LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-FEB 21, 2020… ON THIS DATE IN 1973 LED ZEPPELIN RELEASED THE SINGLE ‘ROCK AND ROLL’ FROM THE ALBUM LED ZEPPELIN 4. I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE SONG PEAKED AT #47 ON THE BILLBOARD SINGLES CHART. THE SONG WAS WRITTEN AS A SPONTANEOUS JAM, WHICH BROKE OUT WHEN THE BAND WAS TRYING TO FINISH ‘FOUR STICKS’. JOHN BONHAM PLAYED THE INTRODUCTION TO LITTLE RICHARD’S ‘YOU KEEP A-KNOCKIN’ AND PAGE ADDED A GUITAR RIFF. BECAUSE IT HAPPENED DURING THE STUDIO SESSION FOR ‘FOUR STICKS’ A TAPE WAS ROLLING AND THE SONG WAS FINISHED 15 MINUTES LATER.
HERE’S ZEP, WITH A LIVE VERSION OF ‘ROCK AND ROLL’ FROM 1973’S SHOW AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
