music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Rock and Roll" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, which was first released as the second track from the band's fourth album in 1971. The song includes a guest appearance by the Rolling Stones pianist Ian Stewart. In 1972 Robert Christgau called it "simply the most dynamic hard-rock song in the music."[4]

"Rock and Roll"
German single picture sleeve
Single by Led Zeppelin
from the album Led Zeppelin IV
B-side	"Four Sticks"
Released	21 February 1972 (1972-02-21) (US)
Recorded	1971
Studio	Headley Grange, Headley, England
Genre	Rock and roll[1][2][3] hard rock[3]
Length	3:40
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	John Bonham John Paul Jones Jimmy Page Robert Plant
Producer(s)	Jimmy Page
Led Zeppelin singles chronology
"Black Dog" (1971) "Rock and Roll" (1972) "Over the Hills and Far Away" (1973)

Recording

According to guitarist Jimmy Page, "Rock and Roll" developed from a spontaneous jam session, while the band were trying to finish recording "Four Sticks", at the Headley Grange mansion they had rented in Hampshire, England.[5] John Bonham began by playing the drum introduction from the Little Richard song "Keep A-Knockin'" to which Page added a Chuck Berry-style guitar riff.[6][7] The tapes were rolling and fifteen minutes later the basis of the song was completed.[8] The song is performed in the key of A at a relatively fast tempo of 170 beats per minute.[9]

Reception

Cash Box described it as a "rip-apart performance of one of best r&r revivalist tunes ever."[10] In 2019, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 9 on its list of the 40 greatest Led Zeppelin songs.[11]

Live performances

"Rock and Roll" was a key component of the band's setlist at Led Zeppelin concerts from 1971 on. Initially, Plant referred to it on stage as "It's Been A Long Time", which is the first line of the song.[7] In 1972 it was elevated to the opening number of all concert performances and it retained this status until 1975. For the band's 1977 North American tour, it became part of a medley encore with "Whole Lotta Love", and during 1979 and 1980 it became an encore in its own right.[7]

Cadillac advertising

In 2001, "Rock and Roll" became the first Led Zeppelin song to be licensed for commercial use, when American car maker Cadillac featured it in television advertising.[12] Plant commented:

I think that's appropriate ... I don't know how people view it, but as far as a young generation goes, if you hear that music in as many possible places as you can outside of the normal home for it, then it can only be a good thing.[12]

As well as earning Led Zeppelin a large licensing fee, the advertising campaign increased Cadillac sales by 16 percent in 2002.[12]

Charts

1972 singles charts

Chart	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13]	51
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14]	38
Germany (Official German Charts)[15]	13
US Billboard Hot 100[16]	47
US Cash Box[17]	42
US Record World[18]	38

Accolades

List of accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
Dave Marsh	US	"The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made"[19]	1989	424
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame	US	"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll"[20]	1994	*
Radio Caroline	UK	"Top 500 Tracks"[21]	1999	21
VH1	US	"The 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time"[22]	2000	66
Q	UK	"The 50 Most Exciting Tunes Ever.."[23]	2002	17
Q	UK	"The 1001 Best Songs Ever"[24]	2003	201

(*) designates unordered lists

See also

• List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs – "Rock and Roll" entries

References

External links

• "Rock and Roll" live in New York 1973 at Ledzeppelin.com

На других языках

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- [en] Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song)

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[ru] Rock and Roll (песня)

«Rock and Roll» — песня английской рок-группы Led Zeppelin, которая была выпущена на четвёртом альбоме группы в 1971, со специальным гостем из The Rolling Stones — пианистом Иэном Стюартом.

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