Forty-two years ago this month, Robert Plant was climbing the Billboard charts with a song that sounded nothing like the thunderous rock anthems that made him famous.
On the Nov. 17, 1984, “Sea of Love,” recorded with his side project the Honeydrippers, jumped to No. 18. A week later, it climbed to No. 13, beginning an impressive run that would eventually take it all the way to No. 3.
? SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?
View this post on InstagramIt was an unexpected success for the former Led Zeppelin frontman, whose soaring vocals had helped define hard rock in the 1970s. But rather than revisit the sound of “Whole Lotta Love” or “Kashmir,” Plant was exploring a much softer side of his musical tastes. And audiences were clearly ready to hear it.
Robert Plant Took a Different Musical Direction After Led Zeppelin
After Led Zeppelin disbanded in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham, Plant began exploring what his career could look like outside the legendary group. He released two solo albums, Pictures at Eleven in 1982 and The Principle of Moments in 1983, before turning his attention to the Honeydrippers.
The project allowed Plant to revisit the blues, R&B and early rock ’n’ roll songs he loved. Rather than building another hard-rock band, he assembled an all-star group of musicians to record a collection of vintage favorites.
Related: ’80s TV Legend, 71, Seen During Rare Outing Looking Worlds Away From His ‘Miami Vice’ Days
The Honeydrippers’ 1984 EP, Volume One, featured former Led Zeppelin bandmate Jimmy Page on guitar, along with guitarist Jeff Beck, Chic’s Nile Rodgers and keyboardist Paul Shaffer.
The group recorded five songs, including “I Got a Woman,” “Young Boy Blues,” “Rockin’ at Midnight,” and “Sea of Love,” a romantic ballad originally recorded by Phil Phillips in 1959.
‘Sea of Love’ Wasn’t Supposed to Be the Big Hit
There’s an amusing twist behind the song’s success: Plant initially expected “Rockin’ at Midnight” to be the track that caught radio programmers’ attention.
In a later interview, he recalled that he wanted the upbeat song played alongside contemporary rock hits. Instead, radio stations gravitated toward “Sea of Love,” whose gentle arrangement and romantic lyrics offered a striking contrast to his previous work.
In a 1985 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Plant defended the unexpected hit, explaining that it reached audiences who might not otherwise have listened to his music.
“That song was good for me,” he said. “It broke through to all the radio stations that wouldn’t normally play a Robert Plant record.”
He also acknowledged that he wasn’t trying to become a pop star, saying, “I’ll never be a real pop star, but that doesn’t bother me.”
The gamble paid off.
“Sea of Love” ultimately reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1985, becoming the highest-charting single of Plant’s career. It even surpassed Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” which peaked at No. 4 in 1970.
Robert Plant’s Honeydrippers Experiment Brought Rock Legends Together
The success of “Sea of Love” also gave fans an unusual opportunity to hear Plant and Page working together again after Led Zeppelin. Page’s guitar contributions, alongside Beck’s playing and Rodgers’ involvement, made the Honeydrippers recording a remarkable collaboration.
But Plant never seemed interested in turning the project into a permanent replacement for Led Zeppelin. The Honeydrippers released just one EP, and the singer eventually returned to his solo career and original material.
In the Los Angeles Times interview, he explained that the project had started as a way to reconnect with music on a smaller scale after years of stadium-sized success.
“I wanted to see if I had the conviction and the courage to sing in small places,” he said, reflecting on his early post-Zeppelin years.
Related: Avril Lavigne Was Photographed Kissing a Mystery Man Before Her Surprise Baby Announcement
“Sea of Love” may have been an unexpected detour, but it became one of the most successful recordings of his career. And more than four decades later, the song remains a reminder that even one of rock’s most powerful voices could find magic in something gentle.
Related: ’80s TV Legend Who Almost Played Indiana Jones Had a Frightening Brush With Death at 17
Hence then, the article about 70s rock legend s romantic rock ballad became his biggest hit 42 years ago even bigger than anything he did with led zeppelin was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ’70s Rock Legend’s Romantic Rock Ballad Became His Biggest Hit 42 Years Ago—Even Bigger Than Anything He Did With Led Zeppelin )
Also on site :