Good Times Bad Times

Infobox single
Name = Good Times Bad Times
Writer = Bonham/Jones/Page


Artist = Led Zeppelin
from Album = "Led Zeppelin"
B-side = "Communication Breakdown
Released = January 12 1969
track_no = 1
Recorded = October 1968
Format = 7"
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 2:46
Label = Atlantic Records
Producer = Jimmy Page
Chart position =
Background =
Last single =
This single = "Good Times Bad Times" / "Communication Breakdown" (1969)
Next single = "Whole Lotta Love" / "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" (1969)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Led Zeppelin
Type = studio
this_track = "Good Times Bad Times"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"
next_no = 2Audiosample
Background=#E6E8FA
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I - 01 Good Times Bad Times.oggInfobox Single
Name = Good Times, Bad Times

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Artist = Godsmack
from Album = Good Times, Bad Times... Ten Years of Godsmack
Released = 2007
Format = CD single
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 2:57
Label = Universal/Republic
Producer = Sully Erna
Writer = Bonham/Jones/Page
Chart position = #11 (Hot mainstream rock tracks)
Last single = "The Enemy" (2006)
This single = "Good Times, Bad Times" (2007)
Next single = "Good Times Bad Times" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured as the opening track on their 1969 debut album "Led Zeppelin".

For the lead guitar solo, guitarist Jimmy Page passed his Telecaster guitar through a Leslie speaker to create a swirling effect.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).] This type of speaker contains a rotating paddle and was designed for Hammond organ, however guitars could be used with it. George Harrison and Eric Clapton also did this on the Cream song "Badge", and George Harrison used this in several of The Beatles' recordings. [ [http://www.norwegianwood.org/beatles/disko/uklp/abbey.htm Abbey Road ] ] In an interview he gave to "Guitar World" magazine in 1993, Page explained that:

Page, also the band's producer, placed microphones all over the recording studio to capture a live sound when this song was recorded.

This song is also notable for drummer John Bonham's repeated use of a series of two triplets on a single bass drum, an effect many subsequent rock drummers have imitated. Bonham had reportedly developed this technique after listening to Vanilla Fudge. He was unaware that drummer Carmine Appice was actually playing on a double bass set. As Page has stated:

Bass player John Paul Jones has also remarked on his own contribution to the track:

Jones says that the riff he wrote for this song was the most difficult one he ever wrote.David Fricke, [http://www.iem.ac.ru/zeppelin/docs/interviews/page_93.gw Q&A: John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin] , "Rolling Stone", 24 January 2008.]

"Good Times Bad Times" was rarely played live at Led Zeppelin concerts in its entirety. In a few instances in 1969 it was used as an introduction to "Communication Breakdown". It also appeared in almost complete form within the "Communication Breakdown" medley performed at the LA Forum on the 4th September, 1970 (as can be heard on the Led Zeppelin bootleg recording "Live On Blueberry Hill"), and several "Whole Lotta Love' medleys in 1971. It was also the opening song for Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on December 10, 2007.

TV and Radio presenter Fearne Cotton has stated that this is her favourite song of all time.

Cover versions

*Cracker recorded a version of "Good Times, Bad Times" for the 1995 Led Zeppelin tribute album "Encomium".
*ApologetiX recorded a parody of the song called "Good Guys Bad Guys", a song naming all of the kings of Judea.
*Metal band Nuclear Assault covered the song for their 1988 release "Survive".
*The heavy metal/hard rock band Godsmack covered the song in 2007, for their album, "Good Times, Bad Times... Ten Years of Godsmack".
*Led Zeppelin parody cover band Dread Zeppelin recorded a version of this song on their album "Hot & Spicy Beanburger".
*The jam band Phish also covered "Good Times, Bad Times" many times in concert.
*The band Axxis recorded the song for the metal tribute album called "The Music Remains The Same".
* The cover band Camp Freddy has performed covers of this song. One cover is with Guns n' Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash with Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington. Another cover was performed by Camp Freddy with The Cult guitarist Billy Duffy and Incubus vocalist Brandon Boyd.

References

ources

*"Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song", by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
*"The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
*"John Bonham: A Thunder of Drums", by Chris Welch, ISBN 0-87930-658-0