May 14, 1988: Led Zeppelin Reunites at Atlantic 40th

Of the thousands of record labels that have existed over the past century, few have a history as rich as that of Atlantic Records. The company, founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson (with Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi Ertegün becoming vital to the company’s growth several years later), was home to many of the most important artists of rhythm and blues and rock music during the post-war years and into the ’80s. To be signed to Atlantic during its heyday was a win in itself; the label was known for understanding and nurturing its artists, bringing out the best in them and promoting their releases vigorously. The list of hit records released by Atlantic is ridiculously lengthy, and many of them still pack a punch today.

The love was mutual. Just as the top brass at Atlantic held a deep respect for the music, so too did the artists revere the label, particularly Ahmet Ertegün, the very definition of the phrase “record man.” As the company’s 40th anniversary rolled around, and the concept for an anniversary concert was floated, for many Atlantic artists there was never even the consideration of turning down the offer to participate: for Ahmet, they would do anything.

[In an internal memo sent one month earlier, each Atlantic employee was invited to attend the concert with a guest. The perk included an all-day hospitality suite.]

On May 14, 1988, a little over 40 years after the founding, Atlantic was feted at a 13-hour concert at Madison Square Garden dubbed “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll,” after a hit song by one of the label’s signings, the Rolling Stones. The Stones didn’t perform at the show but, to be brash, few probably missed them—not when you had a string of giants including the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Yes, Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer (of Emerson, Lake and Palmer), the Bee Gees, Paul Rodgers (of Bad Company), Bob Geldof, Foreigner, Crosby, Stills and Nash, ’60s favorites the Rascals and Vanilla Fudge. Attendees had to sit through many lengthy delays in between acts.

Watch an interview with producer Arif Mardin and the Bee Gees’ rehearsal of “Lonely Days”

Watch Yes perform “Roundabout” at the marathon concert

The event featured several of the R&B stars that helped establish not only the company but the genre itself: LaVern Baker, Wilson Pickett, the Coasters, the Spinners, Ben E. King, Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper (of Booker T. and the MG’s), Carla and Rufus Thomas, Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave, teaming with the Blues Brothers’ Dan Aykroyd) and Roberta Flack.

Watch Flack perform one of her #1 hits

Related: Flack enjoyed a huge hit thanks to… Clint Eastwood

Watch CSN perform “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” that evening

The concert, which of course quickly sold out, was broadcast live in the United States on FM radio stations and HBO, with an edited version later airing on ABC TV.

Watch Genesis perform at the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert

Related: Links for 100s of classic rock tours

For many in the live and TV audience, the continuous parade of major performers was pretty darn impressive, but the big news of the day was the reunion of the three Zeppelin members: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones (with Jason Bonham, son of the late original drummer John Bonham, joining in). Earlier in the show, Plant, who was enjoying a successful solo career, came out and performed three of his own songs. Not until the very end of the long, long show did the band itself make its way to the stage, offering up five classics: “Kashmir,” “Heartbreaker,” “Whole Lotta Love,” “Misty Mountain Hop” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

With that, one of the most star-studded single-day rock and soul concerts concluded. In retrospect, there was no other way it could have ended.

Watch Led Zeppelin’s performance at the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert

In 2004, Atlantic Records merged with Elektra Records into a larger group, the end of an era. All of the founding members are now long gone, and though Atlantic Records has maintained its long-standing success, its artist roster in recent years will never have the same impact that it did during those first four decades.

Watch the entire Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert