| Revision as of 03:48, 30 September 2017 edit50.224.81.186 (talk) →Overview← Previous edit | Revision as of 03:49, 30 September 2017 edit undo50.224.81.186 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
| The intro and chorus (the main riff) are in 15/8; the song is in a 4/4 beat in the verses and the latter part of the song. The voice on the intro is drummer ] referring to the takes: "We've done four already but now we're steady, and then they went 1, 2, 3, 4!" They had tried to record it four times previously but could not get it right, prompting the chant.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} | The intro and chorus (the main riff) are in 15/8; the song is in a 4/4 beat in the verses and the latter part of the song. The voice on the intro is drummer ] referring to the takes: "We've done four already but now we're steady, and then they went 1, 2, 3, 4!" They had tried to record it four times previously but could not get it right, prompting the chant.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} | ||
| At approximately 1:37–1:38 and again at around 1:41, a telephone can be faintly heard ringing in the background. Some speculate that this was intentional — the sheet music (printed after the fact) that accompanies the CD box set has the word "ring" printed twice above the percussion tab of this song.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Others are of the opinion that while Led Zeppelin recorded the song a phone was accidentally captured in the mix.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} The telephone is not heard in the "Working Mix" of the song, released in the Houses of the Holy ]. ], present during the recording of '']'', states, "It's entirely possible. done in a house." He also states, "I don't remember there being ," implying that it was an accident.<ref>{{cite web|title= Eddie Kramer Exhibition – 5 - Led Zeppelin + KISS |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XarhX8krVgw&t=3m47s |publisher= ] |accessdate= 27 July 2014}}</ref> There is also a noise heard about 1:59 which sounds like someone pronouncing "c" as in "catch". This occurs again at about 2:12. ] remarked: | At approximately 1:37–1:38 and again at around 1:41, a telephone can be faintly heard ringing in the background. Some speculate that this was intentional — the sheet music (printed after the fact) that accompanies the CD box set has the word "ring" printed twice above the percussion tab of this song.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Others are of the opinion that while Led Zeppelin recorded the song a phone was accidentally captured in the mix.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} The telephone is not heard in the "Working Mix" of the song, released in the Houses of the Holy ]. ], present during the recording of '']'', states, "It's entirely possible. done in a house." He also states, "I don't remember there being ," implying that it was an accident.<ref>{{cite web|title= Eddie Kramer Exhibition – 5 - Led Zeppelin + KISS |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XarhX8krVgw&t=3m47s |publisher= ] |accessdate= 27 July 2014}}</ref> There is also a noise heard about 1:59 which sounds like someone pronouncing "c" as in "catch". This occurs again at about 2:12. ] remarked: | ||
| {{quote|"I'm thrilled the records are recorded in such a way that the hi-fi quality, even though it's tough… you can hear detail on it because that's what you're supposed to do. It was supposed to be something whereby you could hear everything that was going on."<ref>{{cite journal|first= Michael |last= Bonner |title= An Audience with Jimmy Page |magazine= ] |date= January 2015 |page= 18}}</ref>}} | {{quote|"I'm thrilled the records are recorded in such a way that the hi-fi quality, even though it's tough… you can hear detail on it because that's what you're supposed to do. It was supposed to be something whereby you could hear everything that was going on."<ref>{{cite journal|first= Michael |last= Bonner |title= An Audience with Jimmy Page |magazine= ] |date= January 2015 |page= 18}}</ref>}} | ||
Revision as of 03:49, 30 September 2017
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "The Ocean" Led Zeppelin song – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| "The Ocean" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin | |
| from the album Houses of the Holy | |
| Released | 28 March 1973 (1973-03-28) |
| Recorded | 1972 |
| Studio | Stargroves, East Woodhay, England |
| Genre | Hard rock |
| Length | 4:28 |
| Label | Atlantic |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Page |
| Audio sample | |
"The Ocean" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. The ocean is a metaphor for the "sea of heads" faced by lead singer Robert Plant "in the auditoriums", according to the group's biographer Dave News.
Overview
The intro and chorus (the main riff) are in 15/8; the song is in a 4/4 beat in the verses and the latter part of the song. The voice on the intro is drummer John Bonham referring to the takes: "We've done four already but now we're steady, and then they went 1, 2, 3, 4!" They had tried to record it four times previously but could not get it right, prompting the chant.
At approximately 1:37–1:38 and again at around 1:41, a telephone can be faintly heard ringing in the background. Some speculate that this was intentional — the sheet music (printed after the fact) that accompanies the CD box set has the word "ring" printed twice above the percussion tab of this song. Others are of the opinion that while Led Zeppelin recorded the song a phone was accidentally captured in the mix. The telephone is not heard in the "Working Mix" of the song, released in the Houses of the Holy Deluxe Edition. Eddie Kramer, present during the recording of Houses of the Holy, states, "It's entirely possible. done in a house." He also states, "I don't remember there being ," implying that it was an accident. There is also a noise heard about 1:59 which sounds like someone pronouncing "c" as in "catch". This occurs again at about 2:12. Jimmy Page remarked:
"I'm thrilled the records are recorded in such a way that the hi-fi quality, even though it's tough… you can hear detail on it because that's what you're supposed to do. It was supposed to be something whereby you could hear everything that was going on."
Live performances
In the last line, the "girl who won my heart" refers to Robert Plant's daughter Carmen, (born 21 November 1968), who was three years old at the time of recording. In concert, Plant always updated the lyric to reflect her current age, as captured on the Led Zeppelin DVD which features a performance of the song at Madison Square Garden in 1973. During this performance, Plant sang the third verse, which starts with "Sitting round singing songs 'til the night turns into day" as the second verse and sang the second verse at the end of the song. The band first played the song live on their 1972 U.S. concert tour and it remained as part of their performances until their 1973 U.S. tour. It was deleted from the set list thereafter.
Reception
In a contemporary review for Houses of the Holy, Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone gave "The Ocean" a negative review, calling the track "so diluted" and filled with "pointless humor". Fletcher further wrote, "Jimmy Page's guitar spits jagged fireballs with John Paul Jones and John Bonham riffing along behind him, but the effect is destroyed by ridiculous backup cooings and an overbearing "killer" coda that's so blatant it can only be taken as a mock of straight rock & roll."
Formats and track listings
1973 7" single (Austria/Germany: Atlantic ATL 10316)
- A. "The Ocean" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) – 4:31
- B. "Dancing Days" (Page, Plant) – 3:43
1973 7" single (Germany: Atlantic ATL 10316)
- A. "The Ocean" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) – 4:31
- B. "Over the Hills and Far Away" (Page, Plant) – 4:47
Charts
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Invalid chart entered Germany2 | 8 |
Personnel
- Robert Plant – lead and backing vocals
- Jimmy Page – guitars
- John Paul Jones – bass guitar, backing vocals
- John Bonham – drums, backing vocals
Cover versions and samples
Main article: List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songsReferences
- Davis, Stephen (2010). "A Complex Die-Cut Affair". LZ-'75: The Lost Chronicles of Led Zeppelin's 1975 American Tour. Gotham Books. ISBN 1-59240-589-4.
such hard-rock masterpieces as "The Ocean" and "Over the Hills and Far Away."
{{cite book}}: External link in|chapterurl=|chapterurl=ignored (|chapter-url=suggested) (help) - ^ Lewis, Dave (1994). The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- "The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- Smith, Emily (27 March 2017). "8 songs inspired by the sea -- a soundtrack for your travels". CNN. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- "Eddie Kramer Exhibition – 5 - Led Zeppelin + KISS". YouTube. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- Bonner, Michael (January 2015). "An Audience with Jimmy Page". Uncut: 18.
- Wilkening, Matthew (11 May 2011). "Led Zeppelin, 'The Ocean' – Lyrics Uncovered". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ Fletcher, Gordon (7 June 1973). "Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
