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The Principle of Moments
Studio album by Robert Plant
Released	15 July 1983 (1983-07-15)
Recorded	1983
Studio	Rockfield Studios (Monmouth, Wales)
Genre	Power pop synth-pop
Length	38:50
Label	Atlantic Atlantic
Producer	Robert Plant Benji Lefevre Pat Moran
Robert Plant chronology
Pictures at Eleven (1982) The Principle of Moments (1983) Shaken 'n' Stirred (1985)
Singles from The Principle of Moments
"Big Log" Released: July 1983 "In the Mood" Released: November 1983 "Other Arms" Released: May 1984 (Japan)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Rolling Stone

The Principle of Moments is the second solo studio album by the English singer Robert Plant, formerly of Led Zeppelin. It was Plant's second Top 10 album in the US and UK. It also gave him his first solo Top 40 hit with "Big Log". The most popular track on album-oriented rock radio in the US was "Other Arms", which reached number-one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. Genesis' drummer Phil Collins played drums on five of the album's eight songs (as he did on Pictures at Eleven). On two tracks former Jethro Tull drummer Barriemore Barlow performed and on the closing track, "Big Log", Gerald Woodroffe programmed a Roland TR-808 drum machine.

Like Plant's debut solo studio album, Pictures at Eleven (1982), the songs departed from the hard rock sound of Led Zeppelin. Following the strength of these albums, Plant launched a successful tour in 1983. Phil Collins was the drummer for Plant's band for the North American portion of the tour. Collins was content to perform in the background, despite his own enormous success as a solo artist and with Genesis at the time. Little Feat's Richie Hayward played drums for the remaining dates.

Rhino Entertainment released a remastered edition of the album, with bonus tracks, on 3 April 2007.

Promotional music videos

The music video for "Big Log" was shot at the following locations: Crystal Road, Crystal, Nevada (gas station sequences), the Amargosa Opera House, Death Valley Junction, California (driving and "feather" sequence), Calico School House (Calico Ghost Town) Yermo, California (schoolhouse sequence), Glass Pool Inn, Las Vegas, Nevada (pool sequence). The bar sequence is believed to have been shot at a small bar in Shoshone, California (now the Crow Bar Cafe & Saloon), though this is unconfirmed.

A video for "In the Mood" was also produced.

Tour

In 1983, Robert Plant went on a tour to promote the album, starting on 26 August in Peoria, Illinois, and ending on 1 October in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Track listing

• Live tracks: recorded at The Summit in Houston, Texas on 20 September 1983.

Personnel

• Robert Plant – vocals
• Jezz Woodroffe – keyboards, synthesizers, Roland TR-808 (8)
• Robbie Blunt – guitars
• Bob Mayo – guitar (9-11)
• Paul Martinez – basses
• Phil Collins – drums (1-3, 5, 6, 8, all bonus tracks)
• Barriemore Barlow – drums (4, 7)
• John David – backing vocals
• Ray Martinez – backing vocals

Production

• Robert Plant – producer, mixing
• Benji Lefevre – producer, mixing
• Pat Moran – producer, mixing, engineer
• Storm Thorgerson – sleeve design
• APP – sleeve design

Remastering credits

• Dan Hersch – remastering (1-8)
• Bill Inglot – remastering (1-8)
• Raj Das – remastering and renovating (9-12)
• Nicola Powell – supervision
• Bill Curbishley – management
• Ed Vulliamy – liner notes
• DigiPrep (Hollywood, California, USA) and RAK Studios (London, UK) – remastering locations

Chart performance

Certifications

References

1. "BPI".
2. "The Principle of Moments Review by Mike DeGagne". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
3. Fricke, David (1 September 1983). "The Principle of Moments". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. "charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
6. "swedishcharts.com – Swedish charts portal". swedishchart.com. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
7. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
8. "Robert Plant Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
9. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1983". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
10. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1984". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
11. "Phil Collins – Robert Plant Australian Certified Gold LP Award". Kodner Auctions. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
12. "Gold in Oz" (PDF). Cash Box. 17 March 1984. p. 17. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
13. "Phil Collins – Robert Plant Canadian Certified Gold LP Award". Kodner Auctions. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
14. "New Zealand album certifications – Robert Plant – The Principle of Moments". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
15. "British album certifications – Robert Plant – The Principles Of Moments". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
16. "American album certifications – Robert Plant – The Principle of Moments". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 5 April 2021.

External links

• The Principle of Moments at Discogs (list of releases)
• Rockfield Studios
• Discography on the Robert Plant Homepage (not an official site)
• Big Log video

• Robert Plant albums
• 1983 albums
• Atlantic Records albums
• Albums recorded at Rockfield Studios
• Albums with cover art by Hipgnosis