Nigel Williamson, Steve Turner and Charles Shaar Murray have a lot to say about
the blues. In fact they are well-educated men and issue forth a bunch of good
information on a bunch of blues guys who might not be household names in a bunch
of houses; Charley Patton, Bukka White and Son House, among them, on a new DVD
that connects the distant past with the more recent past on Down The
Tracks: The Music That Influenced Led Zeppelin.
Not that Led Zeppelin really figures much into this near two-hour documentary
after an initial quick sideshow and silent video footage. This is really a lesson
in the blues that we get from the experts, finding out, for example, who Charley
Patton was and how, in his own way, he was as influential as Robert Johnson.
We get some great playing by modern blues guitar master Bob Brozman, showing
us the various styles of guys like Patton and Son House. There’s also
footage of another reputed blues mainstay, Bukka White (with Brozman again showing
his stuff and emulating White’s style). The concept behind this DVD is
a trip through the Delta to find the blues roots Zep would come to know, love
and make their own years later.
With a nod to Lonnie Donegan and the skiffle craze, as well as references to
folk, Celtic and even those Tolkien influences so prevalent in Robert Plant’s
lyrics, Williamson, Turner and Murray put this entire travelogue of influences
into perspective where Zep is concerned. It’s a tight little package and
a good way to learn about some blues guys you might not have ever heard of,
but keep in mind that Down The Tracks: The Music That Influenced Led
Zeppelin doesn’t really provide very much in the way of actual
Led Zeppelin visuals or music. This DVD is more for blues students or those
who wish to become one.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
