The Battle of Evermore

Infobox Song
Name = The Battle of Evermore
Artist = Led Zeppelin
Album = Led Zeppelin IV
Released = November 8 1971
track_no = 3
Recorded = December 1970 – March 1971
Genre = Folk rock
Length = 5:52
Label = Atlantic Records
Writer = Page/Plant
Producer = Jimmy Page
prev = "Rock and Roll"
prev_no = 2
next = "Stairway to Heaven"
next_no = 4"The Battle of Evermore" is an acoustic guitar and mandolin song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured on their fourth album, "Led Zeppelin IV", released in 1971. The tune for this was written by guitarist Jimmy Page at Headley Grange while he was experimenting on the mandolin owned by bassist John Paul Jones.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] Steven Rosen, [http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/003340.html 1977 Jimmy Page Interview] , "Modern Guitars", May 25, 2007 (originally published in the July 1977, issue of "Guitar Player" magazine).] As Page explained in 1977:

Vocalist Robert Plant had recently been reading about Scottish folklore and this inspired him to compose the lyrics to this song.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] Plant felt he needed another voice to tell the story, and for the recording of this song folk singer Sandy Denny was invited to duet with Plant. Denny was a former member of British folk group Fairport Convention, with whom Led Zeppelin had shared a bill in 1970 at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. Plant played the role of the narrator and Denny represented the town crier. Page elaborated:

To thank her for her involvement, Denny was given the symbol on the album sleeve of three pyramids (the four members of Led Zeppelin each designed their own symbols for the album). This is the only song Led Zeppelin ever recorded with a guest vocalist.

"The Battle of Evermore" was played live at Led Zeppelin concerts during the band's 1977 concert tour of the United States. For these live performances, Jones sang Denny's vocals with Plant and played acoustic guitar whilst Page played mandolin. Sometimes drummer John Bonham sang Denny's vocals instead of Jones.

Other versions

Other bands have covered Led Zeppelin's song or played it live:

*Page and Plant also recorded a version of the song in 1994, released on their album "". Singer Najma Akhtar sang Sandy Denny's vocal part.

*The song was covered by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, credited as "The Lovemongers", on the soundtrack to the 1992 film "Singles". The Wilson sisters also released a live version of the song, performing as Heart, on the 2003 album "Alive in Seattle".

*The song was covered by a group called "The Fellowship" on their album "In Elven Lands." The Fellowship included singer Jon Anderson from the band Yes, though he does not sing on "The Battle of Evermore".

*Robert Plant and Alison Krauss regularly covered "The Battle Of Evermore" on their tour of USA and Europe in Spring and Summer 2008. [ [http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/birmingham-culture/rock-pop-music-birmingham/2008/05/06/robert-plant-and-alison-krauss-at-the-birmingham-nia-65233-20867356/ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at the Birmingham NIA] ]

*Fairport Convention performed "The Battle of Evermore" with guest vocalists Robert Plant and Kristina Donahue at Fairport's Cropredy Convention on 9th August 2008.

References