"Travelling Riverside Blues" - Led Zeppelin
My best friend in college and most nefarious partner in crime, Tim, was, to his core, as big of a classic guitar rock fan as I was. We both had friends who were more into progressive or alternative or indie or whatever-you-want-to-call-it bands (I believe the term "college radio" was still en vogue back then). However, we could always count on each other to be up for some three- four- and five-piece, guitar-driven, R&B-influeced psychedelia at any time of the day or night. Whether it be Pink Floyd or Frank Zappa or The Rolling Stones, we could never get enough. Mind you, we still had cassettes in those days!
I do not get the impression that "Travelling Riverside Blues" is considered part of Zep's "canon" of top hits. However, if you wanted to do a clinical study in what made this band so great, you need not look any further. From Bonham's steady drums to Jones' smooth base to Page's ranging guitar (from almost-howling riffs to, dare we say, funky chord progressions) to Plant's filthy vocals, they nailed it with this one.
Tim was a part of some of the greatest times of my life. We had one of the greatest acid trips imaginable, including floating in a congealed room while listening to Dark Side of the Moon. We drank Milwaukee's Best (leaded, not light) and played NCAA COllege Basketball on SNES for days on end over winter and spring break. We played Frisbee golf until it was too dark to see the discs. And we jammed to Zeppelin.
Tim did a great Page/Plant combo to this song. Air guitar. Vocals. Body movement. Dangling Camel Light. The works. So, Tim, wherever you are, here's to you and all the brain cells we killed and all the fun we had doing it.
