Did Led Zeppelin predict Alexa?

So back in 1976 Led Zeppelin came out with a album called "Presence" It's actually one of my favorite LZ albums actually.

I always thought back then that the albums artwork was rather odd back then. I recently reacquainted myself to this recording and of course the odd artwork.

I thought to myself are they portraying the future with Alexa as the topic of the artwork?

Well let's see here. The word itself presence. The definition is "the state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place or thing: "
Is Alexa AI?

From Wiki;

The LP's artwork from Hipgnosis featured several photographs centered around a mysterious black object, called "The Object".

So I did some research and found a old newspaper article about "the object" And they go over how it was not a knock off of the monolith from 2001 A Space Oddessy by Stanley Kubic and really never went on to explain it either?




The album is what they called a gate fold, meaning the album folds out. In the gate fold you can see this "Object" is in everyone's daily life, like a 'presence' Is Alexa not a presence in a lot of folks daily lives?

Here is a pic of the gate fold.




More pics from the front, back and sleeve.

Front:


Back:


Sleeve:



So wondering what ATS thinks about this. Is it coincidence, AI presence or something else?

Included for your enjoyment.

a reply to: GuitaristRob

It says right in the article it's related to the film, "Come on, it's not that hard to figure out...especially for our more Kubrickian fans".

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: GuitaristRob

It says right in the article it's related to the film, "Come on, it's not that hard to figure out...especially for our more Kubrickian fans".

But th designer of the artwork went on to say that's not was he thought about.. Re-read it.

originally posted by: GuitaristRob
On the contrary is say's the opposite. Re-read it.

That's Robert Plant's exact quote.

a reply to: GuitaristRob

After reading your thread i need some Zep.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: GuitaristRob
On the contrary is say's the opposite. Re-read it.

That's Robert Plant's exact quote.

I know he said that directly, but the designer said differently.

originally posted by: GuitaristRob
I know he said that directly, but the designer said differently.

What it means to Led Zeppelin is that it's a take on the monolith from 2001.

a reply to: GuitaristRob

Much as I love Zep, that's a bit of a stretch, but here is Heart's awesome tribute version of Stairway to Heaven:


Stairway to Heaven g.co...

As approved by Page and Plant, no less!

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: GuitaristRob
I know he said that directly, but the designer said differently.

What it means to Led Zeppelin is that it's a take on the monolith from 2001.

OK I get that, but still find it eerie simular to Alexa. Yea let's all just glossover the pics and say i'm stretching. Gotcha! Even though

Amazon developers chose the name Alexa because it has a hard consonant with the X, which helps it be recognized with higher precision. They have said the name is reminiscent of the Library of Alexandria , which is also used by Amazon Alexa Internet for the same reason.

Which is "presence".

I think the object is intended to be whatever you want it to be. It's not merely 1 thing.

It is nothing specific, so that it is everything, and anyone can see it as anything they choose.






This also allows it to not be restricted by the times, permitting anyone's own perception of it to evolve into something else as time goes on.

originally posted by: alldaylong
a reply to: GuitaristRob

After reading your thread i need some Zep.

Ill match you, my favourite song from Presence

a reply to: GuitaristRob
The monolith can symbolize a "presence", as in the movie. You could equate Alexa as a symbol of a presence as well, so in that sense your analogy works. As AM has pointed out, Alexa or AI itself was probably not what LZ was thinking of at the time, but the perpetual reminder of a presence is a strong subconscious motivator, and Alexa fills that niche well.

Bow to your corporate masters.

originally posted by: GuitaristRob
OK I get that, but still find it eerie simular to Alexa.

I'd agree if it could turn the lights on and off while ordering them that bottle of Jack he's holding.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: GuitaristRob
OK I get that, but still find it eerie simular to Alexa.

I'd agree if it could turn the lights on and off while ordering them that bottle of Jack he's holding.

OK, that's funny. I agree with that/

a reply to: vonclod Here's a reference/demo version. Sounds better imho.

An episdoe of "Pawn Stars" was on tv a few weeks ago and they actually went to a guys house who had one of these and he wouldnt part with it.

originally posted by: ColoradoTemplar
An episdoe of "Pawn Stars" was on tv a few weeks ago and they actually went to a guys house who had one of these and he wouldnt part with it.

Cool. Honestly I was young when this album came out like 12. I thought the artwork then sucked, didn't give it much thought then, kinda thought everyone was amazed at some new Atari controller, according to the art? But then like I had said earlier in the OP I got re-acquainted recently to this album through a Deluxe edition re-issue with extra tracks and such. And now in the modern world of AI and Alexa I see a whole new concept of this album art. Maybe it's just me? looking back on it to me it honestly looks like a advertisement for Alexa in 1976.

a reply to: GuitaristRob

No worries. But I give you Frank Zappa's version of Stairway to Heaven. Why not?



Stairway To Heaven g.co...

originally posted by: GuitaristRob

originally posted by: ColoradoTemplar
An episdoe of "Pawn Stars" was on tv a few weeks ago and they actually went to a guys house who had one of these and he wouldnt part with it.

Cool. Honestly I was young when this album came out like 12. I thought the artwork then sucked, didn't give it much thought then, kinda thought everyone was amazed at some new Atari controller, according to the art? But then like I had said earlier in the OP I got re-acquainted recently to this album through a Deluxe edition re-issue with extra tracks and such. And now in the modern world of AI and Alexa I see a whole new concept of this album art. Maybe it's just me? looking back on it to me it honestly looks like a advertisement for Alexa in 1976.

have you ever opened up the Led Zep 4 album it shows the hermit on the mountain holding up the lamp and then held the center of it up to a mirror and seen the reverse image? Its pretty neat one way its looks like a skull and then upside down it looks like a dragon.

a reply to: GuitaristRob

I was 15 and yeah I didn't get the artwork at all, and my little metalhead brain couldn't relate. Haven't thought about that record in many moons, maybe I'll have to pull it out tonight.

Off-topic: At the time, Hipgnosis were the kings of album cover art. They were everywhere, and most of the artwork was incredible. Here's a link to all 160 album covers they did. I was surprised by just how many I own.