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==Overview==
==Overview==
{{refimprove|section|date=July 2017}}
The intro and chorus (the main riff) are in 15/8; the song is in a 4/4 beat in the verses and the latter part of the song. The voice on the intro is drummer [[John Bonham]] referring to the takes: "We've done four already but now we're steady, and then they went 1, 2, 3, 4!" They had tried to record it four times previously but could not get it right, prompting the chant.
The intro and chorus (the main riff) are in 15/8; the song is in a 4/4 beat in the verses and the latter part of the song. The voice on the intro is drummer [[John Bonham]] referring to the takes: "We've done four already but now we're steady, and then they went 1, 2, 3, 4!" They had tried to record it four times previously but could not get it right, prompting the chant.


Line 39: Line 38:
{{quote|"I'm thrilled the records are recorded in such a way that the hi-fi quality, even though it's tough… you can hear detail on it because that's what you're supposed to do. It was supposed to be something whereby you could hear everything that was going on."<ref>{{cite journal|first= Michael |last= Bonner |title= An Audience with Jimmy Page |magazine= [[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |date= January 2015 |page= 18}}</ref>}}
{{quote|"I'm thrilled the records are recorded in such a way that the hi-fi quality, even though it's tough… you can hear detail on it because that's what you're supposed to do. It was supposed to be something whereby you could hear everything that was going on."<ref>{{cite journal|first= Michael |last= Bonner |title= An Audience with Jimmy Page |magazine= [[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |date= January 2015 |page= 18}}</ref>}}


In the last line, the "girl who won my heart" refers to [[Robert Plant]]'s daughter Carmen, (born 21 November 1968), who was three years old at the time of recording. In concert, Plant always updated the lyric to reflect her current age, as captured on the ''[[Led Zeppelin DVD]]'' which features a performance of the song at [[Madison Square Garden]] in 1973. During this performance, Plant sang the third verse, which starts with "Sitting round singing songs 'til the night turns into day" as the second verse and sang the second verse at the end of the song. The band first played the song live on their [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1972|1972 U.S. concert tour]] and it remained as part of their performances until their [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1973|1973 U.S. tour]]. It was deleted from the set list thereafter.<ref name="DL"/>
In the last line, the "girl who won my heart" refers to [[Robert Plant]]'s daughter Carmen, (born 21 November 1968), who was three years old at the time of recording. In concert, Plant always updated the lyric to reflect her current age, as captured on the ''[[Led Zeppelin DVD]]'' which features a performance of the song at [[Madison Square Garden]] in 1973. During this performance, Plant sang the third verse, which starts with "Sitting round singing songs 'til the night turns into day" as the second verse and sang the second verse at the end of the song. The band first played the song live on their [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1972|1972 U.S. concert tour]] and it remained as part of their performances until their [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1973|1973 U.S. tour]]. It was deleted from the set list thereafter.<ref name="DL"/><ref>http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatest-led-zeppelin-songs-of-all-time-20121107/the-ocean-1973-19691231</ref><ref>http://www.popmatters.com/post/168702-the-album-remains-the-same-led-zeppelin-the-ocean/</ref>


The song unwinds to a coda consisting of a guitar solo and a [[doo-wop]] homage featuring backing vocals from John Paul Jones and John Bonham. During the last minute or so of the song, Plant can softly be heard singing something along the lines of "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, yeah!" (Or "I'm so, I'm so, I'm so glad!")
The song unwinds to a coda consisting of a guitar solo and a [[doo-wop]] homage featuring backing vocals from John Paul Jones and John Bonham. During the last minute or so of the song, Plant can softly be heard singing something along the lines of "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, yeah!" (Or "I'm so, I'm so, I'm so glad!")

Revision as of 19:32, 20 July 2017

"The Ocean"
Song by Led Zeppelin
from the album Houses of the Holy
Released28 March 1973 (1973-03-28)
RecordedStargroves, East Woodhay, England, 1972
GenreHard rock[1]
Length4:28
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jimmy Page
Audio sample

"The Ocean" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. "The Ocean" refers to the sea of fans seen from the stage at Led Zeppelin concerts, to whom this song was dedicated.[2]

Overview

The intro and chorus (the main riff) are in 15/8; the song is in a 4/4 beat in the verses and the latter part of the song. The voice on the intro is drummer John Bonham referring to the takes: "We've done four already but now we're steady, and then they went 1, 2, 3, 4!" They had tried to record it four times previously but could not get it right, prompting the chant.

At approximately 1:37–1:38 and again at around 1:41, a telephone can be faintly heard ringing in the background. Some speculate that this was intentional — the sheet music (printed after the fact) that accompanies the CD box set has the word "ring" printed twice above the percussion tab of this song. Others are of the opinion that while Led Zeppelin recorded the song a phone was accidentally captured in the mix. Eddie Kramer, present during the recording of Houses of the Holy, states, "It's entirely possible. [The song was] done in a house." He also states, "I don't remember there being [a phone ringing]," implying that it was an accident.[3] There is also a noise heard about 1:59 which sounds like someone pronouncing "c" as in "catch". This occurs again at about 2:12. Jimmy Page remarked:

"I'm thrilled the records are recorded in such a way that the hi-fi quality, even though it's tough… you can hear detail on it because that's what you're supposed to do. It was supposed to be something whereby you could hear everything that was going on."[4]

In the last line, the "girl who won my heart" refers to Robert Plant's daughter Carmen, (born 21 November 1968), who was three years old at the time of recording. In concert, Plant always updated the lyric to reflect her current age, as captured on the Led Zeppelin DVD which features a performance of the song at Madison Square Garden in 1973. During this performance, Plant sang the third verse, which starts with "Sitting round singing songs 'til the night turns into day" as the second verse and sang the second verse at the end of the song. The band first played the song live on their 1972 U.S. concert tour and it remained as part of their performances until their 1973 U.S. tour. It was deleted from the set list thereafter.[2][5][6]

The song unwinds to a coda consisting of a guitar solo and a doo-wop homage featuring backing vocals from John Paul Jones and John Bonham. During the last minute or so of the song, Plant can softly be heard singing something along the lines of "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, yeah!" (Or "I'm so, I'm so, I'm so glad!")

Formats and track listings

1973 7" single (Austria/Germany: Atlantic ATL 10316)

  • A. "The Ocean" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) – 4:31
  • B. "Dancing Days" (Page, Plant) – 3:43

1973 7" single (Germany: Atlantic ATL 10316)

Chart positions

Chart (1973) Peak position
Invalid chart entered Germany2 8

Personnel

Cover versions and samples

References

  1. ^ Davis, Stephen (2010). "A Complex Die-Cut Affair". LZ-'75: The Lost Chronicles of Led Zeppelin's 1975 American Tour. Gotham Books. ISBN 1-59240-589-4. such hard-rock masterpieces as "The Ocean" and "Over the Hills and Far Away." {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Lewis, Dave (1994). The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
  3. ^ "Eddie Kramer Exhibition – 5 - Led Zeppelin + KISS". YouTube. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  4. ^ Bonner, Michael (January 2015). "An Audience with Jimmy Page". Uncut: 18.
  5. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatest-led-zeppelin-songs-of-all-time-20121107/the-ocean-1973-19691231
  6. ^ http://www.popmatters.com/post/168702-the-album-remains-the-same-led-zeppelin-the-ocean/

Template:Houses of the Holy