Thank You (Led Zeppelin song)
| "Thank You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin from the album Led Zeppelin II | ||||
| Released | 22 October 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1969, Morgan Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 4:49 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Writer | Page/Plant | |||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | |||
| Led Zeppelin II track listing | ||||
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"Thank You" is a song written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page that was released by English rock band Led Zeppelin on their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
"Thank You" signaled a deeper involvement in songwriting by singer Robert Plant, being the first Led Zeppelin song that he wrote all the lyrics for. According to various Led Zeppelin biographies, this is also the song that made Jimmy Page realize that Plant could now handle writing the majority of the lyrics for the band's songs. Plant wrote the song as a tribute to his then-wife Maureen.
The song features some delicate Hammond organ playing by John Paul Jones, which fades into a false ending before concluding with a crescendo roughly ten seconds later. This has created a problem for radio stations wishing to play the track, which must decide whether to accept the dead air or cut it off. Some stations run an edited version with the silence eliminated.
For the recording of this track, Page played on a Vox 12-string guitar.[1]
[edit] Live history
"Thank You" was a popular song when played live at Led Zeppelin concerts, and became something of a showcase for Jones' keyboard work, as he often played an extended keyboard solo (either on the Hammond organ or on some 1972-73 versions, the Mellotron) as an introduction to the song. The piece was eventually dropped from the band's standard live setlist following the 1973 tour of the United States, when it was only occasionally used as an encore, for example, at the tour's final concert in Madison Square Garden.
In 1992 Plant sang part of "Thank You" before merging in to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Page and Plant revived the song in 1994 on their Unledded tour. They played a somewhat mellower arrangement for most of their shows from 1995 through 1998 as either an opening number or an encore.
[edit] Legacy
In November 2010, "Thank You" topped Gibson's list of "Top 10 Thanksgiving Songs".[2][3] Record producer Rick Rubin has remarked on the song's structure, "The delicacy of the vocals is incredible; the acoustic guitar and the organ work together to create an otherworldly presence."[4] Alek Keshishian's comedy-drama film With Honors featured Duran Duran's cover of the song in 1994.[5] "Thank You" was also performed by Lars Mitch Fischermann with Led Zeppelin Jam on Rock 'n' Royal, a concert to fête the wedding of Kronprins Frederik and Kronprinsesse Mary of The Danish Royal Family.[6]
[edit] Personnel
- Robert Plant - vocals
- Jimmy Page - guitars, vocals
- John Paul Jones - bass guitar, organ
- John Bonham - drums
[edit] Cover versions
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[edit] Chart positions
[edit] Page and Plant Single
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 8 |
[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
- ^ Interview with Jimmy Page, Guitar World magazine, 1993
- ^ Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top Make Top Thanksgiving Songs List. Antimusic.com.
- ^ Russell Hall. 10 Great Songs that Give Thanks. Gibson. Retrieved 27 November, 2010.
- ^ The Playlist Special: Fifty Artists Pick Their Personal Top 10s. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 January, 2011.
- ^ Soundtracks for With Honors. IMDb.
- ^ Rock 'n' Royal (TV 2004). IMDb.
[edit] External links
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