Robert Plant – Now and Zen (and a meditation on DDD CDs)

When Led Zeppelin broke up, I assumed Jimmy Page would have the most interesting solo career. Wrong! Robert Plant has had the most interesting post-Zep career. Early in his solo career, Plant tried to distance himself from Zeppelin by reinventing his sound and refusing to play Zeppelin songs in concert. But by Now and Zen, his fourth album and a decade removed from his famous band, he embraced Zeppelin (“Tall Cool One” has a Led Zep vibe and Led Zep samples from “Whole Lotta Love,” “Black Dog,” and “Communication Breakdown”); the tour (I witnessed it) included songs from the Led Zeppelin catalog. Jimmy Page plays on a couple of Now and Zen tracks.

I orginally purchased this album on CD when it came out in 1988. CDs were a shiny new thing in the late 80s, as CD players and albums released in CD format hit the North American market in the spring of 1983. I got my first CD player around 1985. When Now and Zen was released, CD sales were surging worldwide and ultimately overtook vinyl LP sales for the first time that same year. However, cassettes were the dominant format in 1988 (about 55% of sales); CDs didn’t become the dominant format until 1992. Pre-recorded cassettes were convenient, but they had poor audio quality for several reasons (they were duplicated at 32x to 64x normal speed, used poor-quality tape stock, used slow playback, and used narrow tape). CDs were becoming the preferred choice for audiophiles.

When I bought Now and Zen, part of the novelty was that it was a “full digital recording” (as noted on the back of the album cover), although that would become the industry standard within the next year. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985) was my first all-digital album (designated DDD for digital recording, digital mixing, and digital mastering). Most of the CDs I bought in the 80s were AAD (Analog recording, Analog mixing, Digital mastering) or ADD (Analog recording, Digital mixing/mastering). Brothers in Arms was tailored specifically for the CD format and became the first CD in history to sell over one million copies, single-handedly convincing millions of listeners to upgrade to CD players. I remember being as excited by the Now and Zen’s sonics as I was by the musical content.

Many years later, I picked up a used vinyl LP of Now and Zen (an original, not a reissue), and I recently accidentally bought a second vinyl edition (a mistake I used not to make – I must be getting old LOL). That second purchase has me revisiting Now and Zen. The vinyl edition omits “Walking Towards Paradise,” and the outro is slightly trimmed on “Tall Cool One” and “Helen of Troy” to keep the side length under 22 minutes (a common practice back in the day as CDs could hold more content than vinyl). The vinyl version sounds very similar to the CD; however, it is a touch warmer and has a less punchy low-end. The vinyl version is less fatiguing on the ears. Lossless streaming services have a Redbook (16-bit/44.2 kHz) of the 2006 remaster (with bonus material) that sounds better than both the original CD and LP. The remaster boosts the low end (bass and kick drum) and smooths out high-end digital harshness for more analog warmth.

Well enough of the audiophile nerd talk, what about the songs and performance? Despite revisiting the Zeppelin vibe, including some big guitar, the most distinctive texture is the synth and gated drums. Now and Zen is very much a product of its time: think In Through the Out Door meets Pet Shop Boys. Keyboardist Phil Johnston co-wrote 7 of the 10 tracks with Plant, and his keys play a major sonic role on the album. Lyrically, Plant pokes fun at his past and aging rock-god status on “Tall Cool One.” He contemplates mid-life romance on several songs. He trades rock-star swagger for middle-aged vulnerability on the gorgeous ballad “Ship of Fools.” Finally, he pokes fun at 80s consumerism on a few songs. It is an impressive album sonically and lyrically for an aging rock star (although he was only 40), especially given how many of his peers struggled in the 80s. Plant had more in common with Phil Collins in the 80s than with the rest of his classic rock class – those two managed to grow with the times. Plant fully embraced the era without seeming like he was trying to be hip – it came naturally to him. He kept reinventing himself throughout the rest of his career. Now and Zen is a standout in Plant’s post-Zeppelin career and an adventurous 80s pop-rock.

CD track list

1. “Heaven Knows” (4:06)

2. “Dance On My Own” (4:30)

3. “Tall Cool One” (5:12)

4. “The Way I Feel” (4: 07)

5. “Helen of Troy” (5:06)

6. “Billy’s Revenge” (3:34)

7. “Ship of Fools” (5:01)

8. “Why” (4:14)

9. “White, Clean and Neat” (5:28)

10. “Walking Towards Paradise” (4:40) (CD & Cassette Bonus Track)

Vinyl track list

Side A:

1. “Heaven Knows”

2. “Dance On My Own”

3. “Tall Cool One” (Slightly edited outro)

4. “The Way I Feel”

 Side B:

5. “Helen of Troy” (Slightly edited outro)

6. “Billy’s Revenge”

7. “Ship of Fools”

8. “Why”

9. “White, Clean and Neat”

Primary Band

 Robert Plant: Lead Vocals

 Doug Boyle: Guitars

 Phil Johnstone: Keyboards, Synthesizers & Programming

 Phil Scragg: Bass

 Chris Blackwell: Drums & Percussion

Guest Musicians & Additional Personnel

 Jimmy Page: Guitar Solos on “Heaven Knows” and “Tall Cool One”

 Kirsty MacColl: Backing Vocals

 Toni Halliday: Backing Vocals

 Marie Pierre: Backing Vocals

 David Barratt & Robert Crash: Additional Programming

 Jerry Wayne: Spoken Voice-Over on “White, Clean and Neat”

 Charlie Jones: Bass (Bonus live tracks on 2006 remaster)