Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks

RandallFlagg

The intro and first half of Led Zeppelin's 'When The Levee Breaks' is swampy, menacing, and drips with southern delta blues mojo.

The first 2m 26 seconds are stunning but I think all goes a bit tits up when they bring on the major key notes at 2m 26s, after that I'm not so keen until it goes back to the main groove but it really is a great song.

I hear shades of this in Johnny Marr's slide playing and on The Smiths 'How Soon Is Now?'



It doesn't sound much like Memphis Minnie's version who they credited it to (although she didn't write it)

AlexC

I think it's a great end to a great album. I particularly like that cut-up guitar montage at the very end - which reminds me of the last part of Bieing For The Benefit Of Mr Kite. As if a wall of guitars has just collapsed in on itself. Page's production never fails to impress me.

Danny1969

That songs all about the drums to me. Even when I heard it as a kid and didn't know shit about recording and room mics that drum sound just sounded so epic. I used to ride around on my bike listening to it, the intro with just the drums was my favorite part 

Springywheel

Great groove, I like the major key shift, because it makes the reintroduction of the main bluesey shift more effective. 

monquixote

I saw this thread and immediately said "Alexa play when the levee breaks"

Thanks

ICBM

The problem I always find with Led Zeppelin is that almost all of their songs have great drumming, great bass, great guitar and occasionally great keyboard parts - sometimes all in the same song - but they're inevitably ruined at some point by either Plant's screeching and caterwauling or some musical change that jolts you out of the greatness. As such I've always had a very love/hate relationship with their music.

prowla

axisus

What a fabulous song (that I haven't heard for a great many years!). LZ4 was a mind blowing album for me.

SidNewton

I like the whole thing. It's a great track. Listening to the album now

mudslide73

I'll put it on too. I love how Levee swirls towards the end. Also the four crazy fills Bonham does after the slide fanfare.. lovely kick roll for one of them. My favourite band I think. 

RandallFlagg

I son't know if it's just my copy but does anyone else hear a loud single hi hat hit at 1m 34s?

what's that all about? Tape glitch?

SidNewton

RandallFlagg said:

I son't know if it's just my copy but does anyone else hear a loud single hi hat hit at 1m 34s?

what's that all about? Tape glitch?

It's not your copy. I notice it every time I listen to the track.

DiscoStu

SidNewton said:

RandallFlagg said:

I son't know if it's just my copy but does anyone else hear a loud single hi hat hit at 1m 34s?

what's that all about? Tape glitch?

It's not your copy. I notice it every time I listen to the track.

It's not as bad as his squeaky kick drum pedal on Since I've Been Loving You!

Danny1969

SidNewton said:

RandallFlagg said:

I son't know if it's just my copy but does anyone else hear a loud single hi hat hit at 1m 34s?

what's that all about? Tape glitch?

It's not your copy. I notice it every time I listen to the track.

I never noticed that before but not you've mentioned it .... it's quite glaring ! 

No automation back then, maybe someone accidentally took the mute off a tom mic or some other mic close to the HH very briefly during mixdown 

Redlester

Nah the middle section heralded by the 12 string and slide part is meant to be a contrast, and it works perfectly. 

For those who haven’t heard it, the early demo put out on the Coda RI is fabulous as well, but shows how they decided to up the ante in the final version. 

I love all the songs on that record, even Four Sticks which a lot of people don’t seem to like. 

gordiji

The Zeperella version is also excellent.