Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song)

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"Rock and Roll"

Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album (Led Zeppelin IV)
Released	November 8, 1971
Recorded	December 1970 – March 1971
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:40
Label	Atlantic Records
Writer(s)	Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham
Producer(s)	Jimmy Page
(Led Zeppelin IV) track listing
"Black Dog" (1)	"Rock and Roll" (2)	"The Battle of Evermore" (3)

"Rock and Roll" (sample (help·info)) is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, which was first released as the second track of their untitled fourth album in 1971. 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.

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].

The song begins with a powerful intro by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham in the vein of Little Richard's "You Keep A-Knocking (But You Can't Come In)," who is then joined by bandmates John Paul Jones on bass and Jimmy Page on guitar, playing a driving A minor riff in 12-bar style. Vocalist Robert Plant comes in as the song switches to a similar, but more simplified version of the 12 bar melody. Guest musician and Rolling Stones road manager Ian Stewart ("Stu") comes in at the final and plays the piano parts. The bridge of the song is highlighted by a blistering guitar solo by Page, and builds to a fever pitch culminating in a final drum break by Bonham at the song's conclusion.

Robert Plant (left) and Jimmy Page performing "Rock and Roll" in 1973 at Madison Square Garden, New York

The song's simple lyrics express the singer's loneliness and wishes to dance and be back in the arms of his "baby". The blues-based lyrics stand in contrast to the energetic, celebratory delivery and fast tempo of the tune. Robert Plant is known to have been a great fan of 1950s rock and roll records, many of which are referenced in the song's lyrics, including "The Stroll," "Walk In The Moonlight," "The Book of Love," and others.

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.

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.

The song has been covered by Heart, Van Halen, 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. It was also a live favourite of Queen's Roger Taylor in his concerts.

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] Trivia

As the title suggests, the song is based on one of the most popular structures in Rock And Roll; namely, the 12 bar blues progression (in A). The phrase "Rock and Roll" was a term Blues musicians used, which meant sex.
The band often used this either as an encore or to open live shows from 1971-1975.
This came about during a jam session. Tapes were rolling while the band improvised on Little Richard's "Keep a Knockin'." The first few lyrics were partially improvised in the session and the rest in the following 15 minutes.
Ian Stewart, the piano player and road manager for the Rolling Stones, played the piano.
Robert Plant wrote the lyrics, which were a response to critics who claimed their previous album, Led Zeppelin III, wasn't really Rock and Roll. Led Zeppelin III had more of an acoustic, Folk sound, and Plant wanted to prove they could still rock out.
Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones played this at Live Aid in 1985. It was the first time they played together since the death of John Bonham in 1980. Tony Thompson and Phil Collins sat in for Bonham on drums.
Besides Live Aid, the remaining members of Led Zeppelin played this on 2 other occasions. When Robert Plant's daughter Carmen turned 21 in 1989, they played it at her birthday party. They also played it at Jason Bonham's wedding in 1990. Jason is John Bonham's son, and he sat in on drums on both performances.
This has been covered by many other artists, including Def Leppard and Heart. In 2001, it was recorded by Double Trouble (Stevie Ray Vaughan's backup band), for their 2001 album Been A Long Time. Susan Tedeschi sang lead on the track.
All 4 band members got writing credits for this. Many Zeppelin songs are credited only to Page and Plant.
This was the first Led Zeppelin song used in a commercial. Cadillac used it to kick off a new advertising campaign in 2002 with the tagline "Breakthrough." The company was going for a hip, new image, since their audience was slowly dying off. The spots aired for the first time on the Super Bowl, and sales rose 16% the next year.

[edit] See Also

Rock and roll anthem

[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