Vocalist Robert Plant had recently been reading about Scottish folklore and this inspired him to write the lyrics to this song.[1] Plant felt he needed another voice to tell the story, and for the recording of this song folk singer Sandy Denny was invited to duet with Plant. Denny was a member of British folk group Fairport Convention, whom Led Zeppelin had shared a bill with in 1970. Plant played the role of the narrator and Denny represented the town crier. To thank her for her involvement, Denny was given the symbol on the album sleeve of three pyramids (the four members of Led Zeppelin each designed their own symbols for the album). This is the only song Led Zeppelin ever recorded with a guest vocalist.
The song was covered by a group called "The Fellowship" on their album In Elven Lands. The Fellowship included singer Jon Anderson from the band Yes, though he does not sing on "The Battle of Evermore".
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss regularly covered "The Battle Of Evermore" on their tour of USA and Europe in Spring and Summer 2008. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant perform The Battle of Evermore at Denver's Red Rocks, 21 June 2008[2]
References
^ abDave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
