Houses of the Holy (song)

For the Led Zeppelin album of the same name, see Houses of the Holy.

"Houses of the Holy"
Song by Led Zeppelin from the album Physical Graffiti
Released	24 February 1975
Recorded	May 1972
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	4:02
Label	Swan Song
Writer	Page/Plant
Producer	Jimmy Page
Physical Graffiti track listing
"In My Time of Dying" (3) "Houses of the Holy" (4) "Trampled Under Foot" (5)

"Houses of the Holy" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album, Physical Graffiti. The track is a mid-tempo rock song, heavy on bass and featuring a distinctive Jimmy Page guitar riff. In order to create the layered guitar introduction and fade-out, Page used a Delta T digital delay unit. The squeak of John Bonham's drum pedal can be heard throughout the song.

Lyrically, the song is an ode to Led Zeppelin concerts, with the "Houses of the Holy" referring to the arenas and auditoriums in which the band performed. Despite this, the song was never played live by Led Zeppelin, though Robert Plant performed it with the Band of Joy during his 2010 solo tour.

Although the name of the song is "Houses of the Holy," the track does not appear on the earlier-released album Houses of the Holy. It was originally set to be the title track of that album but was removed when the band decided it did not fit. The song did not require any further re-mixing for its inclusion on Physical Graffiti, having already been fully mixed by audio engineer Eddie Kramer at the Electric Lady sessions in June 1972.

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."

Chart positions

Single

Chart (1975)	Peak position
Italian Singles Chart	27

Personnel

• Robert Plant - vocals
• Jimmy Page - guitars
• John Paul Jones - bass guitar
• John Bonham - drums

Cover versions

• 1989: Fool Killers (The Song Retains the Name)
• 1993: Folkadelic (The Song Retains the Same II)
• 2006: Joe Lesté (World's Greatest Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
• 2006: Jean Synodinos (Breathe)
• 2006: The Rockies (The Music of Led Zeppelin)
• 2006: Greg Reeves & Erica Stock (Dub Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
• 2007: Interface (The Many Faces of Led Zeppelin [remix])
• 2007: various artists (A Tribute to Led Zeppelin: The Essential Collection)
• 2008: Pat Travers (Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute)

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

External links

• ASCAP entry