Stairway to Heaven’s Great Grandfather
Listening to some odd classical music this morning took me from Rites of Spring, to Threnody (not for faint of heart), then Bolero.
This inevitably lead to a rare version of a 1966 recording (released in 1967) by what was almost Led Zeppelin’s original lineup.
Notes:
+this was recorded live, and at one point Moon knocks over his cymbal or mike.. you can hear it at around 1:35? The recorded drum sound changes noticeably thereafter.
+ in the midpoint “freak out “ section you can also hear Moon scream, apparently right after he knocks the mike over. Certifiable lunatic
+Entwistle sat this out I believe, and Page’s fellow studio musician JPJ sat in for him.
+Sadly this is 1 of about only 4 times Beck and Page played guitar together. On 2 they played dueling leads.
+ Beck plays all guitar parts except the acoustic 12 string rhythm and the electric rhythm “comping “ the acoustic.
Page, Moon, Entwistle
If you don’t know already: The Who’s Entwistle and Moon were unhappy and sat in with Jimmy Page at one point near the collapse of the Yardbirds. Page would eventually inherit the nand’s name and needed musicians to start a new band.
In 1967ish when the Yardbirds were collapsing, Page was in the process of replicating what Jeff Beck had done with his new album Truth. He actually sought out a blonde vocalist (like Rod Stewart who fronted Jeff Beck’s Group on Truth) and had originally settled on Terry Reid.
Fortunately for Robert Plant, Reid was “unavailable” in so many threatening words when Page inquired.
Jeff Records Beck’s Bolero
It would seem Page had been thinking ahead as far back as 1966 when Beck’s Bolero was recorded.
Page was already “borrowing” ideas and wanted to do a classically structured guitar piece. Ravel’s Bolero was a good fit. Jeff liked it and they used it as the basis for a song.
So: before Hendrix, before the Beatles Revolver album.. here is Page writing, playing rhythm guitar and (without credit) producing what is the prototype song for future “guitar army” sound zep did.
Yardbirds/ Page Production
This rare version includes a backwards played coda, something Page was doing later in studio with yardbirds and even later on Zeppelin.
The reverse echo slide bits are Page using treatments on Beck’s fantastic playing. In 1966 Page was doing this and other innovations (reverse echo by inserting a reel tape upside down!) which later were heard on yardbirds tunes, Zep 1 and 2.
As much as I love the Beatles, and Hendrix, the idea was “shared” among studio producers afterward and basically became part of the psychedelic sound in later bands records..
Dead Zeppelin
Story goes, Page, now on the hunt for band members for his “New Yardbirds” circles back to Moon and Entwistle.
Page: want to make this a regular thing?
Moon: no way, it will go over like a “lead zeppelin” with Roger and Pete.
Townsend already wasn’t a fan of Page..
Later, after playing 1 gig as the New Yardbirds,the band of Page, Plant, Jones, and Bonham used it as their name.
Stealing, Stealing
The post title relates to Page’s desire to make an opus, as well as his predilection for borrowing.
Stairways lineage structurally goes like this:
1- Becks Bolero ( Ravel’s Bolero)1966- guitar army with yardbirds style mid section
2- Babe I’m gonna leave you (by Anne Breaden , Page arrangement) 1968- guitar army with repeated controlled “freak out” sections
3- Stairway (Opening riff from Taurus by Spirit) 1971- guitars with “bolero like” crescendo. No mid section freak outs
4- Ten Years Gone- 1974 (Rain song reimagined) layers and counter-melodies at end.
4- Achilles last stand - 1976 (completely original from D&C improv) - around 12 layered guitar parts
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