"Rock and Roll" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released as the second track on their fourth studio album in 1971. The song contains a guest performance by original Rolling Stones' pianist and co-founder Ian Stewart. In 1972, American music critic and journalist Robert Christgau called it "simply the most dynamic hard-rock song in the music."[5]
"Rock and Roll" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Led Zeppelin | ||||
from the album Led Zeppelin IV | ||||
B-side | "Four Sticks" | |||
Released | 21 February 1972 | (US)|||
Recorded | January 1971; February 1971[1] | |||
Studio | Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, Headley Grange, Hampshire; Island Studios, London[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:40 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Page | |||
Led Zeppelin singles chronology | ||||
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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.[6] John Bonham began playing the drum intro to the 1957 song "Keep A-Knockin'" by Little Richard, to which Page added a Chuck Berry-style guitar riff.[7][8] The tapes were rolling and fifteen minutes later the basis of the song was completed.[9] The song is performed in the key of A at a relatively fast tempo of 170 beats per minute.[10]
According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[1]
Cash Box described it as a "rip-apart performance of one of best r&r revivalist tunes ever."[11] In 2019, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 9 on its list of the 40 greatest Led Zeppelin songs.[12]
"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 opening lyric line of the song.[8] 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.[8]
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.[13] 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.[13]
As well as earning Led Zeppelin a large licensing fee, the advertising campaign increased Cadillac sales by 16 percent in 2002.[13]
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[14][better source needed] | 51 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] | 38 |
US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 47 |
US Cash Box[17] | 42 |
US Record World[18] | 38 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[19] | 13 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dave Marsh | US | "The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made"[21] | 1989 | 424 |
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | US | "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll"[22] | 1994 | * |
Radio Caroline | UK | "Top 500 Tracks"[23] | 1999 | 21 |
VH1 | US | "The 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time"[24] | 2000 | 66 |
Q | UK | "The 50 Most Exciting Tunes Ever.."[25] | 2002 | 17 |
Q | UK | "The 1001 Best Songs Ever"[26] | 2003 | 201 |
(*) designates unordered lists
Besides his inspired phrasing and his extemporaneous howls and asides, Plant could convincingly convey slow blues ("You Shook Me"), gutbucket rock & roll ("Rock and Roll"), and even folk ballads ("Going to California"), in a strong, cutting voice
The fourth album also has its share of hard rock tracks. Three that received a lot of radio airplay are "Black Dog," "Misty Mountain Hop," and the appropriately named "Rock and Roll."