Friday 16 October 2015

What we're listening to this week. Led Zep 4.





There's very little argument out there, about what is the definitive Led Zeppelin Album. It's Led Zep IV (4).

Now you might not like the Band as such, or like heavier rock, but this is worth a listen and we loved it in Streamabout for a change. 

Of course, what made it famous was 'Stairway to Heaven' the iconic song of the 70's probably but 'Battle of Evermore', 'Rock and Roll', 'Going to California' are terrific too.

It was the Band's 4th album (obviously) from 1971 but you've probably never noted, it has no title and not on the cover which was hotly contested at the time between Page and the Record Company. Not only that, the Album sleeve has no notes or printing of any kind. 

So it just became known as Led Zep 4 only because it was their fourth whilst in fact, it's an Album without a name (actually, there's a song in that about a horse....). See? lots of interesting stuff here! 

The 19th century painting on the front cover was bought in a local shop by vocalist Robert Plant and photographed on a derelict building wall to contract the old and the new. 

Produced by legendary guitarist Jimmy Page (nearly as good as Ritchie Blackmore but pipped at the post we'd say), it's still one of the biggest selling Albums of all time. 

Page, Plant, Bassist John Paul Jones (real name John Baldwin I kid you not) and Drummer John Bonham (who died at 32 in 1980 having taken a lot of alcohol and choked) were the Band. And this is their best moment.

Hard to listen to the Album and not be invigorated. 

We are all a bit tired of 'Stairway to Heaven', and you'll know it well, but it does sum up the record. 

So what we have here is another version which is deadly cool from Rodrigo and Gabriela (which in turn helped make them famous). Have a listen you'll love it!


Thursday 15 October 2015

Facebook close the gap on YouTube.



Facebook are really pushing Video.

And to be fair, they're very much at the forefront of Video developments. With 4 Billion Video views a day (from their earnings call in April 2015) they're now getting close to YouTube (Google).

Although Facebook deliver Video better than YouTube because of the relevance of placing video in defined News feeds on Facebook. It's better than searching and advertisers get what they need.

They're now experimenting with 'Suggested Video' as a feature where users watch one video and then get offered similar videos that might be of interest - and therefore, growing video views, growing video revenue.

They're also looking at better ways to display video like 'floating' in news feeds.

Streamabout make and place, Video. We know the market and we do know that the video explosion is in no small way thanks to Facebook. 

Good on them.