[NeilPeart]

Everyone break out your worn-out Led Zeppelin IV album or "Zoso" as some people (incorrectly) call it. "You can be, and are wrong." I had to throw a bit of Hi-Fidelity humor in there!

Okay, Listen to the last track on the album, "When the Levee Breaks," and pay special attention to Bonzo's hi-hat on the right channel. At approximately 1:36, the hi-hat is seemingly replaced (or obscured) by an odd noise that resembles a match being struck (that what it sounds like to me). Can anyone confirm what that sound is? I've listened to the CD, record and tape with every headphone at my disposal (including the Ety and HP2 microscopes) and I can't identify the sound. I know this sounds incredibly nerdy and pathetic, but I cannot stop thinking about this sound. Can a fellow Zeppelin nut help me out, please?

 

[m0nKeY bUsiNeSs]

I do indeed hear it. It’s after the second "if it keeps on raining the levee’s going to break" To me it sounds like it was made by a drum brush.

 

[Rempert]

Interesting. This sound seems to break through the soundstage to me, right in my ear while the hi-hat sounds more equal in distance to the rest of the band. Like, if he had grabbed a brush and hit the snare drum, it would have been somewhat softer than the hi-hat , but this seems louder and closer (also higher pitch). To me it sounds like someone else took a cabasa (or similar latin percussion) and gave it a good hard turn right up against the mic.

Could be a lot of things though.

 

[LargeSock]

That is really annoying. It really stands out in a bad way. I guess I'll have to remember *not* to critically listen to this song again.

 

[eyeteeth]

I've heard that for years and thought there is slight damage to the master tape (these things happen), as the most recent remastering has the high-hat increase in volume for a second, while the previous remaster had more of a smudged, blurred sound. I can't remember hearing it with the awful, cheap gear we had on the original vinyl way back in the old days. I'd like to listen to this though on decent gear, and maybe I will soon

.

 

[DarkAngel]

While you have Led Zep 4 out........... take CD booklet or album and open to illustration of Gandalf on mountain top overlooking village below.........place edge with mountain against mirror and hold at right angle so reflected image combined with original reveals the hidden dragon

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkAngel place edge with mountain against mirror and hold at right angle so reflected image combined with original reveals the hidden dragon

Dragon's face straight on? BTW I still can't get my CDP to play Stairway in reverse and hear "my sweet Satan".

 

[bundee1]

Its there!. Some DJs on my high school radio station played that backwords and used it as their show's promo. A couple of stoners saying something like

Dude 1 - "Dude did he just say Heres to my sweet Satan?"
Dude 2 - " No dude he said listen to adam and joe on WPAA ..."
Dude 1 - "Duuuude"

And then another Led Zep song taking them out.
It was like something out of an SNL skit. I wish I had a tape.