After Led Zeppelin had finished recording their debut album, all that was left for the band to do was to pick a label and sign a deal for distribution. Jimmy Page and Peter Grant were in a unique position, at the time, the industry convention was that an A&R man would find a talent, and front them a sizable chunk of money as an advance, and pay all the studio fees for the talent to produce a piece of work. In exchange the artist would end up forfeiting much of their rights of control over their music, and be at a significant disadvantage when bargaining with the label over percentages. As Jimmy had financed the album completely out of his own pocket, and had a finished work to present to any interested buyers, he could name his price, and if a deal wasn't to his liking, he could walk.
Peter Grant flew to New York City in October, 1968 with the master tapes of "Led Zeppelin I" under his arm. He met with Ahmet Ertegun, the labels owner and founder, and his close confidant and business partner Jerry Wexler. Unbeknownst to Grant, English singer Dusty Springfield had already put in a good word for the group to Wexler while recording he seminal album "Dusty in Memphis" the previous month. Springfield was a friend of bassist John Paul Jones who had spent time as a member of her touring backup band.
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| Dusty did good for Zeppelin in Memphis |
Grant played the tapes for Ertegun and Wexler the tapes the band had just finished and mastered, and it didn't take long for the two industry giants to realize the appeal of the group, as well as to envision what sort of success they could become. The label already had success with one former Yardbird in Eric Clapton and his group Cream, but with Cream on the verge of disbanding, the label very much took in to account what sort of impact the void of a heavy blues based rock and roll act on its roster might have. The two men were also taken by Grant, who they assumed would be able to handle his new charges capably, and keep them in line.
An impressed Ahmet Ertegun offered Grant and the group a five year deal, with a $200,000 advance, an unheard of amount of money from a group that no one had even heard yet. The advance would basically fund all of the groups activities for six months following the signing. It also garnered much press for the staggering nature of the amount, and a buzz developed around the group as a result. This would prove to be a headache for Jimmy and the rest of the band who eventually felt they needed to overcome the stigma of being a manufactured entity who were over-hyped.
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| Jerry Wexler |
There was only one issue to resolve before the band signed the dotted line. Atlantic Records had historically done all of the mixing and mastering in house, and wanted Grant and Page to relinquish the master tapes of their first album so that they could make adjustments. Page was aghast as Grant later recalled, "saying they (Atlantic Records) wanted to remix it, and Jimmy said 'What are they talking about?' But I said 'It's just politics.' Tom Dowd (an Atlantic studio engineer) was there and Jimmy foxed him with a few technical questions. That was an early battle we won."
Page now satisfied signed the deal with Atlantic, forming a relationship with the company that would last as long as Led Zeppelin was around and beyond. Ahmet Ertegun would go on to become a close personal friend to all the members of Led Zeppelin, who felt that they could trust him as a true lover of music, and supporter of their work. Ertegun was even given the honor to induct the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 saying in his speech, "I am proud to have been associated with this extraordinary band, who are
more revered today than ever, whose music is timeless, and whose
members are like my brothers."
When Ertegun passed away after a fall at a Rolling Stones concert in 2006, the band reformed for one night only in tribute to their departed friend and trusted business partner.
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| Ahmet Ertegun with Led Zeppelin, minus John Bonham who died in 1980 |
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