country. Always liked blues and blue grass. You this is contempory folk/blues/Americana.

[dougf262]

Krauss recorded a collaborative album, Raising Sand with Robert Plant in 2007 which would ultimately be RIAA certified platinum. Raising Sand was nominated for and won 5 Grammys at the 51st Grammy Awards including Album of the Year,

[suzannji]

This is a wonderful album, and they are a match made in heaven. It's soul stirring.

[M0ofi32012]

Was there an album put together on these redoings of Led Zeppelin? I would like to have something recorded of this.

[pickensdoodle]

The ORIGIONAL version of this song was recorded by Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie in 1929, 42 years before Led Zeppelin recorded it. If you have the album or CD, I do believe there's mention of Memphis Minnie somewhwere, & I also believe there was a Mississippi River flood in 1927 that inspired the song.

[FRANCECHILD]

PLENTY OF WATER GET BAPTIZED. AMEN

[UnoCoolDaddyo]

Alison Kraus and Robert Plant are both music icons in their own right. Plant's/Led Zeppelin music is based on the old Delta and Southern Blues. Alison Kraus is known for damn good blue grass and southern style blues. Plant and Kraus harmonize well, and the changes to the Zeppelin music sound great.

[at78rpm]

Love that song, and it's not often that it's played live. After all, the original 1971 recording was heavily "produced" -- even slowed down a few revolutions. This is what gives the original that haunting thickness. Great song, and Plant is pretty much the perfect interpreter for it (not counting Kansas Joe, of course.)

[charains]

The original was written by Memphis Minnie in 1927....one of the very first women to seriously play a guitar....not so strange at all.....



[msspi764]

@charains Recorded in 1929 and based on the 1927 flood. I agree, country blues, delta blues, country, bluegrass, all draw on the same stuff, even some of the same techniques. Not strange, and strangely beautiful.

[MrSimonGirty]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!

[NYtoTX]

this is weird

[sa65cn1]

These two were awsome at the New Orleans Jazz Fest about 2 years ago. I know they have nothing to do with Jazz or New Orleans heritage but they were great!!!

[captpicard100]

Just pure class:-))))))))))))

[claptongroupie]

God I love this...

[claptongroupie]

who would have thought those two together but it works like magic :-)

[vradiohd]

ⓅⒺⒶⓒⒺ VIBRATIONS Ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation We make this long journey together into the unknown For as we wish upon this star Our Rainbow Bridge of Love within Connects us all back together again ~*~Our garden.~*~ ~*~We Are~*~ ~*~Our garden.~*~ ♫♥☼♥♫ ⓅⒺⒶⓒⒺ VIBRATIONS ~*~Our garden.~*~

[TheXXXShowdown]

match made in heaven

[The1badd1]

Kick ass

[yossarian20081]

This is soooo good.

[dylanfatdog]

This is a good rendition of this song but its missing the raw sexual power of John Bonham and Jimmy Page. They're like a tidal wave slamming into you. A real force of nature like when a levee actually breaks.

Still i appreciate the bravery of this but its not shaking my core like the Zep version which we all know isn't the Original. Cheers for posting :)

[missgriffin777]

Just wonderful....

[coowitit]

why isnt this available for purchase somewhere??? I really need this song.!!!

[Axbent]

they really took it back to its roots with this version!

[TheXXXShowdown]

Kraus is an amazing choice to be a part of this..

[brickballoon]

this is awesome 

[HallowedHoly]

Shit, this is HYPNOTIC.......!!

[gmartinz01]

I am so glad I saw them at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Maybe it was just a one time thing, but I'd love them to tour again.

[msturn1975]

COOL! Even throws in a little" Steal Away" at the beginning...Oh Rosie, oh girl, oh Rosy, oh girl! whew love it

[wiseguytaft]

I think ppl miss two things about plant & he's music,which is on dislay here,& that is drama & mystery

[walkwithHislamp]

i think robert plant and alison krauss are the only two people on earth that have enough guts to play this kind of music. it's crazy good.

[walkwithHislamp]

i think robert plant and alison krauss are the only two people on earth that have enough guts to play this kind of music. it's crazy good.

[HallowedHoly]

Wicked, haunting version....

This I like.

[mrktwn]

Man I get it. If I was "Percy" I'd want to do this instead of

rehash stuff MORE than ten years gone.

[RaidenTheAlmighty]

This is very heavy. That fiddle is just so evil sounding.

[mozilla700]

Seems to me like the tempo is dragging here. But, I have to say the violins, (kettle drums?), and harmonies are incredible.

[easymelon2187]

Wow, the work of two creative artists is clearly seen. I love this version of When the Levee Breaks. Real folky

[kivancsikisbeka]

what does the levee mean?

[mozilla700]

A levee is a built up area around a river or a body of water meant to keep the water from overflowing the banks. It deters flooding.

[wildeck14]

i think they got the essence of slave blues. the feeling is definately there. good interpretation.

[gorsergey]

Plant is Plant !

Super !!!

[bluessoul1286]

i cant believe no one is talking about this  much its fucking amazing

[Sublette217]

Tell it! Testify!

[actraiser2k1]

IDK. Had I never heard the original, this would have made my pants explode. But I HAVE heard the original, and this is not as awesome.

[anja0112]

Which "original" do you mean? The one by Memphis Minnie?

[anja0112]

What you should know that the Zeppelin version is NOT the original. They reworked it, like Robert and Alison did here.

[bishop529]

yea the original is really old cotton field blues

[untergrunt]

Personnel are amazing on this track, but especial hats off to Jay Bellerose for his unusual and not-cliche drumming.

[KyleHerrington]

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The Lion has laid down with the Lamb.

[sattfield]

Nice post man. :)

[MarvelousMatt]

I get chills from this. This is art personified.

[bluessoul1286]

very dark americana blues roots style

and beautifully done

[XMonkeyManGuyX]

By the way, who in Hades is this guy...below...IntristicValue? What do you know about anything? Judging from your post your just blowing. You might have said something substantial, with the opportunity...but you chose not to.

Cheers

[XMonkeyManGuyX]

interesting...this kind of bites though.

I'll take Plant and Zep (when Page is sober) anytime. Saw 'em live about 5 times and they always sucked. The songs were great, but with Page blitzed, nobody could ever keep time. What a bummer. Krausse, unbeatable, especially live. Always, immaculate timing and a virtuoso. I think Plant was looking for an easy pick up, by dazzling her and came all of the way to Rednecksville to do it. I believe, he never took her home. Good Girl.

Cheers

[zogjones]

i can assure you alison is not the kind of woman to be swooned by ex led zep singer. she's got her own empire in her genre and has nothing to prove. this was a great collaboration on an artistic level. get over people who want to make money doing music--it's better than screwing people out of money on the stock market.

[guvner09]

oh, btw Intristic, the real word yer lookin for is governor, and I EARNED my nick, I didn't give it to myself... and there was a lot of Zep involved in that I'll tell ya...

:-P

[guvner09]

hey over I agree completely. I just cant see what there is to listen to anymore. All these lipsyncin', sample stealin' nobodies... This is LIVE and these guys (gals) know EXACTLY what it is they are doin... and DO IT!!

[1overthehillsfaraway]

And another thing Mr. "IntristicValue ", if you really believe that anyone who enjoys listening to Led Zeppelin is a dinosaur who likes to live in the past....your a fool !!! There music will never go out of style, and I am sure that hundreds of years from now when folks are rocking out to it, they will be saying "Allison who" ....just the way it is. They say Zeppelin might look for a Plant Replacement for a tour. Krause should be the one looking so Zep can let the magic happen again!!!

[1overthehillsfaraway]

Hey, I have seen Allison Krause in concert, feel fortunate to have had the opportunity! In my opinion she has the bet voice of any woman in the world that I know of. But give credit where credit is due for petes sake. Plant has the best voice of any man. You would think they might make a wonderful duo, but personally I can't stand listening to what they have put out so far. And i have tried! Honestly! I don't like it at all! The songs just drone on not showing either of there true capability.

[guvner09]

I dunno Intristic, I thought this song was from the 70's and quite obviously you weren't there. (And I also thought it was spelled INTRINSIC, you %#&&*??!)

lol idiot...

btw I think this version is pretty damn good and I love the team... it works!

Thanks for the post

[IntristicValue]

This crap blows... how many different ways can Plant redo his old crap from the 1960's... Plant and T-Bone said they were doing a bluegrass sound to hype this crap up and then sure enough.. Old Led Zepplin without the only thing that made Zepplin tolerable.. Jimmy Page.. Way to jump on Allison's success with Union station and make a few bucks off her fans Plant.. You bum

[elendirlight]

Seems you've got nothing to do than spread your dislike of Robert Plant on youtube?

If he wanted some hype he would have hooked up with Zeppelin again. And apparently more bucks than with Alison.

[1overthehillsfaraway]

Plant jumping on Allsion Krauses & Union Stations success? hahahahahahahahahahah you idiot..........he's jumping on Krause alright, but he would have 100 times more success if he got back together with this certain other guitar player.....

[hotdogs92]

who the fuck are you

unless youve never heard of led zeppelin you should know that plant would already have all the money and fame he could want several times over

[littleblackdog50]

When the Levee Breaks" is a blues song written and first recorded by husband and wife Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929. The song is in reaction to the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.

[xXxEmoxXxChrisxXx]

OHHHHH ROSIE........ OHHHHGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII­IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII­IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII­IRl

Awesome!

[WB8900]

those drums are epic......the whole song is, but those drums ....man

[ludwigvan66]

Jay Belarose is a badass!

[mojavej]

rocks

[jobu88]

The CMT recording of this song is just the best, ever. Krauss hit exactly the right highs, her fiddle works perfectly on the solo. And of course it had studio quality recording so it sounded crystal clear.

[HammandClov]

Not better than the Led Zeppelin version but I love it though. It still has that strange, Southern country feel to it. but lovely slowed down.

[meredithderek4ever]

wow! they're amazing!! he shoulda sung more of girl from the north country!! but this is amazing!!

[alyssaloo]

I was there!!!!! It was amazing!

[JacKass00001]

Doubleposting!!

I didn't look to well at the footage. It's the old grandmaster Mr. Burnett on the right wing, and another grandmaster Mr. Miller on the left hand side.

MAN!!! The next is Julie Miller and Emmylou walks in...

I'm a very, very stupid man. I got the oppurtunity the see Krauss/Plant and I didn't.

I repeat: I'm a very, very stupid man...

Robert got himself a new playmate (no pun intended), and it's working so well. Maybe this will be a wake-up call for Page also?

[JacKass00001]

1. "When the levee breaks" is a "Trad.arr", witch means it has exitsted since some days before this century...

2. I hate fiddle, but no exeptions...

3. There is some postings around UT with pictures 'bout "Caterina" and "the Levee", it makes you weep.

New Orleans is the cradle of popular music, and if USA ain't capable of restoring it, it the western world responsibility to do so.

[nelfinlind]

when the levee breaks isnt a zeppelin song originally anyway, so anyone especially plant can transform it any way he wants

[rg72rp]

one more thing : alison krauss in this song is the best thing you can listen to !

fantastic lady.

[thetinman72fl]

I am going to assume that all the negative comments come from young little pups that never really understood led zepplin. If Plant has aged and matured in his musical tastes, then so be it. Raising Sand actually just seems like a natural progression. Good luck to all you no talent nay sayers...where are all of your musical contributions to the world?

[rg72rp]

totally agree.

this music is touching and classic but original in the same time.

i'm so proud of all these grammys!

very good band with alison and robert.

i think t bone is pure genius.

cheers . r.

[shadowofmorgoth]

yeah, i don't think it's a strange choice at all really. led zeppelin was heavily influenced by country and blues music. they wrote songs like "bron-y-aur-stomp". it all goes back to that very old american roots music. it's not like the guy did an album with nelly furtado, for god's sake.

[FatherGregorian]

Very good point.

[imagamerfreak]

@shadowofmorgoth Most of Page's accoustic stuff was ripped off

just like all the blues stuff they did. Black Mountain Side is a scottish

folk musicians song-but gave page permission to use it.

[LedZepAlexander]

@imagamerfreak Yeah alot of things they used where unorginal but thing bron yr aur and battle of evermore are not

When the levee breaks was a remake of a 1920s version

but with out a( eletric guitar)

[politicalninja2044]

@shadowofmorgoth you have my all time favorite username. ever. even if i didn't know its origin i'd find it great.

[beatlesarebest]

@shadowofmorgoth and don't forget Hot Dog!! :-)

[kevfulchester]

@shadowofmorgoth Agreed. Rock and Country both take their roots from Blues so how can they ever be separated completely?!!!!

[cuchulain5000]

@shadowofmorgoth

Bron-y-aur stomp is welsh in origin. For the record.

[GranDrJ]

@cuchulain5000 in name it is. But its in the style of yer old fashion country ho-down/hootin nanny.

[xpat73]

@shadowofmorgoth They were also influenced by Celtic and English folk music. Bron y aur stomp is an example of that rather than a US blues music type song.

[43skidoo]

Plant and Page did just about the same thing back in the 90's. UNLEDED i think.

[druss3605]

While Im not crazy about this rendition, its his music man... if any one has the right to change it, its him. Oh.. shut up burt, if you have some talent, go out and right a song so I can tell you u suck.

[skinny12331]

If this what a guy like plant has to do to get laid at his age, then what does that say for us normal working stiffs. lol

[ericjungleboy]

Oh come on. Zeppelin never believed in doing things the same way all the time. If you're really a Zeppelin fan, you know that they never intended any of their songs to be like some kind of holy scripture that can't be changed. Zep songs always evolved; they never stayed just like the album versions.

[Mike1967b]

Zeppelin... where Jazz meets Acid Rock!

[kelmandevil]

collaborating was her was brilliant, if Plante had gone back to Zeppelin for a nw album we might not have had "Raising Sand", this song and everything else they did, that alone proves Plante made the right decision.

[lolzgracy]

the fiddle in this song is frikkin' phenomenal.

[tamra1975]

dunno, i'm kind of a purist, don't take too much to remakes, although unsure if this would be a remake or a cover since robert sang it before and allison is new to it, but at any rate, at least he didn't go rap.....geez

[malibu5967]

She is the YIN to his Yang...

[laskinko]

Smashing, but what does Robert Plant sing between 3.45-4.17?

[speedpimp]

That is a few verses from Dylan's "Girl From The North Country".

[sjb19020]

He sings part of "Find The Cost Of Freedom" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

[Michielmig20]

undiniably 1000 times better than their version of black dog, still not as good as the original though so much more soul in that song even though this version seems to try a lot harder it cant even touch it

[badpdx]

By "the original," do you mean the original Zeppelin version or the original Memphis Minnie version?

[Michielmig20]

the zeppelin version

[AleisterCrowIey]

Robert ...you chose wisely ...

play what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law ...

ZoSo

[anoroul]

That was a tasty interpretation of an already great song. Way to go Kruass and Plant!

Listen to Bob Dylan's performance of "West Texas" on the Live at The Gaslight 1962 CD. It sounds interestingly identical to When the Levee Breaks.

[tolkeinfan]

Is this on CD anywhere? Sure is good.

[AtlRacerBoyz]

Allison and Robert put a CD out called "Raising Sand". Great CD but no Zeppelin covers. It'd be awesome if they came out with one!

[dedicada]

an amazing song no matter which way you slice it... look at those musicians. enthralling.

[Ladsejg]

Is this from the concert I went to in Portland Oregon? Plant was wearing these old black boots and the strap came off on one of his boots during the show and I thought he was going to trip on it. Good show but I want a Zep tour!

[cindylevanna]

this is sooo cool

[shadowofmorgoth]

plant's voice is sounding really strong since the LZ reunion. haunting version.

[Kiwi2411]

god i would have killed to be there....

[carbiduis]

velvet ungerground anyone?

[varsityredheads]

I have to believe that every single person who leaves these concerts tells their friends to go to the next one. Terrific.

[dlawrick]

OMG I just found this version. The best yet. WOW!

[XxxFLASHxxX69]

Uh...HAVE YOU HEARD ZEPPELIN'S VERSION!

[DandomHouse]

hahahah

[XXn1927]

i'm sure anyone listening to this is at least a regular fan of zeppelin. we've all probably heard the original. i think they're both fantastic, both in different ways. they're not really comparable.

[dlawrick]

Many times... Live and the original...

[ldvizza]

who? ha-ha... this is not necessarily a better version, just different and cool..think about what most of Zeppelin's stuff was stolen from/inspired by.... exactly the roots music this tour is demonstrating...

[AtlRacerBoyz]

You nailed it on the head. Blues and Bluegrass are their roots. Listen to some of their non-mainstream songs and you'll understand

[CWSiler]

Who?

Never heard of em................(snicker)

[dlawrick]

Yup, repetitive with a flat feel. This has dynamics and a soundscape of the swamps at 2am. The sound is where Zep mined much of its material. Just listen to RP himself on that...

[rg72rp]

this song is in my head ...

[Bhaktigirl]

I just saw them at the Greek Theater in LA, last night, and they are pure magic, really wonderful! Even better than I'd expected, and I'd played their album for two weeks solid when it came out! Amazing....

[SilverQueen]

Oh. My. God. That ending! The arrangement of this song keeps changing from show to show. Close to the end, you can see the band confirming with each other how they're gonna end this one, and then T-Bone telling Alison to go do the twin-fiddle finish. Alison's never done anything like that in concert before!

[rg72rp]

pure magic. talent. passion.

what more do you want from artists?

[reddragonready]

Best version so far IMO both in performance and in video! But you really should get the name right though! ;) It's Krauss not Krause!

Anyway...thank you so much for sharing!