Now and Zen
Encyclopedia
Now and Zen is an album by the former Led Zeppelin
singer Robert Plant
, released in 1988 (see 1988 in music
) under the label Es Paranza. The album made the top 10 in both the U.S. and the UK, reaching #6 in the former, and #10 in the latter. The album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on September 7, 2001.
With a new band and a new perspective on his music, Plant returned in late 1987 with more of the sound that had previously defined him in Led Zeppelin. Although Plant continued to utilise computerized audio technology in a similar fashion to his previous solo albums, for this album Plant integrated the blues that had all but been abandoned on his most recent album Shaken 'n' Stirred
(1985). A prominent guitar sound and an exotic feel to the recordings also marked another change in direction for the artist, who now added Middle Eastern tones in songs like "Heaven Knows
". This is a direction that he would eventually follow in the 1990s with Page and Plant
.
The tracks "Heaven Knows" and "Tall Cool One
" featured Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page
. (On the liner notes, Page's participation on the songs was noted with a Zoso symbol.) In response to the Beastie Boys
' unauthorised sampling
of some Led Zeppelin songs on their 1986 album Licensed to Ill
, Plant also used samples from Led Zeppelin songs ("Whole Lotta Love
", "The Ocean", "Black Dog
", and "Custard Pie
") on "Tall Cool One", additionally singing words from "When the Levee Breaks
".
"Walking Towards Paradise" was originally a bonus track available only on CD versions of the album. Rhino Entertainment
released a remastered edition of the album, with bonus tracks, on 3 April 2007.
Plant performed "Ship of Fools
", "Tall Cool One" and "Heaven Knows" at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary
concert in 1988. "Ship of Fools" was also featured on the final two-hour episode of Miami Vice
titled "Freefall". It is the musical accompaniment to Crockett and Tubbs return to Miami via motor yacht after rescuing General Bourbon (a thinly veiled Manuel Noriega
-type character) from the fictional Central American nation of Costa Morada.
In an interview he gave to Uncut
magazine in 2005, Plant commented that "by the time Now and Zen came out in '89, it looked like I was big again. It was a Top 10 album on both sides of the Atlantic. But if I listen to it now, I can hear that a lot of the songs got lost in the technology of the time."
2007 remaster bonus tracks
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
singer Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, released in 1988 (see 1988 in music
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
) under the label Es Paranza. The album made the top 10 in both the U.S. and the UK, reaching #6 in the former, and #10 in the latter. The album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on September 7, 2001.
With a new band and a new perspective on his music, Plant returned in late 1987 with more of the sound that had previously defined him in Led Zeppelin. Although Plant continued to utilise computerized audio technology in a similar fashion to his previous solo albums, for this album Plant integrated the blues that had all but been abandoned on his most recent album Shaken 'n' Stirred
Shaken 'n' Stirred
Shaken 'n' Stirred is an album by former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, released in 1985 on the Es Paranza label. It featured his second Mainstream Rock Tracks top hit, "Little by Little", which was #1 on the chart for two weeks....
(1985). A prominent guitar sound and an exotic feel to the recordings also marked another change in direction for the artist, who now added Middle Eastern tones in songs like "Heaven Knows
Heaven Knows (Robert Plant song)
"Heaven Knows" is a rock song performed by English rock singer Robert Plant. It was the first single to be released from his 1988 album Now and Zen. It reached number 33 on the UK singles chart and number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
". This is a direction that he would eventually follow in the 1990s with Page and Plant
Page and Plant
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, both formerly of English hard rock band Led Zeppelin, recorded and toured in the mid-1990s under the title Page and Plant. The pair re-united in 1994 and, after recording a highly successful first album, they embarked on a world tour. They then recorded a second album,...
.
The tracks "Heaven Knows" and "Tall Cool One
Tall Cool One (song)
"Tall Cool One" is a rock song performed by English rock singer Robert Plant. It was the third single released from his 1988 album Now and Zen, following "Heaven Knows" and "Ship of Fools". It reached number 87 on the UK singles chart, number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the...
" featured Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
. (On the liner notes, Page's participation on the songs was noted with a Zoso symbol.) In response to the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
' unauthorised sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of some Led Zeppelin songs on their 1986 album Licensed to Ill
Licensed to Ill
In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums.It is still the only album by a white hip-hop act to receive the coveted 5 mics from The Source....
, Plant also used samples from Led Zeppelin songs ("Whole Lotta Love
Whole Lotta Love
"Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the United States and Japan as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, when it...
", "The Ocean", "Black Dog
Black Dog (song)
"Black Dog" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, the lead off track of their fourth album, released in 1971. It was also released as a single in the United States and Australia with "Misty Mountain Hop" on the B-side, and reached #15 on Billboard and #11 in Australia.In 2010, the song was...
", and "Custard Pie
Custard Pie
"Custard Pie" is the opening track on the English rock band Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. The lyrics to the riff-heavy song pay homage to the blues songs of the Robert Johnson era; specifically "Drop Down Mama" by Sleepy John Estes, "Shake 'Em on Down" by Bukka...
") on "Tall Cool One", additionally singing words from "When the Levee Breaks
When the Levee Breaks
"When the Levee Breaks" is a blues song written and first recorded by husband and wife Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929. The song is in reaction to the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927....
".
"Walking Towards Paradise" was originally a bonus track available only on CD versions of the album. Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
released a remastered edition of the album, with bonus tracks, on 3 April 2007.
Plant performed "Ship of Fools
Ship of Fools (Robert Plant song)
"Ship of Fools" is a rock song performed by English rock singer Robert Plant. It was the second single released from his 1988 album Now and Zen, following "Heaven Knows". It reached number 76 on the UK singles chart, number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock...
", "Tall Cool One" and "Heaven Knows" at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary
Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary
On 14 May 1988 the Atlantic Records label held its 40th Anniversary Celebration by staging a non-stop concert lasting almost 13 hours at Madison Square Garden, New York. The event was dubbed "It's Only Rock And Roll"....
concert in 1988. "Ship of Fools" was also featured on the final two-hour episode of Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
titled "Freefall". It is the musical accompaniment to Crockett and Tubbs return to Miami via motor yacht after rescuing General Bourbon (a thinly veiled Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
-type character) from the fictional Central American nation of Costa Morada.
In an interview he gave to Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
magazine in 2005, Plant commented that "by the time Now and Zen came out in '89, it looked like I was big again. It was a Top 10 album on both sides of the Atlantic. But if I listen to it now, I can hear that a lot of the songs got lost in the technology of the time."
Track listing
- "Heaven KnowsHeaven Knows (Robert Plant song)"Heaven Knows" is a rock song performed by English rock singer Robert Plant. It was the first single to be released from his 1988 album Now and Zen. It reached number 33 on the UK singles chart and number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
" (Barratt, Johnstone) – 4:06 - "Dance on My Own" (Crash, Johnstone, Plant) – 4:30
- "Tall Cool OneTall Cool One (song)"Tall Cool One" is a rock song performed by English rock singer Robert Plant. It was the third single released from his 1988 album Now and Zen, following "Heaven Knows" and "Ship of Fools". It reached number 87 on the UK singles chart, number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the...
" (Johnstone, Plant) – 4:40 - "The Way I Feel" (Boyle, Johnstone, Plant) – 5:40
- "Helen of Troy" (Johnstone, Plant) – 5:06
- "Billy's Revenge" (Johnstone, Plant) – 3:34
- "Ship of FoolsShip of Fools (Robert Plant song)"Ship of Fools" is a rock song performed by English rock singer Robert Plant. It was the second single released from his 1988 album Now and Zen, following "Heaven Knows". It reached number 76 on the UK singles chart, number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock...
" (Johnstone, Plant) – 5:01 - "Why" (Crash, Plant) – 4:14
- "White, Clean and Neat" (Johnstone, Plant) – 5:28
- "Walking Towards Paradise" (Williams) – 4:40
2007 remaster bonus tracks
- "Billy's Revenge" (live) – 6:00
- "Ship of Fools" (live) – 10:35
- "Tall Cool One" (live) – 5:07
Album
| Chart (1988) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 12 |
| UK Albums Chart | 10 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 18 |
| Canadian RPM Top 100 Chart | 4 |
| US Billboard The 200 Albums Chart | 6 |
| Australian ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart | 27 |
| German Albums Chart | 48 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Heaven Knows" | UK Singles Chart | 33 |
| 1988 | "Heaven Knows" | US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart | 1 |
| 1988 | "Heaven Knows" | Canadian RPM Top 100 Chart | 65 |
| 1988 | "Tall Cool One" | US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart | 1 |
| 1988 | "Tall Cool One" | UK Singles Chart | 87 |
| 1988 | "Tall Cool One" | Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart | 47 |
| 1988 | "Tall Cool One" | US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart | 25 |
| 1988 | "Tall Cool One" | Canadian RPM Top 100 Chart | 15 |
| 1988 | "Tall Cool One" | US Cash Box Top 100 Singles Chart | 31 |
| 1988 | "Dance on My Own" | US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart | 10 |
| 1988 | "Ship of Fools" | US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart | 3 |
| 1988 | "Ship of Fools" | US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart | 84 |
| 1989 | "Walking Towards Paradise" | US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart | 39 |
Personnel
- Robert PlantRobert PlantRobert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
- Vocals, Producer - Phil JohnstonePhil JohnstonePhil Johnstone is a songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist and record producer, best known for his work with singer Robert Plant. His songwriting credits include Plant's number-one Mainstream Rock hits "Heaven Knows", "Tall Cool One" and "Hurting Kind ".- Details :Johnstone first worked with Plant on...
- Keyboards, Producer - Tim PalmerTim PalmerTim Palmer is a British music producer, audio engineer and songwriter of rock and alternative music.-1980-1990:Palmer worked as an assistant engineer at Utopia Studios in London, England in the early 1980s...
- Producer - Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
- Guitar (on tracks 1 & 3) - Doug BoyleDoug BoyleDoug Boyle is a guitarist and composer, best known for his work with Robert Plant, Nigel Kennedy and later incarnations of Caravan.-Biography:...
- Guitar - Phil Scragg - Bass
- Chris Blackwell - Drums, Percussion
- David BarrattDavid BarrattBorn in London England Barratt worked in New York and composed music for TV and radio commercials for, amongst others, Michelin, BMW, Coke, LA Gear, Dr Pepper, Revlon, Verizon, Sony, Kodak, 7Up, Pepsi/Star Wars, USA Today, Bridgestone, Hasbro, and H&M....
- Programming, Keyboards - Marie Pierre - Vocals (Background)
- Toni HallidayToni HallidayAntoinette "Toni" Halliday is an English musician best known as the lead vocalist, lyricist, and occasional guitarist of the band Curve.-Early life and career:...
- Vocals (Background) - Kirsty MacCollKirsty MacCollKirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter.MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s...
- Vocals (Background) - Rob Bozas - Engineer
- Martin Russell - Engineer
- Richard EvansRichard Evans-Literary figures:*Richard J. Evans , English historian on the subject of Germany before and during World War II*Richard Paul Evans , American author of books with Christian themes; best known for 1995's The Christmas Box...
Design & Art Direction