Part 277.5: Klassik Kwote – The Dandy Douche Strikes Back

RECORD STORE TALES Part 277.5:
Klassik Kwote – The Dandy Douche Strikes Back

SIXTY SIXI’m a pretty big Led Zeppelin fan, having bought all their albums more than once (and at least once more) over the years.  When this Robert Plant CD came out in November 2003, it was high on my radar.  I didn’t own any Plant solo albums (beyond The Honeydrippers), but wanted something of his in my collection.  This compilation of hits and rarities was perfect for my needs.

I was listening to it in the store one afternoon when Dandy sauntered in.  Always eager to criticize my musical selections on any given day, he had this to say about Robert Plant’s Sixty Six to Timbuktu:

“I was talking to my dad about why Led Zeppelin sucked,” he said.  “Now I know.  It’s not Led Zeppelin that sucked, it was just Robert Plant all along.”

Thoughts?  Weigh in below with a comment!

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96 comments

  1. Dandy’s an arse!

    I love Robert Plant! Named one of my turtles after him when I was in uni – Percy (the other was called Jethro).

    I have Manic Nirvana and Now and Zen on CD. This album looks great – I might have to buy it!

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    1. I think you mentioned Percy before, either that or I’m having a hell of a deja vu!

      This album is great. I made sure I listened to it while writing!

      Incidentally, WordPress tells me that this is my 1001th post!

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        2. Ya done good. It’s obvious you have a lot to say, and you’re enjoying it. I’m already up to 127 posts myself. It’s “almost” been effortless. lol

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        4. Yes, right. Keep some in the coffers so when you feel meh, you don’t have to write. Or just don’t write if you don’t feel like it. I want to keep an audience, but I’m not going to kill myself to write and end up with a crappy post. But, that’s me.

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  2. Dude, you left us hanging, didn’t finish the story… Let me help you out with some possible resolutions:

    1) “…it was just Robert Plant all along.” He grinned at me, knowing he was egging me on. It took me a moment to focus the rage that was building, and in that moment I waved him over. When he stepped near enough, I reached out like a bolt of lightning and grabbed the hair on the top of his head. He was still gasping his surprise, without even time to bring his hands up in self-defense, as I bounced his face off the counter. He went to hospital, and recovered fully, eventualy. I kept my job, because everyone knew he was a douche and had it coming. And he never bothered me again.

    2) “…it was just Robert Plant all along.” I just stared at him, holding his gaze. He tried to look away, I followed him. My eyes bored right through his and out the back of his skull. My stare was the equivalent of Bruce Lee’s advice about punching through the subject. My gaze was razing his hometown and making him sterile so he couldn’t reproduce and foist more Dandys upon humanity. He quickly got very uncomfortable. He walked away. I stared after him, as he went. And when he looked back, I was still staring. My face may have taken on a helter skelter look, by then, but I can’t be sure. He retreated to the back room and never bothered me again.

    3) “…it was just Robert Plant all along.” Actually, for the perfect response, see picture of Lebrain (above). The beard gives that bird authority.

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    1. #3 dude :) Less is more, pictures say a thousand words!

      Dandy did egg me on, but in mean ways, not friendly ways. Don’t forget this is the guy who told Steven Tyler that he sucked. He gets pleasure out of that.

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        1. You said something very wise about that encounter: What a wasted opportunity to have a brief moment with an accomplished artist, spoiled for no good reason.

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  3. Have to admit that track seems kind of dated now, but I did enjoy his solo albums at a certain time. The Zep boxes start coming out in June. Thats cool. May have to revisit the catalog.

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    1. Craig,
      Now that we know some details, I can definitely say I know which Led Zeppelin deluxe I will be buying. All of the 2 CD editions. Now that we know what’s on everything I know I don’t need the super deluxe.

      I may buy one of them, just to check it out…Physical Graffiti would be a good super deluxe.

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      1. And see, for me it’s gonna be the single discs of the extra stuff (that site you sent, Mike, said they would be individual releases… is that still true?). I can’t fathom buying all the albums again.

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  4. As someone who has considered Zeppelin his favorite band for 35 years (since I was 12), I can’t really comment on this because it seems like the kind of thing someone says when they’re just trying to push your buttons. I can understand why some people don’t like Robert Plant’s style of singing, or his lyrics, but to say that he “sucked” just shows a lot of ignorance. I don’t like Pearl Jam simply because I don’t enjoy Eddie Vedder’s voice. It annoys me. However, I’ve never said he sucks or he’s a terrible singer, and I acknowledge that they’re a cool band that plays by their own rules, but I have no interest in playing any of their records. I like to think that’s the way to present an opinion when you’re having a discussion with a fellow music fan.

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    1. Very true. Yours is the reasonable, intelligent response. But every post of Mike’s that has this Dandy guy in it is the same, the guy was a piece of work. It’s why I added my little black humour resolutions as a comment. You’d never do it, but the thought crosses your mind.

      I get what you’re saying about Eddie. I’ve been a fan for years and still I know what you mean. They’re a great band, excellent musicians, always pushing forward creatively. And then I try to imagine them with someone else singing and… I just can’t do it. At tthis point, I figure he’s an acquired taste, (and not to compare him in any way except in listening to his voice) like Dylan, Young, Cohen… any singer that some people dislike. Heck, Geddy Lee grates on lots of people I know, including my lovely wife. I knew a girl years ago who couldn’t stand Gord Downie’s voice. To each their own, for sure!

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    2. Well Rich, you may recall this same gentleman took pride in telling Steven Tyler that he sucked. So that’s the ballpark we’re in.

      Guys like you, Aaron, and myself, we can disagree about things without saying “sucked”.

      And I use the word “sucked” in a lot of my reviews, but I hope the playful intentions are obvious. I’m not out to hurt someone’s feelings. (Although I don’t think Tyler’s feelings WERE hurt…)

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    3. I feel the same way about the Cure. I’m sure they have a lot to like for the same reasons but I just cannot get past that voice. Hate it. And this coming from a guy who’s favorite band is Rush.

      Irony, thy name is…

      i do like Pearl Jam, have to admit.

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      1. I hear a lot of heavy, heavy thrash metal bands that I like, but 99% of the time I can’t hack the singer. I’m talking about the cookie monster vocals. Shame because I usually love the actual music, the riffs, speed and blastbeats.

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        1. Yeah exactly, I like to hear singing. Good singing. Even decent singing. Good music with poor vocals just kill me. I mean even try. but don’t growl at me, I don’t apreciate it. Its like hearing my kid cry about some nonsense. He’ll forget about it in a minute but my ears are still dammaged from the extemporaneous noise.

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        2. When I was a kid, I used to check out new bands by catching their music video. I’d usually decide by the time the singer opened his mouth whether I liked the band or not. It was usually the singer that did it for me.

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    1. I’m with Scott regarding your need for more Plant solo material. I played the hell out of his first four albums when they first came out, and they’ll always have a special place in my heart. I felt like he tried too hard with Manic Nirvana, although a lot of people seem to consider that their favorite. Perhaps it’s because that’s his most Zeppelin-ish album, but that’s not what I want from Plant’s solo recordings. By the early 90s he couldn’t sing like he used to and his material only got better once he started writing songs in a range better suited for his more mature voice. His last couple of albums are among the best things he’s ever done, and he has a new one coming out later this year. I now consider him a better all-around singer than he ever was even though I miss the sheer power of his voice from the Zeppelin days.

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      1. Rich is wise indeed! I’ve lost touch with his most recent output (Raising Sand was the last of his projects I heard) but there’s so much to enjoy in his solo work. I especially love the 1st two and then the run from Fate of Nations through to Mighty Rearranger. I’ve got albums that I’ve still to explore properly too but I know I’ll love them when I finally get round to them.

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        3. How the heck has he had such good hair all these decades? It doesn’t look fake either.

          Brian May looks like a mad scientist, and I mean that in the kindest way.

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        9. Underrated: The first Page & Plant CD, Unledded. I have a lot of singles and B-sides from that CD. A lot. You’d be surprised how many more songs they played.

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    3. Yeah I know dude! While doing reading for this post I realized that all of Plant’s albums are remastered with bonus tracks. Like I mentioned I have the Honeydrippers.

      Which one is In The Mood on? Oddly that song is NOT on Sixty Six to Timbuktu.

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        1. I can’t remember what Robert Plant albums you owned, but I do remember your cool copy of Manic Nirvana, the digipack. Do you still have it? Do you still have the black light? If you do, I WOULD LOVE to do a photo-feature on that CD!

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  6. 100% agree with everyone! I think Rich said it best with his “pearl jam” analogy. If you dont like Robert Plant, thats fine. But to say he’s terrible, or sucks, is just completely ignorant. Sometimes i think i am gonna smack somebody when they make comments like this! I know guys who say things like “tina turner sucks” just because they thought “private dancer” was a bit limp wristed (and admittedly, i dont like that era either). …but to say she sucks?…

    I am a mushroom-cloud layin’ motherfucker, motherfucker!

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      1. Unfortunately, i dont have the cd anymore…i still have the black light, but its not attached to my cd towers anymore…i have “lockers” now

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        1. Lockers to keep the kids hands off?

          Man we could do an entire story or two JUST about CD towers. There was your first one…I think you painted it speckled grey. The two you made for me (my dad uses them in the garage now!) the ones you made for Tom (which are still there) and of course the masterpiece you had for yourself.

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  7. I think Jason Leduc bought that first speckled gray one…didnt he? I sold the “masterpiece” at a garage sale we had…shame, it was cool. But you should see my current set-up!

    I’m mad fer it, me!

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  8. Maybe i should start making them for people again? Its hard to find ones that hold that many without spending $1000

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      1. I have a pro job that cost roughly $300 I think? The company went out of business sadly some years back. It holds roughly 1200 and at one point in my mania it was overflowing. I sold off about $200 worth of promos and cut outs and whatever several else I had collected working at the store.

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        1. My largest CD tower holds 1000. It was a Sears special but they discontinued it in favor of a smaller 800 capacity tower. And they discontinued that in favor of something even smaller…I have one of each and it’s not enough. I’ve more than overspilled that.

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    1. BWAHAHAHAHAH!

      Honestly Craig I don’t purge my CDs anymore. I figure for what it’s worth I may as well keep them. We’re moving later anyway.

      I do purge my DVDs though. Movies don’t have the same longevity for me. I’m not nearly as excited about “Dude Where’s My Car” as I was 10 years ago.

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      1. When I first saw that, dude/sweet clip I was like, thats the stupidist sh*t I have ever seen, then later when I saw in context thats some pretty funny sh*t. Weird.

        And, then??

        And, then???

        lol. would I sit thru that one again? NFW

        Now, Step Brothers. Thats comedy!!

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        1. And then….

          Step Brothers is one that I didn’t finish. I watched the first 20 or 30 minutes and never went back to it. Not sure why, I love those guys.

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  11. mikeladano :
    And then….
    Step Brothers is one that I didn’t finish. I watched the first 20 or 30 minutes and never went back to it. Not sure why, I love those guys.

    Check it out again, I watched it with my dad and aside from the Big Lebowski I don’t think I ever heard the man laugh harder.

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