White Summer
"White Summer" | |
---|---|
Instrumental by the Yardbirds | |
from the album Little Games | |
Released | 24 July 1967 |
Recorded | 28–29 April 1967 |
Studio | De Lane Lea, London |
Genre | |
Length | 3:56 |
Label | Epic |
Composer(s) | Jimmy Page |
Producer(s) | Mickie Most |
"White Summer" is a guitar instrumental by English rock guitarist Jimmy Page. It is an adaptation of the Irish air “She Moves Through The Fair." Page initially recorded and performed it with the Yardbirds and later included it in many Led Zeppelin concerts.
According to biographer Keith Shadwick, it is based on an old Irish folk song, "specifically derived from 'She Moved Through the Fair' in the 1963 version by [Davey] Graham, which he in turn credited to Padraic Colum".[1] The later Led Zeppelin song "Over the Hills and Far Away" was "spun off"[2] from "White Summer" as well as an unreleased 20-minute instrumental recorded in early 1974 at Headley Grange.[1]
Yardbirds song
"White Summer" was recorded 28–29 April 1967 at De Lane Lea Studios in London. Jimmy Page was the only band member to perform on the recording and was accompanied by Chris Karan on tabla[3] and an unidentified oboe player doubling the melody line.[1] The song combines elements of traditional Eastern as well as Western music.[1] In a 1977 interview, Page commented, "I used a special tuning for [the song]; the low string down to D, then A, D, G, A and D. It’s like a modal tuning, a sitar tuning, in fact".[4] He added that he called this tuning "'C.I.A.' tuning—Celtic-Indian-Arabic—because that's what it was ... D–A–D–G–A–D was something going around the folk scene during the 1960s"[1] and was used by Davey Graham for his "She Moved Through the Fair".[5]
"White Summer" was released on the Yardbirds' last album,
Led Zeppelin renditions
"White Summer/Black Mountain Side" | |
---|---|
Instrumental by Led Zeppelin | |
from the album Led Zeppelin Boxed Set | |
Released | 7 September 1990 |
Recorded | 27 June 1969 |
Venue | Playhouse Theatre, London |
Genre | Raga rock, instrumental rock |
Length | 8:01 |
Label | Atlantic |
Composer(s) | Jimmy Page |
Producer(s) | Jeff Griffin |
Led Zeppelin frequently performed "White Summer" as part of a medley with "
Page used his Danelectro to play the medley, as shown on 2003's Led Zeppelin DVD, which was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall on 9 January 1970. On 23 April 1970, Page performed the piece on the Julie Felix Show. Page also played it when he was with the Firm and again during his Outrider tour, seguing into "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" as part of the solo section of "Midnight Moonlight".
References
- ^ ISBN 0-87930-871-0.
- ^
Russo, Greg (1998). Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-Up. Crossfire Publications. p. 50. ISBN 0-9648157-3-7.
- ^ Koda, Cub; Russo, Gregg (2001). Ultimate! (CD booklet). The Yardbirds. Rhino Records. p. 48. R2 79825.
- ^ a b Rosen, Steven. "Jimmy Page Interview". Modern Guitars. Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
Originally published in the July 1977, issue of Guitar Player magazine.
- ^ Various versions by Graham have appeared over the years, including on reissues of The Guitar Player and Folk, Blues and Beyond.
- ^
Lewis, Dan; Pallett, Simon (2005). Led Zeppelin: The Concert File. Omnibus Press. pp. 20–80. ISBN 1-84449-659-7.
- ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.