Fool in the Rain
| "Fool in the Rain" | |||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Led Zeppelin | |||||||||||||||||
| from the album In Through the Out Door | |||||||||||||||||
| B-side | "Hot Dog" | ||||||||||||||||
| Released | 7 December 1979 | ||||||||||||||||
| Format | 7" | ||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | November–December 1978 | ||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Rock, Latin rock | ||||||||||||||||
| Length | 6:08 3:20 (Promotional DJ edit) |
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| Label | Swan Song | ||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant | ||||||||||||||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||||||||||||||
| Led Zeppelin singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||
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"Fool in the Rain" is a song on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1979 album, In Through the Out Door. It was the final U.S. single released during the band's tenure, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1980.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The song exhibits a Latin feel. The main section is in 12/8 meter; this section employs an unusual 6-over-4 polyrhythmic groove, with the piano and bass playing 6 beats per measure and the melody (and parts of the drum kit) playing 4 beats per measure. The result is that most of the instruments appear to be playing quarter-note-triplets against the swing of the melody and drum kit. Drummer John Bonham plays a shuffle beat similar to the "Purdie shuffle" rhythm attributed to session drummer Bernard Purdie, along with a samba-style breakdown. A master drum track shows that the samba breakdown (2:25) was recorded separately.
Bass player John Paul Jones and vocalist Robert Plant developed the idea for the samba beat from watching the 1978 FIFA World Cup tournament in Argentina.[1] Guitarist Jimmy Page used an MXR Blue Box effect pedal during the solo to produce the octave sound.
Lyrically, the song is about a man who's supposed to meet a woman on a certain street corner. When the woman does not appear, he is filled with sorrow at being stood up. By the final verse, he realizes that he has not gone to the right place, making him "just a fool waiting on the wrong block," as Plant sings.
This song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts, as it was heavily studio-based. The piano was quite necessary in the song, but with John Paul Jones on piano, there could be no bass. There is also a twelve-string guitar line at one point in the song and the guitar solo that has to be pulled off. However, on 5 October 2005, Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant performed the song with Pearl Jam at a Hurricane Katrina benefit show.[2][3]
[edit] Formats and tracklistings
1979 7" single edition (US/Australia/Canada/New Zealand: Swan Song SS 71003, Ecuador/Uruguay: Atlantic 45-73015, Germany/Holland: Swan Song SS 19421, Japan: Warner Pioneer P-530N, Mexico: Swan Song Gamma G-2269, Spain: Swan Song SS 45-1295)
- A. "Fool in the Rain" (Jones, Page, Plant) 6:08
- B. "Hot Dog" (Page, Plant) 3:15
1979 7" single radio edit (US: Swan Song SS 71003 SP, Italy: Swan Song PR 097)
- A. "Fool in the Rain" (Jones, Page, Plant) 3:20
- B. "Hot Dog" (Page, Plant) 3:15
[edit] Chart positions
[edit] Single
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 21 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[5] | 31 |
| US Record World 100 Top Pop Chart[6] | 34 |
| Canadian RPM Top 100 Chart[7] | 12 |
| New Zealand Top 50 Singles Chart[8] | 44 |
[edit] Single (Digital download)
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Billboard Hot Digital Singles Chart[9] | 69 |
[edit] Personnel
- Robert Plant - vocals
- Jimmy Page - guitars
- John Paul Jones - bass guitar, piano
- John Bonham - drums, percussion
[edit] Cover versions
[edit] Album versions
- 1996: Maná (Hace Mucho Calor)
- 2001: Azz Izz Band (Based on a True Story)
- 2004: Pacifica (Unveiled)
- 2006: Hans Annéllsson (Return of the Son of One More Time for the World) - John Marshall Gibbs on guitar solo and lead vocal
- 2007: Vanilla Fudge (Out Through the in Door)
- 2008: O.A.R. with Robert Randolph (Bluegrass Tribute)
- 2008: Rick Wakeman (Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute)
- 2009: Michael Cavanaugh (In Color)
- 2010: O.A.R. with Robert Randolph (Rain or Shine)
[edit] Live versions
- 1999, 2010: Umphrey's McGee
- 2003: Dave Matthews
- 2004, 2009: O.A.R.
- 2005: Ekoostik Hookah
- 2005: Pearl Jam with Robert Plant
- 2010: Nikki Yanofsky
- 2011: Furthur (band)
[edit] Sources
- Lewis, Dave (2004) The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
- Welch, Chris (1998) Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
[edit] References
- ^ Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ^ Robert Plant jam
- ^ Pearl Jam and Robert Plant - Fool in the Rain - improved audio
- ^ "Hot 100 Singles - 16 February 1980". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3071084&cdi=8890687&cid=02%2F16%2F1980. Retrieved 2009-01-17.[dead link]
- ^ "Top 100 Singles - 23 February 1980". Cash Box. http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19800223.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ [http://www.geocities.com/muggy59/1980.html[dead link] "Top 40 for 1980 - February 1980"]. Record World. http://www.geocities.com/muggy59/1980.html[dead link]. Retrieved 2009-01-19.[dead link]
- ^ "RPM Singles Chart - 23 February 1980". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9499a&volume=32&issue=22&issue_dt=February%2023%201980&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=hrg50o22lgammqcogv27ve6d95. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ Scapolo, Dean (2007). "Top 50 Singles - February 1980". The Complete New Zealand Music Charts (1st ed.). Wellington: Transpress. ISBN 1-877443-00-8.
- ^ "Hot Digital Singles - 1 December 2007". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=346&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Canadian+Digital+Singles&ci=3088339&cdi=9518237&cid=12%2F01%2F2007. Retrieved 2009-01-17.[dead link]
[edit] External links
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