Nobody's Fault but Mine: Difference between revisions
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*2007: Led Zepagain (''Led Zepagain II: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin'') |
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*2009: Andrew Winton (''Surface Tension'') |
*2009: Andrew Winton (''Surface Tension'') |
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*2010: Tom Jones (''Praise & Blame'') |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:08, 21 October 2013
"Nobody's Fault but Mine" is a traditional gospel song that has been recorded by many musicians over the years. A similarly titled "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine" is listed in the 1924 Cleveland Library's Index to Negro Spirituals.[1][2] Many songs from this era were developed in the folk music tradition and the actual songwriters have not been identified. The first known recording of this song was by American gospel blues musician Blind Willie Johnson in 1927, titled "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine". It has been described as "a blistering portrayal of a man looking for deliverance from his misdeeds and perceived sins".[3] Since Johnson, a variety of artists have recorded their interpretations of "Nobody's Fault but Mine", including English rock band Led Zeppelin.
Led Zeppelin version
| "Nobody's Fault but Mine" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Nobody's Fault but Mine" was recorded by Led Zeppelin for their 1976 album Presence. They used some of Johnson's lyrics, but excluded the overtly religious passages and added several verses of their own. Although the song's roots are in the blues, it has been called "one of the most relentless pieces of pure rock this group ever mined."[6]
According to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, it was vocalist Robert Plant's idea to record "Nobody's Fault but Mine".[3] Plant's new lyrics included lines such as "brother he showed me the gong", "I got a monkey on my back" and "Devil he told me to roll".[7] The song follows a "call-and-response method of dramatic construction".[3] Musically there are changes to the tempo, and the track features a phase-treated, delta blues-based riff in E minor (and later E major) from Page which is doubled by Plant. The solo in E Minor Pentatonic, switches to E Major Pentatonic, back to E Minor Pentatonic, and concludes in E Major Pentatonic. Page triple-tracked his guitar intro; playing one guitar an octave higher than the others and using a phaser.
Drummer John Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones maintain the rhythm of the song, adding some syncopated accents during repetitions of the introductory phrase. Plant adds a blues-style harmonica solo mid-song.[8] Page's slide guitar intro has been described as like "a supersonic 1970s interpretation of Johnson's beautiful slide guitar technique".[3] Record producer Rick Rubin has remarked on the song's structure, "A traditional blues, twisted through a trippy, psychedelic filter. They [Led Zeppelin] played with such precision, doing these odd arrangements that sound like loose jams but are really choreographed."[9]
Live history
From 1977 onwards, "Nobody's Fault but Mine" became a vital component of Led Zeppelin concerts, and was played at virtually every show until the group's final tour of Europe in 1980.[8] One live version, from Led Zeppelin's performance at Knebworth in 1979, is featured on disc 2 of the Led Zeppelin DVD. During live performances, Plant often exclaimed, "Oh Jimmy!" right before Page went into his guitar solo. "Nobody's Fault but Mine" was performed at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on 10 December 2007. The song was played a whole step lower.
Personnel
Other recordings
Several musical artists have recorded "Nobody's Fault but Mine" credited to Page and Plant.
- 1991: Dread Zeppelin (5,000,000)
- 1994: Page and Plant (No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded)
- 1994: The 77s (Drowning with Land in Sight, with additional credit "apologies to Blind Willie Johnson.")
- 1994: Cinnamon (Cinnamon III)
- 1995: Page and Plant (Untitled single)
- 1995: Michael White & The White (Plays the Music of Led Zeppelin)
- 1999: John Corabi (A Tribute to Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains Remixed)
- 2000: Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes (Live at the Greek)
- 2000: Orange Moon (Dead Zeppelin: A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 2000: Never Never (Never Never Tribute)
- 2003: Kelly Richey (Kelly Richey Live ... As It Should Be)
- 2003: Various artists (Pickin' on Led Zeppelin, Vol. 1-2) [citation needed]
- 2004: Paul Gilbert with John Paul Jones (Guitar Wars)
- 2007: Various artists (A Tribute to Led Zeppelin: The Essential Collection) [citation needed]
- 2007: Led Zepagain (Led Zepagain II: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
- 2009: Andrew Winton (Surface Tension)
- 2010: Tom Jones (Praise & Blame)
References
- ^ Kennedy, Robert Emmet (1925). Mellows, a Chronicle of Unknown Singers. p. 150.
- ^ Abbott, Lynn (2007). Ragged But Right: Black Travelling Shows, "Coon Songs", and the Dark Pathway to Blues and Jazz. p. 167. ISBN 1-57806-901-7.
- ^ a b c d Shadwick, Keith (2005). Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music 1968–1980 (1st ed.). San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 248. ISBN 0-87930-871-0.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Presence - Led Zeppelin - AllMusic". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
...lumbering blues workout...
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Destroyer - Led Zeppelin - AllMusic". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
...amplified power blues...
- ^ a b Davis, Stephen (1985). Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 264. ISBN 0-345-33516-3.
- ^ Welch, Chris (2005). Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song (2nd ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 73. ISBN 1-56025-818-7.
- ^ a b Lewis, Dave (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ^ The Playlist Special: Fifty Artists Pick Their Personal Top 10s. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
