Robert Plant 16: Saving Grace

The 21st century has seen Robert Plant boldly walking his own path. Generally he’s found a collective of eager players, usually unknowns, and together they’ve worked up arrangements of arcane songs old and new. It’s more about interpretation and feeling than creation, and it’s kept him very happy.

Saving Grace is also the name of the outfit that recorded it; vocalist Suzi Dian gets prominent billing alongside the title, and rightfully so, given her pristine pipes. The sound is somewhere between Band Of Joy and his collaborations with Alison Krauss, and the key participants on those albums are acknowledged here. Some of the song choices are right in line with what he strove for on Dreamland. Where applicable, a song’s history in the Roud, Laws, or Child indexes are detailed.

To wit, “Chevrolet” was first recorded under another title by Memphis Minnie a century earlier, but we’re guessing Robert was most familiar with Donovan’s version as “Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)”. There’s more of a sinister undertone here, as there is on the ancient “As I Roved Out”. We have to smile at the line about “The green, green grass/Trampled under foot”, especially considering the album’s release was preceded by an EP of vintage live Zeppelin tracks from Physical Graffiti. Things lighten for the hippie vibe of “It’s A Beautiful Day Today” by Robert’s beloved Moby Grape, and proof that the band is a democracy comes when Matt Worley sings the lead on Blind Willie Johnson’s “Soul Of A Man”. The lovely “Ticket Taker” comes from Americana band The Low Anthem, with only its occasionally modern references giving away its modern composition.

Robert takes the lead on “I Never Will Marry”, despite the female point of view, with rich harmonies behind him. Suzy takes center stage on the next two: “Higher Rock”, a modern gospel stomper by Martha Scanlan (who’d appeared on T Bone Burnett’s soundtrack to Cold Mountain); and Sarah Siskind’s “Too Far From You”, a soulful country weeper that got its previous widest exposure on the Nashville TV show. The volume goes way up again for “Everybody’s Song”, Robert’s third career cover from Low’s The Great Destroyer. The traditional “Gospel Plough” provides a somber conclusion to the journey; in the distance after the fade we hear echoes of “Chevrolet”, bringing us full circle.

Saving Grace is another enjoyable chapter in the journey Robert Plant had been pursuing for sixty years. Hopefully he’ll get to keep traveling, and we’ll hear more from his worthy companions too.

Robert Plant Saving Grace With Suzy Dian (2025)—3½