Four Sticks
"Four Sticks" | ||||
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Single by Led Zeppelin | ||||
from the album Led Zeppelin IV | ||||
A-side | "Rock and Roll" | |||
Released | 21 February 1972 | (US)|||
Recorded | Island Studios, London, 1971 | |||
Genre | Raga rock[1] | |||
Length | 4:42 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Page | |||
Led Zeppelin singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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"Four Sticks" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1971 fourth album. The title reflects drummer John Bonham's performance with two sets of two drumsticks, totaling four.[2]
The song was difficult to record, and required more takes than usual.[2] John Paul Jones played a VCS3 synthesizer on the track.[2] The song has an unusual time signature, featuring riffs in a mixture of 5/8 and 6/8.
Only one live performance has been identified – in Copenhagen on their 1971 European tour – and preserved on some bootleg recordings.[2]
Four Hands[]
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, "Friends" from Led Zeppelin III.[3] This version featured tabla drums and sitars. The recording, titled "Four Hands" was released officially on the 2015 remastering of Coda.
Other versions[]
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2017) |
In 1994, Plant and Page had rejoined in musical collaboration as Page and Plant. On 25 August and 26, they performed the song. This new version of "Four Sticks" was also included on the album No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded. Plant played a version of the song during his solo tour in 2005, as is included on the DVD release Soundstage: Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation.
A different version of this song is included on the remastered deluxe two-CD version of Led Zeppelin IV. Listed as "Four Sticks (Alternate Mix)", it was recorded on 2 November 1970, at Island Studios, No. 2, in London with engineer Andy Johns and assistant engineer Tony. It lasts 4:33, while the original version is 4:45.
Cover versions[]
References[]
- ^ RAMIREZ, AJ (21 November 2011). "Led Zeppelin - "Four Sticks"". PopMatters.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ^ Liner notes to Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 by David Fricke
- Led Zeppelin songs
- Songs written by Jimmy Page
- Songs written by Robert Plant
- 1972 singles
- Song recordings produced by Jimmy Page
- Atlantic Records singles
- 1971 songs
- Raga rock songs