On its 46th birthday we herald an iconic track from an incredibly influential band…
JOE continues our look at some of our favourite all-time classic songs with a number from one of the the most influential bands in rock ‘n roll history.
Artist, album and year: Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin I, 1969
Why is it a classic? In one word: riff. The technical brilliance of this song involves Jimmy Page playing his guitar with a violin bow, a descending bass line from John Paul Jones and arguably the finest vocals that Robert Plant has delivered.
Did you know? In 1968 the band members toured Scandanavia under the name of “The New Yardbirds” but a month after their return Jimmy Page changed the name and got them recording the album.
Led Zeppelin I famously received poor reviews from the critics upon its release. Rolling Stone said that, “in their willingness to waste their considerable talent on unworthy material the Zeppelin has produced an album which is sadly reminiscent of [the Jeff Beck Group’s] Truth”.
The origin of the song is also disputed as musician Jake Holmes played a version of it while he opened for The Yardbirds in 1967. Jimmy Page and Holmes would eventually settle their legal dispute out of court in 2012.
The lyrical hook: “Lots of people talkin’, few of them know, Soul of a woman was created below.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzZ6pyRGI30
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