MOTHERSHIP

This compilation album was released to both cash in on the massive interest in the band after the announcement of the gig in London in 2008 (?) and because a new generation had arrived after the release of the last compilation album some fifteen to twenty years ago.

I am not disputing that this compilation album is very useful for new generations of rock fans who want to get to know the best ever rock band of all times. Neither do I begrudge the band the income a compilation album provides them with. My gripes is just that Led Zeppelin first and foremost is an album band. You cannot break up the albums and put them together in a compilation album. This simply removes the dynamics from their material. That's why the band released so few singles. Although the songs here are all 4-5 stars songs; bunched together in this compilation is not right. But I write this as a fan who increasingly is listening to their albums back-to-back for my pure enjoyment. Only then I feel the greatness of this band comes to the fore. Hence my sparse sprinkling of stars for this and any other Led Zeppelin compilations.

3 stars