“We got Northern Soul”: Robert Plant named the first record he ever bought
Most people remember the first record they ever bought. Whether it’s an iconic piece like The Beatles’ Revolver or a more obvious venture like U2’s The Joshua Tree, more often than not, the first album we ever purchased relates to a very specific moment in our lives. Robert Plant is no exception.
For a band as monumentally game-changing as Led Zeppelin, life as Robert Plant meant constantly being studied, with many peeling back the layers to reveal what, precisely, made him so timelessly endearing. Not only did Zeppelin provide a sound that felt bigger and more visceral than the confines of stadium walls, but Plant’s voice brought a particular nuance and delicacy that was previously underheard of in hard rock.
However, understanding Plant’s appreciation for huge names like Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Betty Harris, Robert Smith, and even Abdel Halim Hafez feels somewhat restrictive. To really get under the skin of what makes him great, it somehow feels more poignant to venture back even further and analyse the one thing that arguably defines us all—the first album he ever bought.
When looking at an artist like Plant, it seems easy to predict the kinds of records this might be. Growing up with interests firmly planted in blues, rock, soul, and psychedelic pop, it’s safe to say that Plant had always been on top of the trends, his love for musical creativity becoming a studious hobby that meant the moment he took centre stage, he was ready, equipped with the wisdom of a thousand greats.
However, before jumping to any conclusions that Plant’s choice for his first album might seem underwhelming or unreflective of his stature as a world-class musician, let me assure you that’s not the case. In fact, his first LP purchase speaks volumes about his character and creative range. The album in question was none other than James Brown’s legendary live album Live at the Apollo. This choice highlights Plant’s deep appreciation for soulful, high-energy performances and showcases the broad influences that have shaped his own musical journey.
Aside from the obvious accolades and achievements, like it being widely considered one of the best live albums of all time, Live At The Apollo also connects Plant to a very specific moment in his career when he was playing small nightclubs with a heart filled with Northern Soul. “Band Of Joy was the name of the band myself and John Bonham were in before Led Zeppelin Back then I was totally into soul music – the first album I ever got was an import copy of James Brown’s Live At The Apollo,” he told Louder, adding, “I remember playing all the all-nighters – The Twisted Wheel, The Catacombs. I was playing support to Lee Dorsey and Buddy Guy.”
“We got Northern Soul, which was a bastardised version of black American soul,” he continued, recalling recording a Young Rascals cover at age 17 before concluding, “And here I am 44 years later, back with American music.” Plant’s discovery of the beauty of soul might have extended beyond Brown’s live album, but it certainly was the opus that connected the dots and ignited his appreciation for its profound emotional depth.
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