The First Time I Ever Heard...

Humorist Kevin Lawson is nothing if not nostalgic, and this time he’s taking a look back at the albums that helped shape his life. From Led Zeppelin to Nirvana, Beatles to Prince, Lawson shares his first impressions of classic rock albums. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin I remember the first time I heard Led Zeppelin IV like it was yesterday, and trust me, it was a moment that changed my life forever, or at least my taste in music. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, the kind of day that begs you to curl up with a blanket and binge-watch a series you’ve seen three times already. But, of course, I decided to take a different route. I was 17, and my rebellious spirit was fueled by a mix of boredom and a desperate need to impress my friends. So, I dug through my dad’s old vinyl collection, and there it was: Led Zeppelin IV, that iconic album cover with the old man carrying a bundle of sticks. I thought, 'What could be more rebellious than listening to an album that looks like it belongs in a museum?' I dropped the needle, and the moment 'Black Dog' kicked in, I felt like I had been hit by a freight train. I mean, what was this? It was like someone had taken all the best parts of rock and roll, cranked them up to eleven, and tossed in a pinch of magic dust. I was instantly hooked. Robert Plant’s voice soared higher than my expectations for my future, and I could practically feel Jimmy Page’s guitar melting my face off. I was a goner. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I was ready to dive headfirst into the world of classic rock. Then came 'Stairway to Heaven.' Now, let me tell you, I had heard snippets of this song before, but hearing it in its entirety felt like being initiated into some secret society of music lovers. I sat there, wide-eyed, as I listened to the lyrics, pondering the meaning of life and the universe. Was I supposed to buy a stairway? Should I be looking for one? I pictured myself wandering through a hardware store, asking the clerk if they had any stairways in stock. 'Excuse me, sir, do you have a stairway to heaven? I’m looking for something that really elevates my soul.' By the time 'Rock and Roll' started blasting through the speakers, I was bouncing off the walls like a pinball machine. I was convinced I could play air guitar like Page himself, even though my coordination was more akin to a baby giraffe learning to walk. I was a mess, but I was a happy mess. I felt alive, like I could conquer the world or at least the next round of karaoke. That day, I didn’t just discover an album; I discovered a part of myself that craved the wild, the loud, and the unapologetically rock and roll. I walked away from that experience with a new appreciation for music, a slightly bruised ego from my air guitar antics, and a lifelong love affair with Led Zeppelin that still has me searching for that mystical stairway.