The Rover (song)
| "The Rover" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin from the album Physical Graffiti | ||||
| Released | 24 February 1975 | |||
| Recorded | May, 1972 at Stargroves using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal, hard rock | |||
| Length | 5:37 | |||
| Label | Swan Song | |||
| Writer | Page/Plant | |||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | |||
| Physical Graffiti track listing | ||||
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"The Rover" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.
The song was originally meant to be an acoustic piece, being written at Bron-Yr-Aur in 1970 and then recorded at Stargroves during the Houses of the Holy sessions in 1972.[1][2] However, the band decided to hold the track off the Houses of the Holy album, and the song eventually saw its way onto Led Zeppelin's next studio album Physical Graffiti. By this time it had obtained a distinctly heavier feel, with several studio overdubs having been laid down by Jimmy Page in 1974.[2]
"The Rover" opens with a heavy drum beat from John Bonham, and throughout the song, Page plays a distinctive riff using a Phase Shifter effect. The riff is in the key of E major, and the solo uses a F# minor scale. "Rover" is a term for a wanderer, and the lyrics are fitting to this definition:
I've been to London, seen seven wonders. I know to trip is just to fall . . . In fields of plenty, when heaven sent me. I saw the kings who rule them all.
The sleeve credit for this track includes the line "Guitar lost courtesy Nevison...Salvaged by the grace of Harwood", which would seem to be a reference to difficulties encountered during the mixing of the track, "Harwood" being Keith Harwood and "Nevison" referring to Ron Nevison, both audio engineers on Physical Graffiti .[2]
"The Rover" was never played live in its entirety at Led Zeppelin concerts, although the band played the opening bars as an introduction to "Sick Again" throughout their 1977 North American tour.[2] However, the song was rehearsed in full, as can be heard on bootleg recordings of the band's soundcheck rehearsal at the Chicago Stadium on 6 July 1973. This rehearsal took place before the opening date of the second leg of the band's 1973 North American tour.[2] Also in 1972, instrumental themes from the song were played in a "Whole Lotta Love" medley during a concert in Sydney during Led Zeppelin's Australasian Tour.
Contents |
[edit] Formats and tracklistings
"The Rover" was originally released as the second track on Side 1 of Disc One of the 1975 double album Physical Graffiti.
1975 7" single (Thailand: Atlantic FT 206)
- A. "The Rover" (Page, Plant) 5:44
- B. "Trampled Under Foot" (Jones, Page, Plant) 5:35
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Cover versions
- 1995: Dream Theater (A Change of Seasons EP, medley)
- 1996: Marq Torien (The Songs Remain Remixed: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 1999: Great White (Great Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 1999: Van Halen (Golden West Ballroom: Live 1976 [recorded live 1976])
- 2002: Primal Fear (The Music Remains the Same: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 2007: Zepparella (Live at 19 Broadway)
- 2007: Ex Voto (The Many Faces of Led Zeppelin [remix])
- 2007: various artists (A Tribute to Led Zeppelin: The Essential Collection)
- 2010: Phish Live in Camden, NJ, 2010-06-24. LivePhish release.
[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
[edit] External links
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