The First Time I Ever Heard...

<p>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. </p><p> </p><p><strong> Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin </strong></p><p> </p><p>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?</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>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. </p><p> </p><p>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. </p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p>