One of the most influential guitarists in the history of rock music, Page started his career as a highly sought-after studio guitarist in England. Under his direction, Led Zeppelin became one of the era’s most successful rock groups, redefining the musical sound of the 70s. He has co-written many of rock’s most popular anthems, including “Stairway to Heaven,” which has been the subject of controversy ever since reports surfaced that it contains subliminal messages that can be heard in what way? More…Discuss
“Whole Lotta Love” is a song by English hard rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band’s second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the United States and Japan as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, having sold one million copies.[4] As with other Led Zeppelin songs, no single was released in the United Kingdom, but singles were released in Germany (where it reached number one), the Netherlands (where it reached number four), Belgium and France.
In 2004, the song was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed “Whole Lotta Love” at number three in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was placed 11 on a similar list by Rolling Stone. In 2009 it was named the third greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.[1] Already part of their live repertoire, “Whole Lotta Love” saw its first official release on the LP Led Zeppelin II on 22 October 1969 (Atlantic LP #8236).
Song construction
The song is in compound AABA form.[5] Page played the loose blues riff for the intro, on a Sunburst 1958 Les Paul Standard guitar[6] through a Vox Super Beatle,[citation needed] which ascends into the first chorus. Then, beginning at 1:24 (and lasting until 3:02) the song dissolves to a free jazz-like break involving a theremin solo and a drum solo and the orgasmic moans of Robert Plant. As audio engineer Eddie Kramer has explained: “The famous Whole Lotta Love mix, where everything is going bananas, is a combination of Jimmy and myself just flying around on a small console twiddling every knob known to man.” Kramer is also quoted as saying:
[A]t one point there was bleed-through of a previously recorded vocal in the recording of “Whole Lotta Love”. It was the middle part where Robert [Plant] screams “Wo-man … You need … Love” Since we couldn’t re-record at that point, I just threw some echo on it to see how it would sound and Jimmy [Page] said “Great! Just leave it.”[7]
Led Zeppelin’s bass player John Paul Jones has stated that Page’s famous riff probably emerged from a stage improvisation during the band’s playing of “Dazed and Confused“.[8]
Alternatively, Jimmy Page has vehemently denied that the song originated onstage:
Interviewer: Is it true “Whole Lotta Love” was written onstage during a gig in America, when you were all jamming on a Garnett Mimms song?
Page: No. No. Absolutely incorrect. No, it was put together when we were rehearsing some music for the second album. I had a riff, everyone was at my house, and we kicked it from there. Never was it written during a gig–where did you hear that?
Interviewer: I read it in a book.
Page (sarcastically): Oh, good. I hope it was that Rough Guide. That’s the latest one, the most inaccurate. They’re all inaccurate, you know.[9]
In a separate interview, Page explained:
I had [the riff] worked out already before entering the studio. I had rehearsed it. And then all of that other stuff, sonic wave sound and all that, I built it up in the studio, and put effects on it and things, treatments.[10]
For this track, Page employed the backwards echo production technique.[11]
There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for. Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven.
There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure ‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings, Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west, And my spirit is crying for leaving. In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, And the voices of those who stand looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it really makes me wonder.
And it’s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune, Then the piper will lead us to reason. And a new day will dawn for those who stand long, And the forests will echo with laughter.
If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now, It’s just a spring clean for the May queen. Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run There’s still time to change the road you’re on. And it makes me wonder.
Your head is humming and it won’t go, in case you don’t know, The piper’s calling you to join him, Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?
And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul. There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold. And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll.
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.
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“Stairway to Heaven” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band’s fourth unnamed studio album, (see Led Zeppelin IV (1971)). The song was voted #3 in 2000 by VH1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs.[1] It was the most requested song on FM radio stations in the United States in the 1970s, despite never having been released as a single there.[2] In November 2007, through download sales promoting Led Zeppelin’s Mothership release, “Stairway to Heaven” hit #37 on the UK Singles Chart.[3]
There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed With a word she can get what she came for
Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure And you know sometimes words have two meanings In a tree by the brook there’s a songbird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west And my spirit is crying for leaving In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking
Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
And it’s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forest will echo with laughter
And it makes me wonder
If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow Don’t be alarmed now It’s just a spring clean for the May Queen
Yes there are two paths you can go by but in the long run There’s still time to change the road you’re on
Your head is humming and it won’t go in case you don’t know The piper’s calling you to join him Dear lady can’t you hear the wind blow and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind
And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll Woe oh oh oh oh oh And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
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CIDSE - TOGETHER FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE (CHANGE FOR THE PLANET -CARE FOR THE PROPLE-ACCESS THIS NEW WEBSITE FROM EUZICASA)
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