Going to California: Difference between revisions
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''''Going to California'''' is the penultimate song performed by the [[England|English]] [[rock band]] [[Led Zeppelin]] on their [[Led Zeppelin IV|fourth album]], released in 1971. | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The song's wistful [[folk music|folk]]-style sound, with [[Robert Plant]] on lead vocals, acoustic [[guitar]] by [[Jimmy Page]] and [[mandolin]] by [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]], contrasts with the heavy electric-amplified rock on several of the album's other tracks. | The song's wistful [[folk music|folk]]-style sound, with [[Robert Plant]] on lead vocals, acoustic [[guitar]] by [[Jimmy Page]] and [[mandolin]] by [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]], contrasts with the heavy electric-amplified rock on several of the album's other tracks. | ||
The song is reportedly about singer/songwriter [[Joni Mitchell]], with whom Plant and Page were both infatuated. In live performances of the song, Plant would often say the name | The song is reportedly about singer/songwriter [[Joni Mitchell]], with whom Plant and Page were both infatuated. In live performances of the song, Plant would often say the name 'Joni' after this stanza (which is thought to have referenced Mitchell's 1967 composition 'I Had a King'): | ||
{{ | {{quote| | ||
:''To find a Queen without a King,'' | :''To find a Queen without a King,'' | ||
:''They say she plays guitar and cries, and sings''}} | :''They say she plays guitar and cries, and sings''}} | ||
In an interview he gave to ''[[Spin magazine|Spin]]'' magazine in 2002, Plant stated that the song | In an interview he gave to ''[[Spin magazine|Spin]]'' magazine in 2002, Plant stated that the song 'might be a bit embarrassing at times lyrically, but it did sum up a period of my life when I was 22.'<ref>Chuck Klosterman, 'Not a Whole Lotta Love', ''[[Spin magazine|Spin]]'', September 2002.</ref> | ||
This song started out as a song about Californian [[earthquake]]s and when Jimmy Page, audio engineer [[Andy Johns]] and band manager [[Peter Grant]] travelled to [[Los Angeles]] to mix the album, they ironically experienced a minor earthquake.<ref>Dave Lewis (1994), ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin'', Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.</ref> At this point it was known as | This song started out as a song about Californian [[earthquake]]s and when Jimmy Page, audio engineer [[Andy Johns]] and band manager [[Peter Grant]] travelled to [[Los Angeles]] to mix the album, they ironically experienced a minor earthquake.<ref>Dave Lewis (1994), ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin'', Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.</ref> At this point it was known as 'Guide to California'.<ref>Dave Lewis (1994), ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin'', Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.</ref> | ||
==Live performances== | ==Live performances== | ||
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It was performed on Plant's solo tours during 1988/1989 and at the [[Knebworth]] Silver Clef show in 1990. He played it again on his ''[[Mighty ReArranger]]'' tour, with additions of a [[double bass]] and a [[synthesizer]]. | It was performed on Plant's solo tours during 1988/1989 and at the [[Knebworth]] Silver Clef show in 1990. He played it again on his ''[[Mighty ReArranger]]'' tour, with additions of a [[double bass]] and a [[synthesizer]]. | ||
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|colspan= | |colspan='2' style='background:lightgreen'|<center>'''Personnel'''</center> | ||
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Revision as of 22:32, 9 April 2010
| Going to California | |
|---|---|
| Appears on | Led Zeppelin IV |
| Published by | Superhype Music |
| Registration | ASCAP 370102326 |
| Release date | 8 November 1971 |
| Recorded | January 1971 at Headley Grange, Hampshire with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio .Mixed at Olympic Studios, London. |
| Genre | Folk rock, rock |
| Language | English |
| Length | 3 min 36 sec |
| Composer | Jimmy Page, Robert Plant |
| Label | Atlantic Records |
| Producer | Jimmy Page |
| Engineer | Andy Johns |
'Going to California' is the penultimate song performed by the English rock band Led Zeppelin on their fourth album, released in 1971.
Overview
The song's wistful folk-style sound, with Robert Plant on lead vocals, acoustic guitar by Jimmy Page and mandolin by John Paul Jones, contrasts with the heavy electric-amplified rock on several of the album's other tracks.
The song is reportedly about singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell, with whom Plant and Page were both infatuated. In live performances of the song, Plant would often say the name 'Joni' after this stanza (which is thought to have referenced Mitchell's 1967 composition 'I Had a King'):
| ‘ |
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’ |
In an interview he gave to Spin magazine in 2002, Plant stated that the song 'might be a bit embarrassing at times lyrically, but it did sum up a period of my life when I was 22.'[1]
This song started out as a song about Californian earthquakes and when Jimmy Page, audio engineer Andy Johns and band manager Peter Grant travelled to Los Angeles to mix the album, they ironically experienced a minor earthquake.[2] At this point it was known as 'Guide to California'.[3]
Live performances
At Led Zeppelin concerts the band performed this song during their acoustic sets, first playing it on their Spring 1971 tour of the United Kingdom.[4] One live version, from Led Zeppelin's performance at Earls Court in 1975, is featured on disc 2 of the Led Zeppelin DVD.
It was performed on Plant's solo tours during 1988/1989 and at the Knebworth Silver Clef show in 1990. He played it again on his Mighty ReArranger tour, with additions of a double bass and a synthesizer.
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Notes
- ↑ Chuck Klosterman, 'Not a Whole Lotta Love', Spin, September 2002.
- ↑ Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ↑ Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ↑ Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.