The 1960s were a transformative era for music, marked by the emergence of iconic bands and groundbreaking artists. One such artist who left an indelible mark on the music scene during this period was Robert Plant. In 1968, at the young age of 20, Robert Plant embarked on a remarkable musical journey when he joined Jimmy Page’s Yardbirds reboot. Little did he know that this decision would lead to the birth of one of the most legendary rock bands of all time – Led Zeppelin.
Initially, the group that welcomed Plant, along with John Paul Jones and John Bonham, was known as “The New Yardbirds.” However, due to a legal dispute with former Yardbirds members, the band was soon christened Led Zeppelin. The Yardbirds had already been a launchpad for three of rock’s most celebrated guitarists: Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. Yet, Page’s talent was perfectly complemented by the instrumental virtuosity of Jones and Bonham, along with Plant’s dynamic and unique vocal abilities.
“I was appearing at this college when [manager Peter Grant] and Jimmy turned up and asked me if I’d like to join the Yardbirds,” Plant recalled of his first meeting with Page in a 2008 interview with Classic Rock. “I knew the Yardbirds had done a lot of work in America – which to me meant audiences who would want to know what I might have to offer – so, naturally, I was very interested.”
During this first encounter, the aspiring frontman sang Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Somebody To Love’ to Page. The guitarist later reminisced about the moment: “When I auditioned him and heard him sing, I immediately thought there must be something wrong with him personality-wise or that he had to be impossible to work with because I just could not understand why, after he told me he’d been singing for a few years already, he hadn’t become a big name yet. So I had him down to my place for a little while just to sort of check him out, and we got along great. No problems.”
Throughout Led Zeppelin’s 12-year existence, Plant and his bandmates helped redefine blues-based rock ‘n’ roll with a heavier, more intense delivery style. Their music influenced not only heavy metal but also hard punk styles. Yet, Led Zeppelin was equally associated with the progressive rock movement of their time, thanks to their penchant for compositional complexity.
Led Zeppelin, alongside their prog-rock peers like Pink Floyd, Yes, and Genesis, are often seen as the most direct descendants of the British Invasion wave of the 1960s. During this colorful decade, British musicians took American blues rock and infused it with a psychedelic and soulful overhaul, teeming with oblique lyrical concepts and sonic experimentation. As the ’70s dawned, the prog-rockers assumed the vanguard of musical innovation.
In 2022, Robert Plant graced the airwaves of BBC Radio 6 to share some of his favorite and most influential songs of all time. Understandably, most of these formative songs hailed from the 1960s, the decade when his dreams were both realized and achieved.
Let’s take a look at the full list of Robert Plant’s favorite songs from the 1960s:
Robert Plant’s Favorite Songs of the 1960s
- Jeff Beck – ‘I Ain’t Superstitious (feat. Rod Stewart)’
- The Animals – ‘I’m Crying’
- The Spencer Davis Group – ‘Stevie’s Blues’
- Shane Fenton & The Fentones – ‘I’m A Moody Guy’
- Jimmy Powell and the 5 Dimensions – ‘Sugar Baby’
- The Poets – ‘Now We’re Thru’
- Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers – ‘I Can’t Stand It’
- Pisces – ‘Sam’
- The Velvets – ‘Spring Fever’
- Richie Barrett – ‘Some Other Guy’
- Don Covay – ‘Can’t Fight It Baby’
- Dick & Dee Dee – ‘The Mountain’s High’
- The Contours – ‘It Must Be Love’
- Betty Harris – ‘Ride Your Pony’
- The Marauders – ‘That’s What I Want’
- The Blue Rondos – ‘Little Baby’
- The Soul Sisters – ‘I Can’t Stand It’
- Amen Corner – ‘Gin House Blues’
These songs represent a curated selection of the musical gems that Robert Plant holds dear from the 1960s. Each track is a testament to the diversity and innovation of the era, reflecting the influence it had on Plant and his legendary career.
In conclusion, Robert Plant’s journey through the 1960s not only shaped his own musical path but also left an indelible mark on the history of rock and roll. His favorite songs from this transformative decade serve as a reminder of the timeless and influential power of music.