Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

Last updated

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" is a folk song written by Anne Bredon in the late 1950s. Joan Baez, who learned the song from a student at Oberlin College, recorded the first published version for her 1962 album Joan Baez in Concert and a variety of musicians subsequently adapted it to a variety of styles, including the Association (1965), Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968), and Led Zeppelin (1969). Following the credit on Baez's 1962 release as "traditional, arranged by Baez", subsequent releases did not name Bredon until 1990 when, following Bredon's approach to Led Zeppelin, she received credit and royalties.

Contents

Joan Baez rendition

In 1960, Anne Bredon appeared on a live folk-music show on radio station KPFA in Berkeley, California, where she performed "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You". [1] Janet Smith heard the performance and later Joan Baez learned the song from Smith at Oberlin College. [1] [2]

The 1962 album Joan Baez in Concert includes a solo performance with her vocal and acoustic guitar picking. Vanguard Records co-owner/producer Maynard Solomon commented in the album liner notes: "The strange quality [and power] of the song is that the narrator inwardly desires exactly the opposite of what he[ sic ] will do, and is torn by the prospect of his self-imposed departure." [2] He also describes the song as a "white blues", but does not identify the songwriter. When CD versions of Baez' album were later issued, Anne L. Bredon appears as the sole songwriter. [3]

Due to the popularity of her album, [4] Baez' rendition was adapted by the Plebs (with members of the Nashville Teens) (1964 single), [5] the Association (1965 single), [6] Mark Wynter (1965 single), [7] Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968 Revolution soundtrack), [8] and Led Zeppelin (1969 Led Zeppelin ). The songwriters originally listed for these early versions include "trad.arr. Dennis", Anne H. Bredon, Janet Smith, Paul Bennett, Erik Darling, and "Traditional arr. by Jimmy Page".

Led Zeppelin version

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"
Led Zeppelin 1969 EP.png
1969 US promotional EP sleeve
Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album Led Zeppelin
Released12 January 1969 (1969-01-12)
Recorded27 September 1968, 3 October 1968 [9]
Studio Olympic, London [9]
Genre
Length6:40
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jimmy Page
Audio sample

Guitarist Jimmy Page heard Baez' version and began developing "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" early in his career as a session guitarist. [1] He played the song for singer Robert Plant during their first meeting at Page's riverside home at Pangbourne in late July 1968. [13] In his book Stairway to Heaven, Zeppelin tour manager Richard Cole claims that the arrangement evolved when Plant played Page the guitar part that eventually appeared on the album; however, this has been refuted by Page. [14] In an interview, Page commented, "I used to do the song in the days of sitting in the darkness playing my six-string behind Marianne Faithfull." [15]

Although based on the Baez version, Led Zeppelin came up with a very different approach. [1] They incorporate hard rock sections with electric guitar that are performed by the whole group, thus more than doubling the length of Baez' original. [3] When the recording appeared on their 1969 debut album, the credit read "Traditional, arr. by Jimmy Page" following the unspecified (at the time) authorship of the track on Baez's album. In the 1980s, Bredon was made aware of Led Zeppelin's version of the song; since 1990, the Led Zeppelin version has been credited to Anne Bredon, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant. Bredon received a substantial back-payment of royalties. [13]

The band played this song at Led Zeppelin concerts on its 1969 concert tours; a filmed performance at Danmarks Radio , Gladsaxe, Denmark, on March 17, 1969, is included on the Led Zeppelin DVD (2003). For their 1994-98 project, Page and Plant performed a 9-minute version of the song, which included the opening notes of Stairway to Heaven in the outro. Plant has performed the song as a solo artist and with his bands Strange Sensation and the Sensational Space Shifters.

As of 2002, the 1969 promotional EP using the song as the A-side track and "Dazed and Confused" as B-side had been one of the top ten Led Zeppelin music collectibles, [16] selling for around US$ 300–500 each. [17]

Personnel

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin: [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dazed and Confused (song)</span> 1967 song by Jake Holmes

"Dazed and Confused" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jake Holmes in 1967. Performed in a folk rock-style, he recorded it for his debut album "The Above Ground Sound" of Jake Holmes. Although some concluded that it was about a bad acid trip, Holmes insists the lyrics refer to the effects of a girl's indecision on ending a relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song)</span> 1971 single by Led Zeppelin

"Black Dog" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is the first track on the band's untitled fourth album (1971), which has become one of the best-selling albums of all time. The lyrics contain typical bluesman themes of lust, eroticism and betrayal. The song was released as a single and reached the charts in many countries. It is "one of the most instantly recognisable Zeppelin tracks", and was included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list (US), and ranked No. 1 in Q magazine's (UK) "20 Greatest Guitar Tracks".

"Going to California" is a ballad recorded by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released on their untitled fourth album in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)</span> 1969 single by Led Zeppelin

"Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their album Led Zeppelin II, released in 1969. It was also released as a single in Japan and as the B-side of the single "Whole Lotta Love" in the United States.

"Your Time Is Gonna Come" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin. The lyrics concern an unfaithful woman whom the singer claims will pay the price for her deceitful ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin song)</span> 1969 song by Led Zeppelin

"Heartbreaker" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1969 album, Led Zeppelin II. It was credited to all four members of the band, recorded at A&R Recording and Atlantic Studios in New York City during the band's second concert tour of North America, and engineered by Eddie Kramer.

"Black Mountain Side" is an instrumental by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, adapted, without credit, from Bert Jansch's original arrangement of the traditional Irish folk song "Down by Blackwaterside". It was recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios in London, and is included on the group's 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin.

<i>Joan Baez in Concert</i> 1962 live album by Joan Baez

Joan Baez in Concert is a live album taken from Joan Baez's 1962 concert tours. It peaked at #10 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

"What Is and What Should Never Be" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and was included as the second track on Led Zeppelin II (1969).

"In the Light" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The song was composed primarily by bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones on synthesizer, though singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page also received songwriting credits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communication Breakdown</span> 1969 single by Led Zeppelin

"Communication Breakdown" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, from their 1969 self-titled debut album. It was also used as the B-side of the group's first single in the US, "Good Times Bad Times". A promotional video was released, with the group miming to the recording, which is included on the Led Zeppelin DVD (2003).

"All My Love" is the sixth song on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. Credited to Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, it is a rock ballad that features a synthesizer solo by Jones. It was written in honour of Plant's son Karac, who died while Led Zeppelin were on their 1977 North American tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring It On Home (Sonny Boy Williamson II song)</span> 1966 single by Sonny Boy Williamson II

"Bring It On Home" is a blues song written by American music arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon. Sonny Boy Williamson II recorded it in 1963, but the song was not released until 1966. Led Zeppelin adapted it in part as a homage to Williamson in 1969 and subsequently, the song has been recorded by several artists.

"Tangerine" is a folk rock song by the English band Led Zeppelin. Recorded in 1970, it is included on the second, more acoustic-oriented side of Led Zeppelin III (1970). The plaintive ballad reflects on lost love and features strummed acoustic guitar rhythm with pedal steel guitar.

"How Many More Times" is the ninth and final track on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin. The song is credited in the album liner to Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, but Robert Plant was later added to the ASCAP credits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Quit You Baby</span> Blues standard written by Willie Dixon

"I Can't Quit You Baby" is blues song written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Chicago blues artist Otis Rush in 1956. It is a slow twelve-bar blues ensemble piece, with lyrics about the consequences of an adulterous relationship which is difficult to end.

"In the Evening" is the first song on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. Guitarist Jimmy Page uses a Gizmotron to create the droning effects and sliding solo at the beginning of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing Floor (Howlin' Wolf song)</span> 1964 single by Howlin Wolf

"Killing Floor" is a 1964 song by American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Howlin' Wolf. Called "one of the defining classics of Chicago electric blues", "Killing Floor" became a blues standard with recordings by various artists. It has been acknowledged by the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, which noted its popularity among rock as well as blues musicians. English rock group Led Zeppelin adapted the song for their "The Lemon Song", for which Howlin' Wolf is named as a co-author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Bredon</span> American folk singer (1930–2019)

Anne Leonard Bredon was an American folk singer, best known for composing the song "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" while she was a student at University of California, Berkeley in the late 1950s. Bredon was the daughter of physicist Leonard Benedict Loeb and granddaughter of physiologist Jacques Loeb. She majored in art at Humboldt State University and completed her master's degree in mathematics at Berkeley, California.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Popoff, Martin (2018). Led Zeppelin: All the Albums, All the Songs, Expanded Edition. Voyageur Press. p. 18. ISBN   978-0760363775.
  2. 1 2 Solomon, Maynard (1962). Joan Baez in Concert (Album notes). Joan Baez. New York City: Vanguard Records. Back cover. VRS-9112.
  3. 1 2 Shadwick, Keith (2005). Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music 1968–1980 (1st ed.). San Francisco: Backbeat Books. pp.  48–49. ISBN   0-87930-871-0.
  4. ↑ "Joan Baez: Billboard 200". Billboard.com . Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  5. ↑ Eder, Bruce. "The Plebs – Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  6. ↑ Eder, Bruce. "The Association – Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  7. ↑ Adams, Greg. "Mark Wynter: Go Away Little Girl: The Pye Anthology – Review". AllMusic . Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  8. ↑ Chadbourne, Eugene. "Original Soundtrack: Revolution". AllMusic . Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Guesdon & Margotin 2018, p. 56.
  10. ↑ Hoskyns, Barney (10 October 2012). Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. p. 17. ISBN   978-1-118-22111-2.
  11. ↑ Janovitz, Bill. "Led Zeppelin: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You – Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  12. ↑ The original LP credited "Traditional arr. by Jimmy Page"; Plant and Bredon were later given songwriting credits.
  13. 1 2 Lewis, Dave (1994). The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. London, England: Omnibus Press. ISBN   0-7119-3528-9.
  14. ↑ Tolinski, Brad; Di Bendetto, Greg (January 1998). "Light and Shade". Guitar World .
  15. ↑ Yorke, Ritchie (1999). Led Zeppelin: From Early Days to Page and Plant. Virgin. p. 72. ISBN   978-0-86369-744-9.
  16. ↑ Thompson, Dave (2002). The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting. San Francisco, California: Music Player Group. p. 274. ISBN   0-87930-713-7. LCCN   2002016095.
  17. ↑ Barrett, Rick (2008). "Rick Barrett: Reflects on the Collective Culture of Led Zeppelin Memorabilia". Sonic Boom: The Impact of Led Zeppelin (Interview). Vol. 1: Break and Enter. Interviewed by Frank Reddon. ISBN   978-0978444600.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.