Friends (Led Zeppelin song)

Song infobox
Name = Friends


Artist = Led Zeppelin
Album = Led Zeppelin III
Released = October 5, 1970
track_no = 2
Recorded = May - August 1970
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 3:54
Label = Atlantic Records
Writer = Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Producer = Jimmy Page
prev = "Immigrant Song"
prev_no = 1
next = "Celebration Day"
next_no = 3"Friends" is the second track from the 1970 album "Led Zeppelin III", the third studio album of English rock band Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wrote the song in 1970 at Bron-Yr-Aur, a small cottage in Wales where they stayed after completing a grueling concert tour of the United States.Phil Sutcliffe, "Back to Nature", "Q Magazine" Special Led Zeppelin edition, 2003, p. 34.]

The song starts out with a little noodling and studio chatter before the guitars of Jimmy Page kick in. The guitar tuning for the song is an open-C6 chord (C-A-C-G-C-E). The same tuning was used by Page on the track "Bron-Yr-Aur" (which was recorded during these same sessions), as well as the song "Poor Tom".Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] Page used an Altair Tube Limiter to enhance the acoustic quality of his Harmony guitar, a device recommended to him by an acoustic guitarist named Dick Rosemenie.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] This same device was later used by Page on "All My Love", which was included on Led Zeppelin's "In Through the Out Door" album.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

"Friends" is one of a few Led Zeppelin songs that included strings. Bass player John Paul Jones did the string arrangement, which exhibits some distinctive Eastern influences. Some commentators have expressed surprise at the fact that Jones received no writing credit for this song, given that he was entirely responsible for its compelling string arrangement.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

The outro to the song includes a Moog synthesizer, which provides a link to the next track on the album, "Celebration Day".

The lyrics say that when someone is lonely or sad, that you should "Give them a smile." Or in other words, make them feel better.

The only known live performance of the song by Led Zeppelin was on 29 September 1971 in Osaka, during the band's Japanese concert tour, as is exhibited on a number of Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings of the show. If listened to closely, Page can be heard asking Plant if he wanted to perform the song when John Bonham had returned from unknown activities backstage.

Influenced by Neil Young, similarities have been noticed between "Friends" and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Carry On", with the first part of the songs being almost identical.who|date=November 2007.

The song was re-recorded by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant with the Bombay Symphony Orchestra in 1972, during their trip to India, along with another track, "Four Sticks" from "Led Zeppelin IV". [Liner notes to "Led Zeppelin Box Set, Vol. 2" by David Fricke] This version featured tabla drums and sitars. The recordings have never been released officially and are only available on bootleg recordings. The project is said to have run into problems because Page complained that the orchestra didn't keep time in the Western style and some of them drank rather a lot. [http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/music_specials/s1402502.htm Australian Broadcasting Corporation] - Triple J Music Specials - Led Zeppelin (first broadcast 2000-07-12)]

"Friends" was also recorded by Page and Plant on their 1994 release "", accompanied by a Middle-Eastern orchestra.

References