#7 The Rain Song

On a fateful day in the early 70's, The Beatles attended a Led Zeppelin concert. Upon the conclusion, George Harrison told Jimmy Page that “the problem” with Led Zeppelin was that they don’t do any love ballads. “The Rain Song” was Jimmy’s response and in a blatant “ode to George”, the first two opening chords are that of “Something” by The Beatles.

Off of their fifth album, Houses of the Holy (which is, not by coincidence, the most heavily represented album on this list), this track won’t commonly be found on top songs lists. At over 7 minutes long, it’s difficult to categorize this song as rock or any genre for that matter. Record producer, Rick Rubin, commented on this interesting distinction before:

Despite all of the amazing vocal performances across the Led Zeppelin discography, Robert Plant considers “The Rain Song” his G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). However, the majority of the song is an instrumental, one which does not employ the stereotypical Led Zeppelin characteristics. John Paul Jones plays an orchestral arrangement on his mellotron over a gloomy, slow paced Jimmy Page guitar. A bass cannot be heard until 3:27 into the song, and John Bonham is non-existent until a quick drum flare can be heard at 3:37.

The song builds and builds and builds until around five minutes when it comes to a magnificent crescendo! Here, there is no more holding back and Robert Plant shows off his vocal range, but in a much more delicate tone than listeners at this time had been used to.

I love this song so much because it again exemplifies Led Zeppelin’s dexterity. Not a group that would be held down by typecasting, this list alone has rock, psychedelic, funk, samba, metal, blues, and acoustic music...in all of which they are arguably at their best. Add classic love ballad to the list and you now have one of the most well rounded musical groups ever. This is why I love Led Zeppelin. This is why they are my G.O.A.T.

PS - many of you are familiar with my newer obsession for the classic rock revivalist, the Michigan-born Greta Van Fleet. Although I think the criticism they sometimes receive for sounding so much like Led Zeppelin is overblown, I will point out that the main guitar riff to their hit song “Flower Power“ is strikingly similar to a Jimmy Page lick at the six minute and 58 second mark in “The Rain Song “. As my good friend DJ Lapinski once said, “if LeBron plays like Michael Jordan, what’s the problem?!” Well said my man!