Moby Dick (4:19)
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“Moby Dick” is an instrumental tune and drum solo by English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured on their 1969 album Led Zeppelin II. It was also known by the alternate titles “Pat’s Delight” and “Over the Top” during various points of the band’s career.
The tune emerged after Jimmy Page would often catch Bonham jamming in the studio, recorded parts of it, and then pieced it all together. Only Page and bassist John Paul Jones play the tune’s Drop-D blues-based riff with Bonham’s drums—as a power trio—at the very beginning and the very end of the tune, leaving the remainder open for Bonham alone. The structure of the main riff is that of the twelve-bar blues. Singer Robert Plant did not sing at all, and in concert would simply introduce Bonham to the audience before the tune started. Studio outtakes from the Led Zeppelin II sessions reveal that the drum solo recorded was edited down from a much longer version.
The guitar riff can be traced back to the BBC unused session track “The Girl I Love” which was recorded in the Summer of 1969. It is an almost note for note copy of a riff which appears in Bobby Parker’s 1961 single, “Watch Your Step”. Jimmy Page was a fan of Parker’s, and at one point in the 1970s attempted to sign him to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Records label. John Lennon also admitted the same Parker riff had been a big influence on The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine”. Page’s riff was used as the theme to BBC2’s Disco 2 rock show.
The tune emerged after Jimmy Page would often catch Bonham jamming in the studio, recorded parts of it, and then pieced it all together. Only Page and bassist John Paul Jones play the tune’s Drop-D blues-based riff with Bonham’s drums—as a power trio—at the very beginning and the very end of the tune, leaving the remainder open for Bonham alone. The structure of the main riff is that of the twelve-bar blues. Singer Robert Plant did not sing at all, and in concert would simply introduce Bonham to the audience before the tune started. Studio outtakes from the Led Zeppelin II sessions reveal that the drum solo recorded was edited down from a much longer version.
The guitar riff can be traced back to the BBC unused session track “The Girl I Love” which was recorded in the Summer of 1969. It is an almost note for note copy of a riff which appears in Bobby Parker’s 1961 single, “Watch Your Step”. Jimmy Page was a fan of Parker’s, and at one point in the 1970s attempted to sign him to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Records label. John Lennon also admitted the same Parker riff had been a big influence on The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine”. Page’s riff was used as the theme to BBC2’s Disco 2 rock show.
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Albums featuring this track
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Led Zeppelin II
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The Song Remains the Same (disc 2)
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Shouts
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licoricepizza wrote:
I kind of think Neil Peart is the best drummer ever, but Bonham is right up there. Really think his drumming is better showcased in "The Wanton Song" than this solo, though.
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Ondri- wrote:
Bonzo was the best drummer ever!
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grode wrote:
Drumming solo is pretty boring, alas the opening minute is just awesome! What a riff!
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Z_mastermind wrote:
@Wooshmeister - Pick your acronym: STFU or GTFO. Bonzo's solos ARE particularly interesting. ESPECIALLY the ~20 min version. Grade-A Bad-Ass is what that is. Fantastic drumming.
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Wooshmeister wrote:
A good example of why more bands don't do drum solos...They're just not particularly interesting. =/
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sionborg wrote:
This song reminds me of Black Sabbath's Rat Salad which came out about the same time.....
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jrouby wrote:
THE jam !
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Fredde400d wrote:
Awesome!
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raycharles6 wrote:
Bonzo kicks everyone's ass.
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Bldrk wrote:
Best Drum Solo Ever! ;-)
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Jah_Wise wrote:
hmmm best drum solo ever?
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ryan_rocks29 wrote:
How the West Was Won version is.....woah!
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MZZRRT wrote:
Awesome =D
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Coco-Shunter wrote:
Nice auld bit of drumming there live :D
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szafi19 wrote:
best lyrics ever haha:)
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Jerdna wrote:
the 20 minute version kicks ass
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Weelo89 wrote:
I love that part at right after the end of the drum solo where the guitar kicks back in and Bonham comes in with those crazy fills. Has me airdrumming every time.
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charlesofdensen wrote:
live versions of moby dick kick the studio version's ass everytime.
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LaxATivvz wrote:
jojowas = wankfest
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jojowas wrote:
Instrumental is boring. Wankfest(drum solo ZZZZZZZZZZZZ). Give me a fooking break
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