The Rain Song: Difference between revisions
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[[Page and Plant]] recorded a version of the song in 1994 but it was not originally released on their album ''[[No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded]]''. It was, however, released on the special tenth anniversary reissue of that album in 2004. |
[[Page and Plant]] recorded a version of the song in 1994 but it was not originally released on their album ''[[No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded]]''. It was, however, released on the special tenth anniversary reissue of that album in 2004. |
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A cover version of "The Rain Song" was recorded by [[Jason Bonham]], son of Led Zeppelin drummer [[John Bonham]], and released on his 1997 album ''[[In the Name of My Father - The Zepset]]'' |
A cover version of "The Rain Song" was recorded by [[Jason Bonham]], son of Led Zeppelin drummer [[John Bonham]], and released on his 1997 album ''[[In the Name of My Father - The Zepset]]''. |
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In 2008, the [[jam (music)|jam band]] [[Gov't Mule]] released a live version of the song on their album ''[[The Haunted Holy House]]'', which also included covers of all of the other songs from ''Houses of the Holy''. |
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==References in other media== |
==References in other media== |
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Revision as of 01:33, 5 July 2008
| "The Rain Song" | |
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| Song |
"The Rain Song" is a song from English rock band Led Zeppelin's fifth album Houses of the Holy, released in 1973.
Recording
"The Rain Song" is a love ballad of over 7 minutes in length. Guitarist Jimmy Page originally constructed the melody of this song at his home in Plumpton, England, where he had recently installed a studio console. A new Vista model, it was partly made up from the Pye Mobile Studio which had been used to record the group's 1970 Royal Albert Hall performance and The Who's Live at Leeds album.[1]
Page was able to bring in a completed arrangement of the melody, for which singer Robert Plant matched some lyrics. These lyrics are considered by Plant himself to be his best overall vocal performance. The song also features a mellotron played by John Paul Jones to add to the orchestral effect,[2] whilst Page played a Danelectro guitar.[1]
George Harrison was reportedly the inspiration for "The Rain Song" when he made a comment to Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, about the fact that the group never wrote any ballads.[3][4] In tribute to Harrison, the opening two notes are recognisably borrowed from his ballad "Something."[3]
The working title for this track was "Slush," a reference to its easy listening mock orchestral arrangement.[1]
Live history
During
When played live, Page used the 6-string neck of the EDS-1275 for "The Rain Song" in order to have two different tunings on the same guitar. The 12-string was tuned to Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) for his use on "The Song Remains the Same". The alternative tuning used for "The Rain Song" on the 6-string next was Asus4 (E-A-D-A-D-E) - a step higher than the album cut, which is D-G-C-G-C-D. This is quite an uncommon modal tuning and makes for a very rich sounding accompaniment, led by John Paul Jones.
Other versions
Page and Plant recorded a version of the song in 1994 but it was not originally released on their album No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded. It was, however, released on the special tenth anniversary reissue of that album in 2004.
A cover version of "The Rain Song" was recorded by
In 2008, the
References in other media
"The Rain Song" has appeared in two films: Almost Famous, directed by Cameron Crowe (who, as a teen reporter for Rolling Stone magazine, covered Led Zeppelin), and Led Zeppelin's own 1976 concert film, The Song Remains the Same (and accompanying soundtrack), as part of lead singer Robert Plant's fantasy sequence.
References
- ^ a b c d Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ^ Led Zeppelin and the Mellotron
- ^ 30 July 2003). "Led Zeppelin review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-06-06.).
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Sources
- Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
- The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
External links
- Review: All Music Guide
