Led Zeppelin, The #23 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

 

The band released their fourth album late in 1971, a legendary disc that came to be known as Four for the four symbols or runes which appeared on the record label.  The four symbols are said to represent the four members of the band.

The album sold 500,000 copies upon release, and didn't reach one million until 1990, 11 years after their breakup.  The classic album has now sold 23 million copies in the U.S. alone and 37 million worldwide.  Never released as a single, "Stairway To Heaven" nonetheless became one of the most-demanded songs on radio and is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

This classic standard came about as Zeppelin was recording at the Headley Grange mansion the group rented in Hampshire, England.  The band was having trouble with "Four Sticks" as Bonham got upset with the drum part and began playing a totally different drum rhythm.  The band immediately put "Four Sticks" aside and began working on a new song based on Bonham's playing, which they originally called "It's Been A Long Time".  Page responded with his guitar part, and "Rock And Roll" was completed in about half an hour!

 

In 1927, Memphis Minnie wrote the lyrics to "When The Levee Breaks" based on The Great Mississippi Flood.  Led Zep used numerous different recording techniques in the studio so it was difficult to mix.  Bonham's drums, for instance, were recorded in a stairwell at Headley Grange with microphones placed three floors above him.  The drum sound echoed upwards and was recorded on the mics.

Led Zeppelin toured the U.K., Australia, North America, and Japan for a year and a half, and the group was now playing larger concert halls.  

 "Going To California" is of the band's all-time best, written by Page and Plant to reflect their admiration for Joni Mitchell, and specifically her song "California".

The references to an earthquake "The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake" refer to the Sylmar earthquake on February 9, 1971.  Page and Andy Johns flew that morning to Los Angeles to mix the album, with the area still feeling the aftershocks.

 

The serene surroundings of Headley allowed acoustic pieces such as "The Battle Of Evermore".  Johns gave his observation of the recording process surrounding the track to Songfacts:

    The band was sitting next to the chimney in 

     Headley, drinking tea, when Jimmy grabbed a 

     mandolin and started playing.  I gave him a 

     microphone and stuck a Gibson echo on his 

     mandolin.  Jimmy had brought this stuff before and 

    had asked me to take a look at it.  Suddenly Robert

    started singing and this amazing track was born

    from nowhere.

 

The band released the album Houses of the Holy in 1973.  The album showcased the continued growth of Plant's songwriting and the band's musicianship.  This song evolved from an acoustic solo by Page when he was with the Yardbirds called "White Summer".  Plant came up with lyrics to the song and "Over The Hills And Far Away" peaked at #51.

 

Houses of the Holy has now sold 11 million copies.  The album went to #1 in in countries throughout the world, and the corresponding tour of North America broke records.  "D'yer Maker" became one of the group's biggest career hits at #20.

 

The lyrics to "The Song Remains The Same" were derived from Plant's belief that music is universal, and no matter the style or the genre, what matters is if the music is good or bad.

 

Plant used the metaphor of seasons to describe a romantic relationship in "The Rain Song".

 Jones wrote "No Quarter" along with Page and Plant and John Paul played piano as well on the track.  The group began working on the song during sessions in 1971 for Led Zeppelin IV and this is a faster version of the one first recorded.

The conclusion of Led Zeppelin is tomorrow, exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!