Pictures at Eleven

Pictures at Eleven is the debut solo album by former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, released in 1982. Genesis drummer Phil Collins played drums for five of the album's eight songs. Ex-Rainbow drummer Cozy Powell handled drums on "Slow Dancer" and "Like I've Never Been Gone." On the song "Fat Lip", guitarist Robbie Blunt played a TR-808 drum machine. The title was an often-heard phrase in U.S. television news that would follow a brief announcement of a story of interest to be shown later during a station's 11 p.m. news program.[3] Pictures at Eleven is the only one of Plant's solo albums to appear on Led Zeppelin's record label Swan Song. By the time of Plant's next release, 1983's The Principle of Moments, Swan Song had ceased to function, and Plant had started his own label named Es Paranza, which would also be distributed by Atlantic Records. Rhino Entertainment released a remastered edition of the album, with bonus tracks, on 20 March 2007.

Pictures at Eleven
Studio album by
Robert Plant
Released28 June 1982
RecordedSeptember 1981–1982
StudioRockfield Studios, Monmouth, Wales
Genre
Length42:12
LabelSwan Song
ProducerRobert Plant
Robert Plant chronology
Pictures at Eleven
(1982)		 The Principle of Moments
(1983)
Singles from The Principle of Moments
  1. "Burning Down One Side"
    Released: September 1982 [2]
  2. "Pledge Pin"
    Released: 1982 (US)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Christgau's Record GuideB[4]
Rolling Stone[5]
The Village VoiceB+[6]

In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone, Kurt Loder wrote, "even though there's nothing new going on in these grooves, the sheer formal thrill of hearing someone who knows exactly what he's doing makes Pictures at Eleven something of an event almost in spite of its modest ambitions."[5] Robert Christgau from The Village Voice was impressed by Plant's ability to recreate Led Zeppelin's aural sensibilities with duller musicians and catchier undertones, but ultimately found the music somewhat insignificant.[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Plant and Robbie Blunt, except "Burning Down One Side," "Fat Lip," and "Far Post" written by Plant, Blunt and Jezz Woodroffe.

Side one
  1. "Burning Down One Side" – 3:55
  2. "Moonlight in Samosa" – 3:58
  3. "Pledge Pin" – 4:01
  4. "Slow Dancer" – 7:43
Side two
  1. "Worse Than Detroit" – 5:55
  2. "Fat Lip" – 5:05
  3. "Like I've Never Been Gone" – 5:56
  4. "Mystery Title" – 5:16

2007 remaster bonus tracks
  1. "Far Post" – 4:42
  2. "Like I've Never Been Gone" (Live at Houston, 1983) – 7:31

Personnel

Charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 6
UK Albums Chart 2
US Billboard 200 5

Certifications
Sales certifications for Pictures at Eleven
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[8] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[9] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[11] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Pictures at Eleven (Remastered)".
  2. "Robert Plant singles".
  3. "Film At Eleven".
  4. Christgau, Robert (1990). "Robert Plant". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  5. Loder, Kurt. "Robert Plant: Pictures at Eleven". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  6. Christgau, Robert (1 March 1983). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Gold in Oz" (PDF). Cash Box. 17 March 1984. p. 17. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  9. "Canadian album certifications". Music Canada.
  10. "British album certifications – Robert Plant – Pictures at Eleven". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. "American album certifications – Robert Plant – Pictures at Eleven". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
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