Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song)
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| “Rock and Roll” | |||||
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| Single by Led Zeppelin from the album Led Zeppelin IV |
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| B-side | "Four Sticks" | ||||
| Released | November 8, 1971
February 21, 1972 (7" single release date) |
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| Format | 7" 45 RPM | ||||
| Recorded | December 1970–March 1971 | ||||
| Genre | Hard rock | ||||
| Length | 3:40 | ||||
| Label | Atlantic Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||
| Led Zeppelin singles chronology | |||||
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 (Led Zeppelin IV) track listing |
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"Rock and Roll" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, which was first released as the second track of their untitled fourth album in 1971.
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[edit] Overview
As the title suggests, the song is based on one of the most popular structures in rock and roll, the 12 bar blues progression (in A). "Rock and Roll" stands as one of the best-known songs in the band's catalogue.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has said that this song came to be written as a spontaneous jam session, whilst the band were trying (and failing) to finish the track "Four Sticks".[1] Drummer John Bonham played the introduction to "Good Golly Miss Molly"/"Keep a Knockin'" and Page added a guitar riff.[2] The tapes were rolling and fifteen minutes later the basis of the song was down.[3] The song also included Ian Stewart on piano.[2] "Rock and Roll" is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs where all four members share the composer credit.
The beginning drum beat was possibly inspired by "Keep A-Knockin'" by Little Richard, or by the identical drum line from "Something Else" by Eddie Cochran.[citation needed] The lyrics by singer Robert Plant reference a number of 1950s and 1960s early rock hits, including "The Stroll," "The Book of Love," and "Walk in the Moonlight."
[edit] Live performances
"Rock and Roll" was a key component of the band's setlist at Led Zeppelin concerts from 1971. Initially, Plant referred it on stage as "It's Been A Long Time", which is the first line of the song.[2] In 1972 it was elevated to the opening number of all concert performances and it retained this status until 1975. For the band's 1977 concert tour of the United States, it became part of a medley encore with "Whole Lotta Love", and during 1979 and 1980 it became an encore in its own right.[2]
When performing the song live, singer Robert Plant usually switched the second verse with the third.
A live performance of the song from Madison Square Garden in July 1973 was recorded for the band's concert film The Song Remains the Same and accompanying soundtrack album. There is also a June 1972 live recording of "Rock and Roll" which can be heard on the album How the West Was Won.
In 1985 Page, Plant and Jones reunited and performed the song at the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, as part of the Led Zeppelin set featuring drummers Tony Thompson and Phil Collins. "Rock and Roll" was also performed as the final encore at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on December 10, 2007.
[edit] Other versions
The song has been covered by Heart, Van Halen, Kid Rock, Manowar, Roger Daltrey and Jerry Lee Lewis (on his 2006 album Last Man Standing, which also features Page) among others. In 2005, AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson joined Velvet Revolver on stage during a concert and performed "Rock and Roll" with the band in an on-stage jam. Also in 2005, Stevie Nicks covered the song on her Gold Dust Tour. She later included a live version of the song on her 2007 CD Crystal Visions - The Very Best of Stevie Nicks. The song was also a live favourite of Queen's Roger Taylor in his concerts.
A version of "Rock and Roll" was performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival in 1989, which was recorded and subsequently released on the album Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell
Led Zeppelin parody cover band Dread Zeppelin recorded a version of this song on their album Rock'n Roll.
On 07 June 2008, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones joined Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins on stage at Wembley stadium to perform "Rock and Roll," along with "Ramble On".
[edit] Commercial use
In 2004, General Motors used "Rock and Roll" in a series of television commercials for their Cadillac line of automobiles.
In 2006, Bowl Games of America used "Rock and Roll" as the finale for the Gator Bowl halftime show. (The song was performed by 28 high school marching bands, with over 2,500 players.)
[edit] References
- ^ "Classic Albums", "Led Zeppelin IV", first broadcast on BBC Radio 1, 1992.
- ^ a b c d Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Triple J Music Specials - Led Zeppelin (first broadcast 2000-07-12)
[edit] 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
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