Houses of the Holy (song)

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"Houses of the Holy"
Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album Physical Graffiti
Released24 February 1975 (1975-02-24)
Recorded1972
Studio Olympic, London
Genre Hard rock [1]
Length4:01
Label Swan Song
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jimmy Page

"Houses of the Holy" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 sixth album Physical Graffiti . The name of the song was used as the title of the band's fifth album, although it was not included on that album; they decided the song did not fit well with the other album material, so it was moved to the subsequent release. [2]

Contents

Composition and recording

In order to create the layered guitar introduction and fade-out, Page used a Delta T digital delay unit. [2] The squeak of John Bonham's drum pedal can be heard throughout the song.

Record producer Rick Rubin has remarked, "This is a funk jam with really interesting, jazzy chords. It's one of their more compact feeling songs. And it's the only Zep song to use what sounds like a cowbell." [3]

Live performances

The song was never played live by Led Zeppelin, [2] though Robert Plant performed it with the Band of Joy during his 2010 solo tour. [4] Additionally, Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes tested out the song in rehearsals for their 2000 tour, but dropped it before touring began. [5]

Reception

In a contemporary review of Physical Graffiti, Jim Miller of Rolling Stone gave "Houses of the Holy" a positive review, saying "Plant's lyrics mesh perfectly with Page's stuttering licks." [6] Miller continues "Here again, the details are half the fun: Bonham kicks the cut along with a cowbell while the two final verses add what sounds like a squeaky chorus of "doit"s behind the vocal; Plant meanwhile is almost inaudibly overdubbed on the song's central chorus, underlining the phrase "let the music be your master."" [6]

Personnel

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin: [7]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Miller, Jim (27 March 1975). "Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Lewis, Dave (1994). The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press. ISBN   0-7119-3528-9.
  3. ↑ "Fifty Artists Pick Their Personal Top 10s – Rick Rubin: Led Zeppelin". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 11 December 2010.
  4. ↑ Derrough, Leslie Michele (13 August 2010). "Robert Plant: Saenger Theatre, Mobile, AL 7/28/10". Glide Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010.
  5. ↑ Basham, David (9 March 2000). "Jimmy Page, Crowes Discuss Possible Set Lists". MTV News . Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 Miller, Jim (27 March 1975). "Physical Graffiti". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Guesdon & Margotin 2018, p. 386.

Bibliography

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