Ever since hearing Robbie Blunt, who played with Robert Plant on his first 3 albums, I wanted to know more about him. Bronco was the first major band he was in, and I love the results. His style was so unique and helped make Plant’s signature sound after Zeppelin. One listen to Big Log, and you can hear the uniqueness of his guitar playing. He didn’t have that sound in this, but really tasteful guitar playing. Bronco wasn’t formed for hits; they made really good, solid albums. My UK readers, do you remember this band?
Bronco never really became a well-known band, but for a few years in the early seventies, they were one of those British bands that blended country rock, blues, and folk in a way that fit right alongside bands like Buffalo Springfield, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and The Band. They formed in 1969 around singer Jess Roden after he left The Alan Bown Set. They signed with Island Records during the label’s peak years, when they had many roots-style bands. This song and album are very seventies-sounding, which makes sense, of course.
Robbie Blunt joined on guitar alongside Kevyn Gammond, and even then, you could hear the tasteful style that later became so important. Blunt is not a super flashy player. He worked more in mood, tone, and feel.
Their first album, Country Home, came out in 1970 and had a laid-back country-rock sound with harmony vocals and touches of blues. Around this period, Bronco toured the US and played shows at places like the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. Blunt later talked about seeing Duane Allman during that trip, something that left a real impression on him as a guitarist.
This song is off the Country Home album. Jess Roden and Robbie Blunt wrote this song.
Back in the ’80s, I remember seeing this band on SNL. Of course, the big thing at the time was that Page and Plant were working together again, although not with Zeppelin. I loved their sound, and I went out and bought the single Sea Of Love.
You know what I liked most about these recordings by the Honeydrippers? Rather than modernizing the song, they kept the arrangement close to the spirit of the original. The horns, piano, and guitar all feel like a small-club sound. It doesn’t have a huge, polished studio production.
This song was first written and recorded by Roy Brown in 1949. Brown’s version had that jump-blues energy that helped bridge swing music into early rock and roll. Roy’s original version peaked at #13 on the US R&B charts. Little Richard has mentioned Roy Brown as a huge influence.
I first really found out about Plant and his love of rockabilly through The Concert of Kampuchea. He sang the Elvis song Little Sister with Rockpile. Great performance of that song. So, when I heard the Honeydrippers, it sounded totally in place. Robert Plant had been talking for years about his love of early R&B and jump blues, the records he grew up with before Led Zeppelin. The Honeydrippers project gave him a way to step outside Zeppelin’s shadow and record the kind of songs that first got him interested in music.
The band’s floating members were incredible. Robbie Blunt was one, and he did a lot of great work on Plant’s solo music. To me, his guitar playing was just as identifiable as Plant’s voice; it was that important in Plant’s music. I would say the same thing about James Wisely, whose guitar playing was just as important to Chris Isaak. Other members included Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, Brian Setzer, Paul Shaffer, and many more. Talent was not an issue for this band.
Their album The Honeydrippers: Volume One peaked at #4 on the Billboard Album Charts, #40 in Canada, and #56 in the UK in 1984. The song peaked at #25 on the Billboard 100 and #18 in Canada.
A concert by The Honeydrippers
Rockin’ At Midnight
Have you heard the news? There’s good rockin’ at midnight Oh, I’m gonna hold my baby With all my might What a wonderful time we had that night Hey, hey, there’s good rockin’ at midnight
Have you heard the news? There’s good rockin’ at midnight Oh, I’m gonna hold my baby With all my might What a wonderful time we had that night Hey, hey, there’s good rockin’ at midnight
Now, sweet Charlie Brown and sweet Lorraine They got caught on Caledonia’s land Sioux City Sue, she told it all Those fellas got drunk and they had a ball Crying hey, hey Good rockin’ at midnight
Well, two times
Well, I tell y’all about now Deacon John He got so high they had to take him home Hear the news about Ella Brown He stole a chicken and he ran out of town Hey, hey, there’s good rockin’ at midnight
Caledonia got drunk and grinning like a pig She fell down and she lost her wig Charlie Brown she laughed and she got sick Caledonia got mad and grabbed a brick Crying hey, hey, there’s good rockin’ at midnight
Oh now let’s go two times
Oh yeah
Oh yeah, wanna tell you all about now Deacon John He got so high they had to take him home Here’s the news about Ella Brown He stole a lot of chickens and he ran out of town Crying hey, hey there’s good rockin’ at midnight
Now, now, now Caledonia got drunk and grinning like a pig She fell down and lost her wig Charlie Brown she laughed and she got sick Caledonia got mad and grabbed a brick Crying hey, hey there’s good rockin’ at midnight
Uh, mm, rock Gonna rock Gonna rock Gonna rock Gonna rock Gonna rock Gonna rock
Well yeah I’m gonna rock Gonna rock We gonna rock Ooh-hoo yeah we’re gonna rock We’re gonna rock There’s still rockin’ at midnight, midnight, midnight, midnight, yeah oh
Let’s go out ah
Now sweet Charlie Brown and sweet Lorraine They got caught on Caledonia’s land Soon pretty soon they told it all Those girls got drunk and they had a ball Crying hey, hey there’s good rockin’ at midnight
We gonna rock We gonna rock Yeah-es we gonna rock Now, now, now we gonna rock We gonna rock Ooh-ah-yeah Ooh yeah Ooh yeah
A 1966 Mustang is what I think of when I hear this song. That was my first car in 1983. My mom foolishly got me what is now a classic car. Not a good car to give a 16-year-old. When I heard this song I knew Robert wasn’t in Zeppelin anymore. It was a smart thing to distance himself at the time.
What I remember the most is the guitar parts played by Robbie Blunt. I remember the licks he plays just as much as the words Plant sings. It’s a great song to listen to on a long car trip.
A Big Log is common lingo of tractor-trailer drivers. It is the book in which their road hours are logged, therefore the connection between the road and love and the countless hours we all log on both…
The song peaked at #20 in the Billboard 100, #23 in Canada, #11 in the UK, and #7 in New Zealand in 1983. The album was The Principle of Moments that peaked at #8 in the Billboard Album Chart, #7 in the UK, #1 in Canada, and #
Phil Collins played drums on this and 5 other tracks on the album. He also played drums on Plant’s previous album Pictures At Eleven.
From Songfacts
In the video, Plant’s classic car overheats at a desolate desert gas station, which causes him to muse upon lost love.
This was Robert Plant’s first hit as a solo artist after the break up of Led Zeppelin.
Some people know this song as “My Love Is In League With The Freeway.” The phrase “Big Log” does not appear in the lyrics.
The name “Big Log” is likely meaningless. Plant’s solo work (up until Now And Zen) and work with Led Zeppelin often featured songs with titles that had little or nothing to do with the lyrics. Also from The Principle Of Moments are the tracks “Messin’ With A Mekon,” “Horizontal Departure” and “Stranger Here… Than Over There.”
Big Log
My love is in league with the freeway It’s passion will rise as the cities fly by And the tail lights dissolve in the coming of night And the questions and thousands take flight
My love is miles in awaiting The eyes that just stare and the glance at the clock In the secret that burns and the pain that won’t stop And it’s fueled with the years
Leading me on (leading me on) Leading me down the road Driving me on (driving me on) Driving me down the road
My love is exceeding the limit Red eyed and fevered with the hum of the miles Distance and longing and my thoughts do collide Should I rest for a while and decide
Your love is cradled in knowing Eyes in the mirror still expecting their prey Sensing too well when the journey is done There is no turning back No There is no turning back
On the run
My love is in league With the freeway Oh with the freeway And the coming of the night time My love My love Is in league with the freeway
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