Classical Composer Reacts to LED ZEPPELIN: THE BATTLE OF EVERMORE | The Daily Doug (Episode 751)
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In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm returning to the music of Led Zeppelin with their song The Battle of Evermore. This one ran away with our Acoustic Fan Favorites poll last month, and I was pleased to finally hear the song that leads into Stairway to Heaven on Led Zeppelin's classic IV album. The guitar voicings from Page and the vocals from Plant and Sandy Denny are a delight! I hope you enjoy.
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Except for Heart ❤️
JPJ is also playing on this track. You said you were not sure in your intro. He is playing the mandolin.
@@kenyonmau7197yep, i was wondering cause if it was all Page they would have has to overlay the guitar.
Cool story about Geddy Lee and Robert Plant. They had never met each other while both bands were still active in their heyday. So years later, late 80s I believe, Geddy Lee took in a Moroccan holiday near the Atlas mountains, and as he's opening his room, the door across the hall opens and it's none other than Robert Plant stepping out, they both did this awkward doubletake trying to figure out what just happened , I think Geddy finally broke the ice. It must have been one of those odd moments in life when you think you should know someone, but you really dont.
It's almost impossible to find another band who did both hard rock and folk music so well
Tull?
Not really hard, but check out Pentangle for a great British Folk rock band. Jimmy Page ripped off Bert Jansch, I think on Black Mountain Side.
@@xyz-yf2kr No sorry, see where you're coming from but for me, no.
Jethro tull
No band did both extremes as well as Zeppelin. None.
Sandy Denny is worth a deeper dive for anyone who likes female singer/songwriters, or is interested in the origins of British folk-rock.
Not sure if she was the origins of british folk rock... herself was more just folk, fairport convention was tbe folk rock... not sure they were the origins eithrr...
@@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek...but they were a good listen. :)
Check out Sandy’s performance on Tam Lin on Fairport’s Liege and Lief album
That's right.
😊
Who Knows Where the Time Goes would be a great one to do. One Way Donkey Ride, The Pond and the Stream, The Lady, The Northstar Grassman and the Ravens, so many others...
The Battle of Evermore and the Rain Song are my 2 favorite Zeppelin songs. I'm glad you enjoyed this.
Same here, with the Rain Song being my all time favorite of any band.
FYI, Doug just uploaded his reaction/review of The Rain Song (from Unledded) a few hours ago.
@@hullbarrett I caught that. What a fabulous song.
Shout out to JPJ and his many skills on the mandolin, and other strings, not to mention having Jimmy's total respect for his 'production' values.
10:39 That's actually Sandy adding a slight vocal flip to make it sound more Eastern and not Robert struggling to hold a note.
just what i was about to say
Still as powerful today as in ‘71!
The only song that Robert plant did a duet. When he was in Zeppelin.
Page duets with Plant on Thank You.
@@Rich6Brew an actual duet with an actual singer only happens on the Battle of evermore. Jimmy Page is just singing background vocals
There's a live version of this with Page, Plant and Najma Akhtar from the No Quarter DVD.
Heart also does an amazing job on this as well. Both are worthy of a listen.
This is the version I am familiar with too...I think they even have a hurdy gurdy thrown in there??
That version was a mix of musical cultures that just went to a new level!
Sandy Denny is one of my favourite female singers. Could I suggest 'Who knows where the time goes', 'A sailor's life' or 'She moves through thecfair'.
The in and out of tune was intentional by the way. Plant can easily sustain a note at pitch
Agreed! I've always assumed it was an East Indian influence thing, but I could be wrong.
Fairport, the core albums, (1969-70) and all of Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson's work...the Island label folk nexus that include Nick Drake and John Martyn...a whole genre in its own right...
I'd love to hear Doug's reaction to John Martyn. (BTW Fairport are still gigging)
Although - understandably - the Sandy Denny years are always regarded as the best Fairport, the first album, with Judy Dyble on vocals, is also wonderful.
Sandy Denny was a great singer so sad she tragically died too young. She made this great song sound better. Her beautiful song "who knows where the time goes" would be great for Doug to listen.
I wholeheartedly agree, Who Knows Where The Time Goes, one of the most beautiful.and poignant.songs ever written ❤
What about Meet on the Ledge? I love that.
Check out Robert Plant singing this with Allison Krais
Reynardine and A Sailor's Life are 2 fantastic songs by Fairport Convention. They have quite a few.
Yes sad... too young. Alcohol is a horrible drug.
I love Robert Plant’s voice. In my opinion, he’s one of the best rock voices of all time
Following closely behind his obvious inspiration: STEVE MARRIOTT
Listening to Sandy is a life changing event. Just the best, ever!
Too damn right!
When you listen to the whole of Zep IV first disk you get the massive power of Black Dog and its jaunty heavy rock and wailing vocals. Then the straightforward power of Rock n' Roll followed by Battle of Evermore. At this point you've been brought way up and then calmed almost to meditation. Stairway is perfectly placed to continue to an amazing ending. Probably the most perfect side of an album in rock music.
By the way Doug, I think you'll enjoy some of the acoustic numbers on Zep III - particularly That's The Way.
Agreed. Side A of 'IV' set the benchmark of rock releases in the vinyl age. Side B is not too shabby either!
@@JacoWiumespecially when side B kicks off with Misty Mountain Hop👍👍
Sandy Denny had one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. Her vocals (and guitar and songwriting) on the three albums Fairport released in 1969 are superb, and when paired with the guitar of another outstanding artist, Richard Thompson, results in something special indeed.
"Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" from the album Unhalfbricking is probably her masterpiece, but any song from those three albums is worth listening to.
Interestingly the genre of music on the albums changes from folk rock to electric folk, as Fairport just about invent the latter, and Sandy had alot to do with that change.
Another vote for Sandy Denny for future consideration - a remarkable singer/songwriter who died tragically far too young. I’d love to hear Doug’s views on her chord progressions and switches from minor to major.
It's their Led Zep III moment - on Led Zep IV
My favourite Led Zep album is Side 2 Led Zep 3 and Side 1 of Led Zep 4.
Another masterpiece pretty much put together in one take. Page hadn't played the mandolin before, picked one up and banged out Battle in the first go. Pure genius
The Silmarillion was actually JRR Tolkien's life work, history of the Elves from the Creation of Arda until the Final Battle.
The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy? Spinoffs.
The same piece of writing also gave birth to another awesome band. They dropped "Sil" early on and just became Marillion.
It is a mandolin.
It's Tolkien - straight out of the Ring Trilogy
This is the only LZ song that has a guest vocalist playing such a prominent part.
I think "bring it back" is Golem wanting the ring.
Love this song.
It is, I believe, from the Silmarillion where the ancient forces of light and dark battle endlessly in the heavens.
He sings of bringing the balance back to this world (Middle Earth?) so possibly meant more of the good, and less of the evil?
Can't we say JPJ played the mandolin? Good gracious!
JPJ played the mandolin on the track and Page, who didn't play mandolin before, wrote it on mandolin. JPJ's I think.
Understatement of the century ... "I've got to get to Fairport Convention". Doug, you absolutely do! Have a listen to Steeleye Span (with Maddy Prior) as well and you will be going down a deep, deep rabbit hole of UK folk/rock. You've got Lindisfarne, the Jethro Tull folkier songs (and you haven't scratched the surface), Pentangle, Strawbs, The Incredible String Band, Runrig, The Watersons, Albion Band ... the list just goes on and on. If you only take one suggestion, listen to "Long Lankin" (or maybe "Gaudete") by Steeleye Span.
That whole album is a masterpiece IMHO and if someone that was unfamiliar with Led Zeppelin and wanted me to recommend just one album that is their "best" this would be it! 🥰 (of course I'd strongly encourage them to start with the first album and listen to them all in chronological order to experience and enjoy the journey! 😎👍)
Sandy Denny deserves the same rediscovery as Nick Drake. She was the greatest female folk rock singer from the UK of the 20th Century
Yes. Dusty Springfield was great at folk and rock too. John Paul Jones played bass on her late 60s Phillips albums and Dusty was instrumental in getting Led Zeppelin signed to Atlantic when she went across the pond to record Dusty in Memphis. She duetted with Jimi Hendrix and toured with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple who called her the greatest female rock vocalist he ever heard. But her live singing on folk songs like The Water is Wide, My Lagan Love, Two Brothers, The Olive Tree, Manha de Carnaval etc is just superb and hauntingly beautiful, though I’m sure folkies would turn their noses up at this since she was mainly a 'pop' singer.
@@tobiasisback4605 You’re absolutely right about Dusty being a fantastic talent. She could never find the contentment in life she might have discovered had she come along two decades later. Her musical legacy is amazingly strong
@@skipklauber1162 I do agree with you that Sandy Denny is the greatest UK folk rock singer of her time, both for her wonderful voice and also her beautiful, subtle compositions. She was amazing. I think she and Joni Mitchell were much admired by Plant in particular.
This is also the album where Robert shows his appreciation for another artist, Joni Mitchell. Going To California, beautiful.
Jonesy played the mandolin when they performed this live. Jimmy on acoustic. Jonesy even sang the harmonies
…Page explained in 1977 that "'Battle of Evermore' was made up on the spot by Robert [Plant] and myself. I just picked up John Paul Jones's mandolin, never having played a mandolin before, and just wrote up the chords and the whole thing in one sitting." 😮
It’s honestly a great song for someone who is playing mandolin for the first time. It was the first one I learned when I bought mine.
I don’t believe that was his first time , I could be wrong, one time he said when he learned to play mandolin he said I just moved my fingers up and down the neck till it made sense to me . I like the mandolin I played one for a while and violin too. Same chord structure. Cheers
@@22julip yeah, who really knows… Page could be exaggerating a bit. He also says that the first album was recorded and mixed in 30 hours of studio time… and that he recorded all the guitar overdubs for “Achilles last stand” in a single night… certainly Page was capable of such feats, but I can forgive him for a few embellishments. He’s proud of his body of work, and rightly so… my grandad used to exaggerate when talking about his career, and he wasn’t even a guitar god ;) cheers
@@JU5TINPDX everyone exaggerates a little some a lot , but the 30 hrs is probably true Because the engineer Kramer Or John’s , said that Page was very organized in the studio and ready to work Which makes sense seeing he was a session man . I heard horror stories about the Stones, Steve Miller , in the studio, were disorganized, not ready to work , Mick Taylor said that about the stones and that was one reason he left the band . So everybody tells a tall tale once in a while Evan Jimmy but not about the sessions for their albums . Cheers
this brings me back to being 15 yrs old and getting completely mesmerized by the musicality of led zep, my all time fav band for obvious reasons
Jimmy Page told Plant to move in and out of the pitch in that section to supposedly emulate good and bad - does it work? matter off opinion I guess but don't blame plant - he can hold a note no problem you need to listen to the double live album the Sone Remains the Same - JPJ plays mandolin on this song
Thanks for that info. I've always assumed it was an East Indian influence microtonal thing? Maybe Page was thinking that or it was totally unrelated and just a moment of creative inspiration?
John Bonham sipping a beer throughout this song. LOL
Back in the day, this was "the song before Stairway" on the album. I always really liked it.
The Silmarillion -- the book that gave the name to a prog band, that subsequently shortened it's name to Marillion. Can't believe Doug didn't spot the similarity
He could do with a bit more research before making a video as a "CLASSIC COMPOSER".
Just acquired a CD of the group Sandy Denny was in after her initial stint in Fairport Convention. That group was Fotheringay and they were basically in existence for the year 1970. Well worth a listen and there are some good videos on CZcams of them live.
Sandy was also in the early Strawbs.
Sandy Denny was a wonderful singer. Looking forward to watching your reaction to one of my favorite Zep songs. 🎶
Ah Doug and you all, you really must listen to Sandy Denny. The greatest voice of all. None was ever her equal, she lives on for ever in our hearts.
Completely agree
I recommended Sandy Denny a while back and hope she gets feature here!
Quite simply the greatest ever.
I saw Alison and Robert at Ravinia (North America’s oldest music festival) about a decade ago and they were great. I’m looking forward to their return this year too.
Try “Tam Lin” or “Matty Groves” from Fairport Convention’s groundbreaking LP “Liege and Lief”
Sandy Dennys Fairport Convention cover of Bob Dylan’s “ Percy’s Song” is phenomenal, I always thought the best Dylan cover of all
My suggestion for a Sandy Denny song would be John the Gun. Features both her musicianship and her beautiful voice perfectly.
When I was a kid, I thought this was Grace Slick: then I found out it was Sandy Deny and realized she has a "Prettier less Vibrato" voice!
This is the song that inspired the famous acoustic opening to Crazy on You" from heart
Sandy Denny, underrated and gone way too soon.
The first time I heard this song back in the early 70's I was smitten by the female vocalist whos powerful notes almost overshadowed Robert Plant, I had never heard of Sandy Denny and until that point I hadnt paid much attention to folk music, this song changed all that and a new folk/rock fan was born, her voice was amazing, her story was tragic
Doug, you are doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t listened to Sandy In Fairport Convention. “Liege and Lief” is an all time classic album. (And the rest of them are good, too!)
Seconded!
This is my all-time favourite Zeppelin song. I spent many hour crafting intricate dungeon adventures for my high-school age D&D group to this track!! I can't wait to see your reaction! Thanks for one of the BEST reaction channels on this platform, Doug! You are always killing it!
Silmarillion is the book from J.R.R: Tolkien which can be counted as a history book of all Middle-Earth before the Third Age in which the LotR is playing.
You may remember also, that Marillion originally named themselves after that book (a very hard read, but fascinating!). Due to copyright fears they cut their name down, losing the first syllable.
Fairport Convention is a must! Try Liege and Liefe including Sandy, and Full House without her from their very early catalogue. They still bring out new records and are the organizers behind the famous annual Cropredy Festival.
Enjoy
It's probably John Paul Jones that did the arrangement along with Jimmy Page on guitar, as he's playing the mandolin and was very integral to the writing.
that is, Jones is a tremendous instrumentalist.
JPJ never gets the credit he deserves for his contributions to Zeppelin!
This is my favorite Led Zeppelin song! They are great artists and have tons of great songs but this one appeals to me most.
"The Simarillion" is the book from where Marillion took their name. As a read, it's tough. It's more like a Middle Earth encyclopedia. Also, if you listen to Heart's "Dream of the Archer", you can tell it was heavily influenced by this song.
The Battle of Evermore" is a folk duet sung by Robert Plant and Sandy Denny, included on Led Zeppelin's untitled 1971 album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV. The song's instrumentation features acoustic guitar and mandolin
The Folk music genre was huge in the early 70's but no one was doing anything like this. Incredible to think that this song is from 1971.
Led Zep were true innovators, pushing the boundaries of music.
Great song, check out "That's the Way" from the 3rd album, it's my All Time Favorite Led Zeppelin song!
IMO the three great British folk bands are Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, and Pentangle. There are others, but those are the three touchstones. I'd love to hear you react to and analyse some Pentangle ("House Carpenter" or "Light Flight" maybe). For the late, great Sandy Denny,'s work with Fairport, try "Meet on the Ledge".
Seconded!
"Side by side we wait the might
Of the darkest of them all" Obviously Melkor.
One Way Donkey Ride, Listen Listen by Sandy Denny, Fotheringay, Genesis Hall and Farewell, Farewell by Fairport Convention.
The really unique aspect of Zep's folkier tracks is that they still an aura of dark, menace as part of the atmosphere.
True. And even with the 50th listen I still pick up tiny yet significant elements in either the instrumentation, vocalisation or the lyrics that went over my head the first 49 times. It's why this music endures.
Listen to Sandy Denny on Fairport Convention's "Liege & Lief". The greatest Brit-folk rock album of all time.
One of my favorites!! In fact, this song has been stuck in my head for a couple days so this is really cool! ❤😃
Oh my god this is going to be good, this song is pure magic.
I got into Zeppelin in high school, spinning off of the classic rock that I was exposed to by my father who introduced me to a ton of amazing music. He never cared for Zeppelin much, but I owe my lifelong interest in music to him, and some of my earliest musical memories are hearing Beatles albums when I was 4 or 5. This was one of my favorite albums in high school, and when I started college I discovered progressive rock. I never stopped loving Zeppelin, but groups like Yes and Genesis became my favorites.
The Silmarillion is the 'prehistory' for the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings tales.
For me, Sandy's finest moment is The Banks of the Nile, from the Fotheringay album. It's immaculate.
Absolute perfection. And she was in her early twenties when she recorded it. Amazing.
Heart does a worthy cover of this.
czcams.com/video/wShmbjqP3WU/video.html
Nancy and Ann replicating JPJ and Page, Nancy and Ann replicating Denny and Plant, real time multi-tasking :)
Ann and Nancy are the best for me on Zep covers.
@@xyz-yf2kr Nancy handles the mandolin with ease.
Sandy Denny… glad so see her featured. Such an amazing voice, and such a loss. Others have pointed out Fairport Convention. Have you ever done any Richard Thompson? Worth a listen IMO.
Sandy Denny was extraordinary, maddy prior and jackie mcshee similarly , great tune, band, collab
Love Maddy :)
Jacqui McShee, that is - Pentangle. My fave of the 3.
The three Great Dames of folk-rock!
Nothing cheers me up more than Masterpiece Friday. Thanks, Doug!
The Lovemongers(Heart Side Project) did an excellent cover of this song!
Ann and Nancy Wilson did a cover of this as The Lovemongers. It was on a 4 song EP of unplugged songs. They were joined by Sue Ennis and Frank Cox. Epic doesn't begin to describe it!
Saw them as Lovemongers, too. Beautiful together acoustically, and their harmonies are unmatched. 👊🏾❤❤
The song is based on Book 5, the opening half of The Return of the King. It almost directly describes the Siege of Minas Tirith and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The magic runes that are writ in gold to bring the balance back are the fiery letters on the One Ring, and its destruction is what restores the balance.
JPJ playing the mandolin
Thank you, yes, JPJ's mandolin playing inspired me to get into that and not just the guitar.
I'm pretty sure Page played it on this track
No, it was Jimmy Page who played the mandoline
I picked up Fairport Convention's "What We Did On Our Holidays" and one song stood out to me. "I'll Keep It With Mine" is the title and I really loved it from the first listen. I looked up the song on Wikipedia and oh wow, of course it's great, it's written by
Bob Dylan!
Sandy Denny has a very homey voice, as if your mother or sister or aunt is singing you a lullaby. It’s very intimate, but there’s also a power there, and you can imagine her in Dickensian London as a violet seller, just stepped into a pub for a quick dram to warm herself, and the local sports with snickers and nudgings at the bedraggled creature, egg her on to give them a song for a laugh, and with a steely visage she sings songs of Tam Lin, of Matty Groves, of Reynardine, that leave them peering deep into their mugs of ale, for shame! For shame!
Sandy's rep was that of a tough young woman. Simon Nicol has often said that when she joined Fairport she often punted the lads' bums all around the room during rehearsals. A bit too fond of drink, though.
I met Robert at a concert he and Alison had together. It was an awesome concert. I recommend “Achilles Last Stand” and “Gallows Pole” from Zeppelin😉
Long-time enjoyer of the Daily Doug. I love how you dive into the music theory side of things to explain why the music we love sounds so good. This is my first time requesting the song "Great Red Spirit" from the Dynasty Warriors 5 soundtrack for the Battle of He Fei. This track is an anthem for me
I think that beginning is John Paul Jones on mandolin.
My favorite LED ZEP track of all time off the best LED ZEP album, thanks for playing it.
Try Fairport Convention’s UNHALFBRICKING album to hear Sandy Denny at her best.
Got to see Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in concert a couple of years back, and it was by FAR my favorite live music experience. They performed this song toward the end of the set and it was transcendent! If anyone has the chance to see them it is well worth the price of admission.
The mandolin is everything in this song.
"The ringwraiths ride in black"
You have to know them from the LOTR trilogy, Sauron's servants.
Always Loved this song!🖤
The fourth Led Zeppelin album is one of the greatest albums in all of rock/popular music. This song is unique for Zeppelin with its folk/medieval feeling.
I cannot believe it took me six days to watch this. You and the Battle of Evermore, a match made in heaven. By the way, Ren dropped an instrumental piano piece you might enjoy. Mackay. It is three minutes long, and there is much more to come, so do enjoy without a reaction. Or as a reaction! It is Ren's first instrumental composition video.
RIP, Sandy.
This song led me straight to Fairport Convention and Sandy Denny more than 50 years ago. I own more Fairport recordings than those of any other band. And I was a very serious prog guy. BTW, Sandy was Robert's favorite singer, which is why he asked her to work with Zep.
Talk to just about any British musician from the era and mention Sandy, and no matter the conversation, he or she would skip a beat and draw a deep breath. One well-known artist from the era told me, "Well, she's the one that slipped away, wasn't she?" I recommend the alternate take of 3:10 to Yuma, where she changes the original film lyrics into something quite different. I also recommend Tam Lin, Blackwater Slide, Mountain Heather, Banks of the Nile, and Nothing More, all are currently available on CZcams. One can't go wrong.
Still my favorite female singer ever. Though Annie Haslam is not far behind.
One of my top 4 Zeppelin songs...Stairway, Going to California, Battle of Evermore & Baby I'm Gonna Leave You! BEAUTIFUL SONG!!!!
How on earth have you never heard Led Zep 4 or the other references? You must live on another planet. 😮
Simply put, it's the daily battle between day and night. "Waiting for the eastern glow". If you read the lyrics with this thought in mind it will make sense.
All I can say is this sounded incredible HIGH AS A KITE driving out in the country as teenagers.
They did this track again with a famous Indian singer, Najma Akhtar. Jimmy was using a tripple necked mandolin ! Very cool version.
If you love folk music, Nick Drake - Three Hours.
With zero drums Zeppelin demonstrated that they could do pretty much do anything in the rock realm. The musical range and diversity of this band was unmatched. Judas Priest' vocalist Rob Halford best summed up the band in three words: "they went everywhere" (musically speaking). 'Going to California' also from Zeppelin IV is another gem with no drums.
I would say only Queen tried a more diverse range of styles, but at the time this was recorded, Led Zeppelin had done rock, hard rock, blues/blues rock and folk/folk rock. Their brief dives into funk, reggae, pop, and Latin/Salsa had not yet surfaced
Fotheringay - Gordon Lightfoot's "The Way I Feel". Sandy Denny and company do a great cover.
Fun for the whole family!
Doug, Fairport Convention's 'Liege and Lief' album is where I think you might like to go to uncover some of the best of Sandy Denny's contribution to the band. The album is considered seminal, effectively kick-starting the British folk rock movement. And it's a rare treat - every song is a banger, the chemistry is jaw-droppingly good, the musicianship right at the top of the top drawer. From there, I'd recommend her work with Fotheringay, which features the incredible guitar work of Jerry Donahue - an American guitar player who sounds remarkably at home on the other side of the Atlantic, leaving an indelible mark on British folk rock music.
Towards the end on the long notes, I think Robert was deliberately varying the pitch. He likes to play with vocal effects.
Agreed! I've always thought it was an Eastern music microtonal thing but someone else in the comments mentioned Page suggested it to Plant as a way to depict contrasting good and bad.