Black Dog
The opener of the fourth album, named for a Labrador and driven by a Jones riff.
Led Zeppelin, from Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
- Written by
- John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- Released
- 1971
- Length
- 4:55
- Album
- Led Zeppelin IV
Jones is credited with the main riff. Backing tracks were laid on 5 December 1970 at Island Studios with Andy Johns engineering, with more work at Headley Grange in January 1971 and Island in February. The title comes from a black Labrador that wandered the Headley Grange grounds. In 2007 Jones named Howlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightning as the riff's influence, having earlier cited Muddy Waters' Electric Mud. Page's stop-start idea was inspired by Fleetwood Mac's Oh Well.
Plant wrote the lyrics and sang portions of the song at his solo concerts. The guitar solos on the outro were recorded directly into the desk, without an amplifier.
The band first played it on 5 March 1971 at the Ulster Hall and last at the O2 in 2007. It reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
More songs by Led Zeppelin
Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Kashmir, Dazed and Confused, When the Levee Breaks, Immigrant Song, Communication Breakdown, Heartbreaker, The Rain Song, Trampled Under Foot, Achilles Last Stand
Sources
- Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song), Wikipedia
- Led Zeppelin IV, Wikipedia
- Led Zeppelin IV, Houses of the Holy, Physical Graffiti (reissue review), Pitchfork (2015-02-24)