Shaken 'N' Stirred, Robert Plant

Robert Plant – Shaken 'N' Stirred

Artist: Robert Plant

Title: Shaken 'N' Stirred

Album Type: Third Solo Studio Album

Original Release Date: May 20, 1985

Label: Es Paranza (Atlantic)

Genre: New Wave / Post-Punk / Experimental Rock

Background & Production Shaken 'N' Stirred is arguably the most experimental and "modern" sounding album of Robert Plant’s solo career. Eager to distance himself from the blues-rock shadow of Led Zeppelin, Plant fully embraced the emerging technologies of the mid-80s. Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, the album features a heavy reliance on the Fairlight CMI synthesizer and unconventional rhythmic structures. Plant worked closely with his core band—including keyboardist Jezz Woodroffe and guitarist Robbie Blunt—to create a sonic landscape that felt alien, jagged, and entirely unique compared to the classic rock of the era.

Musical Composition & Style The album is a departure into abstract, synth-driven art-rock, characterized by Plant’s soaring vocals floating over cold, mechanical grooves.

• The Lead Single: "Little by Little" became a major hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. It perfectly balances a catchy, melodic hook with the album’s characteristic gated-reverb drum sound and atmospheric synths.

• Abstract Rhythms: Tracks like "Sixes and Sevens" and "Kallaloo Kallaloo" showcase the band’s interest in polyrhythms and quirky, off-kilter arrangements that lean more toward "Talking Heads" territory than "Whole Lotta Love."

• Vocal Exploration: On songs like "Pink and Black" and "Too Loud," Plant experiments with new vocal textures and phrasing, moving away from his signature "rock god" wail into something more theatrical and nuanced.

• The Production: The album is a masterclass in 80s studio wizardry, utilizing heavy sampling and electronic percussion to create a dense, layered soundstage.

Legacy & Collector Notes While it polarized fans who wanted a return to hard rock, Shaken 'N' Stirred has been reassessed by critics as a daring and forward-thinking record. It demonstrated Plant’s artistic integrity and his refusal to be a "nostalgia act." For vinyl collectors, the original Es Paranza pressings are highly valued for their dynamic, clean production. The cover art, featuring a stylized, colorful graphic design, perfectly encapsulates the high-tech, art-deco aesthetic of 1985. It is an essential title for collectors of 80s experimental rock and Robert Plant completists.

• Keywords: Robert Plant, Shaken 'N' Stirred, Little by Little, Es Paranza, 1985 Vinyl, New Wave Rock, Experimental Rock, Post-Zeppelin, Atlantic Records.

• Collection Ideas: 80s Solo Artists, Experimental Rock Masterpieces, The Post-Zeppelin Era, 80s Synth-Rock.

• Related Artists: Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, The Honeydrippers, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve