Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song)
"Rock and Roll" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Island Studios, London[1] | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:40 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Page | |||
Led Zeppelin singles chronology | ||||
|
"Rock and Roll" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released as the second track on their fourth studio album in 1971. The song contains a guest performance by original Rolling Stones' pianist and co-founder Ian Stewart. In 1972, American music critic and journalist Robert Christgau called it "simply the most dynamic hard-rock song in the music."[5]
Recording
According to guitarist
Personnel
According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[1]
- Robert Plant – vocals, tambourine (?)
- Jimmy Page – guitars
- John Paul Jones – bass
- John Bonham – drums
- Ian Stewart – piano
Reception
Cash Box described it as a "rip-apart performance of one of best r&r revivalist tunes ever."[11] In 2019, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 9 on its list of the 40 greatest Led Zeppelin songs.[12]
Live performance
"Rock and Roll" was a key component of the band's setlist at
Cadillac advertising
In 2001, "Rock and Roll" became the first Led Zeppelin song to be licensed for commercial use, when American car maker Cadillac featured it in television advertising.[13] Plant commented:
I think that's appropriate ... I don't know how people view it, but as far as a young generation goes, if you hear that music in as many possible places as you can outside of the normal home for it, then it can only be a good thing.[13]
As well as earning Led Zeppelin a large licensing fee, the advertising campaign increased Cadillac sales by 16 percent in 2002.[13]
Charts
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia ( better source needed ]
|
51 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] | 38 |
US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 47 |
US Cash Box[17] | 42 |
US Record World[18] | 38 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[19] | 13 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Accolades
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dave Marsh | US | "The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made"[21] | 1989 | 424 |
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | US | " The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll"[22]
|
1994 | * |
Radio Caroline | UK | "Top 500 Tracks"[23] | 1999 | 21 |
VH1 | US | "The 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time"[24] | 2000 | 66 |
Q | UK | "The 50 Most Exciting Tunes Ever.."[25] | 2002 | 17 |
Q | UK | "The 1001 Best Songs Ever"[26] | 2003 | 201 |
(*) designates unordered lists
See also
References
- ^ a b c Guesdon & Margotin 2018, p. 250.
- ISBN 978-0-385-19797-7.
Besides his inspired phrasing and his extemporaneous howls and asides, Plant could convincingly convey slow blues ("You Shook Me"), gutbucket rock & roll ("Rock and Roll"), and even folk ballads ("Going to California"), in a strong, cutting voice
- ^ "The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time – 'Rock and Roll' (1971)". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7660-3026-8.
The fourth album also has its share of hard rock tracks. Three that received a lot of radio airplay are "Black Dog," "Misty Mountain Hop," and the appropriately named "Rock and Roll."
- ^ Christgau, Robert (15 June 1972). "A Power Plant". Newsday. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ Jackson, James (8 January 2010). "Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin IV, the band's peak and their reunion". The Times. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-31333-845-8.
- ^ ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ABC Online). 7 December 2000. (first broadcast 12 July 2000). Archived from the originalon 13 January 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-7390-5317-1.
- ^ "Singles Reviews > Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXIII, no. 37. 4 March 1972. p. 18. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Cadillac Sales Soar with Led Zeppelin". Blabbermouth.net. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 100211." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "Led Zeppelin IV – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending APRIL 22, 1972". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012.
- ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Led Zeppelin – Rock and Roll" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 May 2014. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Led Zeppelin"
- ^ "British single certifications – Led Zeppelin – Rock and Roll". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made – 1989". Da Capo Books. Archived from the original on 4 February 2002.
- ^ "Experience The Music: One Hit Wonders and the Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "The Chart Room – Radio Caroline Top 500 Tracks 1999". Radio Caroline. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
- ^ "It's Only a Riff, But We Like It". VH1. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009.
- Q. Retrieved 10 February 2009 – via Rocklist.net.
- ^ "Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003)". Q. Retrieved 10 February 2009 – via Muzieklijstjes.nl.
Bibliography
- Guesdon, Jean-Michel; Margotin, Philippe (2018). Led Zeppelin All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. ISBN 978-0-316-448-67-3.