The Principle of Moments

Last updated

The Principle of Moments
Principle of moments.JPG
Studio album by
Released15 July 1983 (1983-07-15) [1]
Recorded1983
Studio Rockfield Studios (Monmouth, Wales)
Genre
Length38:50
Label
Producer
  • Robert Plant
  • Benji Lefevre
  • Pat Moran
Robert Plant chronology
Pictures at Eleven
(1982)
The Principle of Moments
(1983)
Shaken 'n' Stirred
(1985)
Singles from The Principle of Moments
  1. "Big Log"
    Released: July 1983
  2. "In the Mood"
    Released: November 1983
  3. "Other Arms"
    Released: May 1984 (Japan)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]

The Principle of Moments is the second solo studio album by the English singer Robert Plant, formerly of Led Zeppelin. It was Plant's second Top 10 album in the US and UK. It also gave him his first solo Top 40 hit with "Big Log". The most popular track on album-oriented rock radio in the US was "Other Arms", which reached number-one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. Genesis' drummer Phil Collins played drums on five of the album's eight songs (as he did on Pictures at Eleven ). On two tracks former Jethro Tull drummer Barriemore Barlow performed and on the closing track, "Big Log", Gerald Woodroffe programmed a Roland TR-808 drum machine.

Contents

Like Plant's debut solo studio album, Pictures at Eleven (1982), the songs departed from the hard rock sound of Led Zeppelin. Following the strength of these albums, Plant launched a successful tour in 1983. Phil Collins was the drummer for Plant's band for the North American portion of the tour. Collins was content to perform in the background, despite his own enormous success as a solo artist and with Genesis at the time. Little Feat's Richie Hayward played drums for the remaining dates.

Rhino Entertainment released a remastered edition of the album, with bonus tracks, on 3 April 2007.

Promotional music videos

The music video for "Big Log" was shot at the following locations: Crystal Road, Crystal, Nevada (gas station sequences), the Amargosa Opera House, Death Valley Junction, California (driving and "feather" sequence), Calico School House (Calico Ghost Town) Yermo, California (schoolhouse sequence), Glass Pool Inn, Las Vegas, Nevada (pool sequence). The bar sequence is believed to have been shot at a small bar in Shoshone, California (now the Crow Bar Cafe & Saloon), though this is unconfirmed.

A video for "In the Mood" was also produced.

Tour

In 1983, Robert Plant went on a tour to promote the album, starting on 26 August in Peoria, Illinois, and ending on 1 October in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Other Arms"4:20
2."In the Mood"
5:19
3."Messin' with the Mekon"
  • Plant
  • Blunt
  • Martinez
4:40
4."Wreckless Love"
  • Plant
  • Blunt
5:18
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Thru' with the Two Step"
  • Plant
  • Blunt
  • Martinez
5:33
6."Horizontal Departure"
4:19
7."Stranger Here... Than Over There"
  • Plant
  • Blunt
  • Martinez
  • Woodroffe
4:18
8."Big Log"
  • Plant
  • Blunt
  • Woodroffe
5:03
Total length:38:50
2007 remaster bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."In the Mood" (Live)
  • Plant
  • Blunt
  • Martinez
7:35
10."Thru' with the Two Step" (Live)
  • Plant
  • Blunt
  • Martinez
11:11
11."Lively Up Yourself" (Live) Bob Marley 3:04
12."Turnaround"
  • Plant
  • Blunt
  • Martinez
  • Woodroffe
4:55

Personnel

Production

Remastering credits

Chart performance

Certifications

Certifications for The Principle of Moments
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [11] [12] Gold35,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [13] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [14] Platinum15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [15] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [16] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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