Custard Pie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Custard Pie” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin | |||||
| Album | Physical Graffiti | ||||
| Released | February 24, 1975 | ||||
| Recorded | 1974 | ||||
| Genre | Hard rock | ||||
| Length | 4:13 | ||||
| Label | Swan Song Records | ||||
| Writer | Page/Plant | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||
| Physical Graffiti track listing | |||||
|
|||||
"Custard Pie" is the first track on English rock band Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. The lyrics to the riff-heavy song pays homage to the blues songs of the Robert Johnson era; specifically "Drop Down Mama" by Mississippi Fred McDowell, "Shake 'Em On Down" by Bukka White, "I Want Some Of Your Pie" by Blind Boy Fuller and "Custard Pie Blues" by Brownie McGhee.[1]
The song contains somewhat difficult-to-comprehend lyrics, but, like several other songs on the album, they are full of sexual innuendo. In this case, "Custard Pie" refers to a woman's sexual organs and the song is rife with references to oral sex: "Your custard pie, yeah, sweet and nice / When you cut it mama, save me a slice", as well as "sure want a piece of your custard pie".
"Custard Pie" contains a blistering wah-wah solo by guitarist Jimmy Page, which was played through an ARP synthesizer.[1] It also features an electric clavinet played by John Paul Jones and a mouth harp by vocalist Robert Plant.[1] Some observers have pointed out that it displays some similarities in sound to "Whole Lotta Love" from Led Zeppelin II, which was itself heavily influenced by the blues song "You Need Love" written by Willie Dixon.
Despite being rehearsed for Led Zeppelin's 1975 US Tour, this track was never played live at Led Zeppelin concerts.[1] However, Robert Plant incorporated a chorus of the song on the end of the live version of his solo song, "Tall Cool One". Page also produced his own live version on his Outrider tour. In 1999, Page again performed the song, this time whilst on his tour with The Black Crowes. A version of "Custard Pie" performed by Page and The Black Crowes can be found on the album Live at the Greek.
Helmet with David Yow recorded a version of "Custard Pie" for the 1995 Led Zeppelin tribute album Encomium.
This song is also the basis of Dread Zeppelin's "Viva Las Vegas".
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
[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
[edit] External links
- Review: All Music Guide
|
|||||
