When the Levee Breaks (7:06)
1,262,851 plays (270,938 listeners)
“When the Levee Breaks” is a blues song written and first recorded by husband and wife Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929. The song is in reaction to the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
Led Zeppelin’s version
“When the Levee Breaks”
Album Led Zeppelin IV
Released November 8, 1971
Recorded December 1970 – March 1971
Length 7:08
Label Atlantic
Writer Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham/Memphis Minnie
Producer Jimmy Page
Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin had the original McCoy and Minnie recording in his personal collection. He removed and rearranged lines and line parts from the original song and added new lyrical parts (again, the lyrics focused on the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927), and combined it with a revamped melody. Recording for the song took place in December 1970 at Headley Grange, where the band used the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. It had already been tried unsuccessfully by the band at Island Studios at the beginning of the recording sessions for their fourth album.[
The Led Zeppelin version features a distinctive pounding drum beat by John Bonham recorded in a three-story stairwell, driving guitars and a wailing harmonica, all presumably meant to symbolize the relentless storm that threatens to break the levee, backing a powerful vocal performance by Robert Plant. The vocals were processed differently on each verse, sometimes with phasing added.
Led Zeppelin’s version
“When the Levee Breaks”
Album Led Zeppelin IV
Released November 8, 1971
Recorded December 1970 – March 1971
Length 7:08
Label Atlantic
Writer Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham/Memphis Minnie
Producer Jimmy Page
Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin had the original McCoy and Minnie recording in his personal collection. He removed and rearranged lines and line parts from the original song and added new lyrical parts (again, the lyrics focused on the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927), and combined it with a revamped melody. Recording for the song took place in December 1970 at Headley Grange, where the band used the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. It had already been tried unsuccessfully by the band at Island Studios at the beginning of the recording sessions for their fourth album.[
The Led Zeppelin version features a distinctive pounding drum beat by John Bonham recorded in a three-story stairwell, driving guitars and a wailing harmonica, all presumably meant to symbolize the relentless storm that threatens to break the levee, backing a powerful vocal performance by Robert Plant. The vocals were processed differently on each verse, sometimes with phasing added.
Video
Added by swishbelly
drum cover
Share Video
See 2 more
Related Tracks
-
Four Sticks
Led Zeppelin -
The Battle of Evermore
Led Zeppelin -
Money
Pink Floyd -
Hey Joe
Jimi Hendrix -
Brain Damage
Pink Floyd -
Child in Time
Deep Purple
Albums featuring this track
-
Led Zeppelin IV
Led ZeppelinBuy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Box Set (disc 3)
Led ZeppelinBuy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Kashmir: The Symphonic Led Zeppelin
Led ZeppelinBuy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
Shouts
-
Chives42 wrote:
drums
-
Chadipoo wrote:
might just be my favorite zeppelin track, along with d'yer mak'er
-
Oakland23 wrote:
No other song by Led Zeppelin creates emotions in me like this track does. It's just an unbelievable feeling to listen to this at ear splitting level while tripping balls. [2] (well not as emo, but still)
-
SotirisFr wrote:
A classic. It sadly doesn't get the recognition it deserves.
-
kirstylaaa wrote:
One of my absolute favourites.
-
xCarnageV2 wrote:
Remarkably have never heard this played over footage of the New Orleans tradgedy. [2]
-
Wurscht2006 wrote:
I love it :)
-
AllyOfTheDark wrote:
I love that harmonica with that droning, unrelenting riff. Bluesy and dirty just how I like it! \,,/
-
Pewpewlazers wrote:
KKKKKKATRINA
-
wildtangerine wrote:
There is only one way to listen to this song: LOUD AS YOU CAN. [2]
-
EK89 wrote:
I´ve had this song as my wake up alarm for 4-5 years...
-
Bldrk wrote:
Terrific Song, definitely one of their best. \m/
-
Tiago_Freitas wrote:
\../
-
rhinowing wrote:
probably the best thing i've ever heard stoned
-
far7east8boy wrote:
dis song is under rated!!!
-
highvoltage29 wrote:
i wanna learn the harmonica haha
-
planetstoney wrote:
That's probably due to Led Zeppelin being notoriously stingy for licensing their music. Personally, I wouldn't want to profit off such a tragic event.
-
websrfr wrote:
Robert plays a mean harmonica
-
pogopatterson wrote:
Remarkably have never heard this played over footage of the New Orleans tradgedy.
-
jrouby wrote:
Pfff, the best final this album could have !
Listeners
-
misrii90
Listening now
-
EveGenius
Top Listener
-
stevejr47
Top Listener
-
mike_zeppelin
Top Listener
-
Pee1979
Top Listener
-
Die_Auskunf
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
megallica1990 added When the Levee Breaks to the playlist Rainy Day. 2 hours ago
-
funkeyman added When the Levee Breaks to his Loved Tracks. 3 hours ago
-
rechenberge added When the Levee Breaks to rechenberge’s library. 4 hours ago
-
Jamezzzic and HaoleB loved Led Zeppelin – When the Levee Breaks. 4 hours ago
-
kaly_ added When the Levee Breaks to the playlist Любимое моё. 6 hours ago
-
kaly_ added When the Levee Breaks to her Loved Tracks. 6 hours ago
-
Bierkatze tagged When the Levee Breaks with ‘70s’. 6 hours ago
-
MZA_MZA, niedopra, fantastische and 14 other people loved Led Zeppelin – When the Levee Breaks. 7 hours ago
-
msumn375 added When the Levee Breaks to the playlist. Saturday evening
-
msumn375 added When the Levee Breaks to msumn375’s library. Saturday evening
Related Journals
-
Monthly Mixtape-November 2009
by oddlay |
2 Dec 2009 | Add comment
-
An alternative Zeppelin compilation
by Duplode |
2 Dec 2009 | 2 comments
-
favorite ten album closers.
by Chadipoo |
28 Nov 2009 | 3 comments
