Various Artists - Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin have been worshipped intensely by generations of rock musicians ever since the 1969 release of their first of eight massively influential studio recordings. Despite a near-constant, and unrealistically cool critical reception, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, and John Bohnam's beyond-iconic status was hardly ever in doubt, and indeed grew for a 20-year period after the band's 1979 demise. Encomium's tribute is appropriately reverent, with serious treatments generally true to their original arrangements. Before getting frustrated with what could be considered mere musical mimicry on the part of the record's participants, listeners should be reminded that the unusual and painstakingly detailed arrangements are generally what made Led Zeppelin songs great. If Cracker, for instance, had made "Good Times Bad Times" into their own kind of alt-country ditty, it might have been interesting, but Encomium's producers weren't willing to risk it, so they appropriately ensured cohesion by allowing (or encouraging) Cracker, and each of the disc's diverse list of contributors, to stay within earshot of their selected title's original versions. That's not to say that this tribute is without its own color. David Yow of Jesus Lizard could never even approximate Plant's rendition of "Custard Pie," so when Yow teams with Helmet for their own bombastic version of the classic, the flailing results are quite fresh without being at all revisionist. Other highlights include Sheryl Crow's sexy vocal performance of "D'yer Mak'er" that stands up well to Plant's sultry original, and Atlantic Records' promotional inclusion of their 1995 baby-band Never the Bride's expressive "Going to California." While nothing compares to the original hard rock masterpieces, the transcendent power of this 12-track collection should satisfy fans of emotive guitar rock, no matter the era. ~ Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide

Name Credits 4 Non Blondes Performer Andy Torri Engineer, Producer Annette Cisneros Assistant Engineer Big Head Todd & the Monsters Producer, Performer, Group Bill Bottrell Multi Instruments, Producer, Engineer, Mixing Bill Curbishley Executive Producer Blind Melon Performer, Group Blowfish Performer Bob Rupe Bass Brad Smith Bass, Vocals Brendan O'Brien Mixing, Producer Brian Nevin Vocals, Drums, Producer Butch Vig Mixing, Producer Catherine Feeney ?, Strings, Producer, Piano Charlie Quintana Drums Chris Haskett Guitar Christa Hillhouse Bass Christopher Thorn Guitar Cracker Group, Performer Dan Schwartz Bass Darius Rucker Vocals Dave Jerden Mixing Dave Navarro Producer, Guitar David Bianco Mixing David Lowery Guitar (Rhythm), Producer, Vocals David Yow Performer, Vocals Dawn Richardson Drums Dean DeLeo Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic) Dean Felber Bass, Vocals (Background) Don Gehman Mixing, Producer, Engineer Duran Duran Performer, Producer, Arranger, Group Eddie DeLena Mixing, Engineer Eddie Kramer Producer, Engineer Eric Kretz Percussion, Drums George Cowan Mixing Assistant Glenn Graham Drums Helmet Performer, Group, Producer Henry Bogdan Bass, Producer Henry Rollins Vocals Hootie & the Blowfish Performer Jason Corsaro Mixing Jim Goodwin Mixing Assistant John Macy Pedal Steel John Siket Engineer John Stanier Producer, Drums Johnny Hickman Guitar Jolene Cherry Executive Producer Katrin Thomas Photography Kevin Williamson Executive Producer Leslie Reed Project Supervisor Linda Perry Vocals, Producer Mark Bryan Vocals (Background), Guitar Mark Williams Assistant Engineer Melvin Gibbs Bass Michael Sherwood Keyboards Mike Gregovich Engineer, Mixing Never the Bride Performer, Group, Producer Nick DiDia Engineer Nick Forster Slide Guitar Page Hamilton Guitar, Producer Peter Holsapple Organ, Mandolin Peter Rave Engineer Richard Hasal Engineer Rob Echeverria Producer, Guitar Rob Squires Bass, Producer Robert DeLeo Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Acoustic) Robert Plant Performer, Producer Rogers Stevens Guitar Rollins Band Performer, Group Scott Weiland Vocals Shannon Hoon Vocals Sheryl Crow Vocals, Performer Stephen Marcussen Mastering Assistant, ? Stone Temple Pilots Performer, Group Tat Mastering Terry Bozzio Drums Theo VanRock Producer Todd Park Mohr Producer, Guitar, Vocals Todd Vos Assistant Engineer Tori Amos ?, Performer