I first heard Zebra on WZUU about three years ago. The song was spacey, dreamy, and had beautiful acoustic guitar playing on it reminiscent of Jimmy Page's style. In fact, the song had a definite Zeppelin sound to it, as the singer's voice had a Robert Plant vibe as well. The song closes out side one of this album and is called "Who's Behind the Door?"
Come to find out they were signed to Atlantic Records in the early '80s, which was also the record label of Led Zeppelin. Perhaps they wanted the possible next Zep in their stable of artists? At any rate, while they do sound kinda like Zep in some ways, I would almost compare them more to Rush. The similarities are there, including them both being power trios and both utilizing synthesizers to create proggy sounds.
The track that kicks off the album, "Tell Me What You Want," is the one other Zebra song I had heard before I purchased this record (and was yet another tune first heard on WZUU - God love that station!). That song is a straight-ahead rocker that features the singer pleading with an unknown lover for just a little communication.
While I've compared this band to both Zep and Rush, some of the songs on it have an almost Beatle-esque sound to them as well. Their love for that legendary band was no secret as they included a tribute to slain ex-Beatle John Lennon on their second album. The Zep comparison will always be the one they get the most though, and they included a cover of their song "The Ocean" on a 1990 live album.
I came across this slab at Schulers Books and Music in the Eastwood Town center on Lake Lansing Road. Schulers is a small Michigan chain of book stores with three locations in the Grand Rapids area and two locations in the Lansing area. I found out the Eastwood location was the only one in the Lansing area that carries vinyl, so I made a point to check it out. For $4, this is a great addition to my collection and one I plan on listening to again real soon.
I've never heard of Zebra before, they're not too bad. I can definitely hear the Zep and Rush influence. They seem to be one of those bands that just couldn't stand out in the sea of mullets and hairspray that began dominating the scene.
ReplyDeleteI can think of a few bands from this era that were like Zebra...Aldo Nova, Triumph, and Saga come to mind. All three were talented, hard rock bands with prog influences. Once the hair bands really started taking off though (around 1984 or so) all of those guys were left in the dust. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteHa, the owner of one of the record shops I frequent was trying to push an Aldo Nova album on me once, saying it was literally one of the best-sounding vinyls out there.
ReplyDeleteYou should have got it man! Was it their first, self-titled album? If it was, it contains probably one of my favorite songs ever, "Fantasy."
ReplyDeleteI can't remember which one it was. The main reason I didn't buy it was because the cover had a big rip on it.
ReplyDeleteMy next "try to find" albums will be Oingo Boingo.