Nobody's Fault But Mine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Nobody's Fault But Mine" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by Led Zeppelin | ||
| from the album Presence | ||
| Released | March 31, 1976 | |
| Recorded | November-December, 1975 | |
| Genre | Hard rock | |
| Length | 6:27 | |
| Label | Swan Song | |
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Page & Robert Plant | |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Page | |
| Presence track listing | ||
| "Royal Orleans" (3) |
"Nobody's Fault But Mine" (4) |
"Candy Store Rock" (5) |
"Nobody's Fault But Mine" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in 1976 on their album Presence. The track features a compelling, phase-treated, delta blues-based riff in E minor from Jimmy Page which is complimented by unison wails from vocalist Robert Plant. Jimmy Page triple-tracked his guitar intro; playing one guitar an octave higher than the others.
In yet another excellent example of their tight rhythmic interplay, drummer John Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones maintain the driving rhythm of the song, adding some very complex and synchopated accents during repetitions of the introductory phrase. The song also features a fine harmonica solo by Plant.
The hook and many of the lyrics in the song were taken from American blues singer Blind Willie Johnson, who recorded it in 1927. Johnson never applied for a copyright for the song and so the band was free to apply their own. In contrast to Led Zeppelin, Johnson was given credit in passing by The 77s when they covered the song by adding the phrase "apologies to Blind Willie Johnson" [1].
When the album Presence was released, the lyrics of "Nobody's Fault But Mine" invited speculation as to what the song was actually about. Some thought it concerned Jimmy Page's blossoming heroin addiction. Others thought it was comparable to Robert Johnson's "Hellhound On My Trail" in that it was Plant lamenting Led Zeppelin's supposed deal with the devil.
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. During live performances, Plant often exclaimed, "Oh Jimmy!" right before Page went into his guitar solo.
Page and Plant would also record a version in 1994, released on their album No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded. This version of the song is performed similarly to acoustic virtuoso John Renbourn's version as heard on his 1967 release "Another Monday". Page and Plant played an acoustic version on their subsequent 1995 No Quarter tour, sometimes swapping it with "When the Levee Breaks".
Jimmy Page performed this song on his tour with The Black Crowes in 1999. A version of "Nobodys Fault But Mine" performed by Page and The Black Crowes can be found on the album Live at the Greek.
[edit] External links
- Performance at YouTube - at Knebworth, 1979
[edit] Sources
- Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
- The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
| Led Zeppelin |
|---|
| Jimmy Page • Robert Plant • John Paul Jones • John Bonham
Studio albums: Led Zeppelin • Led Zeppelin II • Led Zeppelin III • Live albums: The Song Remains the Same • BBC Sessions • How the West Was Won Compilations: Box Set • Profiled • Remasters • Box Set 2 • Complete Studio Recordings • Early Days: Best of Led Zeppelin Volume One • Latter Days: Best of Led Zeppelin Volume Two • Coda The Song Remains the Same • Led Zeppelin DVD Peter Grant • Richard Cole • Swan Song Records • The Yardbirds • XYZ • The Firm • Page and Plant • Strange Sensation • Bootlegs • Concerts • Songs |
